Spring break snow day!

Today marked the first day of Spring break for the kiddies...mind you this is a break from school for the kids but mom gets no break :)  

Our good friends Jordan and John Ramsey had the wonderful idea to take Sophia and Reese up to A basin for the morning and we could enroll Sophia and Reese into ski school.  Yeah!  

As much fun as we had, we couldn't have picked a worse weather day for the girls for their very first lesson...10 inches of fresh snow overnight and probably another 5 in the morning...the snow just kept blowing and blowing...

In the end, the girls had a GREAT time and the big kids did too...

A bit of Apres ski silliness...

What a wonderful day!

Spring soccer has begun!

We signed Sophia up for soccer and yesterday was the first day. She really seemed to enjoy it and was certainly VERY tired by the end. A full hour of running around wore her out. She was great! Henry was a bit miffed that he didn't get to join in the fun (although he kicked the ball with Dad on the sidelines...) but he will have to wait another year and a half to 2 years, poor guy.

We ended the weekend with Dad (and the kids who love to help!) making his DELICIOUS grilled pizza...

Proud pool moments...

Well, Sophia isn't actually in the pool but i just had to post this picture of her in the bathtub :)

It became too much for me to do the mom and tot class with Henry and to also have Sophia in her group class.  I must say I love the pool but I  don't love the dressing room arrangements and typically feel as though I may harm someone by the time we leave...  SO, I have enrolled Henry in private swim lessons (2x per week for hopefully no more than a month and a half) and once he is 'certified', her can go into group lessons.

Yesterday was his first 20 minute lesson (it is amazing how long that feels when they are crying) and today was his 2nd and I could not have been more proud.  He was just amazing!  He only cried for a few minutes and then he just did great....  Miss Diana was SO excited for him, she was even a little teary!

As Henry likes to say, "Eeeeeeee!"

Sophia had her first ribbon last week but alas, since i was in the pool too and managing the 2 of them, plus myself, I didn't get a picture at the time so here is the girl with her first "I can backfloat all by myself" ribbon!

"Mom...

...just because you have 3 bags doesn't mean you need 4..."  Really? This is what Sophia said to me!  

I had a sitter today...the first time in what seemed like a long time.  My plan was going to the dentist and then hit the gym and then MAYBE run an errand or two.  Well, after my trip to the dentist, I felt compelled to go to 'the Rack', it has been so long!  In any event, I found a purse that seemed quite cute.  Yes, I DID just buy a purse (my other bag smelled so BAD from spilled milk, ugh!) and I love it.  BUT then i saw this other bag that seemed quite fun.  I might add that I am quite the bargain shopper so none of them were expensive at all...  In any event, I was excited to get my little girl's opinion when she firmly said to me, "Mom, just because you have 3 bags, doesn't mean you need 4!"   Well what do you know, my little girl is going to be my shopping conscious...Dad will be happy and proud!

I was hoping to come home while Henry was napping and perhaps Sophia was having her quiet time...unforuntaely neither was true.  Because I felt the need to shop a bit and skip the gym, I was in need of some exercise.  2 lollipops and 2 mini popsciles later they were riding along with me in the stroller...  They were great!

Construction at the zoo...

Today was field trip day!  Off to the zoo we went for Sophia's class and luckily little Henry was invited too.  The animals were wonderful, the kids were excited, the train was fun, as was the carousel.  The funny thing was that Henry was much more enamored with the construction going on at zoo than the animals.  

Everything they say about these boys is true...I was a doubter.  He just seems to have this inherent love for anything car, truck and/or construction...how does that happen?

Reiney wants to walk with Henry and hold his hand

ella wants in on the action

and we have now found the tractors...

on the train with reiney, ella and sophia!

Our Library re-Discovery

Goodness, I truly hate to say that I never go to the library but I really, never did.  I believe I brought Sophia once prior to Henry being born.  She just seemed too little and frankly, it just wasn't very 'fun'.  Probably a 'slack mom' moment on my end...

With that being said, last month I decided to give it a try again and bring the kids...and we had a great time!  Sophia really enjoyed pulling books off the shelves, looking at them, and deciding whether or not SHE wanted to bring them home.  Henry, well Henry just loved pulling all of the books OFF the shelves! :)  Honestly, Henry loves the library too, we picked up some GREAT truck books...anything 'truck' is wonderful. 

And the greatest thing I have realized is that I, at the moment, don't need to buy any more books!

Is she already 4?

We can hardly believe it but Sophia turned 4 over the weekend!  Everyone says that time goes by so fast with your kids and they aren't kidding around.  Seems like yesterday that she came into our world....

Saturday (the 'big' day) was filled with fun...watching waaaaay too much t.v.  (netflix movies), opening lots-o presents, wearing her new 'Tink' costume, getting a new bicycle with training wheels (!!), going to the Cricket for dinner and of course, yogurt guru for some outstanding dessert.

Sunday we had the big blow-out party with 5 of Sophia's friends.  Fun was had by all and many people couldn't get over Sophia's 'hot dog' dance.  I will upload if I am able...  Pizza and cake for everyone!

ice cream or tea anyone?

finally...a 'tink' costume!

my first big bike!

the girls dancing to 'hot dog' over and over and...

more 'hot dog'

the perfect hostess handing out the gift bags to her friends...

Getting back into the swing of things...

Having only been gone for 3 days, I truly did not think returning home would be any sort of 'ordeal' but oddly, it seems to be.  Everyone seems to be out of sorts a bit...  Tuesday was a good day, Wednesday has been a long day.  Lots of hitting (by the tots, not moi!), lots of firmness, lots of tears, lots of time in everyone's corner...  

It was beyond wonderful to get away for a bit and despite the tears of the day, it is good to be home to be with the fam...

The nice moments... Sophia helping Henry up the stairs...Henry asked Sophia to hold his hand because he wanted to avoid any bugs on the stairs...

The tired moments...my dear Sophia has her quiet time and while knowing she was tired, I tried to encourage her to take a nap but she wanted to play.  She seemed awfully quiet after a while so I went to check on her...  Truly, doesn't mom know best?

And the beloved moments, spending time snuggling up together and having everyone home.  (These pics were taken last night, unfortunately not tonight :) )

At the end of dinner, as Henry started to cry again for the umpteenth time, Sophia looked at me and said, "Mom, it has been a very long day".  Truly it has...

Aspen here we come!

It has been 3 years since Cecil and I had some 'alone' time...meaning taking a trip somewhere sans our beloved kiddies.  Well, actually we did go away for 1 night 2 years ago but somehow 1 night doesn't seem to count, does it?

Off to Aspen we went to stay at the St. Regis...it is nice to be pampered for 3 nights, glorious!  We arrived on Friday and left on Monday.  We rested, we laughed, we skied, we shopped, we ate and ate and ate...oh what fun! 

Sophia and Henry stayed with Olivia for the weekend and appeared to have loads of fun.  No one seemed to be upset in the slightest that we were even leaving (yes, I did take a little offense ;)...  The weather was nice enough that they were able to enjoy the outdoors, they watched movies, ordered pizza, and had a play date at Reese's just to name a few.  

Here are some shots of everyone enjoying their 'getaway' time...

The morning of our getaway (if you look very closely you may be able to see Henry looking at us through the center window as we drove off...)

Can you see Henry?

 The kids enjoying their weekend...

Making some cookies!

A morning at the park

Sophia enjoying her play date with Reese

And some pics from our Aspen trip...

Sophia insisted on a pic of the gondola

A very breezy day in the Highlands