Friends and Fashion

It's been a couple of "normal" weeks for us.  An event here and there, but mostly just general family life.  But as I looked back through the pictures, there was a definite theme...

Julia has loved dressing Allie up and Allie's been going along with it pretty well too.  Love when the synchronize their dance moves too.  

When Matt opens the door after my last class, Allie loves to rush over and ask to "come in", meaning come sit behind my desk and mess with all my props...many of which technically are her toys, but it does make a bit of chaos when I can't find the things I use often!  Oh well.  This day I let her sit on my desk and she loved wearing the glasses that I always think I'll throw on to be silly during class but usually never use.

Gray and our neighbor walking home from the bus.  These guys are a lot alike in interests in personality and they have gotten a lot of face time over the last month--mostly doing something outside with a ball.  This day I had to take a picture because they are dressed alike and both walking not on the sidewalk...kind of the way they live life.

 And speaking of non-sidewalk walkers (literally and metaphorically), Julia falls into that category as well.  I have had many opportunities to capture her unique fashion choices this month.  Yes, that's Grandmama's Christmas vest.  Love her.

 Friend time!  We loved hanging out with lots of friends at our neighbor's birthday party.  Their dog was a highlight for the elementary girls.

 And our fashionista is at it again.  That's 5 patterns there, folks, but who's counting?!

We are still getting snow and though it didn't stick, the kids got a 3 hour delay out of it this week.  More headed our way Sunday I hear and then hopefully that is the end of it!!  I'm ready to plant my flowers.

Can you believe your eyes?!  It's Abraham Lincoln in the flesh!  Well actually in the wax I guess.  Julia wanted to be Jackie Robinson for her wax museum project but he was taken so she went with Abraham Lincoln.  She really got into learning about him and it was interesting to try to help her understand the complexities of his beliefs and why he did what he did.  Of course to her, it's all black and white--or wait- that's a confusing metaphor...to her it's clear that you either disagree with slavery and do all you can to stop it or you agree and are a very bad person.  We found out Lincoln had mixed feelings and it was all very much for her take in.  But she did a great job on her speech, though was a bit dramatic at home about how exhausted her voice was from that 30 minutes of people visiting her booth.  :)

 I printed the pictures she picked out but she did the rest of the poster all on her own without input from me.  You can hardly tell here, but Mary Todd has a princess crown sticker and many of the pictures are frames with hearts and other designs.  She also threw in a A-A-Abraham cheer on part of it.  This kind of thing is right up her alley and she loved working on it.

 Gray had his last mile run for Cameron Park today.  He did well and beat his best time by a second.  :)  6:38.  He has a new friend this year who was his partner to count his laps and cheer him on.  These two are adorable together--different as can be in looks and personality, but best of friends.

Next up we have a big birthday week for Matt and Gray!  There will be lots of eating (I've already started a lot of baking) and lots of celebrating, with special dinners, Gray's sleepover party, the start of Spring Break, and Easter all rolled into one week.  Hopefully we can keep up our amazing winter of health and get all the fun times in!!  Happy weekend!

Life in Pictures

Work resumed its normal pace for me in the last week or two, which means not much downtime to blog and a lot of "Should I clean/read/exercise/shower or sleep?" kinds of decisions.  Usually sleep wins!  But I do feel after 4 months I'm really hitting my stride in this VIPKID job in that I'm much more relaxed, flexible, and able to handle whatever comes my way in class...which this morning was 2 out of 3 kids crying.  :) :)  Thank goodness for the 12 year old that could chat about the birthday he just celebrated last week.  Such a cool job.

We did get in a whirlwind trip to SC to spend a little time with my fam celebrating birthdays.  It was so nice to be with everyone even if it was just a few hours.  Here's what life has been like since the last post...

Warm week=outside

Fashionista...this is Julia about to play volleyball

Sweet girl was SO excited for her teacher's bday that she wore a party hat and her best dress to school

Classic.  Wheelbarrow races at the bday party in SC.

Too little for races.  Can't get enough snuggles.

3 Birthday Boys; between me and my sisters, we had a kid born every year from 2005 to 2012--except 2011, but we doubled up with two on the left in 2012.  

Somebody bonded pretty well with her aunt and uncle this trip.  

Sister time

Visit from the Baker kiddos had everyone giddy on a school night.  Love sharing everyday life with other families!  Allie had to hit the hay early so she said goodbye to all, leaving Ava on the office couch where they were playing.  The next day about dinner time, Allie walked in the office, looking at the couch and indignantly asked, "Where's Ava?!"  I think she loves getting to be one of the "big girls" now that she's old enough to play a little more.

Julia was ready to cheer on the Wolfpack in the tournament...if only enthusiastic fans were all it took to win!  :)

We hadn't been to the cardiologist in 6 months so it was time for a check up.  Allie did great!  She wavered between wanting to chat with everyone she saw and eyeing each person suspiciously as they worked.  This may have been her first time not crying when they measured her height!  She has gained a pound in the last 4 months and remains in the 2nd percentile on the growth charts.  But that's fine with me.  The main growth I was excited to hear was that of her pulmonary arteries!  Dr. Milazzo says she looks "amazing" and no intervention is expected for years.  

It may be cold this week, but we've got the end of school and summer plans on the brain.  In the blink of an eye, Gray's going to 'graduate' elementary school and plans are beginning for the end of 5th grade ceremony and party.   Soon it will be time for beach, pool, slower days again.  But for now we look to finish out March well and have a nice Spring Break break!  We've got lacrosse going into high gear next week for the boys, I'm starting to volunteer in a 6th grade English class, and Matt and Gray have birthdays in a few weeks.  Time just keeps flying!