Random Red

Winter Warmup

The girls grew simultaneously and neither fits into her winter coat from last year.  I had the girls try on their coats (which, by design, matched the hats and mittens they had from last year that *did* still fit.  At least we could reuse something.)

Blissful Beverages

In an ideal world, being a stay-at-home-Mom would consist of daily trips for Starbucks with a well-behaved and polite child.  In the real world, being a SAHM means setting for a monthly beverage at Starbucks-adjacent-to-Target with a child who isn’t perfect, but is cute enough to make you forget.

Dancing Darling

“Hi, everyone!  Mama signed me up for a dance class, and I’m loving it!  You might remember that I took one once before, but I was only 19 months old at that time, so I don’t remember all of it.  I’ve grown now (in fact, I’m wearing the leo that my sister wore when we took dance together), and I’m doing a great job!”

“Gotta stretch before class and keep my muscles limber.”

“And also need to take a moment to admire my adorable legwarmers made by my auntie!”

“What are you looking at?”

Quiet Time

I heard one of the most frightening sounds a mother could hear—that of a child, quiet in her room.  Typically, this spells disaster (like when K. was young and this happened), so I didn’t know what waited for me as I snuck into N’s room.Can you believe these pictures are not staged?  I walked in and she was sitting in the rocking chair, reading to her baby and bear.

“I’m always this well-behaved, Mama!”This gives me hope for the future.

Déjà vu

Dining Al Fresco

Despite our scorching hot summer, the weather has been beautiful and mild recently.  The girls were playing nicely outside before dinner and I hated to disturb them, so I brought their dinner out to them.  Eating outside in the playhouse—this is what I imagine childhood to be.

Trouble Coming

N. started preschool—she’s only going one day a week, and it’s probably more of a “mom day out” than an intense curriculum, but it is a great experience for her nonetheless.  I know she appreciates the time being in a group and having people to spend time with who are not just her mother.

And with a sweet face like this, how could she possibly be any trouble?*

Sister love.

*I imagine that she will be trouble since she seems to have a larger-than-average personality, but as of the date of publication, she has only gotten glowing reports from her teachers at school.  Grandma A. suggests that N’s dad was similarly excellent at school but quite a bit of child while at home.

Freshly Shorn

I had my hair chopped short (happiness!) and wanted to try to get a picture of it so N. and I posed for several.  One turned out with her making a sweet face:

And the rest were a series of her making silly faces.  Somehow she knew to make a new face every time I clicked the camera, and somehow she never repeated a face.  Also?  There are more that I didn’t post—this is not an exhaustive collection.

First Day!

My precious firstborn started Kindergarten!  She was excited when she left and excited when she got home.

With her buddy T, also in Kindergarten (though sadly they’re not in the same class).  They look so much older than they did last year.

But they’re still as goofy!

And she rode the big yellow bus to school.  I wondered if I should drag my big camera to the bus stop with me and ultimately decided to—and every single parent there also had a DSLR with them.  Also, bless her bus driver who greeted the students with “turn around and wave to your parents!”

Meta Art

K. drew a recursive picture without being prompted—and without knowing what the word “recursive” means:

So to complete the pattern, here is K. holding her two crayons like the girl in the picture is:

 

Bookworm

I caught N. reading a book to her bear and had to get it on camera.

Working Out

And the other new room in the basement is our exercise room.  It doesn’t get a ton of use at the moment since the weather is really nice out, but I have high hopes that we’ll spend a lot of time together this winter.

Shower in Style

Our basement now has a full bathroom (complete with a urinal!)

B. did everything himself, including all of the beautiful tiling on the floor and the shower.

He added a shelf for toiletries:

And even a little ledge in the corner.  He did amazing work!

Movie Night

B. finished the home theater that he built in the basement, and we have enjoyed much time as a family loafing and watching movies.  It’s pretty cool, and really, we may never leave our house again.

The lighting is great theater lighting but not so good for taking indoor photos, so I apologize for the graininess.

Flipping Fun

This summer, K. took a gymnastics class.  She was hesitant about trying new things (though she was excited about gymnastics itself) but ultimately did.  I was proud of her.

Backflip on the rings (with teacher assistance):

She did it!

Handstand against the wall.

I don’t know that she’ll go to the Olympics, but she spends a great deal of time practicing cartwheels in the living room.