What's going on this year so far?

Giant sheet tent in the living room. There's a monkey in the foreground and a monkey in the background.

Adam is screaming through skating lessons - he's been bumped up 2 levels in 3 classes.

Hi friend Drake (and his mom, my friend Jill) are taking lessons too. We are both enjoying seeing our friends on a regular basis.

Adam's coloring in the lines now - it's bittersweet :)

Lunch at the Children's Museum several weeks ago.

Laura fits in a dress my mom made me many moons ago.

So pretty and special.

Adam's "key coloring machine" at the sculpture part of Good Times Park

Goofball

Goofball

Jim's enjoying the new snowblower. I'm enjoying letting Jim enjoy the new snowblower.

She's a knitter!

I ordered and installed shelves that slide out for my pots and pans. 

Sooooooooooo awesome! 

How do I have so many pots and pans?

Adam decided he wanted to empty all the trash cans in the house and then wash them. He does this sort of thing from time to time. I don't argue. 

Laura helped too.

Rock on

Adam's first day of school 2013

I'm sorry I never posted this. Its from last September. I really didn't want to look back someday and not be able to search for it at least. Isn't he handsome?

Laura's first karate tournament

Laura's first karate tournament was a few weekends ago. Last month, she told me she didn't want to ever do a tournament because she knew she wasn't intense enough. So, I started a very hard-headed campaign to get her in that tournament and make her see the truth. It was fun.

She looks very nervous, no?

They have these things split out sooooo intricately. She was in a group of 7 year old double green belts. So, the 8 year olds were in a different ring, the 7 year old single greens were in still another ring. Consequently there were only 4 in her group.

This was a competition to see who does the best at basics. No sparring yet, but she just reached the belt level that she can start if she wants.

I must say, she did fantastic. After watching the other kids, it was clearly obvious that her teacher (the man watching behind the judges a little after she starts) expects more than most and gets results. She was crisp, confident, loud, and looked like she belonged there. And definitely intense.

)

And it paid off - with a 1st place trophy!

The Winter of 2014

A conversation between Jenny and Laura:

Jenny: Did you play outside today at recess?

Laura: Yeah

Jenny (surprised): You did?

Laura (with no sarcasm): It was 3 [degrees], Mom. Of course we played outside.

Cold

I know that many, many people are hurting this winter in the long-term frigid temps and large amounts of snow. I took this for posterity. Keep in mind, this is pre-windchill temp. 

(photo by one of the kids)

This is Ava's opinion of this stupid-cold winter. She doesn't have enough fur to make this fun.

One tough Minnesota chick.

Cuddling in front of a space heater is a great way to thaw out.

Crêpes

Obviously single parents can make a wonderful life for themselves and their children, however there are also many reasons that it is helpful to have 2 parents. One example:

It is important to have one parent that remembers that their daughter gags when you feed her crêpes because it is too "eggy" and hasn't served her crêpes in years because it always ends in tears.

It is also important to have one parent who forgets that their daughter hates crêpes and serves it to her one morning so she can say, "Oh! These are delicious! Can I have more?"

Sewing School

One of those gifts that actually worked out...a sewing book for Laura. I did a lot of research and picked Sewing School by Andria Lisle and Amie Plumley. It has been so wonderful! 

So far she has made a pin cushion, a "needle book" to hold her needles,

A first attempt at a stuffed animal,

A second attempt at a stuffed animal,

A sleeping mask for me,

Glasses case for Jim,

A name tag for Ava,

And the pièce de résistance, a skirt! 

She picked out the material and used the sewing machine, so this was pretty darn exciting. It was cool to see her wear it to school proudly. I even learned something while I helped - how to make a casing for elastic.

She had a hole in the knee of her pants the other day and the first thing she said was "I can sew it back together!" I love that she feels empowered to just go downstairs and make something.

Whatever

You know what? Its easier to take the easier route. And today, that means posting lots of old pics instead of finishing the post I have half-written in my head about Laura's recent sewing projects. Obviously, these pictures are from times long ago when I could see the grass. Right now, it is covered in 2 feet of snow and it too cold to do anything but run to the bus stop and back. 

Picture by Adam on the ladder (sounds like a recipe for disaster, huh?)

We were so innocent of true winter back in these days

Wacky day at school

Wacky Day at home

As good as our family portraits get

Jim and I went to a play at the Guthrie Theater, with provided childcare! Awesomeness

Dance party at Adam's school