Emilee was pretty excited to start going to activity days with Cera. They are together once a month and the other activity they are divided into two groups - older and younger girls. This activity was making shadow puppets. They girls came up with a story and then made puppets to act it out. The parents were able to come watch at the end. Em had a blast and Cera was jealous as this activity was divided.
It was 100 days of school day and the kids were invited to dress up as a 100 year old or someone from 100 years ago. Mom pushed Emilee towards a 100 year old as it seemed easier. Grandpa helped us out by making a cane the night before (thanks for the short notice help!). She loved her make shift shawl (using her crochet blanket from Great Grandma Richards).
We also tried to give her hair some help using baby powder. We were pretty impressed with how it turned out. It even made Cera want to join the fun at the last minute! We have no pictures of her as we were finishing her outfit as she got out of the car at school.
Mom helps with the hot lunch program once a month at Elizabeth's school. The way the program is setup, it is rarely on a day Elizabeth is at school so she gets to help! She loves to carry in the ice cream and show how strong she is.
The girls are enjoying the mild weather and loved getting out on the trampoline for a bit. It's been a good month for filling up our family memory banks more!
We try to have a monthly date with the girls - one girls a month with one parent. The girls really enjoy the one on one time and getting to pick whatever they want to do. This month Emilee picked getting a pedicure done and hanging out.
She enjoyed the massage chair and was so cute trying not to smile while she read her comic book. She's growing up so much.
Afterwards we decided to go to wendy's for a treat and sat in the big comfy chairs. They were by the TV which had curling on. Emilee learned that she really likes to watch curling and was torn cheering for the Alberta team or Canada team. It was a fun evening!
Our family decided to take a weekend ski trip. Alan found a deal on a hotel, the two older girls have their ski passes and Alan had a couple ski coupons left. On the first full day Dad headed out with the girls and Mom and Elizabeth did a little exploring. We were hoping to go tubing but the hill was too icy and therefore was closed. We had fun wandering for awhile and then headed into town to do some exploring also.
Elizabeth enjoyed a ride up the magic carpet before we found out at the top that the tubing hill was closed. Atleast she got a little ride!
Cera did good going down the practice hill while Dad helped Emilee remember what she had learned last year. The only thing that really annoyed Cera was how slow the magic carpet was - she felt she could walk up the hill faster.
On the second day Mom and Elizabeth took things to keep us busy in the kids tent. We enjoyed lots of games of go fish and old maid. When we needed a break and got tired of the treats we brought, we headed out and found a new treat!
Emilee was excited to use poles this year. She did great on the hill and had fun. Both girls didn't want to stop even when the hill was closing for the day!
They loved going up the chairlift with Dad, skiing down and...
...
heading back up again!
Emilee's birthday happened to fall on our weekend away so she got a special dessert one night. The girls are all growing up way too fast!!
Check out those smiles. They had a great two days on the hill!! Elizabeth was also able to try out skiing a little on this trip. She had fun but isn't quite ready to go for a day. Maybe next year!
We hit up the truck stop for dinner one night and found this! The girls thought it was great and each had to get their picture taken - such goof balls!
They also added their beautiful dinner coloring to the wall of fame! They felt very special having their artwork hanging up at the diner! Love the simple pleasures of life!
Mom had wrapped and prepared to take Emilee's birthday present with us on the trip - she even remembered to pack the batteries that would be needed. With all the other things Mom had to remember to pack and have ready, the wrapped present got left behind in her closet. Darn!
Emilee was still pretty excited to open it when we got home late Sunday night. She can't wait till she gets home from school tomorrow and can play with her dino robot!
What a fun, exhausting, memory filled weekend!
Dad likes to give Mom a break once in awhile and get the girls out on adventures! On this day it was a bike ride down by the river and the plan was when they were done playing Mom would come in the truck and pick them up as the girls would probably be tired. It turned out that they decided to head to dinner and then rode home. Mom got a nice break (including not making dinner) and they girls had a super fun adventure!
There were some bananas ready to be used so Mom decided the girls were big enough to make their own muffins (and it would keep them busy!) They did great and had so much fun. Mom would tell them what to add and they would do it.
This was probably the hardest part for Mom to let go - letting the girls fill their muffin cups. Mom was pleasantly surprised with the lack of mess when the girls were done filling and with a little more practice (if Mom can let go), they will be perfect!!
Way to go girls! They loved eating the muffins they made and letting others know they made them by themselves!
Mom decided to try something new this year - she wrote a note about some thing she loved about each person each night starting on February 1st. Here was Dad's door at the end (the girls added a few things they loved too).
The girls also surprised Mom with a few hearts on her door one morning.
Mom also used different heart colors to help keep them separated. Here is Elizabeth's and Emilee's. As they share a room one got the door and the other the closet door! They loved waking up each morning and trying to find the new heart.
And Cera's door. While it was fun and appreciated Mom's not sure it will become a tradition. Between the daily notes in their lunch kits and their love notes on their door, Mom got tired!
The girls wanted something fun for their hair on pseudo valentine's day at school. Cera had a small braid with red ribbon and Emilee had a red ribbon tied around her pony tail. We had to go a little fancier with Elizabeth - she loved it!
Mom was super surprised on actual valentine's day. She went down to the kitchen expecting to find the standard stuffy, chocolate rose and balloon Dad gets each of his little girls and maybe a box of chocolates for Mom. Instead Mom had what she calls a "movie moment" when she found hearts all over the kitchen with reasons Dad and the girls love her. Everyone else was still in bed so Mom had some quiet time to read the hearts around the kitchen and have her heart melt. What a fun and touching day!
Because we will be away on Emilee's actual birthday, we decided to have Grandma and Grandpa (and Mike and Tori and Tyler) over a week early for birthday dinner. Mom tried her hand at a homemade ice cream cake. The cake tasted pretty good but she needs to work on the writing on top! LOL
Emilee enjoys celebrating her birthday with Grandma every year (they are only a day apart). Family is the best!
We've told our girls that they can get their ears pierced at age 5 if they want. Since Elizabeth turned 5 she's said she doesn't want to but one day she just decided she was ready and told Mom. So Mom called and booked an appointment (the soonest appointment was a week from their call) Elizabeth and Mom decided to keep it a secret from everyone and were able to do that all week!! The morning of her appointment Elizabeth was so excited!! This picture tells it all!!
They put some numbing cream on her ears that soaked in while she picked her earrings. She was a little nervous as she climbed into the chair but so brave! Once they clicked the earrings in she started to cry - poor girl. (We have talked to her about how it would feel but the words weren't enough to fully prepare her.) She said it felt like they put staples into her ears - probably a pretty accurate description! After the first few tears she was good and super excited to surprise her sisters and Dad after school. They were all proud of how brave she was (and that she could keep a secret for a whole week)!
For most of the rest of the day, Elizabeth convinced Mom to rebuild legos with her. We had the bins dumped out all over the floor trying to find the teeny tiny pieces needed to rebuild some of the lego with friends buildings. The things a Mom will do to keep her kids happy!!
