Extra-Curricular Activities

This winter we registered the girls for a ballet class at the community center were we belong. It was a six week course. At the beginning of the classes both of the girls loved it; however, be the end Amelia started to get stubborn about going.  Of course by then, I had already signed them both up for another set of classes. I had figured it would get us through the end of winter and the cold, early spring (needless to say, that wasn’t needed with 80 degree days in March).  I asked Allison if she still wanted to go to class and she said "yes." I thought that once we started back up with classes again, Mia would get past her stubborn streak and things would get better. However, it only went downhill from there.

At the first class of the new sessions, Mia refused to go to class (as expected); however Allison started to whine and say she didn’t want to go either. After packing up and heading toward the stairs to leave the center, Allison realized I wasn’t kidding and ran into class. Amelia sat with me until about five minutes until the end of class and announced that she wanted to go in.  The next week Amelia wouldn’t go in the room at first but then decided towards the end of the class that she would. I told her that she had to sit on her mat and participate in the class. Instead, Ameila ran around the room and then spun around in circles about 30 times until she became so dizzy that she fell on the floor.  All she needed was a bucket on her head and I would have been Steve Martin's character in Parenthood. Then, at the end of the class, both girls refused to cooperate and leave with me without causing a scene.

On the third week, I had to work, so Brian brought Allison to class and Mia stayed home with Aunt Lynn. The local news station was coming to class that week to tape some footage, so Allison was adamant on attending class that week.  This week I talked Allison into skipping class to take advantage of this July weather in March in order to go to the zoo.

On a positive note, we also signed Allison up for swim class and she absolutely loves its. The teacher has even said that Allison is the best in the class (yep, I’m bragging - too bad they don't make bumper stickers announcing that "My child is the best student in swim class").

A Little Comparison

April 29, 2009

April 16, 2010

May 5, 2011

March 21, 2012

Remember When...

This year St. Patrick's Day without a doubt was a "remember when" moment. I think people will remember St. Patty's Day 2012 for a very long time since it was almost 80 degrees outside. In a way, with the mild winter we had it didn't really seem odd that we were all in shorts. However, next year we will look back at these pictures and think "I can't believe how nice it was."

We celebrated the day by going to a neighborhood party a few blocks from our house. A couple that lives on a street with an Irish name threw their first Annual St. Patty's Day party.  They had a dog parade, chalk and bubbles, as well as a fire truck and ambulance for the kids to look at.  We were the first in line to view the fire truck, which was a good thing, since they got a call and had to quickly pack up and leave. The girls liked watching that - especially when the siren went off. The best part of the afternoon was the free samples from a cupcake shop that is soon opening up in the neighborhood. 

Happy Valentine's Day

We went all out and celebrated Valentine's Day this year. Ok not all out, but the celebration was stretched out over several day (well weeks). First, Brian decorated the living room, complete with red string lights and banners. Next, we made a trek to the store for the ever-so-important task of picking out Valentine's Day cards to hand out at school. The Saturday before Valentine's Day, the girls received a special package from Nana and Papa. On Sunday, we invited our friends over for a party complete with cookie decorating.  On Valentine's Day itself, the girls had a party at school. I don't know who was more excited, me or them. I kept logging in to watch them on the computer as their daycare has video cameras.   I was able to watch Allison hand out her cards. We had practiced the night before and she was able to recongize most of her classmate's names written on the cards.  Later that night, Brian and I gave them a special treat.  Overall it was a fun holiday.

Snuggles and Love

Tonight Amelia and I snuggled in my bed while we watched a slide show I made for her 1st birthday. As Mia and I watched the show, we talked about what was going on in the pictures and how old she was. I couldn't help but get a little teary-eyed. Later on Allison came up to watch her slide show and snuggled with me (she booted Amelia out of the room because she kept talking and ruining the show).  Halfway through the show, as the tears started to creep back into my eyes, Allison put the show on pause, leaned over and gave me a big hug. Ever so sweetly she snuggled into me a little deeper and told me that she loved me. Maybe it was the sappy music I had playing in the slide show, or that we have been telling the girls a lot of baby stories at bedtime, or the fact that I spent today on pins and needles waiting to find out if Allison was chosen at our school of choice (only to find out that the results won't be released until Monday), but I can't help be a little extra sentimental today.