Chick's Photo Date v.8

Yesterday was Chick's photshoot date.  Everyone else is getting theirs late, but Chick's was early...because she's getting baptized in three weeks!  So I needed some pictures for the invitations.

It was cold...she didn't want to stay in the dress for long. 
At least it didn't rain, as I was worried that it would. 

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That was it for the dress.  Just too chilly out.

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Tights, Stretch pants, jeans, boots, shirt, tank top, two sweaters, and a scarf.  Much better.

It's interesting to note that while you can't see the shirts underneath, she's wearing the same white shirt and blue tank that she's worn for the past two photo dates!  I don't know how she still fits it all, but I think it's cool that her favorite style clothes from two years ago are still her favorites.

 

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{This is when she saw skydivers}

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Chick also did some impromptu nature art...she fashioned a hat.



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We went to downtown Snohomish.  Lots of character and texture.  And when we were done with the pictures, lots of yummy choices for our treat!  Chick picked a bakery, where we both got hot cocoa and a treat.  She got a blueberry strussel muffin, and I got a blueberry scone.  Mmm, so yummy.

 

{She's already requested that next year be in Snohomish as well so that we can revisit the bakery.  Sounds good to me!}

 

Before leaving town we stopped in at the library, because Chick is a bit of a bookworm.

It was fun!  We got a ton of good pictures, and explored a few new spots.  I love that girl!
Now to pick which picture should go on my wall....
Which would you pick?  It needs to be a close-up.

Last Weekend's Adventure

Chick

Last weekend there was a free Ice Skating event.  Monkey and I got home from our photoshoot date just in time to get everyone dressed for the ice, and we headed out the door!

None of the kids had ever skated before.  Honestly, I thought it would be a half hour before we heard the chorus of "I'm Cold!" "I'm Tired!"  "I don't want to skate anymore."  And then we'd come home.

Moose

I was COMPLETELY wrong.  They all loved it, and didn't want to leave...even when the rink was closed and everyone got kicked off the ice.

Chick, Monkey, and Moose all did well on their own.  They preferred using the supports...but all three could skate without them by the time we went home.


Owl and Monkey

 

Owl liked skating the least... which is what I'd expect from a toddler.  She did like it ok, she just was the least.

Otter!

Otter was the one that surprised us all.  She LOVED it.  If I stopped to talk to one of the other kids for too long, then she'd start going without me.  She never wanted to be stopped, and just went around and around and around.  She seemed to feel encumbered by pushing the support thing, and would sometimes start skating off without it (though she wasn't quite skilled enough to do that for too far).  At one point she took a break on the side with Mr. Fox...when I started taking her back out onto the ice she actually squealed with excitement! 
It's rare to see someone take to something so much...it was so much fun to see.  We're probably going to get her lessons for her birthday (They don't start until age 3 anyhow).

Otter (again)

A great time was had by all.  Even Fox and I, going slow and helping kids, had a fantastic time.  I think it was one of those special outings that we'll remember fondly forever.  And hopefully we can get back out on the ice soon.

Fox and Owl at closing time

Monkey and Me

Monkey's 6 year photoshoot date

Monkey and I went on her annual photoshoot date yesterday!  It was rather a gray, cold, drizzly day...but she really wanted to go and the kids insisted that it wasn't really all that rainy out.  It really wasn't, but it still wasn't a great day.  Which explains why she never took off her coat, and rarely took off the hood.  But I am totally digging the Eskimo look : )

We went to a park that I'd never been to, and it was really cool.  She was a good sport about me taking her pictures.  When she was set free to play she made nature art with shells.  I love when my kids do that kind of thing. 

Anyhow, afterwards we went to TCBY for some frozen yogurt.  Hers was pretty candy-laden.  It didn't look all that appetizing to me...I mean, where's the chocolate?!  She liked it ok, despite her grimace in the final picture. 

It was a lovely date.  She's a sweetheart (most of the time).  I love our photoshoot dates :)

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Her hair got curlier from the misty weather.  I love it!
 

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Feel free to let me know which one you like best and why!  I am not a photographer, and I don't have a fancy schmancy camera (in fact my camera is getting rather old).  I love doing the photoshoots, though, and I love to take pictures of my kids.  Feedback helps immensely, thanks!

Happy New Year!

Chick drew this on the chalkboard on New Year's Eve eve.
If you can't tell, it's her and Owl eating fondue. 
It made me happy that she cherishes our tradition!

I thought I'd reacquaint myself with blogging by sharing my goals for the new year!  Blogging more (i.e. "at all") isn't one of them...but it is.  I mean, it's an unwritten one.

Well shoot, I just wrote it.  Ok, so it is a written one, but it's unofficial.

Anyhow, I'm totally digressing.  My goals:

• Attend the Temple once a month
• Run two races this year
• 10:30 bedtime
• Declutter for 15 minutes daily
• Spent less time online (I don't quite know how to quantify this one...it'll just be dictated by my conscience)

Also I want to complete the following projects:

• Baby books for Moose, Owl and Otter
• Twin-sized quilts for Chick, Monkey and Moose
• Remodel the kitchen
• Redecorate (or rather "decorate" since it's the first time) the craft room in a downstairs room

Already this year I'm far from perfect on any of them, but I certainly don't expect myself to be perfect...I'm just aiming for "better."

To celebrate the New Year...

...we had our traditional fondue dinner.  It was very exciting, of course. The main course was bread, lil' smokies, and broccoli with cheese fondue.  Paired with sparkling ciders.  Dessert was strawberries, bananas, and marshmallows with chocolate fondue. YUM!

The lights on the table (rather than candles) was a new idea this year.  I liked it a lot better.  Mr. Fox still grumbled some about not being able to see the food (he really doesn't like candlelit dinners), so next year I'll add more on the walls and ceiling.

After dinner was a movie night for some (Frozen), and a game after that (Ticket to Ride).  Both the movie and the game were Christmas gifts from my BIL and SIL.  Super awesome and fun!  Thanks, guys!

Mr. Fox went to bed pretty early, as did the twinsies.  Moose fell asleep during the movie, and Monkey fell asleep during the game (she quit halfway through so that she could go lay down).  Only Chick and I made it to midnight.  We were both really tired...towards the end of the game I noticed that Chick was laying down a track of trains RIGHT NEXT TO HER OWN EXISTING TRACK!  ha ha!  And even better?  It was a route that she'd already completed, and was doing the card over again.  lol.  Poor tired girl!  We both went right to sleep as soon as the clock struck midnight.

 

ps-- Moose says that he wasn't asleep...he'd just been resting with his eyes shut.