Random Updates

This weekend was pretty low-key comparatively, but we had some excitements.  The first, and biggest for JR and I, we had our first night with a babysitter!!!  What you take for granted when you have sitters around.  We just went out for dinner but hey, its been almost 4 months of always being with our kids--everyone deserves a break now and again.

The second is that I cut about 4 inches off of Nora's hair--how can I tell you and not have pictures--sorry!  I will try tomorrow.  She is definitely at the age of drama, tantrums and not agreeing to pictures if it is not in her agenda.  It is just below her ears now (the way I like it).

This weekend was also a turning point in settling in because Nora had a play date today.  We found out that the girl at daycare and in the 4 year old preschool class at her school (Nora is in the 3yr old class) lives one block over.  She turned four last fall, so it is a perfect match.  Its just one more thing for Nora to feel more settled.

And last but not least, we have put Sunny (Nora's beta fish) on hospice.  Sunny has been a good fish with all of the ups and downs of moving, but we feel that he is on his last legs.  He still does eat and move around, but the last few days he mostly hangs out on the bottom of the tank.  The water did get pretty bad in the last week, so we changed it this weekend and have fed him extra, but I think we are still on shaky ground.  Everyone is aware that he is not doing to good, even a 4 year old knows something is up when he won't move until you flick his tank about 8 times.  :) 

Goggles

Last weekend we unpacked many boxes that have been in storage, including toys and such for the girls.  The goggles were one of the items unpacked and Clara has quite the affection for them.  I see goggles everyday on her head, during dinner, bath time, play time, you name it.  Here is a sampling.

Treehouse

We have a treehouse in our backyard, and it actually has a real tree in the house!  Look closely.  Yesterday I went outside with Nora during Clara's nap, which was wonderful.  I hardly ever spend time with just Nora and I, the breakdown usually ends up with Nora and JR, and Clara and I when we separate with the girls.  Our weather has also been warming up too--it was a great day outside.

Updates

It has been a little bit since last updating....in the last few weeks we have had three different visitors and we have moved into a bigger house still on Indian Lake, opposed to our cute LITTLE cabin.  The upgrades include: the girls have their own bedrooms (opposed to Nora sleeping on her sleeping bag in our office), a toy room, a standard size kitchen (hooray!), a spare bedroom, the basement for an office, and lets not forget a replica of the Mackinac bridge in our backyard!!  When renting, beggars can't be choosers, but rarely do renters get to upgrade beyond their previously owned home.  My slow transformation over the last few years of wanting to simplify our lives and "things" not only got thrown out the window, but chucked out a window from the top of a skyscraper!  I love, love the house we are renting but my conscious does have trouble from time to time thinking about the energy keeping the Koi in the heated pond alive through the winter :)   Here is a preview of the backyard under snow...inside pictures coming someday soon....

Almost Kindergarden

I can hardly believe Nora is going to be 5 in just a few short months.  Today she came home from preschool telling me how they visited the Kindergarden class she will be in next year.  She will be in the same school going full days, just like this year, but she will have a school uniform next year.  I can't even imagine! (The big question is how am I ever going to find pants that she will wear, seeing that she only wears stretch pants now)  Just as all kids mature constantly growing from one stage to another, Nora has grown up so much in the last few months.  She is constantly reading letters on everything...t-shirts, papers, etc.  She hasn't put them together into words, but it is coming soon.  A person does feel a little invaded when she starts reading letters across the t-shirt you are wearing!