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!

Sisterly love

This is an ordinary day in our house:  Clara dressed in who knows what and what you can't see in this picture is that Nora is in the laundry basket (who is the second child and who is the older one?).  Like I said, just an ordinary day of sisterly love.

Skiing

Today Nora skied a real distance for the first time.  JR was in the ice house so I trekked out with the girls.  Nora was a little tuckered out by the time we got there, she walked back instead of skiing, but she did great.  I found the easiest way to transport Clara--in the backpack!  I really enjoyed the skiing and I realize that the skiing is the most practical of the winter sports for a four year old (skating, snowshoeing, etc).

Ice

Friday afternoon fun

New Camera

We just got a new camera and look at the difference a camera makes!!  As most know we had camera trouble this fall and have been borrowing our friends' older camera, which I am grateful for, but as you can tell, there is a difference.  I am excited about taking pictures again!!

Ice Fishing

Last weekend we went ice fishing on our lake.  The girls were so excited.  They were watching JR drill the hole so intensely.  I think they were expecting the fish to jump right out.  When he got done drilling the hole they both looked for the fish.

Unfortunately the fish didn't jump right into our laps.  However, good thing we had plenty of gear to try our luck.  Nora used one of JR's ice fishing poles, but Clara wanted to use her fishing pole she got for her birthday in October.  Thankfully kids' poles are about the same size as ice fishing poles.  It was difficult to hold with mittens on though.  The funny thing about the whole experience is that I think sitting on "the bucket" was a bigger deal then the fishing itself.

Clara and I went in while Nora stayed with JR, then we came back out after nap time.  The joys of living on the lake!!  (I can really see why lake property is worth a pretty penny)  They did catch some fish, but only one perch was big enough to keep.  So much for Target and Toys R Us because Nora played with that frozen fish ALL afternoon.  I was watching her thinking all the mom things like "now I will have to wash her mittens" etc, but she was having a blast.

Here is Clara and I going back to the cabin.  She almost made it back to the cabin walking by herself.  I opted for using the sled on the way back out.

Long drives

One of my favorite things is when you get home after a long day and the kids are sleeping in the car.  First of all, it makes the bedtime routine MUCH shorter, but more importantly, they are so sweet.  I love this picture because we went to BWW earlier in the day, so they each had a balloon.  This was taken around Christmas time.

Jewelry Jewelry

The girls love to wear my Grandma's jewelry.  When she asked for Christmas ideas this fall, I told that they love her jewelry.  Well, they each got a "checkbook box" (got to love great grandparents) full of some of her old jewelry.  Nora picked one that looked nice to put on, Clara of course put everything from the box on, notice the earrings.  Nora's earrings were a little tight--they didn't last long.  Thank you for the wonderful Christmas gift Great Grandma Skluzacek!

My independent spirit

Picture taken mid-December.
Clara is my independent little dresser.  That is the nice way of saying you can't touch her to make things right--she knows what she wants and she will do it herself.  This is common with lots of kids and it happens everyday in little ways.  This picture is a perfect example of it.  She refused to let me help her with her hair--so this is how it was for the day (on the weekend obviously).

Allergic to the Christmas tree.  I also took this picture because I keep track of when she breaks out etc.  Well, it took until about the 2nd weekend of December to realize that Clara was allergic to the Christmas tree.  During the week her skin would start to clear up and by Sunday it looked like this.  Poor girl.  Now that the tree is gone, everything is back to normal with her.

Sunny snow days!

Today was all about playing in the new snow.  Nora loves it; a complete turn around from last year!  Clara is right where you expect a two year old to be when the snow drifts are deeper then them.  She is a little unsure of all of it but, of course, is trying to keep up with Nora so she wants to be outside.
JR took the girls for rides in the toboggan along the shore.

It wasn't so good when they had to turn around....Clara lost a mitten in the snow...mommy had to come to the rescue.

Snow Day

The big snowstorm made it to the UP!  Nora played while I shoveled and got a few snapshots of our yard.  I am so happy that Nora can tolerate the cold better than she did last year (which was about 2 minutes tops).

Notice the road is not plowed yet....not until 2:30pm!!

One little Christmas tree.....

We put up our tree yesterday.  We went small to fit the space we have and it is so darn cute--it fits perfectly.

The day we moved--Nov. 14th we saw truck after truck load of Christmas trees going south from the UP.  So you can think of us when smelling the pine of your Christmas trees because it came from our backyard!

The making of Ice

I love our lake (Indian Lake).  The last few days the ice has begun.  I wanted to take pictures everyday to watch it in motion and it happened so fast I didn't get to do it!  Friday morning we had a little snow/ice on the shore and the waves sounded wonderful.  It sounded like big waves crashing boulders.  We would only have to crack our window the slightest amount to listen.  It was awesome.  Saturday there were still waves and the ice/slush went out about 20 feet and now today--ice everywhere.  It is amazing.  Also, it is now silent.  The silence is as cool as the waves were--you feel like you are the only one, and your breath is cold.  (Deep Breath, take it in).  Every morning I spent a few minutes (or seconds) watching the water.  The mornings are the best.

Here is the lake sometime around 7 this morning.  The moon was still up.

Here is the lake today about noon...to show the ice in action.

First Day Of School

Nora was elated to go to school today!  She did great!  When we got home tonight, she had everyone sit on the couch so she could show us everything in her bag; art projects, notes to parents...  She is very serious when she talks about doing art projects everyday, yes everyday.  (OK Nora, everyday).
She has grown up so fast; it is so fun to watch her excited about school, learning, and everything around her.

Bag of goodies

We just had to take this picture.  Clara wanted to get in this grocery bag so bad, and the little (allergy-free) peanut actually fits!  She had her first day at Debbie's today.  She did great even though I think it was a little stressful for her.  Every time she has ever been without her parents, she has always had Nora and today she was on her own.  I hope she will go tomorrow morning as well as today, but I am not holding my breath now that she knows what happens.  Debbie told me she was soooo excited to see Nora when she got off the bus.  She loves Nora so much and I had never really thought about how much she really loves her until now.