Proof

Not that we need it . . . but every once in a while we have those moments when we think, "Yep, she's definitely my daughter!"  The other day we was one of those days.

Pinky and I were in the car, I'd just picked her up from school and we were nearing home.  We saw the high school track team out for a run.  From the back seat I hear Pinky say, "Hey mom, can we throw snowballs at those runners tomorrow?" 

Yep!  PROOF she IS her DADDY's daughter!!!  (Because we all know her mommy would NEVER think of something like that!)

We hadn't been home more than a few minutes.  My hubby and I were visiting about the day and clearly not paying attention to our little one.  She comes down the hall and peaks her head in the door holding up a big piece of unwrapped chocolate and says "I snooked some candy!"  Then pops the entire thing in her mouth.

Yep!  PROOF she IS her mommy's daughter!!! 

We put her in the corner, put the lock back on the treat cabinet, and fought laughter the entire time.  I'm sure she has seen me "snook" chocolate out of that same cupboard more than a hundred times . . . and this wasn't a first for her either.  I can't say I blame her, it was probably one of those days for her too.  The good news is, she still doesn't know to "hide" her little acts of mischief!  Lucky for us!!!!

That's OUR girl!  She "snooked" our hearts too!

Waiting for Spring

Yesterday, our morning devotion told us not to complain about anything, not even the weather . . . a couple of hours later, it started to snow.  It's still snowing today.  And we're in a winter storm watch for the weekend.  We made a conscious effort not to complain about the falling snow as others openly expressed their disgust.  And as we continue to bite our tongues, we find ourselves waiting for spring weather!

As I type this I am sitting at the hospital.  I've been here since 6:30 this morning.  I failed my 1 hour glucose test this week so this morning I was here bright and early to drink 10 ounces of fruit punch syrup and have my blood drawn 4 times in 3 hours.  I'm not worried about passing this time . . . I'm more worried about passing out . . . I'm starving!  (Nothing to eat or drink from midnight until my last blood draw.)  And as I wait, I occasionally feel little "Rosie" readjusting (or doing jumping jacks), and I know that she will be here soon . . . and all of this is worth it . . . We're waiting for spring for "Rosie"!

New beginnings, new life, a fresh start . . . we're waiting for all of that at our house!  And though you never want to wish time away, it's hard not to hold out for the brighter (warmer) days! 

Here are just a few of the things I am looking forward to this spring:

• Green grass
• Planting flowers in our flower beds and window boxes ("Pinky" has already been thinking about what color flowers she wants in her window box)
• Walks around the neighborhood
• Playing at the park 
• Riding bike (well, after "Rosie" is here of course)
• The Fargo Marathon (Hoping to "waddle" the 5K this year)
• Setting up the hammock in the back yard
• Fires in our fire pit
• S'mores
• Visiting with our neighbors (we all hybernate in the winter after all!)
• Blowing bubbles and getting out the sidewalk chalk
• Tulips and blossoming trees

It will all be here soon . . . and I can't wait!

*On a side note, as I am typing from a semi-quiet place I found on 3rd floor with lots of windows and a view of the city traffic (and snow).  No one has joined me in the 2 hours I have been here until now.  The lab tech who has been drawing my blood for the last 3 hours just sat down near me . . . with a big cup of water, a yogurt and string cheese.  I'm trying not to be rude, but I gotta tell you, I would love any or all of her snack!!!  (And I am pretty sure she knows it!) Right now, I'm trying not to focus on the fact that I am waiting for breakfast!  :)

Spring

Well, the calendar says spring, but looking outside, you'd never know it.  The first day of spring we woke up to -8!  Granted, it did warm up to an above 0 temperature, but still not the ideal way to say good-bye to winter.

At school, my students have started a poll to see who can guess which day the huge snow bank outside my office window will be melted.  I have to say, the kids are much more optimistic than I am.  Unless someone gets out a hair dryer for April Fools and really goes to town, I think it will be out there a while.

At home, we've been making the best of it as well.  Pinky's been waiting for it to get warm enough to build a snow man for quite a while.  Lately she decided that she should build a "snow duck" instead.  So, after 2 days of work, primarily from her daddy, she officially has her "snow duck" in the front yard. 

Clearly, being very helpful as the "snow duck" was under construction!

Duck profile!

Ta Da!

Taking a little time to ride her bike through some puddles between snowbanks!

Hot chocolate mustache!



Easter Egg hunt at church

"Stay"-Cation

I had February 25-March 1 off from work . . . an entire week.  Many of the families I work with (both students and teachers) had wonderful, warm, sunny vacations planned with their families.  I can't blame them.  Winter in ND . . . We all deserve a little time to "defrost" and catch some Vitamin D!

Our family, on the other hand, had no plans to travel.  In the last couple of months, we have spent a week visiting grandparents over the holidays.  We've spent 4 days in Colorado.  And we've spent 5 days in Florida.  What a blessing to have those times with family and to get the opportunity to travel.  But I am not going to lie:  A week at home sounded wonderful.  A little "stay"-cation. 

We scheduled a couple of play-dates and had a short, but manageable, "to-do" list.  But most of all, I was looking forward to spending a little 1:1 time with my Pinky-Pie . . . knowing the time I have to spend with just her is dwindling.  As much as I am looking forward to welcoming another little girl into the family, I will miss having days for just Pinky.

I didn't plan any wild adventures for the 2 of us.  We watched Mickey Mouse.  Read lots of books.  Painted fingernails, toenails, and a few pictures.  Made some yummy treats.  And worked on our "moves"!  Pinky also learned how to play Candyland, a game I think we will be playing a lot in the upcoming months! 

This morning when the alarm went off, I was not exactly ready to bounce out of bed and speed off to work.  But I have to say that for the most part, I felt rested, like I had crossed a few things off my to-do list, and most of all had made some fun memories with Pinky.  Can't think of a better way to spend a "stay"-cation!

Playing in the snow

1 of many games of Candyland

A little lesson in counting.  (She made it to 15!!!)

Mom's little helper!

Maybe just 1 more M&M before they go in the oven . . .

Playing in the snow with Daddy!

Did I mention we helped Auntie Carman pick out her wedding dress?
No pictures of the dress 'til August . . . but we got to ring the bell when she found "the one!"

Locks and Love

My sister and I have been growing our hair out for quite a while . . . waiting until we both had the required amount to donate our ponies.  My sister has done this before. . . . this was a first for me. 

 

The Goal:  8 inches of hair to donate in the spring of 2013

 

My hair was a bit longer, so I knew as soon as my sister's hair was long enough, we would set a plan.  A few weeks ago she sent an email and said she had 8 inches to donate.  I hadn't actually measured mine, but knew I was ready too. 

 

We decided that Valentine's Day would be a good day.  We contacted a good friend of ours and invited them to a "heart and hair" Valentine's Day party.  Soup and salad for dinner.  Ice cream sundaes and haircuts for dessert.

 

I was a little nervous . . . so I did not volunteer to go first.  But, at the end of the night, 7 little ponies, each 8 inches long were tucked neatly into a ziploc bag ready to mail off.  And with it, our thoughts and prayers and lots of love went out to so many friends and family who have fought for their lives, many doing so in someone else's hair. 

 

 

 

Before



Before



Measuring the locks!

1 pony down

Time to style!

NEXT!

off with the first pony!

I think she had way too much fun "helping"!!!!

After

My prayers go out to the individual who will need these locks one day!

A great big thank you to our dear friend, who agreed to do house-call-hair-cuts and for helping us make this a special evening!  We had a lot of fun and made a lot of memories.  And maybe, just maybe, we'll do this again!

 

Beach Bums and Wedding Bells

Would you believe we were only home from Denver 3 nights before we left again on another wedding adventure?  This time to a sunnier location, although there were times, I'm not quite sure it was warmer!  We traveled with the other side of the family this time, to celebrate the wedding of Cory's cousin. 

It was a fun-filled weekend!  Pinky was the flower girl.  I was a personal attendant.  So we had lots of fun helping the bride on her big day!

We also enjoyed playing in the pool, the beach, and exploring Ft. Myers Beach, and the Pink Shell Resort, where we stayed.  A beautiful place.  I hope we get to go back one day! 

Nap time wedding . . . Pinky wasn't so sure she was ready for all of the fun to begin. 
Here she is opening a beautiful silver bracelet from the bride!  (Check out the feather bouquets on the table!)

Ready for a photo shoot on the beach! 

She didn't carry her basket or drop the flower petals, but she made it all the way to the front without any problems! 
What a big girl!  I almost started crying as she took her aunt's hand and walked away. 
I wonder how many weddings she will be in before she is in her own? 

You may kiss the bride! 

Losing steam at the end of a very busy day!
Thank goodness for iPads, smart phones, and wonderful technology!
 

Checking out the pool our first day at the resort.

Playing on the beach . . . our resort is right behind them. 

The view from our window . . . looking at the beach pictured above.
This is where you could find us on chilly mornings as we waited for it to warm up a bit!

Pinky and her daddy swimming in the pool. 
Picture taken from our hotel window.

Dolphin cruise!

We took off on our 3-hour cruise just as nap time should have started.
Who fell asleep 5 minutes before we docked?  Can't blame her, it was a very fun adventure.
But she did find a pretty comfy place to crash! 

Our last night in FL . . . Down at the beach throwing her flower petals from the wedding. 
 

Yes, we had a busy, fun-filled couple of weeks celebrating two very special weddings with two couples we love dearly . . . Now we are back at home, getting back into the routine, and have tucked our suticases away for a while . . . we all need to rest!  :)  Traveling is exhausting!!!

Go Bison!

Last night we went to the Bison Game to help our nephew celebrate his golden birthday.  We had fun cheering on the team to victory!  The girls enjoyed watching the cheerleaders.  The boys loved the slam dunks.  And of course, the snacks were the best part for all.

Not long after we got settled into our seats, Pinky points to the court and says, "Mom, who's that brown guy again?"  I was mortified. . . what did  she mean, brown guy?  "I don't remember" I said and hoped she'd forget about it.  A couple seconds later she remembered herself.  "Oh yeah, it's 'Fundar'!"  Yes, the mascot, "Thundar" was probably her favorite part of the game.  She told us she missed him already as we drove away from the sports arena.  She loves her plush friends!

Go bison!

Not all of her cousins like sharing with Pinky!!!

Plenty of treats!