Catch up pt6

We went on a nature hike with a local ranger; I love how always-in-motion Theo is.

Then to the local mall to ride the rides. I gave each kid two quarters and told them they had to pick where to spend; there'd be no more. It was a good exercise in patience and gratitude for everyone ;)

A very serene moment, I thought.

Catch up pt5

Oh my it's cold here. No more snow, we missed that sadly, but we're hovering between the 30s and the 40s at any given minute. The kids are so cute in snow gear:

Theo decided where one jacket is good, two is better. But both are apparently upside down....

One of the girls' chores is to fold and put away laundry. Theo loves to help but mostly he just moves laundry from the living room to the various rooms. This time though he plopped down and started helping Ellie fold... and she patiently walked him through several wash cloths.

Glue crafts. I like to live dangerously.

Toddler time! The girls are technically still young enough but really, they're twice the other kids' size. It's perfect for the littles though.

Yea she knows she's cute.

Catch up pt4

Back home! No more warmth and sun, but we don't let that stop us. 

She's wearing sunglasses in wistful defiance of the weather.

The reality of the situation.

Daddy took them all to the park... and Ellie biked herself!

Doctor Avy!

With willing patients....

Ellie is big on reading now, spending a lot of her free time reviewing letters.

Christmas vacation pt3

We took as many opportunities to enjoy the California sun while we were there (it was snowing back at home).

Helping Grandpa fix his car.

We love Auntie Helen. Didn't get to see enough of her this visit! She quite reasonably avoided us like the plague we brought in ;)