School Projects

We spent the weekend helping D complete some school projects. The first project was for a social studies unit distinguishing between yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  They read the book Tell Me Again about the Night I was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis in school and to follow that up we had to tell D about the night she was born.  She then had to pick out some of her favorite parts and write them down.  Thankfully we have been telling D about the night she was born for a few years now, so we were prepared.  She loves the story and usually asks me to tell her it every few weeks at bedtime.

 

N had a fun time helping D design and make a 3D sea creature using recycled material for a contest at school.  It turned out pretty cool.

N is off to South America for the week, wish me luck as we have a busy week!

And These are the Days of our Lives....

I feel bad I haven't blogged in so long but not being able to blog about a huge part of our life right now makes it hard.  I can say that we have finally gotten into a good routine with our plus one, eating and sleeping are improving, and we are enjoying our time with her.  Sorry I can't share much else.

D is doing good, working hard on learning to read and still loves to write.  N is trying to get her back out on the slopes now that we are a little more settled.  She didn't do so well last weekend, a little rusty.  They hope to go back again this Sunday.  She is eager to go, so hopefully that will help with the rust.  :)

The countdown to our cruise has begun!  We can't wait.  We are looking forward to some fun in the sun.  We have begun to try on our summer clothes and make some new purchases.  We still have so much more to buy and get ready. 
We have lots going on this Spring; cruise, birthdays, a graduation, our anniversary.....Love this time of year!

D dressed as a 100 year old for the 100th day of school

Crazy Couple of Week!

I am not sure where to even begin so much has happened in the last couple of weeks!  Some good, some not so good.
Is it crazy I have to look at pictures on my phone to see what happened when?!? 
D had another ski lesson and did fabulous!  Hopefully we can get her back out on the slopes again soon.  She had to make a vet's office out of a milk carton for school and also a poster with pictures of herself as a baby and now.  Her and Daddy went to a Daddy-Daughter Dance.  And I am sure I am missing some things....
My Grandma Rose passed away over a week ago, she lived a long and wonderful life.  Unfortunately we were unable to go home for the funeral as we now have our first foster child.  She is a 9 month old little girl; extremely adorable and mild mannered.  I won't say much else for privacy.  If you see me out and about now you will know who my extra passenger is!

Sick Day

D is home today; her first official sick day.  She has gone in late once this year, but never missed a whole day.  I am surprised it has taken this long!  She has been fighting a runny nose since Monday, woke up with a headache last night, and has had a bit of a belly ache (probably because she refuses to blow her nose, instead she snorts--ugh!).  We have spent the morning watching TV, making a new chore list, drawing, and resting.

Letter D wrote to her Daddy inviting him to a dance.

Lanie reading a book after D made the bed.

The perfect shirt for her!

New Chore List-earning money for a doll from the American Girls Store

Our first family ski outing!

We headed to PA this weekend to have Christmas with the N's family and to also ski for the first time as a family.  N and his step-mom both ski, but the rest of us have not (ok-I had one lesson 16 years ago!). 

N's brother Jon, his girlfriend, and I took a first time skiers lesson.  We had a great teacher and we all did pretty well.  J even felt so confident that her joined N and Kelli on the slopes.  Courtney and I decided to enjoy a cup of coffee (it was the worst coffee ever, it should be a law that ski slopes serve only the best coffee!) and rest our tired legs.

D spent the day in a program called the Little Rippers.  It was from 9-4 and included a lesson and lunch.  We got to see her out on the bunny slope and she did awesome.  The teacher said she was a little nervous at first but then took right off.  She is looking forward to skiing again this weekend if the weather cooperates.

During our lesson

Getting instructions from Bob

D (pink helmet, white/pink coat and dark pink snow pants)

D headed down the bunny slope

Courtney and I after our lesson

D getting instructions from her teacher

Jon and N

Christmas Recap

We are finally back to our normal schedule!  After two fun weeks of all three of us being home together, D headed to school happily this morning and N zoomed off to work.  I hit the gym for a Zumba class and will spend the rest of the day catching up on all the things I wasn't able to do with everyone home. 

I posted Christmas pictures on Facebook, so I will only post a few here!  We had a fabulous Christmas, my parents, grandma, and brother were able to come to Michigan and celebrate with us.  A good time was had by all.  D enjoyed having everyone here to cater to her every request!

New Year's Eve we spent with friends, D had a blast with their 5 kids and N and I had fun playing games with their parents.  D lasted till midnight!  This was her first year and she wasn't too cranky the next day.

Now we are counting down till our cruise!  We are headed out to sea in March and can't wait to see how D likes the cruising experience.  N and I love it, so hopefully she will too.

N and I are trying to train to do a 5K this Spring and maybe a 10K or 1/2 marathon next year.  Any advice or encouragement is welcome! 

Our First Annual Holiday Party and Wine Exchange

We hosted a holiday party and wine exchange on Saturday night.  It was our first big party in our new house.  We had a great time catching up with friends!  Everyone brought a bottle of wine for a white elephant exchange.  A few bottles of wine went through a few hands as people were looking for their favorite wine or a new wine to try!  We ended up with a Michigan wine and I can't wait to try it!  I was so busy chatting and drinking that I didn't get any pictures, so bummed!  I did take a few of the house before everyone arrived.
We are headed into a busy week; Santa visit, 4 holiday parties, last week of school, volunteering, meetings, etc.  Hopefully all our shopping will be done by this weekend, we just have a few more things to pick up.