NH Weekend

This past weekend we drove to NH to see Gram and Grumpy and visit with Auntie Jen and her boyfriend who was visiting from VA.

There's a lot of snow here too and they got another foot or so while we were there from yet another weekend storm.  It was pretty cold though, so we spent most of our weekend relaxing inside.

sister cuddles

After the storm, Daddy and Grumpy braved the cold with MiniM.E. and went out tubing.

tubing around the circle

Even though we spent a lot of time inside, the girls kept busy with fun things like...

a tandem rocking horse ride

playing "Where's LittleL.G?"

MiniM.E. went in the hot tub with Gram on what was probably the coldest night of the year and was so excited about her hair freezing in the cold air!  We went with her the next day, but it wasn't quite as cold and the sun was shining, so no freezing hair for Mommy and Daddy... 

hot tub in the snow!

Having so much fun at Gram and Grumpy's really tires the girls out!

Backyard Sledding

Mother nature has dumped a three year old's dream on us.  Feet and feet of snow.  MiniM.E. gets so excited whenever it snows.  Especially lately, since any snow we've gotten up until a week or so ago has been for looking only since it's been so cold out.

Unfortunately, MiniM.E. sees the snow and immediately thinks "snowman!" but it isn't snowman snow... and she wants to play in it, but as soon as she gets in the snow, she is IN the snow.  Like in up to her waist.  Which means that all she can do is be IN because she can't do other fun snow things if she can't walk... 

So after Daddy shoveled off deck and I saw a huge pile of snow in the yard, I knew I had to do something fun so MiniM.E. could actually play in the snow.

We have yet to venture out sledding with LittleL.G. because even though she is plenty happy to be out in the cold winter air, MiniM.E. is a very demanding sledding companion, often requiring a tow up the hill while riding the sled and many times requiring a riding partner... Neither of which I am excited to do with a baby strapped to my chest.

And so, on a cold snowy night after the kids were asleep I took a shovel and got to work.

I shoveled a path from our driveway to our backyard so MiniM.E. could walk out back by herself.  (Which took about 14 times longer than expected)  And then I built this:

And spent half an hour sledding on it *to break it in and make sure it was safe* and also because sledding is fun.  I could have gone to bed early... but it was so worth it.

So yesterday we had a friend over and got all bundled up, baby and all...

 

A. "babysitting"

Mommy's quick "test-run"

MiniM.E. didn't want to use the saucer and I didn't forsee this happening with our plastic sled:

But she didn't seem to mind and was excited to do it again.  I fixed it so it was a little smoother.

the waist-deep on a 3 year old snow

that was a good run!

hydrating 

snow chairs!

I'm not sure, but I don't know a whole lot of moms who make backyard sledding hills for their 3 year olds since they can't go sledding during the week because they have a new baby.  I mean, maybe there... but I'd like to think I am one of the few and give myself some mom-props!

Skiing Sunday and ANOTHER Snow Day Monday

Yesterday, since everyone was feeling better, the weather was reasonably warm (read above 20), and it was supposed to snow, we decided to go skiing!  We haven't been since last year because we've been skating on Saturdays and every Sunday has been freezing cold.  MiniM.E. was SO EXCITED she wanted to leave at 7:30.  Due to poor preparedness on our part we didn't end up leaving until after 11 because we didn't have a ski rack or bungee cords to get our skis to the ski area AND Bob had to snowblow the driveway.  No big deal we were there just in time for the lunch rush which meant zero table space.  So we found these bar stools tucked away in the corner and got ready there.

We bundled up the kids and Bob got on his ski gear and we headed to the magic carpet.  Huge progress over last year: MiniM.E. can stand up on her skis!

watching the action- never too early to start!

a successful trip down the mountain! 

In other news, I cannot believe how much LittleL.G. is growing!  She graduated to her own seat at the dinner table, which makes eating so much easier for me since her previous dinnertime location was my lap.  And she now loves being on her stomach and exploring the world from a new viewpoint.  She's "floor swimming" and can pull herself along on the wooden floor!

And here we are on a second snow day Monday, no classes, no school (which MiniM.E. is thrilled about!) watching it snow and snow and snow... Still a lot more winter to go!

More Winter...

While everyone was getting over being sick, we spent a lot of time inside taking long daytime baths, having pajama days, and cuddling.

sparkle snow! 

The other morning, MiniM.E. and LittleL.G. were so adorable cuddling in our bed.  And even though I took 20+ photos, here is a funny example of how I can't get them both to smile at the same time... LittleL.G. is super smiley, but always ruins the photos where MiniM.E. is smiling by moving too much.  And MiniM.E. has a hard time just looking happy without making funny faces.

the best of all the photos

We did go a little stir crazy and venture out to the mall where LittleL.G. "played" at the play place for the first time.

a MiniM.E. photo

Fortunately we are all feeling a lot better now!

Super Bowl Sunday and Snow Day Monday!

Superbowl Sunday is not an exciting day at our house.  I have very little interest in football.  The only reason I even know how the game is played was because I was in marching band in high school and after sitting in the bleachers for four seasons of high school football, you start to get a general idea of what's going on even if you spend 90% of the game talking to friends or desperately attempting to warm up your freezing cold hands.

So Daddy went off to a super bowl party at a colleague's fancy house with a giant projection screen and MiniM.E. and LittleL.G. and I stayed home.  MiniM.E. stayed home sick from school on Friday, LittleL.G. was right in the middle of the bad cold that had MiniM.E. out of commission and I could feel it coming on (gotta love being cooped up with sick kids in the winter!).  BUT we wanted to do something fun since Daddy was doing something fun.  So we decided to go out to dinner at MiniM.E.'s second favorite restaurant, Friendly's.  Restaurant #1 is Ruby Tuesday's because "you get to pick out your food," but our Ruby Tuesday's closed.  Friendly's wins spot #2 for mini cheese sticks and cone head sundaes (which MiniM.E. likes to order and then stare at and let melt...)

It didn't look like it was going to go very well as LittleL.G. screamed the whole way there and then refused to go to sleep even though it was her bedtime, but we ended up having a great time and both kids fell asleep on the way home in the car!

Monday we woke up to a lot of snow and music class and school were closed.  Unfortunately it was freezing cold outside so we couldn't go out and enjoy it.

At least we were able to go out last week and play.

Today we're having a quiet day inside because I inevitably caught MiniM.E.'s nasty cold and LittleL.G. and I are definitely under the weather.  MiniM.E. is recovering too... so it's going to be a day full of quiet time and Daniel Tiger...

Baby Wearing

When MiniM.E. was an infant she was pretty temperamental (read: cried whenever she was awake).  After a few months she was happier, she loved attention and required it almost all the time.  I was lucky if I could squeeze in a crying-free ten minute shower.  She was rarely content to just be held or bounced and loved her play mat and jumper but only if someone was watching her do it.

LittleL.G. is a much happier baby and more independent (she has to be, I guess).  One of the things I love most about her temperament is that she loves to be held and cuddled and snuggled.  She is happy to be carried around and watch MiniM.E. do whatever she does as long as she isn't hungry or tired.  But sometimes it would be nice if I had BOTH my hands...

Since I only put MiniM.E. in a carrier a few (miserable) times, I never really tried out other methods of "baby wearing".  I knew I would need a convenient way to hold LittleL.G. and still have hands free for MiniM.E. so this time around we bought an Ergo (which I LOVE).  I use that when we're out and about and it's fantastic because I can discreetly nurse her in there too.  I borrowed a few woven wraps from a baby wearing friend and recently started using them more and I am a total convert.  We have been practicing a lot with the woven wraps and my mom bought me my own for my birthday.  It was love at first wrap.  LittleL.G. loves to be snuggled up against me and its so convenient for having hands free to play with MiniM.E.

Practicing with MiniM.E... guess she likes it now too!  First nap in months!

I can wear them both!

cuddling our new wrap

breaking it in as a hammock

all snuggled up

Our Little Bean

We add "Bean" to LittleL.G.'s name so often that MiniM.E. thinks her middle name is actually "Bean"! Too funny.

She is becoming such a little person and we have such a good time with her every day.  She's super smiley and giggles all the time- but only for MiniM.E.  I love the special relationship my girls have.  MiniM.E. said to me the other day, "I love you Mommy" *heart melting* "But I love Leah most" *almost in tears its so cute!*

She IS pretty loveable!