Stepping Out to Stepping Stones

Last week was school vacation week, which means that Lee had both girls all day long, all week long. On Thursday, we decided to take a family trip to Stepping Stones, an interactive children's museum in Norwalk. I took a ton of pictures, until I realized that what I was trying to capture on film was simply elusive - the look of wonderment and awe on their faces (Elizabeth especially) as they tried to wrap their minds around how everything worked. We practically had to drag them out at the end of the day, although Emily was dead tired (and screaming) from missing her nap.

Emily was so intense in the water play area.
So much to see, so much to do, so little time!!

We could have left Elizabeth in this area all day, she was so into it.

Big Kid Swim Class

On Saturday, Elizabeth reached another milestone with swimming - she had her first big girl swim class. No parents were allowed in the pool and although we were a little nervous that she would freak out and refuse to go in the pool, she did great!! These last few weeks of swimming have been so amazing for Lee and I to watch - six months ago, she wouldn't leave the side of the pool and four months ago, she held on to us with a death grip in the water. Now she's in the pool all by herself, waving to us like it's the most natural thing in the world....

Riding in the Car with Emily

Every car ride with Emily that lasts longer than 15 minutes results in her doing one of four things: (1) sleeping; (2) falling asleep (up to ten minutes of nodding in and out); (3) screaming; and (4) catching her breath (in order to continue screaming). During most trips, such as the one that resulted in this video, all of these things occur. Emily has an incredibly loud scream, so loud that it can make one nauseous; or, at least it can make her parents - who remember her horrific colic days like they were yesterday - nauseous! Here is a clip from a recent car ride. By this point, twenty minutes into it, her screaming had died down a bit because she was actually losing her voice...

P.S. It's not as if we don't spend considerable time trying to console her. Elizabeth was handing her toys - each of wwa were rejected - and the water I handed back quieted the monster for only about 30 seconds (she needed to quench her thirst...).

Trip to New Hampshire

The girls and I had a nice visit to New Hampshire this weekend, spending time with Grammy and Grandpa AND Grammy and Grampy. Grammy and Grandpa did puzzles with the girls and shared "Grammy cookies." Grammy and Grampy took us to meet some Alpacas in their neighborhood- they were neat, but a little too scary for the girls, at least right now. Elizabeth also got in some quality time with Grammy, playing and exploring in all the snow. Finally, the girls had a great playdate with Ethan and his Mommy - and, to our surprise and delight, baby Juliet and her mommy! We had such a great time, but everyone was very tired today.

Making puzzles with Grandpa
Emily and Grampy check out Simon (and each other)Alpacas have that "so ugly they're cute" thing going on.
All the kids playing Elizabeth and Auntie Kathy negogiate over Grammy cookies.

Emily is not a fan of the snow, but Elizabeth liked it.

More Valentine's Day Treats

Here is a cute video of the girls opening their surprise package from Dan and Martha - not surprisingly, Elizabeth runs the show, and everything is "hers," especially chocolate!!

Happy "Balentime's" Day

Happy Valentine's Day!!! The girls had a great day today - opening cards and presents, eating chocolate and other treats - it was just great!!

Elizabeth couldn't wait to open her cards.

In case you were wondering, this princess doll seems so creepy to me - but Elizabeth and Emily just love them - shows what I know!!

Wild Weather

Over the last few days, we have had some crazy weather here. It started last Thursday, with a crazy thunder and lightening storm that woke us all in the middle of the night and had the dogs trying to climb into our bed. Then Sunday night, it started snowing and wind whipped up a frenzy - it howled all night long, shaking our house to its bones. Last night, it started snowing around the 6:30, but rain followed. Today, there was major flooding - the highways, the roads, our backyard, our basement.....you name it. We'd give anything for a good old fashioned winter storm, instead of this craziness!!

The snow on Sunday night.
Our backyard is water and ice.

By the way, these last two pictures are evidence that Lee knows how to use a camera.

Easy Like Sunday Morning

Just some practice pictures of my favorite subjects with the new camera. . .

Princess Elizabeth

Thanks to EVERYONE for creating a princess monster - she has on her Cinderella dress, over her Princess pajamas, listening to the theme song from Aladdin, while waiving around her Princess wand and dancing on/near her Princess mat. Oh, and watching her reflection in the (off) television screen. Gifts from no fewer than four of our alleged friends and family members combined to create this masterpiece....

Look Ma (and Dad!), No Hands!!

For the better part of a year, Elizabeth has clung to either Lee, me or some flotation device whenever she enters a pool - we have been making progress, but it has been extremely slow going. Last week, she had a huge breakthrough and can now swim on her own! Lee was just about bursting with pride after last Saturday's class - and, of course, it was the only class that Emily and I missed in the last 6 months! This morning, I got some great shots - she is obviously quite pleased with herself. You can see more pictures from the class here. Truly, our YMCA does build strong kids (what a plug)!!

She wore this grin the entire class!

You Make Me Feel Like Dancin'

On Saturday, Fireman Dave and Miss Sara visited - it was their belated Christmas visit with the girls and so they arrived with an armful of gifts. As the first to introduce Elizabeth to "the shoes" - Ariel heels that she wore around the house for more than a year - Miss Sara didn't disappoint. Although the blame apparently rests with Fireman Dave, they brought Sleeping Beauty heels, a magic wand, dance mat and dance DVD. The rest, as they say, is history. Even Emily got in on the act, basically ignoring the many gifts they brought for her. "the shoes"

Strong Kids Matter

Today is the official kick off for the Middlesex YMCA's 2008 Strong Kids Campaign, a fundraising initiative that supports various programs offered by the YMCA. We are long-time supporters of the Campaign for many reasons - our girls spend a lot of time at the Y and it has served as a positive influence in their lives, Lee is a part-time staff member, and perhaps most importantly, the Y does an incredible amount of good for the families of Middlesex County.
This year's Campaign has particular significance for me, as I was asked to serve as Chairwoman - and tasked with raising $50,000 to ensure that Kids Korner, Camp Ingersoll, the aquatics program, and the fitness/wellness programs are open to everyone, regardless of financial need. Regardless of where you live, but especially if you live in Connecticut, please consider contributing to the 2008 Strong Kids Campaign (click here to contribute on line). And if you do make a contribution, please send me an email letting me know, as it is important for each fundraising "team" to keep track of donations (you can also put the girls names on the on-line donation form).

Crying Like a Baby

Last weekend, we took apart the nursery - including dismantling the crib - and prepared the crib and bureau (changing table) for sale. Today, we packed them into the truck and Lee is delivering them, as I write this, to a grateful family in Thompson. I far underestimated the emotional impact that this process would have on me - hence the title of this post. It was just about four years ago that my mother and I picked out this crib and bureau for the as-yet-unknown Elizabeth. Now, we have a beautiful 3 1/2 year old and a beautiful 19 month old, which completely fill our lives - but there is still trauma associated with letting go of the crib where both girls spent their first night in our home. Lee unwittingly increased my trauma when he wrapped the crib railings in my "blankie" - a blanket that I have taken with me everywhere for more than thirty years (since I graduated to a "big girl bed") including college, law school and married life. It just came off of our bed last year, when Lee pointed out that it was worn so thin that it no longer functioned as a blanket.
On a happier note, those of you that are just dying to make an overnight visit to our house will soon have a place to stay. We hope to have a guest room - as opposed to an air mattress on the floor - by the end of March.