more snow

We didn't get as much snow as the Y did at home, but C and I still enjoyed playing in it Saturday morning before it melted. I tried pulling C around, but she was much too heavy for me, so M pulled the both of us through the park and down a few of the smaller hills.
Getting ready to have the ride of our lives.

Walking to the park to go sledding. Look how good C is walking now!

C enjoyed the ride for the most part until she fell out twice. Then the snow got on her wrists between the gloves and coat, and she wasn't happy about that. We played for a good forty-five minutes before heading back to the house to warm up. And in that short time the roads went from ice to slush and by the time D came home from work 3 hours later the roads were dry, and the lawns mostly melted. Our snow just doesn't stick around very long so we have to enjoy it while we can.

snow, snow, snow

On Friday the Y got a good foot of snow. M played in it at lunch--going on a snowshoe hike with it still lightly snowing and snow up to her knees in same places. After school it was almost up to my waist! M and I went down to the ice skating pond, but of course with all the work keeping up with the roads, the pond was still very much covered over. We had fun walking in it though.I fell a couple times and realized just how deep it really was!!
We only lasted for a few minutes, but it was worth all the work.

Random fun

M found an old picture on her phone. Before Christmas, the church choir would practice every Sunday after church for their Advent songs. I thought I needed to be a part of it. So I practiced with them and on 2 Sundays even went up to help them sing. I caught onto some of the words, but most often I just stood up there smiling with my book open. Future choir member in practice! M's cutie pie with long enough hair for a spiked ponytail. M had been thinking all week that C's hair is almost long enough for a ponytail and on Thursday this is how C came home from her babysitters. The daughter was having lots of fun doing up C's hair. Isn't she cute?

Ear, nose, throat

M joked the other weekend that she should have been an ear, nose, throat doctor. She had enough practice last week with her family being sick. All of us (except M) were sick and on antibiotics. I think we all had the same cold/congestion but it just affected us all differently. It started with C's babysitter having 4 sick kids--2 with strep, one with an ear infection and one with croup. So C brought home the cold and because little ones don't have tonsils, her strep infection went all the way down to her diaper rash. After a few days of congestion and sore throat, D decided to get himself checked for strep. His prelim test came back negative, but the doctor still prescribed antibotics until his official test came back. They never called us so we think it was strep plus a sinus infection because the antibiotics helped within 2 doses. While we were at urgent care with D, I coughed so hard I threw up, so M decided to have my cough--which she was thinking was just the start of my allergies again--checked out. Turns out I had an ear infection. However, after a week of medicine we are all better!

Valentine's Day

After gymnastics class on Monday, M and I headed home to celebrate Valentine's Day with D and C. D had steak waiting for us when we came home and a dozen roses sitting on the table for M. He gave C and I new books, a CD player and cookies. C enjoying her cookie on M's lap.

We got new books because we spend a lot of time reading the books we already have. Here we are over the weekend sitting in my room reading.

I like to pretend that I am the teacher and show everyone the book while I read it to them.

Getting ready to write all my Valentine's for my friends at school on Saturday morning.

Writing my name on the card so that my friend would know who it was from. That only lasted about 5 friends and then M had to finish the rest. But I still picked out which card I was giving to each friend and I helped put the heart sticker on and tape the fruit snacks to the card.

"Reading" the Valentine to M while C oversees everything from her high chair.

Gymnastics

On Monday I went to my first gymnastics class. It was just a trial class to see if I would like it. After spending 45 minutes walking on the balance beam, doing somersaults, running and jumping I can say with certainty that I did enjoy my time. It took me a little bit of time to warm up to the teacher and other kids, but by the end I was having lots of fun.

Running, jumping and playing---what could be better?

Where's Carrie?

Saturday morning C and I were helping M&D clean house for the Super Bowl Party. C somehow got lost on the bed with all the stuffed animals.There she is!
M's cutie in a hat!This weekend was a big one for C. She has been walking with help since Christmas and the last 2 weeks has started taking an accidentally step here & there. Accidentally in the fact it is because we trick her into letting go of our hands or it is a step just to catch her balance before reaching out to grab a footstool or something. Anyhow, Saturday evening she took 6 steps in a row before falling down (for G&G on the webcam!). And with a big audience over for Super Bowl Sunday, she was having a blast walking from furniture to furniture and having different people encourage her--even showing off at half time for P&G via webcam.
Here is one of her last videos crawling. Notice how she turns on the speed when she thinks I am going to chase her!

Her in between mode of transportation--knee walking.

Saturday night practicing her newest trick in a "safe" environment.

Super Bowl Sunday walking all over the place.

Ice skating

M & I have been visiting the pond at the entrance to the Y grounds every Friday afternoon. We've just been having fun with our boots--running across and sliding. But just this last Friday, M braved bringing out the ice skates for me.Sitting down to rest. Ice skating is hard work!

After only two laps I decided that the boots were much easier, so I convinced M to let me take the ice skates back off.

Much sturdy and I am able to run in the boots, whereas with the ice skates I just wobbled. I felt kind of like C does right now learning to walk!!

I think I will try the ice skates again this Friday. Who knows--maybe after a few weeks I could be a pro!