Frog Hopper

Three brave girls enjoying the Frog Hopper at Bennett's birthday party!  Although hesitant at first, they all loved this thing and rode it many times.  I don't think I will be able to forget those giggles and smiles!

Swimmers

These girls continue to take Saturday morning swim lessons and have become quite skilled in the water.  My initial goal for the lessons was for survival skills - you need to swim in order to play in the water.  They have both passed the basic skills and are completely proficient in the water, yet neither wants to stop taking lessons because they love it so much.

Ski Lessons

We signed the girls up for ski lessons again this season and lucky for us the weather was much more cooperative.  We were able to get in the full six lessons and had such great snow!

Laurel, Callie and Clara took their lessons together and had SO much fun.  They gained so many skills this year and went from skiing the easiest green runs to shredding down the steep blues!  They were all turning and stopping independently and loving every minute of it.

Maya took her lessons with Ella and Laney again... I don't have any pictures of the three of them.  They all had back to back lessons which meant I was able to get in a little skiing time with the one that wasn't with the instructor.  

Maya and I at the top of the hill.  She was so fun to ski with this year.  It was the first time I felt like us skiing together was not actually extra work for me.  She is entirely independent and was practicing her parallel skiing by the end of the season. 

When not skiing we all spent time playing in the large amount of snow!

Thank you notes

There are some days that parenting seems extra hard and I start to feel like we are making one wrong decision after another.  That maybe the girls just won't ever get along.  That I'm taking out too many of my frustrations on them.  But, just when I am feeling a little down on myself for my parenting skills, the girls seem to do something that encourages me that despite the challenges, we must be doing something right.

They received some really fun thank you cards from Grandma Jean for Christmas and on their own, asked me to help them write to each other.  Their words, some help with spelling for Laurel, and some help with privacy for coloring and writing.  They handed them to each other, read them, gave each other big hugs and immediately asked for another because they had more to write.

Even when I feel like the bickering can be endless on the hard days, these girls really do love each other.  I continue to pray that they will keep their strong relationship through life and ultimately end up as close as Amy, Jenny and I are.  I couldn't get through life without my sisters and I am so glad that Maya and Laurel have each other as well!

Snuggles

We were lucky enough to have Callie and Liam over for an evening.  Cousin PJ snuggles while watching a movie!  This picture makes me smile because it is very reminiscent of the way Amy, Jenny and I used to watch TV.

Snoqualmie Falls

Rey and I were able to take some extra time off between Christmas and New Years to spend with the girls.  We decided to head to Snoqualmie Falls on one of those days and enjoyed a great family hike.  Although, Laurel was a bit disappointed that it was a short way down and kept asking when we were going to go on the "real hike."  It was a chilly but beautiful day out and the fresh air was much needed.  Hiking is becoming an activity that we all really enjoy doing together so I am looking forward to more of them as the weather gets nicer.  Great exercise, fresh air and exploring adventures!

A Christmas Play

The girls were lucky enough to join Aunt Amy, Aunt Jenny and their cousins on a special outing to Seattle Center.  I, unfortunately, had to work.  They got to go ice skating, eat ice cream and go to the Children's Theater to see Chitty, Chitty Bang, Bang.  I am sad I wasn't able to join, but am thankful for some amazing sisters who are happy to take along my kids so they won't miss out.  Love these kids and all the fun they have together!