Snowflake fun - we have to enjoy the artificial kind. (o:
Playing with my new photography toy - a softbox.
New Beginnings for the young women .
The girls all shared a hero they look up to. Two of the girls mentioned younger siblings, some mentioned parents, teachers . . . I was impressed. These are girls with substance. (o:
Angela getting her Valentines ready for preschool.
My sweet little Valentine. (o:
We've been to OMSI so many times and this exhibit has been at OMSI ever since I can remember. I remember looking at it when I was pregnant with either Sarah or Natalie. On this visit the girls were fascinated with it. These are actual fetus' through the each stage of a baby's development. Starting at the teeny tiniest little tissue sample. They looked at each one with grandma. It's amazing to look at and sad because these were actual babies who obviously didn't survive. It is amazing to look through.
We love OMSI! The girls are holding up their souvenirs - some cool rocks from the special rock exhibit that day. Could there have been better timing? We didn't know about the rock and gem show until we got there. Grandma and Sarah are CRAZY about rocks!
The kids liked playing these mind benders with grandma and grnadpa - this was one where you get stuck together with rope and have to untangle yourselves. We figured it out once, but forgot this day!
Rock girls!
I think that ear could use a Q-tip! My kids ALWAYS have to climb up in the ear. They can't resist.
This was part of a very clever rock display that I loved. There was a whole table set up with fancy dishes and everything. The whole table was set with "rock" food. Every rock looked like some sort of food! There was bacon, ham, eggs, fruit and these cute "cookies". It was very creative and fun to look at!
We really lucked out! There were some rocks for sale at the show, but two of my girls lucked out and some of the nice collectors gave them a rock just to be nice. Maybe they were excited about how much my girls loved their rocks? Whatever the reason, we felt very spoiled. Natalie showed her rock to another rock collector and he estimated it's value (the one above) at over $25 because of the colors in it. It has a place of honor on her dresser now. (o: Rocks rock! We came home with some really neat ones!
Our first day with grandma and grandpa, we went to one of our favorite restaurants, Rock Bottom Brewery. Sounds funny for a group of people who don't drink. I've heard their beer is fantastic, but obviously, we don't go for that. Although I'm sure it's great. We love the food there! It is really yummy. And it's in a fun part of town.
Sarah must have one of her brilliant ideas! Funny pose...
Riding the elevator with a window in the parking garage.
Everything is more fun with grandpa and grandma! 
We are always thrilled to hear about visits from grandpa and grandma and the anticipation is almost too much for all of us! Finally the day arrived!
Lots of hugging going on!
Grandma and grandpa arrived the day of Sarah and Natalie's Valentine parties. Natalie had her Valentine bag sitting on the desk. At one point, as we were visiting, we saw Twilight climb inside the bag. (She LOVES bags.) While inside she got disoriented and fell off the desk in the bag. It was very entertaining and would have made a good candidate for A.F.V. (America's Funniest Videos), but I was not quick enough to get the video camera. Too bad.
Grandma T. sent the girls a fun Valentine package. This was Angela's outfit she put together with her new heart shirt from grandma.
Weee - grandpa got a good workout on this visit!
The afternoon that Angela and I were anxiously awaiting grandma and grandpa's arrival, Angela announced, "Mommy, there a bat out there." I assured her bats only come out at night, but she insisted. When I finally came to look, I wasn't so sure. It did look like a bat! It was even wiggling around a little bit as it hung from our tree. Yuck!
I walked out to explore and had to look closer and actually touch it to conclude that we were both tricked! It was a glob of leaves hanging from the tree wiggling around by the slightest breezes.
I was so happy to hear about this darling ballet class. Miss Sally is adorable with the girls and teaches in such fun and creative ways. Natalie and Angela are having lots of fun and look so cute!
Sarah usually brings Harry Potter to read. She's a good sport. She has piano lessons on this same day so it's always a busy afternoon!
February - Tis the season for the annual Dinner Dance . . . 
Silly girls.
Shannan and I have tried to streamline our volunteer coordinating and I think we're figuring it out. Things ran fairly smoothly - with a few kinks that are just normal and were out of our control. We're starting to get more and more help which is making our job a lot easier and more fun.
Emma, Angela, Nat and Lydia.
Sarah and Mallory "rockin"
I made a fool of myself for my kids. They invited moms to come compete in a Hula Hoop contest. The girls begged and begged for me to go up. I have NEVER been able to get how to hula hoop. One summer I made a goal to learn and I tried and tried one hot day while the girls played outside. Nothing. I am missing the hula hoop gene that allows my body to keep it up.
Here are the teachers trying it out.
I got to help volunteer with the first grade field trip. It was the same day as the dinner dance - it seems like field trip days are always busy days, but I love to be a part of them with my girls.
Riding the bus is always a fun adventure on field trips.
Downtown - I think it was the Newmark Theatre we saw the play at. It was "Click Clack Moo" and I thought it was very well done for a children's play. The costumes and set were very well done and the cast did a fantastic job. I was very entertained! (o:
Waiting for the play to start.
That day was also a spirit day - the kids got to dress like twins with a friend. Natalie and Lydia looked so cute in their matching shirts that Shannan found at Kohl's. What cute little friends.
Sarah and one of her best friends, Jensen, both happen to have the same shirt so it was easy for them to decide what to wear! I'm glad my girls have such good and cute friends. 
