yoga babe

Charlotte has been learning some yoga poses in her class.  Here she is showing us Butterfly Pose.

christmas extravaganza day!

Saturday we went Christmas crazy around here.  Having just barely finished unpacking and decorating this house, I wasn't exactly in the mood to start.. unpacking and decorating for Christmas.  Luckily my little elves were enthusiastic enough for all of us.  So, we decided to throw ourselves into Christmas this weekend.  We had a great day :)

Colin finally got the countdown chain he'd been begging for.  Sure, it looks like your standard red and green, but if you know my eldest, you know that's an orange and green chain.  Whatever, it works.  

Daddy and Colin headed out to meet Santa in City Park!  

I do not know why this Santa has a dog instead of a reindeer, but Colin wasn't complaining. 

Colin had Santa cracking up as he noted, "you're a negotiator, aren't you." 

back at home, we got our tree up and decorated... 

charlotte was around too...

Then we headed out for an early dinner at the mall (olga's!!) and Colin was beside himself when he got to ride on this train... I mean he was gleeful!

We headed that way so that we could go drive through the Way of Lights in Belleville.  No pics but the kids were enthralled.  Hoping to make it a tradition!

thanksgiving (weekend) 2014

We had such a nice, long, relaxing thanksgiving this year.  When you don't give up 8+ hours of your holiday weekend for driving, you get to enjoy a lot more.  I guess I was enjoying my day a little too much because I completely forgot to take any pictures of the kids on Thanksgiving itself.  

Luckily, among all the other things we have to be thankful for this year, being in town near family allowed us to celebrate family and food all weekend long.  

Zoe gives thumbs up to our now-traditional Snack Day.

Charlotte is also a fan.

 action shot!

It was great to have so much time with everyone.. Charlotte got to spend lots of time with her aunt and uncle and managed to get everyone to play peek a boo with her.

yes, she's wearing a hat and mittens with a sleeveless jersey.  This is how she cheered on Mizzou football.  Must have worked! 

We were thankful for gorgeous weather that allowed us to play in the backyard.  Can't beat that.

Charlotte did some dancing.  (This has nothing to do with thanksgiving, but it was cute)

And don't worry, most importantly, there was lots and lots of pie.  

Happy thanksgiving!  So thankful to spend it with all of you this year. 

fancy lady

I know I've previously mentioned Charlotte's love of accessorizing.. but she has taken it to another level lately.  Whatever she can get her hands on - jewelry, shades, and most of all HATS - she wants to wear.

She did this to herself this weekend (I have since hung my jewelry up where she can't get to it).  Couldn't have been prouder.  I think the snow boots and Colin's hat really add to the look. 

But it's not just at home that she likes to be fancy.  Apparently she refuses to take off her hat at school.  So... we get a lot of daily reports from daycare that look like this...

Here's crazy in action on a particularly fancy day... infant racoon hat, necklace, and mittens?

What a nut.  These will come out when she's a famous fashion designer someday, I promise :)

first snow of the year...

Starting early this year, aren't we?  Hopefully this does not foreshadow a winter like last year.

There wasn't really enough to build an igloo (Colin's first suggestion) but just enough to throw some snowballs around. Pardon the bad pictures I took from the warmth of the foyer.  

colin at school

One of my biggest worries about moving was how the kids would adjust to a new school.  We were so lucky to get them in to a great daycare here.  So far, they are doing great!  One of them seems to like the new situation a little better than the other, of course.  I'll let you take a guess on which one that is.

We had a parent teacher conference in Colin's pre-K room last night and it was wonderful to hear how well Colin is doing.  His teachers said he's had no problem adjusting, is listening and following directions, getting along well with his new friends, and has had no problem catching up to where they are in the curriculum.  In fact, they said he is one of the top students in the class academically!  So great to hear.

This school sends us pictures and updates throughout the day, so I get to see what the kids are up to, which is so nice.  Here's Colin working on a project this morning.

This school also devotes every Friday to their chess program.  The kids learn through stories the different characters and how they move across the board.  I can't believe Colin is playing chess!  

I'm just so glad the transition hasn't been too tough on them, and it makes me feel good that they're learning so much here!

everything is chill in the 'ville

Our first post-move post!   Happy to say we are alive and well.  So much has happened in the past few weeks.  I survived the great migration across the border back to the Homeland....

By myself with two kids doing things of this nature in the backseat....

we spent a week with most of the rooms in our house looking like this....

The kids started at their new daycare and are doing SO great.  I'm so proud of their transition, and it makes it all so much easier to hear that they are happy and loving their new school and new house.  

They've had lots of fun exploring all the exciting features of our new home..

and enjoying all the standard e'ville activities..

bundling up at the halloween parade...

cheering on the tigers in the postseason....

exploring a whole world of new parks....

and most importantly, spending lots of time with family....

Work is going well and we are all slowly adjusting to new routines and a new life.  It's a good one so far!