No Naps Required

We took a trip a couple of weeks ago to California for Mark's brother's wedding. We left on the fourteen hour drive super early in the morning (3am) and told the girls that if they slept in the morning until we said it was time to wake up, one of their rewards would be that they didn't have to take naps. This is them not taking naps at about 2pm.

 

A Month of Milestones

So many things happened this month there's no way I could have kept up! Norah turned five, Uncle Matthew got married in California, the big sisters got to hold Darcy for the first time, and Norah started kindergarten, to name just a FEW major events. Here are a few photos to whet your appetite. There will be more soon!

Norah held Darcy for the first time. 

Darcy may have been uncomfortable with the arrangement. 

Penny held Darcy too, with a little help. 

This is exactly how they both felt about that situation. 

This is the only photo I managed to take at Matthew and Kim's wedding. Norah and Ryan danced all night together. Penny danced all night too, alternating between Matthew, Daddy, and Jarod the florist. 

More photos to come. I promise I'll post in less than a month!

Interview With A Three Month Old

So Darcy, you're three months old today. How has it been to become the newest member of our family?

Aw, it wasn't tough at all. I'm a pretty easy going gal.

How are you liking naps?

Meh, I could take 'em or leave 'em.

How do you like your big sisters?

They're awesome!

The Big One brings me my pacifier and blankets.

The Not As Big One makes funny faces to keep me happy.

I'm not sure about The Furry One yet. She just sniffs me.

It feels funny on my feet.

What has been the worst part?

Two month shots were super scary.

But the nurses still made me smile.

What do you think of your daddy?

Best. Guy. EVER!

Seriously.

He can make me smile every time.

Even just thinking about him...

I get SO EXCITED!!

What's your favorite toy?

I just discovered my feet.

They kinda weirded me out at first. 

But now I'm pretty sure that I'm the one making them move.

Which is pretty amazing.

Maybe it's my super power.

Do you think you'll be able to hold your own when your sisters start picking on you?

Wait, what? That's not actually going to happen is it? 

Course not. I'm sure you're just kidding.

Anything else you'd like to add?

My family is awesome and I think I have super powers.
That about covers it!

Thanks for your time. Talk to you soon!

They Might Be Irish

Mark made green smoothies (spinach, carrot, orange, banana, and pineapple) as a St. Patrick's Day treat. To say that Penny enjoyed hers would be a grave understatement.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!!

Everyone Stand Back...

...we're doing science!

Mark got a small chunk of dry ice at the grocery store to keep the refrigerated stuff cold while he ran errands. When he got home, we showed the girls what dry ice does when you put it in water. The pictures aren't awesome, but the experience was!

Valentine's Day Crafts (Thanks Grandma!)

A little package arrived this week from California. Of course, it was Valentine's cards and a little craft from Grandma! The little animal masks were exactly the right level of difficulty for the girls. That is, they were pre-cut, came with all the pieces in one bag, and the instructions were pictures showing what each one should look like. There's also an adorable mouse hanging decoration, but I'm saving that to entertain them another time.

Anyway, here are the girls wearing the finished products. (Please excuse Penny's refusal to wear clothes. She is, apparently, "not cold!!")

Blurry, but both almost sort of smiling.

Penny, the shirtless, vaguely contemplative elephant. 

Norah and her lion claws.

First Cast, Twice Removed

When I took Norah to the appointment where the orthopedist decided to put her in a short-term cast, he warned me. He said that as the swelling went down, kids Norah's size can sometimes "shuck the cast like an oyster shell". Maybe he's originally from the east coast, because that analogy didn't make any sense to me, but I sure am glad he warned me that it could happen!
On Monday night - just one week after getting her cast in the first place - Mark was helping Norah get her shirt off for bed and sure enough, the cast slid right off with her shirt sleeve! We decided to make her put it back on until I could talk to the doctor. I spoke with his nurse on Tuesday evening and she said that as long as Norah wasn't complaining of any pain I not only didn't have to make her wear the thing, I didn't even have to bring her in again! Hooray for (slightly) smaller doctor bills!!
We officially removed the cast on Wednesday before nap time. By that evening, Norah was doing handstands against the wall of the living room. I think she's all in one piece again. The cast is also all in one piece, which means Norah will have a memento of her time as an "invalid" and the myriad of signatures she accumulated will remain in tact.
She'll have to find a hiding place to keep it away from her little sister, though. Penny has already taken to slipping it on (almost up to her shoulder) and running through the house yelling, "Oh nooo! My arm is brokened!!"