Valentine's Day

From First Snowfal...

So, we finally got some winter weather -- on Valentine's Day. The sleet mixture falling out of the sky made me consider keeping the kids home for a snow day -- but they would have nothing of it!!! Ben insisted that he needed to be at school for his party...and Charlotte immediately seconded the motion. It was fun watching them get so excited for their parties. Ben wrote all of his own Valentine's this year -- and was so proud of himself. I wrote Charlotte's Valentines...and was very proud of myself.

A set of twins in Charlotte's class gave out little stuffed animals as Valentine's Day gifts to all of the kids. Charlotte has named hers Love Bug and refuses to part company with him...at all. She sleeps with him, is teaching him how to use the potty, has introduced him to most of her other stuffed animal friends....and howls in the middle of the night when she can't find him in her bed.

From First Snowfal...

After the festivities were over, I picked the kids up early and brought them home to play in the snow. This was Charlotte's first real snow play and it was interesting to see her explore. She was mesmerized with Ben's snow pants and referred to them as Fireman pants...and insisted on putting hers on immediately.

We only got about three inches, but Benjamin was diligently working to find a way to play in the snow. First, he tried his happy snow day gift out - snowball maker. The snow was not perfect for this device. Then we pulled out the tube sled....it didn't like the snow much either.

From First Snowfal...

We also went for the plastic sled -- which worked a bit better - and he decided to try surfing on it. (STAGE TWO SLEDDING)

From First Snowfal...

He then proceeded to dig a luge with a shovel in the driveway. (I don't think he has ever seen the Olympics...but he seemed to know what he was doing.)

Charlotte was trying to play with all of her usual outside toys - balls, bubbles, etc...The fact that they weren't made for play in the snow did not deter her. She found a way to make them work for her. I was worried that she would get cold - but she was the one who was not all that interested in going inside when we finally decided to head in and make dinner.

Lolly's Head Band

Momentous occasion ...no idea what happened - but Charlotte has suddenly decided she likes her headband and wants to wear it and show it off. A true testament to the fact that children are such an amazing demonstration of "things change". (Particularly, since she would scream like we were sticking her with a hot poker if we put it on her head, rip it off and throw it as hard and far as she could.)

From Cuddle Bear

One of the wise people in our life pointed out in reference to the enormous battery of tools we had scattered about our home to help comfort our infant children -- that if we tried something and the baby didn't like it, wait...and try it again in a couple more weeks. For example, Ben's first reaction to the swing was sheer terror. We let it rest and a few weeks later tried it again - a Viola! Completely mesmerized baby boy.

So, here are a few photos of Lolly that are an illustration, to me, of the everchanging nature we all embody.

From Cuddle Bear