chris.reese.girls1.2.3.4

OPENING CEREMONIES!   Chris' company has a large contract in BC for the Olympics, so the vendor provided a few tix. We discovered we were the lucky recipients the morning of the event.   I got showered, ready, kids dressed/fed, packed overnight clothes for kids, drove to Puyallup to drop kids and drove back in record time.  Chris and I made it to Canada by about 2:30pm.  I was impressed. Thanks, mom for keeping the kiddos (and Camille for helping). We had a GREAT time. Go U.S.A! Me holding a torch...she wouldn't let me hold it by myself. We got to spend a little time before and after the ceremony chillin' on the yacht with the company folk.  Earlier in the day the Olympic flame went RIGHT by the boat in a canoe.  We missed it...bummer. In our seats just after rehearsal.  We are holding our drums, which held all our props inside. During the parade of nations During K.D. Lang's "Hallelujah."  Probably my favorite part. Stay t...

The sun was out last week...A LOT. And the girls enjoyed being outside and getting some much needed Vitamin D. Brynn is old enough now to tackle the playgrounds and try to keep up with Paige. They both love the swings.   And on Saturday we enjoyed time with Daddy! We love Saturdays. We turned a blind eye to our messy house and drove to Alki for a walk along the water...then a visit to Pike to pick out flowers and eat ice cream.   And now it's raining...the break was nice...but never lasts!

Valentine's came and went.  With it falling on a Sunday this year, the whole weekend prior seemed to be a slew of fun activities and parties. The highlights this year were: Paige getting into the holiday and writing the names of her classmates by herself on her cards ( see this post ) Chris and I attending the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies (post to come) Chris and I getting dressed up and attending dinner at the church (free!) and afterwards seeing a movie.  I love the movies...I could go every day. Making lots of sugar cookies...mmmm...sounds so good right now Deciding I have no Valentine's decorations and being motivated by a few craft blogs to make my own (see above) Getting chewed out by an old man at church who made me cry (yes, he ruined Valentines this year...mean old man).  While certainly not a highlight, it will be something I remember.  (Paige with her Valentine's envelope/mailbox from school)

In early February, my entire fam came to Washington (minus one BIL) for my nephew's baptism.  What a great experience for my girls to see their cousin make this important step in his life.  We appreciate his example.  He is such a kind 8-year old...always taking care of the babies and being so sweet to Paige.  We enjoyed the baptism, a lunch gathering outside (sunshine!) and then roller-skating.  So old school...the last time Chris and I roller-skated was some 10 years ago before we were actually dating.  Ooohh, awesome! What a big boy!  And yes, we resurrected the binky for this event...Miss Brynn was not on her best behavior this day.  All the grandkids...it's so hard to get them all looking! And Paige enjoys NOT smiling in pics.   Rollerskating Paige.  For those that know Paige well, you may remember she is a bit of a clumsy girl.  But surprisingly, she actually could roller skate (with a lot of falls).  Here she was dancin...

So, yes, I had a birthday (a month ago).  I am now relishing each day before I reach the 30's (scary!). I made my own cake, one that I haven't had since I lived at home.  I think I ate 80% of it over that week (shh...don't tell anyone).      The actual day of my birthday I got to share it with my oldest nephew.  We joined him for his Super Mario party.  I can't believe how big he's getting.  He makes me feel old...we've shared lots of birthday cake the last eight years.  Happy Bday Car Car!

A snippet of Paige's prayer tonight: "We bless [she means grateful, but she says bless] that we could have Wendy's for dinner tonight." "We bless that mom didn't make dinner tonight." The squinty mid-prayer eye contact between Chris and I elicited silent giggles. I was grateful I didn't have to make dinner, too, but probably for entirely different reasons. * * * And tonight Paige made her first official set of Valentines.   And when I say "official" I am referring to an actual school list with all her peers' names. She's on for a big par-tay tomorrow and has her very own mailbox. I had a "Proud Mama" moment when she could figure out most of the names on her own by looking at the letters. Plus, she wrote all the names herself. I only had to put a few names in parentheses just in case.  And she signed every single valentine: "P A I G E L  4" (see this post if you need more background...she's since adde...