Rainy, Cold February Weekend

Friday night you two came home with lunch plans, shopping lists, puppets of yourselves, and a lot of big ideas for the weekend. 

While Mommy was at school on Saturday we had a dance party, and then went to the green spot so Julia could see Girl Scout Cookies with her troop. Aidan, you and I were VERY willing customers. 

We went to Subway for lunch, and we got free sandwiches...because there was a dead rat in the store! Julia you screamed when you saw it, Aidan you thought it looked liked Desperaux (the main character of a book you were reading at school). You both mused on how you'd never seen one before. I hadn't either. So...we have that in common. Free lunch!

Then, Julia went to a playdate with Zoey and Ellie, Aidan you and I played chess (you won) and then we played a game you made up called "pretend chess" (you won too!)

Sunday was another funday. Julia, you set up a spy kit:

Then you tackled Mommy!

While Aidan was on a playdate with the Larson boys, Julia had a private ukulele lesson...from me! We learned two ukulele chords approximating John Lennon's Imagine!

We picked Aidan up and reunited. No matter the weather, no matter the excursions, no matter the temperature, we all can seek shelter together, in the warm, loving arms of our dear, dear family.

Life in Exile- Part 2 - Fun with Yaya and Baba

While this was going on at home...

...THIS was going on at Yaya and Baba's:

That's right...we were having a ball on the second leg of our life in exile.

There was a lot of music and learning and reading going on!

Julia, one day I decided to use Yaya's xylophone to teach you a song. You were way excited, and wanted to learn more and more!

Aidan, you got the reading bug in a BIG way...something clicked with you and you wanted to start reading more and more, and reading bigger and better books. You exclaimed "Dad, I'm a reader now!"

We spent my birthday playing, playgrounding, and Sweettooth Hoteling... and velvet tacoing...

We sang songs, we playgrounded more, we comic booked, we hung out with Yaya and Baba...

Lots of art and notes were made and received too...including these love notes to you, Julia!

These puppets by you Aidan...

And this request from a homesick you, Julia. (note: you did ultimately support me and Mommy going on a date)

Julia, you worked night and day on that frog, and Aidan you worked hard to master the art of the jetplane. 

We did a puzzle, danced about, and had some chess challenges:

All in all, we had a lovely time with your lovely Yaya and Baba...

Before we knew it, it was time to pack up our belongings, our chess set, wash up and head home...

While it was lovely to return to our own home, we'll never forget the fun we had living in exile.

XMAS 2018- Family, Fun, Food, Freezing Weather, and Fun!

Your 2018 Holiday Break - and mine- was one for the record books! Molly, Rebekka, and Ross came to visit! Gigi, Pa, and the whole gang came to Dallas! Santa Claus came to our house! We had some cold-ish wintry weather, and lots of singing, and dancing, and fun!

We dumplinged and hung out with Molly and Mimi and Pops and Rebekka and Ross a LOT!

We even aquariumed with them!

Then we Christmas Eved with Yaya, Baba, and Uncle Joe, and Aunt Sham!

We baked cookies and left them out for Santa, along with carrots for his reindeer, and guess what?

On Christmas Morning, after you guys sweetly and very considerately stayed in bed with us until the sun was up, we found out that Santa delivered!

Your wishes and then some were granted!

And then we packed up for a Christmas Day Feast at Yaya and Baba's!

We had plenty more fun: We all went to see Coco together, and wrestled, and sewed, and read, and had PJ parties, and made tie-dye shirts, and made corn bread, and made a lot of sweet memories at this, the coldest -and greatest- time of year!

Ho Ho Ho!