Norah's Birthday Party

Today we had a joint birthday party with Norah's friend and classmate Brooke. They had SO much fun. Norah wrote a note to Brooke before the party, had a great time playing with her friends, and ate a delicious and beautiful fairy cake. 

Ellie loved the party too, but wasn't a fan of the Cyclone wind machine: 

Mini Teenager

Meet our four-nager, Norah.

Big Girl Bed

Ellie moved into her big bed (both mommy and Jommy slept in it when they were little!) tonight. She was a little nervous, but mostly excited.

Swim Lessons

The girls are both taking swim lessons on Wednesday afternoons. Norah is always excited and when her instructor asked them to jump in today she did a cannon ball!

Ellie is really missing her puddle jumper life jacket, and cried today when she left with the instructor. Although she shivered the whole time, she was brave and even got a "wing" (ring) from the step!

Snow Day

We woke up to snow this morning. The girls were outside playing in it before breakfast!

"Catcher"

We went to our friend Ava's house this afternoon and the girls were working on crafts. Norah made a "catcher" to hold her craft supplies with tape on the stick.

Wheeee

The girls found their Daddy's old skateboard in the garage today and went for rides up and down (and up and down over again) the driveway.

Party Outfit

Norah met her friend Brooke at Target today to pick matching outfits for their joint 5th birthday party next weekend. They had a great time chatting and looking at all the toys.

Scraped Knees

Ellie fell in the parking lot at school today. She needed a "band-AGE" to help it feel better.

Quinoa

She picked all the carrots out of the quinoa blend and ate those. This was the face when trying the actual quinoa. In her defense, it was kind of spicy.

Tigger

Both girls love dressing up. This costume has been a favorite, and it looks like Ellie might out grow it soon!

Water bottles

I spend a lot of time with these water bottles. I put them in backpacks, haul them to kids zone at the gym, remind the girls to drink from them, haul them home. I wash them. A lot. We take them outside when we play, we bring them on road trips, and we bring them along when we play with friends. They travel with us pretty much everywhere, and maybe one day when they don't, I just might miss it.

Strawberry

After they finished lunch today, I gave the girls a few strawberries. They would eat fruit all day if I let them. Now, vegetables are a different story!

Sunday Night Gelato

Mike and I had a date day today while the girls visited with Jommy and Pops in Charlottesville. We got a lot of chores checked off the To-Do List, but we went to Zoes Kitchen for dinner and then couldn't resist a stop into Gelati Celesti after. It was delicious!

Snow Art

The girls and I made snow pictures this afternoon. Of course they needed glitter glue to hold the snow together!

Apples

 Pretty and delicious apples on the island in the kitchen. In the background is one of my favorite paintings from Norah.

Norah-whale

We got a package today from our Aunt Caryn, Uncle Jonathan, and cousins in Hawaii, and Catherine had drawn and designed a paper doll "Norah-whale (Narwhal whale)!" Our Norah-whale is thrilled with it.

Indoor Sledding

There was freezing rain and sleet (which Norah keeps calling "fleece") on the roads this morning so Norah didn't have school. It's not much fun to sled outside without real snow, so they were pretending to be sled dogs and pull each other around the house.

Norah's Desk

Norah's desk is one spot in the house where clutter doesn't bother me. Everything on this desk (and under it) has a spot and she knows if something has been moved even an inch. From my count, I can see three different chapsticks, three lego houses, a jewelry box that is stuffed to the brim, two notebooks, two (or three if you include the horse) modes of lego transportation, various play food items, lego people, a my little pony, and a crown. It's such a small space, but there is SO much creativity crammed in!

Norah and Rosie

Norah thought Rosie needed another blanket during one of her naps today, and Rosie surprisingly enjoyed and/or tolerated it.

Lazy Playtime

She said, "Me lay down like train tracks!"

Birthday Brunch

We met Mollie, Niko, Gordon, and Devin for brunch this morning at The Daily to celebrate Mollie's birthday. Before we went, Norah insisted on stopping at Target so she could spend her own money to buy Mollie some earrings. A few days before, I had told Norah our plans to meet them, and she counted up her money and was prepared with all 5$ (mostly in quarters). At Target, she walked straight up to the register and laid her money out, and I supplemented a little. We all love the Hatzikotelis family!

Nap Time

These days, Ellie takes a nap after lunch and Norah does a quiet time in her room (and occasionally falls asleep).  This is what I did during that time today!

Avocado Tree

Our little avocado tree on the windowsill in our kitchen.

Bath Time

The girls love their bath time. Rules we follow every night: 1) alternating who gets to sit in the "front" and 2) don't forget the mermaids and ponies. 

Lunch

It was the first day back to pre-school after the holiday break, and FaFa was in town, so we celebrated and met Mike for lunch at Cheeburger Cheeburger after pick up. Ellie was extra silly and enjoyed herself, despite appearances. 

Legos

Mike has a huge bin of legos from when he was a child that his mom (brilliantly) saved. The girls love them and spend a lot of time building different creations. And even space adventurers enjoy flowers. 

Funny Norah quote today: We were riding in the car, and she was talking about the dinosaurs, which is a very popular topic in our house. She said "Mommy, did you know that even before the dinosaurs came, the earth was just a big MEATBALL?!" I asked if she meant something about a "meteor" and she said no, so I just enjoyed going along for the ride with her four-and-a-half year old brain. 

Helper

Norah was helping me do my "work" (meal and schedule planning for the week) today. Most of it consisted of her asking to play Sesame Street on the computer and laying across my lap wiggling. It was still helpful though. 

Day 1 of 365

Today is the first day of my 365 project (http://clickitupanotch.com/2013/10/project-365-here-we-go/) 

I'm a little nervous about the commitment, but equally excited to improve my photography and document my life for a year. Here goes nothing! 

We took Norah's training wheels off this morning. It was cold and drizzling, but she was so proud!