Post-sledding

BRRRRR!

After a cold run outside, what better than hot cocoa and marshmallows, right? Well Amara can tell you--how about strawberries, peaches, apple pie, vegetable soup--just about anything nailed down! She was a little eating machine, to the point of it being comical--though, I should mention this was a swim-class day (earlier in the day) which I think always makes her hungrier...

Grandma Jackie was ready to go with the hot chocolate and marshmallows, even before we got snow-gear entirely off!

I ask you though, is that the smile of a kid having a great time or what?

We played for a little while--it's funny, even though she's there plenty, she goes to her toys like she hasn't seen them in years and it makes me smile (mostly because the toys she loves are largely MY childhood toys, and I think that is sweet)...but we didn't dilly-dally, because I had an idea she'd crash as soon as we could get her home.

Before we knew it, it was getting purple in the sky...and we had a yawning kiddo...once she went to sleep, I KNOW how soundly she slept, and we didn't hear a peep till late this morning. What a great day!

SLEDDING

What a beautiful day for sledding! Wonderful snowfall the day before, blue skies, not windy, low 30's, PERFECT!

At first she was having a blast immediately--but didn't really get what she was supposed to do...there was a lot of leaning over the side, grabbing a glove full of snow and eating it. After a few minutes, she picked up on sitting up, leaning back, and eventually started even holding on!

The snow was so perfect--just a little fluffy on top of a nice solid base--it still blew up in your face--but you could enjoy it and grab it too, perfect for a first-timer.

We had to make a few adjustments, but even with a wipeout or two, she just wanted right back on the horse and for daddy to go "more" and take off! Eric figured out smartly (after I trekked though knee high snow in the back yard) that Amara really enjoyed the speed of the tracks in the driveway, made by the vehicles--so the two of them really picked up some speed there!

Everyone got in on the action--the dogs were all there, jumping around, Grandma taking pictures and cheering her on, me pulling and taking pictures, and Grandpa and Eric taking turns pulling, taking video, and all of us laughing our heads off--what a great time!

AND AWAY WE GO!!!

Eventually, her cheeks were bright and rosey and we started getting worried about being so cold, so we headed inside. I wasn't sure if she'd cry and want to stay out, but with the promise of hot chocolate, marshmallows, and "boots and snow pants off," she headed for the door!

TO BE CONTINUED...

Pre-sledding

Anyone who has ever been sledding, skiiing, tubing, or ever participated in ANY kind of snow sport knows what a production it is to get ready. Layers, pants that you can't walk in, boots, gloves, etc. all at a break-neck speed, so you don't get so overheated you pass out, and oh, this is supposed to be fun, right?

Well, we decided we'd take Amara out to Grandma and Grandpa Jahn's yesterday after this last big snow--and we KNEW what a production it would be, so we had all our gear ready and were ready to roll the second she woke up from her nap.

We got down there and after pleasantries, got down to the business of getting ready.

Coat off (from ride over) new socks on, snow pants on, (zipped and buckled) coat BACK on, mittens, hat, balloons (she loves them--and I told her she could take them outside) and Grandpa to take her while I got ready.)

WHOOSH out the door...but wait! Glove check by dad. Are you SURE this is going to be fun?

TO BE CONTINUED...

Bathtime

Eric and I are playing with his camera, trying to learn more about photography and get better (considering we have such great subject matter).

He decided to try his hand at capturing some tub-shots with all the water, action etc., and he got some pretty good ones!

Though--I have to admit, Amara is PRETTY comfortable in the water. We're not sure if it was having her in swim lessons young, the daily baths, or just lucky (though she is her mother's daughter, so maybe I have rubbed off on her) but she'll spend anywhere from 10 to 45 minutes in the bath each night.

Recently, she's wanted to share stories or things she "can do" with daddy--so mid bath, she'll yell "dadddddddyyyyy" to him downstairs, and up he'll come. She'll point to the commode and say "sit," and he'll sit and watch her show off for him (see "Daddy and Bean post), tell him about her special soap--show him Tigger, Piglet, and Pooh, and all her other friends.

She's also recently started hiding or playing "find me" if you can call it that. She'll hide behind a curtain or blanket exactly long enough for you to ask where she is--at which point she'll pop out and giggle contagiously.

In fact--an issue I'm pretty sure a challenge not many parents face, is finding new bath toys. Rather than "regular" toys--we are always looking for new things for her for the bath--I guess we'll have to stock up on pool toys in the summer!

Daddy and Bean

Daddy and Bean are a pair. The yin to each others' yang. Sometimes the best snuggle buddies and sometimes so much alike, they are like, well--oil and water. When they are good, though, they are great--and so much fun to watch. In the last few days, I've been lucky enough to have a camera around when they were having some moments, so I had to share.

It's funny--there are things she'll bring to me to do, things she'll take to daddy to do, and there appears no rhyme or reason what her criteria are--but she knows it, and follows it.

The outdoor pics with both of them in hats are great--the blue eyes on both of them, quickly followed up by the darting look from little girl to daddy--which was somehow perfect with Eric in mid response (I'm sure) that we captured.

This cheek-to-cheek hug was spontaneous and I'm pretty sure caught Eric off guard too!

I can't pick a favorite, but the one of the two of them laughing at each other is priceless for me :) always playing and smiling--and helping--such a great pair.

Lil' show off

We were trying to get some pics for Amara's Valentine this week, and it was a challenge!

Dad and I both tried at various times and I think that largely due to the fact that we were trying near the end of the day, we had no luck.

--Though, we did end up with some pretty cute pics of our little show off--everything from "look what I can do" to "tired."

Also, we're REALLY into tiny suckers right now--mostly, the tootsie pop "mini's" from the holidays or the traditional dum-dums. Sometimes she's ok having them herself--but other times she wants you to take it "off' the stick--which for me is biting it off (which I hate doing). I never realized though, that Dumdums make some pretty obscure flavors and there are a few already that she hasn't cared for. Weird. Something that has always been that way, never brought to my attention, but now I pay attention to the flavors/ colors of DumDums. Go figure.

Crafting

We (some say bravely) encourage Amara to be crafty with different materials. This normally isn't a challenge--considering she loves stamps, stickers, coloring, etc. I found these sweet Valentines foamies at JoAnns and we decided to put a few together.


Also recently, in planning for a few baby showers, have had my sewing basket out--which apparently was a green light, for Amara to play with some tiny thread spools she found.

Now, I have to make SURE to pick them all up and keep them up, or I find them mostly on her fingers, but largely on the floor too!

...Anyway, luckily these foamies are adhesive, not glue b/c that would NEVER work at this point--but we had fun with them, and actually got a few of them completed! Pretty cute!

Sure, some of the hearts and "doggies" which are really bears have teeth marks in them, but I would argue it adds to the personalization and character, right?

I love the next-to-last picture there where she is focusing so intently on her tasks--with her tongue out. Not sure which of us captured that, but it's priceless to us!