Thanksgiving 2020

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect and appreciate all you have to be thankful for. And I truly feel blessed - supportive husband, amazing girls, great family, our health, roof over our head, job I love, room to roam, and so much more. This thanksgiving like so many other things this year was different... we went no where and stayed home, which is okay but when that is your every day, all the time, it didn’t feel nearly as special. 

I missed mom’s cooking. I missed looking at the ads with my sisters. The girls missed playing with their cousins. I missed people enjoying Nora’s first Thanksgiving. I missed normal. 

But I tried my best to make the most of it. Ryan smoked an awesome Turkey breast (my bad ordering grocery pickup but might have been the best mistake because it was so good). I let the girls stay in their pajamas all day... and when they got dirty outside... they just put a clean pair of pajamas on. We played games. Had popcorn for dinner. Watched a new a movie before bed. 

We made the most of our day together and I am grateful for that! 

New kittens

The girls have been begging for kittens since forever! And we finally decided it was time, especially since we don’t have anything else to do. 

Friday we went to “play” with kittens. The girls each picked 1 they wanted. They weren’t going to be ready to come home until December 11th. 

Monday, I get a call from the vet (where they were) and Dr Amanda (my friend) said they could come home early. 

Tuesday night... this video speaks for itself! It was such a fun memory. The girls were so excited! 

Wednesday, we pick up the kittens... Stormy (gray one and Greta’s) and Blaze (Lola’s). 

And since then... none stop kitten play...except when I tell them that the kittens need a nap. 

Not gonna lie... they are pretty cute! 

First snow of 2020

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! We got a few inches if snow to play in and nicer temps made for great packing snow. We made a snowman, snow fort and snow angels. 

Nora also enjoyed her first time in the snow. She wasn’t so sure. 

I’m sure more fun snow days ahead. 

Horseback riding lessons continue

The girls love riding horses and I’m so happy that I signed them up for lessons. They are both getting so comfortable on the horse. 

This week greta had a Greta lesson and really took control of her horse Joy and her instructor said that really showed the horse that there was an experienced rider on and that the horse isn’t the boss. She also did her first canter! Greta said she was scared but glad she did it. 

Lola is also showing lots more focus and control. She’ll be a pro by Gretas age. 

Greta teacher conference

We had a good teacher conference for Greta as well.  Her teacher had some great things to say and showed us her improvements in her reading and writing, which was fun to see. Her teacher said she’s great in class and follows instruction well and is helpful. Areas to work on are spending up math addition and subtraction (she knows them just needs to answer quicker) and then spelling. But no red flags which was good considering how much continues to change for these kiddos. 

Very proud of her and especially proud because she does her work all by herself and stays motivated.

Nora 9 months

Another month down and we love her more each day! Nora is just such a laid back baby and fits in so well with our family. I honestly can’t remember life without her. 

1. Still rocking her helmet and already seeing huge changes to her head

2. Is a great sleeper at night and usually sleeps from 830 to 6

3. Loves to talk and favorite word or only words is till dada - despite my many many attempts at mama. 

4. Love to cruise around in her Walker and is getting better control where she’s going,

5. Books are probably her favorite thing and will sit and look through lots of them. 

6. Tried some new foods.., chicken and carrots from chicken noodle soup, eggs, pancakes. Does not like bananas and makes a funny face with almost anything you feed her. 

7. Loves to watch her sisters play and especially dance

8: Enjoys music and can even dance a little 

9. Can roll from belly to back and did one time from back to belly 

10. Can definitely voice her opinion about things especially when she wants to be heard.

Still no teeth although might be getting close. Wears size 12 month clothes and can even rock a few 18 months. 

Stats to come after checkup in December. 

Lolas first teacher conference

Very proud of Lola! And although I wasn’t surprised her teacher said she’s far above young 5s. She knows all her letters upper and lower case and all their sounds. She can count to 50 and probably higher but they stopped her there. She’s good in the classroom and can comprehend what’s being read to her (when asked to draw a picture of what happened). 

One proud mama! 

Back to virtual

And just like that we are back to fully virtual. Both girls are pretty sad and say they will miss school abs seeing their friends. I will miss those 2 days if the week when the house is pretty quiet. 

Ryans bucks

Ryan was up at Bevaer Island for a week and brought home 2 8-points. We now are fully stocked for for the year with meat. 

Happy Halloween

Still I’m a pandemic and lots of restrictions but today, Halloween, with masks and all... it felt normal. We went to our fiends house for dinner and then trick or treating. I didn’t know what to expect. Would lots of people be out? Would houses be setting out candy? Would the girls have fun? 

And I’m happy to say yes to all of them. The girls each found friends to go off with and at one point I was just pushing Nora in the stroller, walking with my friends. 

It was nice! The girls had a great time and I was so happy for that!