backseat driver

Lately, one of the girls' favorite things to do is take turns looking at a random map we have in our car. Surprisingly it keeps them occupied for quite a while and I'm often times impressed with the intensity with which they look at it.

It wasn't until yesterday, when Little Pie decided to actually read the map and navigate our way to Luke's house. It was so hilarious, I had to get it on video! (pardon her shiny face, she went a little overboard with her chapstick application)

And after several schedule conflicts and one cancellation due to (my) sickness, we finally got to bring Luke his birthday gift (only a month late!) and have fun eating dinner and playing together. 

The girls love Luke and Roxy!

visiting family

Over the past few days, we have been able to visit a lot of family. Gramma was home in Fargo after being in AZ for a long time, so we took a trip to Fargo to visit. (Little Pie asked me about 50 times if we were going to take a car or a plane to see her). We are really starting to learn some geography lessons!

While in Fargo, we got to visit GG, whom we haven't seen since last summer. She is 93 and looks great!

The girls are showing off their new rings (which are actually Rob and Ryan's baby rings).

We also got a chance to visit with Auntie Karen and Uncle Jim, having lunch with them on Saturday and then snuggling up on the couch on Sunday to watch the Super Bowl. 

Karen is fighting cancer and we were so happy to be able to see her on our visit. We think she looks great and are truly amazed by her fighting and positive spirit. We continue to pray for her right now are hoping that she can reach her goal of going to AZ after this round of chemo. Because she truly deserves it!

Yesterday, the girls and I went to Faribault to have lunch and play games with Gramcracker. The girls are so funny because before we left, Little Bird informed me that we would have to bring Lulu and Gracie (their dolls) along because Gramcracker really wants to meet them.

After lunch we just had to play Feed the Kitty. The girls did a great job of explaining the rules to Gramcracker. Little Bird also emphasized that when you get out of the game, you can't be sad and cry about it because we still just had fun. And of course we all made sure to shake hands after the game was over.

success

After 9 months, we can finally say we have two fully potty trained girls (oh wait, we still have to work on night time). 

But after the struggles we had with getting Little Pie to poop on the potty, we can now say she is a master. 

She was completely motivated to do it by the promise of earning a guitar just like the Fresh Beat Band. And after 10 successful outputs (without accidents), we headed to the store.

She knows the guitar goes back to the store if she ever falls off the wagon, and so far she has proved she (in her words) "is not going to let that happen".

I'm so proud of her (and us) for finally finding a way for her to have success (leaving her alone in the bathroom or on her potty proved to be the ultimate key). She is a much happier person as I know she physically feels better, but I think that she is also just so darn proud of herself. 

And she should be!

basketball

As I've mentioned before, we are frequent high school basketball spectators. Last Thursday was especially fun, because not only did we get to watch Taylor and his team win (yet another!) game, but we also got to see the girls favorite, Kelly, be introduced during the varsity halftime as one of the members of the Snow Daze royalty!

The girls are getting really good at yelling at Taylor to tell him what to do. "Defense Taylor, Defense!!!"

This was actually our first time staying for the Varsity game since we always sneak out after Taylor's sophomore team beats the pants off their opponent. 

The varsity game has quite a different noise level.

Little Pie really enjoyed the pep band and danced in her seat every time they played.

And we have to tell Terbear we love coming to the games.

The girls were so excited to FINALLY see Kelly walk into the gym (the first half got really long!).

And because Kelly is so sweet, she came over to let the girls jump all over her.

(In the background of this pic, you can see the coach's twin boys playing. They were so cute!)

bend it like beckham

Little Pie was all about soccer today. She was running around the whole basement "practicing her kick for her first game". I'm not sure when she thinks her first game is, but glad she's preparing for it!

She does this drop kick thing that's awesome (and quite impressive) so look out, she might be one of those girls that ends up punting or kicking on the boys' football team. Go Little Pie!

She ran around so much she was SWEATING. It was great!

Meanwhile, Little Bird, otherwise known around these parts as the most serious girl we know, sat next to me and talked philosophy. She had a million questions about all the things in her line of sight, including where was she when I went to get married to Daddy? (She was looking at a wedding picture on Rob's desk downstairs). But she didn't like any of my answers and was convinced she was in my tummy. NO! It was not that kind of wedding!

But it may be hard to take this serious girl seriously, when she is wearing this scarf like she's Little Bird on the Prairie.

I did manage to get her to smile seriously for this adorable picture.

Same eyes or what?

And to prove the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, Little Bird and I spent 5 minutes trying to verbally direct Little Pie to the Kleenex box she so desperately needed.

Where is it? I don't see it! Um, you are looking right at it.

Same as Daddy or what?

And finally, Little Bird ended the hysterics with a little help for her sis. Because sisters will always help you out of a jam.