4/52

Ms. Julie, the girls' piano teacher, asked them to participate in her Music Share program today. It's a mini-recital that is done at a senior living residence in Minnetonka. The girls were understandably unsure at first, but because Ms. Julie is so sweet and reassuring, she easily convinced Evie to participate. Sophie decided she would come and watch. We were last minute add-ons, but we were all excited to go and participate.

We bundled up in the frigid cold and headed to the recital. When Sophie walked in and saw Ms. Julie's comforting and supportive smile, she suddenly had a change of heart, offering to play and even go first.

As we listened to all of the other students play their pieces, my stomach lurched with nerves. I kept glancing at the girls, but only saw them calmly watching the students (and Evie mouthing WOW to me several times). 

And then Ms. Julie called Sophie's name to come up and play. She hurriedly grabbed her book, looked at me with a giant smile and walked confidently up to the piano. I took my spot in the parent chair designated for picture taking and fumbled with my camera and video recorder on my phone. I haven't been so nervous in such a long time. 

Ms. Julie helped Sophie get her fingers set on the keys and then quietly stepped back. With a never-ending smile so big I thought her face would burst, Sophie confidently and easily played her piece, "Mary's Rockin' Pets" (Mary Had a Little Lamb). 

I could hardly hold back my tears, I was so incredibly proud of her. For a girl who can be quite shy at times, she was so incredibly confident, it utterly amazed me. I know it was because Ms. Julie was standing behind her and Rob, Evie and I were close by. The best part was that I could tell that she was so proud of herself. It made my heart explode.

Sophie took her bow, everyone clapped and she jumped into my lap and gave me one her giant, excited hugs. Then Ms. Julie called Evie up to the piano and we all watched her literally skip her way there. She sat down and placed her fingers on the keys nodding to Ms Julie with an "I've got it look". She beamed as she easily played her piece "Old PigDonald Had a Song" (Old MacDonald Had a Farm). 

She held the last note extra long, but I could tell she was making sure that she was counting her whole note. She hopped off the bench and took a dramatic bow that only Evie can do. While I knew she could and would do a great job, I still was so proud and amazed that she got up in front of a bunch of people she didn't know and played the piano so well. 

It's funny because I was so nervous for them, but neither one of them showed any sign of being nervous. My pictures didn't turn out well because my hands were shaking and the videos I tried to take are so messed up because suddenly I forgot how to do use my camera. I couldn't stop grinning and it was all I could do to keep the tears of pride from flowing. But it was so fun to watch them and both of them are already talking about when they get to do it again.

3/52

Evie and the Big Snow.  She was out "helping" Rob clear the driveway after a bunch of snow fell the night before. She was mostly building castles and animals and other sculptures. It's tough to get her to come inside; it usually only happens after a bunch of snow falls down the back of her jacket.

Sophie, the Snow Queen. She doesn't like to be out in the snow as much. Unless it's freshly fallen and she can eat a whole bunch of it. We were supposed to all be helping to build the palace, but this queen felt her place was on the throne; with a fresh snowball to eat of course.

2/52

She has started to read now. It is so fun to listen to her sound out the words. I can see her mind turning as she works out the context of the story to help her with words she hasn't seen before. She got stumped on the word know recently and continues to ask why she can't pronounce the k. 

Lately at breakfast, she has been telling me a story that she has been making up. Each morning is a new chapter. We lost track but we think we are on Chapter 8. The story is about a girl named Sophie who flies out of her window with her butterfly friend and travels all the way to space where they build a really cool house where the windows are doors and the doors are windows. Her room is on the top with a really cool porch she can go out on to see the whole universe. 

1/52

Going to try something new this year...a once a week post with a portrait of each girl. We'll see how many weeks it lasts!

For 3 days, she planned Froggy's birthday party (his birthday is January 3). We had to get cupcakes and a present when we were last at Target. She determined he was 12 years old and christened him with the name "Squeaky". Of course, she blew out the candles, ate both cupcakes and played with the present because, "Mom, Froggy is just pretend."

We've been playing Left Center Right pretty much every day this new year. She's been very excited about each game and declared herself champion when she won the last game of the night. When Rob rolled 3 "dots" she exclaimed "you nailed it dude!!". She is also extremely concerned that I have not yet won a game. She cheered for me all night long. Alas, to no avail. Except, that just means I get to see her sweet, empathetic face cheering for me again.