On Top of the World (12/52 and 13/52 posts)

I didn't get the last two posts up because we have been in Arizona. We were so excited to get out of the snow and cold and finally see and feel the warm sun. We started our trip at Nana and Papa's Arizona near Cave Creek. The weather was perfect and we filled our days with hikes, golf and swimming. We even caught the parade for Cave Creek Days (oh boy is that a sight to see!). We saw Katie, Brenda and Eric who joined us on hikes and for swimming. The girls even got to see their friend Ella who had moved to Arizona in January.

For part 2 of our trip, our original plan was to head to Gramma and Grandpa's Arizona in Sun City West to stay with them. However, since Grandpa had triple bypass and a heart valve replacement in Fargo on March 10, the plans changed and we were going to stay at their house alone (Nana and Papa were heading back to MN). When we arrived at their place, we dragged all of our stuff in only to find the house all opened up, the patio furniture out and Gramma and Grandpa relaxing on the patio!! Needless to say everyone was super surprised and super excited to see them. We filled the remainder of our days with pedicures, relaxing, swimming and convertible and golf cart rides.

As usual, we had a blast in AZ. It's hard to believe that it was the girls' sixth trip. It was also the first time I flew with the girls by myself (on the return fight) and I'm pleased to say that it went quite smoothly!

Check out our trip!

11/52

Last day of dance.

She didn't act as goofy this time around.

There were two other sets of twins in the class, including this pair that the girls were paired up with. Also, Evie's leg warmers suddenly became kneepads?

Major concentration. She has also really gotten into yoga and wants me to show her yoga positions that require good balance. I told her she was very good with balance, so now she can't get enough.

Friends Forever.

10/52

We have finally had a few days where it's been warm enough for some of this ridiculous snow to melt. That means we've been able to go for walks and splash through puddles!! I wish every day could feel like today (almost 50 degrees!!) but we all know that's not going to happen. 

9/52

It was wacky hair day at school. She requested all braids, but gave up when after I got four in. Since it was wacky hair day, she had to play with Gracie, because she also has wacky hair.

She also requested all braids for wacky hair day. I think we ended up with a dozen. Lulu came out to play too. 

8/52

Goldiblox has been a real favorite lately. Since we are inside so much we sort of need to become obsessed with something so that we can be excited about it being so cold/snowy we can't go outside. The girls received a new Goldiblox (The Dunk Tank) set for Valentines Day and it gets played with every day. They both thought it was so cool that they got to play with a glass of water! 

The girls pretty much play with one or all of the Goldiblox sets (we have 3) each day. Sophie likes to set up stations (she LOVES stations!) and build each set and then have the characters play with all three sets. Evie likes to modify things, while Sophie likes to stick to the blueprint plans. I love Goldiblox too because we can work through a lot of cool math concepts. :)

7/52 - basketball edition

It was senior night at the basketball game. The girls were so proud to pose next to the poster of their favorite senior. 

It's hard to believe that we've been watching Taylor play basketball for four years. It's been such a fun experience. The girls have learned so much and have had so much fun. We've all had so much fun!

Yay Tay! We are so proud of you!

6/52

While we were out and about one day this week, the girls and I commented to each other about how "warm" it felt. Warm is a relative term these days. It was actually only 15 degrees, but to us, it felt great. I thought it would be a great day to get outside and take a few shots for Valentines Day cards for the family. 

Here are some outtakes which show that 15 degrees isn't that warm after all. (I only got about 10 shots off before everyone's hands had had enough). Don't worry family, the shot I got for your cards is adorable. (Likely to be seen on Facebook on Friday too).

5/52

We've spent a lot of time indoors this winter and it's beginning to wear on everyone. We have so much snow to play in, but the temperatures have been too dangerous to be outside for too long (or at all!). When it is finally "warm" enough to go outside, Evie is the first one out the door. She loves the tall mountains in our yard and sings her heart out, pretending she is Elsa from Frozen.

It's no secret around here that Sophie is pretty difficult to get up in the morning. On a school day, I struggle to get her moving and dressed and fed. She's like her mama in that it takes a long time for her to wake up. To get her moving one morning I mentioned I had a surprise for breakfast. It got her moving fast enough and she was thrilled to find a bowl of snow (along with her Chex and fruit). Her goal for this winter is to build, and then eat, a snowman. 

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. 

dance "recital"

The girls have been taking dance on Tuesday evenings for the last couple of months. They had been dying to take a dance class for a long time, so I'm so glad we signed up.

Of course it's all about the leotard and tights and shoes (tap and ballet!). It's also about dancing with friends, so the girls were happy to share the experience with BFF and L from preschool. 

Tonight was the "recital". I put together a little mashup to send to Rob since he is traveling this week and missed it. 

We're looking forward to signing up again!

the two luckiest girls in the world

Once upon a time, two sweet, amazing little girls were born. 

And then suddenly they turned 5 years old. 

And their mother said, "how did that happen?!?!"

And the most wonderful and amazing family anyone could ask for said, let's all celebrate these spectacular girls. 

And we all said, "YES!"

---

After the girls were born 5 Novembers ago, I got it into my head that it would be fantastic to bring them to Disney World for their 5th birthday. November is great time to go; the weather is still warm, the crowd levels are low and we wouldn't have to take them out of school (just preschool). I am so glad we went ahead with the idea.

The girls are so blessed to have two amazing sets of grandparents and two awesome uncles. All of them accompanied us on our trip and it couldn't have been more perfect. We rented a 7 bedroom house 3 miles from Disney property and because each person/couple had their own bedrooms/bathrooms and we all shared a common room and pool, we all got the privacy we needed plus the group time that is so much fun.

The girls could not have been more excited for our own pool. We swam as much as we could and each of the girls showed off their amazing skills to the delight of the whole family. Little Pie was a little show off, diving for rings even when we were swimming after dark. She can't help herself but go under!

And if you ask the girls how their trip to Disney was, the first thing they will mention is that they got to sleep in a bunk bed. (After one night of sleeping on the top bunk, Little Pie determined she liked the bottom better, much to her sister's utter delight.)

Not only did we get to go on the trip with our amazing family, some other family and friends sent things with the girls to ensure they had a super special time. Magramma and Boompa send sweet cards with princess buttons and money for the girls to spend. They each picked out a princess watch (boy did we hear what time it was a lot!) and Belle and Cinderella Christmas ornaments so they will always remember this trip.

Also, BFF's mama sent some really special skirts that she MADE! The girls were sooooo excited to wear them. In fact, they thought they should wear them on the airplane. (favorite colors, red and yellow!!)

Um, is Little Bird not 16 in this picture?!?

Our first official day at the Disney parks was Sunday at Epcot to celebrate Papa's and Uncle Rye's birthdays. They were quite the sports allowing their day to basically be taken over by the girls. 

At Epcot, the girls got to meet two of their favorite princesses and the classic Disney characters, collecting all of their autographs. 

 

 When planning the trip months and months ago, I had made 6:30 reservations for our large party for dinner with the intent to watch the Illuminations show at 9. However, because Little Bird was suffering from little sleep the night before and a bit of a cold, she fell asleep at dinner and we left right after we scarfed down our food. It wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, but you can't plan everything (especially so far in advance!).

Rob and I took the girls to two parks by ourselves while the other group went to Universal Studios. We visited Magic Kingdom on Tuesday where we basically spent the day meeting characters and trying a few rides. 

We also caught a show, a parade and watched the evening fireworks display which lit up over the castle (already lit up for the Christmas season).

The four of us also visited Animal Kingdom on our own. The first thing we did was see the amazing Lion King show which was of Broadway caliber. It was pretty exciting to see. After that I was sort of let down by the place. It's like a zoo, which is fun, but the cost and crowd fighting isn't worth it. 

The safari ride was pretty cool, however, since we did get to see a lot of the animals.

We met some more characters...

And probably the coolest thing was a woman "dressed" as a tree, wandering around freaking people out.

 

Our off times from the parks were relaxed and fun. We swam, the girls played in their bunk bed room, we went out to eat, sat in the hot tub and played mini-golf. The girls had a blast with mini-golf and since nobody but us was out on the course, it wasn't stressful to get them to hurry up. 

They were super impressed with anyone who got a hole in one and requested their picture with each lucky person.

Nana got two holes-in-one!

And not to leave anybody out, the girls took pictures with the losers, um, the ones who didn't get a hole-in-one.

On November 8, the girls woke up early. They knew immediately that they were five years old. They kept saying they couldn't believe they were five. Nana, Gramma, the girls and I hopped in the car and headed to Magic Kingdom. We got to go in before the park opened because we had reservations at Cinderella's Castle for a special birthday breakfast. It was nice to walk around with a minimal crowd.

The girls met Cinderella before we sat down to eat.

While we were eating our (surprisingly delicious) breakfast, a few princesses walked around to meet and take pictures with each table.

And then the girls got a giant cupcake and we sang happy birthday to them.

We had a relaxing rest of the day wandering around Magic Kingdom with the rest of the family. Since we had had our fill of meeting characters, it was time to hit the rides. The girls were giddy to take everyone on the Carousel and the Magic Carpets of Aladdin.

Throughout the entire week, Little Pie was apprehensive about the rides, but she tried each one, liked each one and by the end of the week forgot she had ever been scared. We were so proud of her for trying something new. And I couldn't believe that she had declared Big Thunder Mountain Railroad her favorite ride.

The only ride she didn't go on was Splash Mountain, mostly because she was afraid of getting wet. And depending on who you were, you could have gotten soaked (Gramma) or stayed almost completely dry (me and Papa). But, Little Bird has no fear and was all set for Splash Mountain. She was giddy with excitement. She had no problem sitting in the front row, and after the ride, declared it awesome. And it was.

Our little princesses had an amazing vacation.

It was an amazing way for our little family to celebrate our girls.

And it was MAGICAL to be with everyone who loves the girls so much.

And they all lived happily ever after.

The End