Shh… Don't tell Audrey I was videoing this.

This kiddo's success at this was totally unexpected.  She is reading ( a little) but don't make a big deal out of it as it embarrasses her and she really has to be in that right mood to do it.  But sound things out she can.  She has never read what she is reading.  Not bad for a kiddo that knew 3 alphabet letters in September.

So Yeah...

Okay so I have not updated in some time and has nothing to do with lack of time.  I could use that as an excuse but it is simply motivation.  At the end of the day I just feel like doing nothing, staring at the tv or browsing the internet and frying my brain for awhile.  Likely that is adding to a repetitive cycle of lack of motivation and being eternally tired lately.   I am going to blame the rain.  It honestly has been raining her for a month.  Last week it literally poured every day and today it is doing it again.

We have been to Nashville and have had some fun times over the last few weeks.  But for now I leave you some photos taken by my children.  Maybe motivation will hit and I can chronicle our awesome Nashville trip.

Taken by Celia

Also courtesy of Celia

Audrey snapped this

Audrey's pretty leaf

I took this one of the scary cat

My tweenager.  Getting her out of the house in the mornings just about wears me out.  

I take comfort in the fact that her best buddy is giving her parents the same amount of trouble.

4 more weeks of school left!!! 2 Field trips, 1 day off,  and 3 half days thrown in there 

Snow

This past weekend, you know the 2nd weekend in April it snowed.  Celia woke up with the stomach bug and slept for most of the day.  Audrey was asking from the minute she saw the snow to go outside. In the afternoon I took her out and we actually found some hills to slide down.  It was fun!

The previous weekend the girls and I went ice skating

Celia was able to skate around by the end

Audrey used the bar and had a great time

This was April 1st.  Our weather has obviously been crazy lately.

Easter

Four years ago my sister made this dress for Celia and now it fits Audrey.

It was her Easter dress this year.

This is the 3rd year Celia is wearing her Easter dress.  The straps are adjustable.

I actually think she could get another year out of it.  We will have to see. 

They might wear the same dresses next year.

We had an egg hunt and meal with Grandma and Grandpa on Sat.

The girls also dyed eggs with their grandparents.

For Easter I head eggs for the girls in the afternoon.

Mom Mom and Mr. Gill came over for chicken kabobs on the grills.

Audrey spied an egg on the mailbox almost immediately!

It was a good Easter.  We ended it with a nice playdate on Monday and frozen yogurt after Audrey's gymnastics.  Celia worked out with me while Audrey had gymnastics.  She is absolutely adorable on the stairclimber in her cute little workout capris.

Photo Time

Yes, I know those pearly whites are going to need braces
She just lost her 6th tooth last week (total, she is 8 1/2)

Life Lately

So I have not been in the writing mood lately and I am okay with that.  The summer will be here before I know it and then I will post more regularly.  It just seems like lately that by the time the day is done there are other things on my mind.  Or maybe I will get in the mood again!

So what is happening with the girls?  Not anything out of the ordinary which is excellent.  We have not over scheduled either child.  Audrey has gymnastics on Mondays and that is it for her except for school 4 days a week.  Celia maybe is getting up there with Spanish before school on Tuesdays then Spanish after school Wed, rush home to eat and then back again to church for choir.   Throw in fencing 1 evening a week and I guess that is busy.    Celia had the option of moving up to Fencing club which meets for 2 hours on Sundays or staying in fencing 3 and Pete and I highly encouraged remaining in fencing 3.  2 hours just seems crazy for an 8 year old!

I took the girls to see my in laws one weekend and they put on a fabulous show with Grandpa.  I can't really tell you exactly what it was about but they had fun.

 

This is what Audrey wants to do often.  If I say no to the iPad or tv (which I do 99% of the time), she often follows with, well let's make something.  Luckily on this day I needed to make a chicken pot pie with some leftover chicken.  The blue in the picture is a snuggie, she was cold so it is draped over one side of her.



Cuddling with Pete.  We enjoy our movie nights, except for this week.  Cartoon Trumpet of the swans is AWFUL.  The girls enjoyed it but Pete and I did not.


The girls have been enjoying sleeping together in Celia's room.  They view it is a "sleepover" but have now asked to extend those sleep overs a bit.  It is cute.  So that is life lately I suppose.

Happy Valentines Day

Keep in mind while viewing these photos that the child in the pink is painfully shy

Our summer sitter came to watch them on Wednesday while I had Celia's conference 

and she hid in her room for half the time and then did not talk to the sitter

She stopped participating in Music class at school for a month when a new music teacher came.

The new teacher was someone she has known for awhile.

Yet at home…  This is her true self.

This is completely Audrey

She is the definition of "she may be small but she is mighty"

Celia is amazing and that conference offered no concerns.

Also

On this day I was sitting at the table sipping my coffee and looked up to this.

Audrey sat him there to keep me company.

If you turn him on he continuously yips and jumps.

We keep him off.