Hogwarts (Universal Studios)
Perhaps we are too Harry Potter-focused over here. Last night, while discussing evaporation of the pool’s water, Hadden said “…and then the water disapperates…” I didn’t have the heart to correct him.
Our little wizard’s first Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade (Universal Studios)
Me: Hey, your spring school pictures arrived.
Haven: Yeah. But I need to tell you something.
Me (looking first at her class picture): What, that you’re wearing your coat? Why are you wearing your coat?
Haven: No. That’s not it…. (And she pulls out her portrait.) I’m sorry.
Do you see it? Our girl loves to draw on her hands, and the fact that it was documented in this “official 4th grade portrait” is kind of awesome, isn’t it? If only I could channel this creative outlet into the skin-writing I do: To Do lists in the space between my left forefinger and thumb. It’s a great place to write things like “library books” and “pay bills”.
Like Hadden’s school, Haven’s opted for a Boosterthon fundraiser this year too. And they raised over $30,000! They ran forwards, they ran backwards, they ran forwards with their coats on backwards. Crazy 4th graders.
This winter saw just a bit of snow, but we’ll take it! The first snow hit January 24, just two days before our big trip to Florida, and the second hit March 6, long after most of us had given up on winter. Each brought some great sledding and snowboarding, and lots of cocoa to warm cheeks.
While we were playing in March snow, Josh unfortunately/fortunately was stuck in warmer climates due to cancelled flights. We missed him, he missed us, but palm trees are rarely a bad thing.
Mustaches are still the rage over here, as evidenced by this year’s hand-made Valentines.
Happy Valentines Day!
Our Girl Scout troop spent an awesome night at the Virginia Beach Aquarium. I can’t believe our luck in getting to sleep in front of the huge sea turtle tank. We hunkered down at a reasonable hour, but it was so meditative to just watch the turtles that it was hard to actually close our eyes and fall asleep.
And you can’t go to Virginia BEACH and not hit the beach! (Our mythology fanatic loved this!)
Oh my goodness, he came, he came! And he brought Haven a new bike that she has been asking for since her birthday last May, and two Razors for Hadden – a 360 Riprider (tricycle) and a scooter that shoots sparks when he brakes. (They’re hidden under the giant red bags by the fireplace, and beside our artificial tree.) Thankfully Christmas Day was sunny and warm enough to put some major miles on their new rides.
We also brought in a real tree this year, that sat in our living room and housed all of the family gifts we gave each other and our families mailed in over the last few weeks. Hadden decorated it himself with every candy cane he could find.
We spent Christmas Eve with Megan, Chris, Blake and Brooke, eating our traditional meal (pizza!), exchanging gifts and checking out their new 5 acre property (which they’ll move into next fall). The bonus of the day was the first major snow.
And in the end, a snowball fight!
jerseybaby 