Apples

These pics- I sometimes get struck by how cute my own kids are. Hilly wanted pigtails this day- which was actually pajama day but I forgot. She was ok w it bc she wanted to wear a dress first and foremost. Parenting fail. 

My other female love. 

These 2 play awesome together when Jack is at school. 

Hilly is wearing cat ears. 

Some tub shots. 

Post tub play time. 

Benny hanging w Kennedy while the sisters are in dance. This girl is special to me. 

Em came w us to the pool on Thurs which we LOVE bc she is basically just the biggest help and a super fun girl to be around. Below are Hills and Ben probably fighting. 

Benny and I played some ball. How big does he look here??

And these 2, having fun. Em works w Jack on floating and swim skills. So cute. 

Here is Hills floating. 

Benny playing w Jack's fire truck from her 2nd Xmas. 

Benny and Hilly feets. 

Snow Day

Benny was whining and pulled a drawer out as I was writing a check and it slammed into my hip. I said "Ben, stop it." He walked away crying. Hillary asked him what is wrong. He said "Mommy told me to stop it." She replied "that's mean. Just ignore her, Ben." Then they started playing happily. Is this a win or a lose- bc it's sort of feeling like a win.

Ben wanted toast yesterday. Of course he ended up not eating it but I have a ton of trouble remembering toast is... Toasting. 

Benny peacefully drawing on Jack's drawing board. 

Just can't get over this pic. I generally don't like character themed clothes but his spider man hat had me at hello. 

Fine dining. Man and cheese out of Tupperware. Because ya know. They walk away when done and the dogs start dragging dishes off the table. Highly civilized. 

Father son reading time while I got the job of going back out into the snow for 15 minutes of promised sledding. 

Em was building an igloo w her buddies, which gave us a nice distraction from sledding. 

Bath time. The fun part.

The less fun part. They refuse to walk bc they are so cold. I let them hibernate in towels til they get up/crawl out to get jammies on. I know now to bring my book. 

Lou was devastated Hannie got a walk. But she is old and arthritic.

Jim took this pic this morning. 

Blizzard

So these Ben pics are pre-blizzard. I really don't like this current haircut and I can't wait til it grows out into something less militant. Ugh

Hilly was singing "I came in like a rocking ball!" Over and over as she practiced tracing her letters. Whenever she wants to be left alone she says "I need to do my homework!!" Please. 

I put Benny in his athleisure outfit and could not get enough. 

Jim left on Monday for Cali and returned Thurs. I distracted the kids w a play date w P and crew on Mon, Tues the girls had cheer dance and Wed we drove up to Allentown for our monthly dinner. In honor of Jack's birthday Gma had a little cake and we ate pizza and the kids played like crazy as usual. Jack sat down in front of the cake and told Hilly to please come sit beside her. She def clings to Hilly when she feels nervous. 

Gabey sang his heart out and had the biggest smile EVER during the song. It was the cutest thing I've ever seen. 

Gma followed us home so she could hang w us Wed night into Thursday. 

Below is Jack's new and improved prayer table. Aunt Jeanette donated a ceramic angel for her. She has so much pride in this table it is adorable. 

Thursday Jack opened up a bday gift from the Hoods- a stuffed owl named Owliver. Owliver comes with us many places. 

Thursday night was Hill's swim lesson and their gymnastics. 

Hilly was saved by the lifeguard again- this time in an area she swims in all the time in front of lifeguard stand. She just freaked herself out. Luckily she never suffers in silence. She screamed like crazy and the lifeguard hopped down. She cried for 10 seconds and then jumped right back in the pool. Her swim teacher saw the entire thing so hilly's lesson entailed floating on her back and then turning over and swimming. Meanwhile, Em worked on the same w Jack in the big pool! The girls had sooo much fun swimming w Em. What would have been a run of the mill Thursday turned into a really fun pool outing. 

Now the blizzard footage. Jack drinking hot chocolate while watching the dogs go crazy outside. 

Same w hill. She is more interested in dress up w winter outerwear than playing in snow. And when she does go out she loses interest very fast once she becomes physically uncomfortable. I feel ya,sister. 

Em came out to play and obviously made the day so much more fun. We attempted sledding but the snow was so soft. I sat on a sled and just like sunk. This was during the actual blizzard. 

Inside at our neighbors. The girls played there while I went running on treadmill which is such a luxury. They had Mac and cheese and as usual, hilly kept taking the Mac and cheese and moving in front of the TV. Total vintage Hilly move. Em is super patient w them and keeps their butts in line. We also made ice cream snow, Hilly drew her own music notes and played them on the piano and a tired Jack did a lot of whining. Hey, the truth hurts. 

Our trek home. 

Mommy, just relax your heart

Last Friday I told Hill to buckle up after school in the car. She wasn't listening and was busy doing something else in the back of the van and sort of into thin air said in a singsong voice "Mommy, just relax your heart. You need to relax your heart. Do you know what that means? To relax your heart? It means to be quiet." I had to laugh. 

Below are Ben and his bestie Drew playing in the playroom at our gym. Tonight as I tucked Ben in I asked if he wanted to play with Drew tomorrow and he sang "Oh yeah. Oh yeah."

That elf hat haunts me.

Benny eating, Benny bathing. 

Below Hilly and Jack reading a book from Grammy. 

Birthday party: pedicures and ice cream. 

Sunday fun day at HAC

Building castles while big sisters are in yoga 

Sunday night at Grammy and Pops' house: 

After a lazy MLK Day w friends, below is Jack Tues AM before school:

We took Will to school today. He was a comedian and entertained my kids hardcore. 

Will and Jack running into school together. What a cute and strange relationship those 2 have cultivated.