February In Review

February proved to be a long month, though it's the shortest on the calendar. With a family bout of stomach flu and a ton of commitments for Max, we were anxious to create adventures in-light of the extreme winter weather that set records in Michigan for cold and accumulation.

The kids got a new pet...a "ladybug" that they captured and fed every day. They used a chapstick cap as a water dish and made a habitat out of discarded pine needles. I was shocked the thing lived for over a week. They've yet to realize that it disappeared!

Abby and I had a vision for how the kids first ice skating experience would go. The Griffins (IHL Hockey Team) were NOT part of that vision....Turned out that they were hosting a community skating event the same day at Rosa Park Circle. It was insanely packed, but the kids were brave and gave it a shot. Both were more excited about the hot chocolate afterward than they were for the actual skating since it was very intimidating. I'm surprised, but they are excited to try it again.

Ryan had a day off school so we met Staci and Mia at the Breton Village Mall to visit the Koi Fish and run around. We also had a great breakfast at the Omelette Shop. The Koi never get boring.

We invested in MagnaTiles and Picasso Tiles (which are essentially exactly the same thing). Yes, I say invested, knowing that my parents also sunk a chunk of change in these bad boys. But I cannot rave enough about how amazing these things are. I even enjoy cleaning them up! The things these kids come up with are out of this world. Initially we thought there was only so much they could do with the set, but they've proven to not be as limited in their imagination as their parents! Ryan spent an entire morning building this castle. We are always so amazed...at his creativity and the fact that with as smart as he is, he still never remembers to keep his creations out of walkways!

5 years ago as a new mom, I'd have said you were crazy if you said we'd ever head out in -2º weather. Granted, this was before we invested in some serious outdoor gear for the family...But we decide to check out frozen Lake Michigan in Holland. It was so interesting, and kinda eerie. Elise sensed that and was very emotional and uncomfortable. Ryan thought it was awesome. (Or "osum" as he spells it these days.)

This adventure would not have been possible—or safe—without Abby helping me out since every inch of what we were walking on was ice. It was so nice to get outside...we lasted 45 minutes. I laugh when I think of the perspective of our Cali friends: this is what swinging on the swings looks like in Michigan.

An indoor adventure took place, again with Staci and Mia. We headed to Meijer Gardens to see the butterflies. Elise loved it, though she's dramatically squeal that they were going to get her. "He get me. He get me!" It was all pretend and she loved running around and discovering them with her little buddy.

We've spent a lot of time making art this winter. Both kids really enjoy painting when we let them. Otherwise, the marker bin permanently sits on the kitchen table. They also have loved using white boards and dry erase markers, which have saved us loads of money on paper....Though we think Ryan once gave himself a contact high after 1.5 hours sitting in one place drawing.

We spent Valentines Day home with one another. Though we were just on the cusp of the flu. The kids got sun catchers and a critter each. Ryan had a great time at his school party as well.

Little Miss is my most constant subject since we spend so much time together. It's causing a bit of an issue when I drop her at daycare or Max tries to put her down at night. She's a bit attached. She is continuing to be very verbal, though she transitions between sentence fragments with things like, "bidda bidda bidda bit." Which actually sounds like an excited little Pakistani man I once knew. She just strings these sounds together with pretty profound thoughts. It's really reflective of where she's at developmentally...a foot in babyhood and a foot in childhood. We're in the midst of potty training and getting rid of the binky.