Sleep Tight

I can't even imagine sleeping like this. 

Pictures of your kids sleeping never gets old. When I check in on my kids before I go to bed and find them in that deep slumber it makes me happy. They're quiet. The house is quiet. 

They're alive. It means I survived another day in the motherhood. 

Playtime!

Even when it's somewhat chilly outside, I like to get the kids out of the house so Tom can sit in the office and read in peace. I think the weather was in the 40's this day we went to the park, but really, I am very ready for warmer temps and to see the leaves back on the trees. Oh and flip flops. And pedicures. And beach days. And wine playdates on the open fields without snow on the ground.

Sorry...my mind went elsewhere for a second.

Daydreamer.

Can you believe this guy turned 10 months old on the 23rd? I guess I need to get on that monthly tie photo. Hmmmm.

Winter Break

Winter Break has new meaning living here. Usually it's the break around Christmas. But here, it's a week long vacation at the end of February. I didn't mind it. I love having Ella home (on days where everyone gets along) and for the most part, the kids always slept in past 7.

During the break, Newport also had it's annual Winter Festival going on so there was always something to keep the kids occupied. I have a feeling I will really miss all of these festivals when we move. These people have a festival for everything.

Children's Fair. Magic show, bounce houses, face painting (of course my girls wanted nothing to do with that!), crafts...pretty sure Sam thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

This was the best thing we did all break! This local boutique hotel and restaurant, 41 North, put on the most adorable princess party. And when Elsa showed up, you would have thought she was a true celebrity. Every child in there went crazy. She sang for them, read them a story, posed for pictures and signed autographed pictures. There was cute tea type foods like cookies, fruits and veggies for the kids and a crown designing station and more face painting.  We had a wonderful time!

 Madeline looks thrilled, right? ;)

There's that smile!!

Discovered a delicious place for Thai food. Sam loved it, too. Although from the pic I think he might have been overwhelmed with the deliciousness.

 Ella signed up for a library card through her school. She has been begging to go and since we are flying through books at the house, I decided it was time. I don't know why it took us so long, but I certainly have a fellow bookworm on my hands!

 We took a trip to the Providence Children's Museum with my friend Wendy and her two kids. Ally is in Ella's class (Her teacher actually introduced me to Wendy!) and they have become fast BFFs. It's an added bonus that her son Hank and Madeline get along really well, too! The museum was a lot of fun for the kids. The girls said their favorite part was the giant Lite Brite. 

 We took the kids to a family friendly night at the local Irish place where they had live music and crafts for the kids. For the first time ever I was that parent whose kids were probably a little wild running around with friends and annoying other patrons. Oh well. 

 We ended winter break with Ella's friend Mara having a birthday party. It was supposed to be at the local outdoor ice skating rink, but the rink was closed that day due to warm weather and the rink melting! Quick planning on the parents part had us celebrating at the big arcade instead! The birthday girl was such a good sport about it. I think my kids would have had meltdowns, but Mara smiled all day.

All in all, a great week! Ella was certainly ready to get back to school and her friends though. :) 

Snowy Beach Photo Op

This idea in my head to take pictures of the girls in the snow at the beach turned out to be a really bad one. Not only did Madeline jump into a snow drift that was taller than her the second we got out of the car, but there wasn't much snow left on the beach to get the pictures I envisioned. I am really wanting one more day of GOOD snow to take them back to get a few cute pictures. Something about a snowy beach...it just looks so beautiful.

I am not kidding when I say the few shots we did get were taken in 1.5 minutes of being out there. Madeline's boots and socks were covered with snow and her feet were freezing so we quickly loaded back up and headed to Starbucks for hot drinks instead.

Before we left the house! All happy and excited!

 Ella has watched me do yoga a lot lately.

 Not at all what I really pictured, but still some loving shots of my girls! 

Let it Snowwwww...

Let it snowwwwww. (Sung to the sound of Frozen's Let it Go)...

Over ittttt.

Actually, it's beautiful. I want it to snow more. But the ice kills me. I can't tell you the number of times I have almost fallen. I have always managed to catch myself, but it still hurts. Our driveway was lined with piles of ice right where I load Sam into the car. I definitely slipped and went under the car, but luckily caught myself on the open door somehow...although I swear I pulled a muscle. Ha!

The day Tom came home from Hawaii another storm hit. Literally minutes after he walked through the door the snow started falling and continued all day. I was overjoyed that he was home and I wouldn't have to shovel any of it. But what a way to welcome him home after 80+ degree temperatures over there. Paybacks can be ugly;)

Fresh faced to the world! Sledding with no makeup...don't judge!

 We literally ate snow on our way down the hill. Had to take a selfie of it;)

 Sweet sisters. Love when they get along.

 Me and my girls...plus an extra cute snow bunny, Claire!

 Zero editing done to these iPhone pictures. Look at that incredible sky. So blessed to live in this amazing area!

 They were all pretending to be Elsa from Frozen and making it snow!

 Love this shot!

Mr. Travis throwing a snowball...starting trouble!

 My amazing middle child. Adore her smile!

 Wish Madeline could take credit, but this is Travis's snow angel! He grew up in IN so he's pretty much an expert!

 Ella in the pink...she looks so tiny.

 What daddy and Sam did while I took the girls sledding! He was recovering from jet lag;)

Don't worry. He earned that snooze!

 Can someone tell me when she grew up? 

 Making daddy do all the work for the snow slide. Which I totally pictured to be more of an Olympic style bobsled track, but ehhhh it worked.

The result.

 

 Some sledding videos for your enjoyment...especially my friends and family in FL;) 

Madeline sledding...could have been a very ugly ending.

Ella and Claire

Me and Claire...eating snow. Gotta keep those feet up!

Ella...headfirst!

Peridot

When Tom came home from Hawaii he was so excited to give everyone their prizes. I honestly never expected anything because I assumed he would just spoil the kids. And he did! He bought them tons of little Hawaiian souvenirs: beach dresses, a little hula girl, candy, lei headbands. He bought Sam home his very first, and probably last, Hawaiian shirt. Ha;)

But then when he handed me a jewelry box and I saw there was a beautiful peridot necklace inside I nearly lost it. You see, peridot is the August birthstone. I have always loved it, but even more so since my grandmother's birthday was in August. I mentioned how I loved the light green stone maybe once to Tom so for him to remember (or not even remember, but still choose it) and bring home something so beautiful really tugged at my heart.

Then I remembered what the date was: February 15th. Seven years ago I took a positive pregnancy test on February 15th. My Ella. One of my first phone calls was to my grandma. I told her she was going to have her first great grandbaby. But she had to keep it a secret. She was so excited for me and we talked in detail about how she wanted to have generation photos taken and she would get her hair done for them. She promised to keep it a secret. Four months later she passed away. I will never forget her telling my mom about the circle of life and how she was dying, but I was having a little girl...

I felt like a part of her was with me when I opened the jewelry box on that day. I know she would've been one heck of a great-grandma considering she had ten of her own babies!

Just a little story I wanted my kids to know. So eventually when they see me decked out in multiple peridots they'll know why;)

Pictures do not do this necklace justice.

We played Chutes and Ladders Hawaiian style since we were pretty snowed in! Note the cute Hula girls as game pieces;)