Getting Ready for the 2026 Winter Olympics...

In the spirit of Apollo Ohno we hit the local ice plex tonight to let Jackson and Lilly have the first crack at ice skating. It was soooo fun, and it was a little tough on the back! Enjoy the pictures!

How Do They Know???

Last night Lilly and I looked outside and were delighted to find that the Lenten Roses were blooming just in time for Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. How Do They Know???? We enjoyed taking pictures of these Lenten Roses (technically known as helleborus). We also found that the snowdrops we found blooming before the snow storm were still blooming and happy after the snow has melted away!

After we came in (I am recovering from wicked bronchitis and the cold air is only something I can tolerate for brief periods), Lilly still wanted to take pictures. So, here are so views of our home courtesy of Lilly's eyes....

This first one I call "Yes, Mom, you need to wash the car...."
and "My Train Set!"

Finally...here are the overdue pictures of our Valentine-Making marathon while home in the snow. Lil stayed in those jammas all day, and was thrilled to do so. And - as it turns out - handmaking them was a good thing...all but 3 of the 27 Valentines in the bag Lil brought home from school were homemade....

Knock Knock

Ohhhh how I wish I could secretly video or even audio tape Lilly after I tuck her in at night. Not too long after I left her, I could hear her making up songs to go with the pictures in the books she was "reading." A little later I walked by the door and could hear her - uh - developing her sense of humor. She soooooo wants to be able to tell funny jokes. (Many may argue I fall into the same wannabe category....but I digress). I could hear her repeating the starting lines...

"Knock Knock" "Who's There?" "uh...Knock Knock...who's there? Lilly? Lilly Schmidt...Knock Knock...who's there...knock knock knock knock knock knock.....I had to cover my mouth to not laugh and loud and give my cover away.

I wonder what David Letterman's mom heard when he was "3 and 3/4"?

Seemed like a good idea at the time...

We got a note home from Lilly's school about 10 days ago that explained the Valentine's "routine" for the class. Every child was to bring 27 valentines, only filling in the "from" line, and leaving the "to" part blank. Then the teachers could help make sure that everyone got the same amount, and make distribution a heck of a lot easier. They encouraged hand made, but said purchased was ok.

That was 2 winter storms ago. And, when I asked Lil what she wanted to do, she said she wanted to make them. Seemed like a could idea, so I cut out 27 red construction paper hearts for her to decorate, and signed "Love, Lilly" (in cursive since it is montessorri) on each.

While the first winter storm (weekend before this one) was fun winter weather, we were hardly inside at all, and spent it all sledding, etc. This weekend was a nasty mix of rain, sleet, snow, back to rain, heacy winds, etc. We were most assuredly inside all weekend. Actually - we did leave the house once to go to lunch at the local deli with my mom on Saturday. Other than that - we were in the house the whole time. Yesterday Lil never even got out of her PJs (her definition of a fabulous day).

So...yesterday I set up the little crafty workshop of stamps and stickers and crayons and glitter and etc etc etc. Held her interest for about 4 cards. So...as you have guessed by now...I got to hand make about 23 valentines. I had to work extra hard to try to make them look handmade by a 3 (and 3/4) year old. Soooo not what I had planned. But, they got done, and there was no Valentines Massacre at my house.

They were supposed to bring them into school today (not sure on the why...), so in she walks this morning (late as usual) with her backpack full of her nap sheets, her folder, her lunch box and this file folder box full of valentines and she announces at full volume to the very quietly working room of ontime and focused montessorri students "I HAVE A LOT OF STUFF HERE!!!!!!" I was so embarassed and proud at the same time I just started laughing and left (hey - parents aren't supposed to be in classroom anyway so what could I have done?).

I have a few pics I'll share once I get them uploaded...

I Like Snow, Just Not The Lack Of Virginia To Handle It!

Snow is fun...the weather was gorgeous again today. The interstate is completely clear. The secondary roads are fine, despite the fact that I never saw a snow plough. The neighborhoods are slippery. But, overall - quite passable.

Depsite that, the city schools are closed again tomorrow. I can sorta understand that...buses on the back slippery neighborhoods are a bit much. BUT...Lilly goes to a private school, that has no buses. The parking lot is completely clear. And yet, they closed it again tomorrow!?!?!?!?!? I don't get it. Actually...I kinda do get it. The principal is out of the country on vacation...so someone else got to close it. And it ticks me off. The school should be open. I am lucky - mom & dad will watch Lil. But, the school should be open. The roads should be clean by now....but, I remind myself that this is Virginia, and they only get a couple of snows a year. But - its not like they never get it! They should have at least a couple things they can attach to the trucks and clean things off. AARRRGGGHHH.

Funny story...mom said she and Lil were playing outside in the snow, and then she lost sight of Lilly. She looked around for her for a bit, and eventually Lilly came out the front door (apparently she can open that and get it herself!) holding the phone saying, "Mae Mae, a man is on the phone, but he said he will call back later." I am amazed Mom didn't wet her pants laughing. Who knew she could answer the phone? I can only imagine the conversation.