Couldn't Resist

I captured these photos of the girls stomping around in the snow this afternoon - couldn't resist adding them to the blog!  

First Snow of the Season

Alice has never been fond of the snow (for example, see http://thekingsleyfamilyblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/snow.htmlhttp://thekingsleyfamilyblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/snow.html).  So when Alice has been eagerly anticipating the arrival of snow this season, Andy and I were a bit doubtful, to say the least, of her willingness to slosh in a substance that may make her cold and wet.

Today, we were in for a pleasant surprise.

 For the season's first snow, Alice was READY.

   

 


She had her boots, snow gloves, hat, and scarf and set out with daddy to help shovel and play.  She insisted she stay out, even when it started to get dark, and loved it this year!  Next, we will try out the sledding!

1 1/2 Years Old. . . Can You Believe It?

Audrey has now surpassed the 1 1/2 year milestone.  Comparing her development, she is just a tad under her sister's measurements.

Weight 24.4 lbs (Alice 25.5 lbs)

Height 33 in (Alice 34 in)

Head 48.5 cm (Alice . . . well, we all know hers was on the large size at 50.5cm!)

Audrey has now gone VERBAL.  She repeats everything!  Andy and I love listening to her sweet voice and new words thinking,  "Isn't that the cutest pronunciation of shoe you've ever heard??!?"  She is into animals sounds, cause and effect, reading books, and loves to break out in dance.  She carries around her paci and blankie (which we are dreading to break her of. . . thinking about tackling that after Christmas).  When it's missing, she walks around the house with her hands up in the air saying, "Pacie, where are you?"  (or something close to that!).  Then she'll bend down and look under her crib and under the couch.  It's adorable. 

 

Every morning, she spends a few minutes snuggling on my shoulder with her blankie and then lays on the floor all cuddled up for a few extra minutes of rest while Alice gets ready.  She'll even lay on the kitchen floor, cuddled up in the fetal position with her blanket.  Alice and I just laugh at her silliness!   I'm so thankful for our lazy mornings (with my flexible schedule!)  She misses her sister when she's at preschool, almost seeming a bit lost without her.   They are beginning to play more and more together as Audrey desperately tries to keep up! 

And as for Alice, she is getting SUPER excited about Christmas and becoming such a great helper around the house.  She now puts away the dishes from the dishwasher, hangs up her laundry, cleans the bathroom sink . . . Still loves her princess costumes and princess dolls (of course!).  She is starting to understand that letters have sounds and make up words and notices the environmental print around her "Mommy there's Taco Bell over there" She is learning so much at preschool and just continues to amaze us with what she comes up with.  She listens to everything, not a conversation can get past her!  We joke that she is going to be lawyer with her constant negotiation skills (which is probably true of many almost to be 4 year olds).

Our Christmas lights are up, the tree is decorated, and my shopping is almost complete.  We are so thankful for our beautiful, healthy girls and looking forward to a wonderful Christmas season!

Family Pictures

We were fortunate to have our good friend, Nick Ioannacci (http://www.soundtrackphoto.com/index2.php) capture our family photos.  On the unfortunate side, Audrey was a level aboove camera shy, more like camera distraught.  We would sing and dance behind the camera to get her to smile, and she responded with walloping tears.  

We were able to get a few pictures of Audrey in between her outbursts :)

Alice, I mean Miss Photogenic, did not shy away from the camera. 

This one is by far my favorite :)

Daddy and his Alleycat

 

 Me with my two little girls

 

 

And the closest we could get to a family photo.  

The Monumental Half

Yesterday was a great day.  I've been training for 3 months for my the first mini marathon since having babies.  This was too the first mini I trained to meet a time goal, rather than the goal to simply finish :)  

I enjoyed the monumental half.  Great course, through old Meridan and around the Monument Circle.  Lots of people cheering you on along the way and holding signs to motivate the runners.  The weather was a bit chilly to start, but warmed up quickly after a few miles.  I felt good, my feet hurt and my legs were tired, but my breath was good.  We started out faster than usual, and kept the up the pace finishing in 1:53.  That's cutting over a minute off  my usual pace, and 10 minutes off my PR (that I set back in college).  

We sure look tough don't we??  

Alice, Audrey, Nana, Papa, and Brian Brock were there to cheer us on!  Alice made up an adorable little cheer to help me "run fast!"  It even ended with a kick (takes after her mommy):)  

Afterward we continued out "Tara & Cara Day" heading to the nail salon for a mani/pedi, grabbed some lunch, then to a Tai stretching & foot massage (which was amazing!), and ended with Andy and Brian (mostly Brian) making us dinner!  We were pampered after our big run and loved every minute of it!  

Today I am VERY sore and hurting and happy to report that I can take a break from running (at least for  a little bit!)