Addie Climbs Higher

 All of a sudden, Addie can take on more challenges at the playground. She can spin faster...

climb higher...

 

run faster, and attempt more tricks than ever before. Maybe it's trying to keep up with her older sister (or Tyler), maybe she has gained a new-found confidence as a four-year-old, or maybe it's those three extra inches she's grown since last year that allow her to do these new things. Any way you look at it, it's been fun to watch her on the playground lately.

Ironic

Out of the thousands of books he could have pulled off the shelf at Cameron Village Library, my baby chose this book. Yes, the baby who never slept through the night and then finally slept through the night, but wakes up every day at 5:00 A.M. made me laugh with his choice. Maybe this is a cry for help? :)

A Budding Author

Collins does not get excited about homework. Ever. But she did get excited about a recent assignment Ms. Barefoot gave to the class- write a story using your spelling words for the week. Given free reign to let her imagination wild, Collins lit up and immediately came up with the concept, "The Two Best Friends". Turns out it was a mystery with a surprise ending- right up Collins's alley! Can't you see her being a famous mystery writer someday? Maybe one day we can say it all started in first grade. :)

A Little Challenge

We had a little problem early on in the basketball season...Collins had no interest in practicing or attempting to get better. She aired her frustrations that no one on the team would pass the ball to her. So when we were at Brooks Elementary one day playing, I issued her a challenge: practice basketball every day for the next 7 days (until her next game) and she would get to pick out a prize from the toy store. Her eyes immediately lit up, and she knew she wanted to get a squishy. Fine by me as long as she practiced EVERY day. 

I felt a little guilty about this bribe (aka challenge) because I wanted the motivation to come from within, but it was clear she needed a little push to get going and to see that practice makes you better. Every afternoon, she practiced dribbling, passing the ball, shooting the ball, and SHE GOT BETTER. From then on, she would pick up the ball and start playing without being asked to and she started having more fun. The challenge was a success!

One child that will not need a basketball challenge is Luke Fork. That day at Brooks, he was screaming for the ball. Brian would help him dunk it, and he would call for him to do it again, and again, and again. So cute. We might have a basketball natural with him...and it's okay that his older sister just needed a little push!

 

 

 

  

 

Birthday Bust

I don't know how it happens every year, but somehow Brian's birthday always gets overshadowed by something else going on in our lives. Unfortunately, this year was no different as we were dealing with all the house stuff, plus he had a really hard week at work that week. 

We tried a Chubby's dinner that wasn't super successful, but the bright spot of the birthday was definitely this sweet present from Collins. She drew her Dad a family portrait which is now hanging in his office. She's got Brian in his NC State red, me in a yellow gown (fave color), her wearing a headband which is appropriate, Addie with her curly hair, and Luke holding a chocolate chip cookie (a recent obsession). Just precious...

Brian, I promise we'll do better next year for the big 4-0!

Big News!

This is going to be our new home!

It is a VERY long story that I will share soon, but for now, I'll just say that we are thrilled to be moving two doors down the street to 801 Blenheim. It has been a stressful, exciting process that we never expected to be in in the first place because we weren't looking to buy a new house. But an opportunity fell in our lap, and we decided this house would be a perfect long-term fit for our family. So we did it- we bought a new house! Our home is currently under contract, but it's not a done deal yet so fingers crossed everything works out in the next few weeks like we hope it will.

More to come soon, but wanted to share some of what has taken up a large chunk of our time and thoughts these past few months.

A Beautiful Snow

Snow was in the forecast- several inches in fact- so when the girls woke up to no snow...big time disappointment!

 Then several hours later- still no snow...where was it?!?!

THERE it is! Turns out it was busy pounding Durham (Alli was thrilled to eventually get about 11 inches!) before it made its way to Raleigh.

 It was officially go time! Time to gear up...

It was a beautiful snow that kept falling for hours upon hours...loved watching the kids play in the backyard while attempting to make a chicken pot pie- all while the world was turning white.

After all was said and done, I think we ended up with 5" in Raleigh. Not bad!

 After Luke's nap, we headed to find a hill for sledding. Turns out there wasn't quite enough yet to make that happen...

  so we just walked around the neighborhood and made a sad little snowman (according to Collins) in Gigi and Pop Pop's front yard. By the way it was COLD outside...

 So we headed home to warm up our hands...

But as soon as we got home, we realized that was not going to happen because the power went off. The girls did not like this, but strangely enough, my husband did. He jumped to action pulling out all the lanterns and special lights he uses for tailgating. Then he built a fire and had us all kinds of light and heat going when the power turned back on two hours later. He was actually disappointed. :) I wasn't b/c it meant I could finally bake my pot pie! It was a late dinner for us, but a fun one.

The next morning, we woke up to a winter wonderland. Even Luke was impressed. 

 

It was definitely a pancake kind of morning with the official snow day.

We hung out inside a bit, and I had a scary moment when I almost got stuck in the car trying to get the large plastic flamingo out (don't ask), but finally we made it outside.

And found a great little hill in the grandparents' back yard. Turns out flamingos are quite fun in the snow!

 

 We tried out a few other hills and then headed home for some rest...

but were back out hours later headed to Adair's house for cookies and sledding. The girls had a great time!

Snow day #3 and #4 were a bit much, but we made the best of them. The girls were over the snow at this point so the only person I could get to help me make a snowman was this cute guy.

The girls missed out b/c it was perfect snowman-making snow!

That snowfall might have been the prettiest one I have ever seen in Raleigh. We loved it, and we also loved it when it finally went away. :)

A Big 13 Months for Luke

Luke, you were one busy boy during your thirteenth month. You must have been saving up all these walking, talking, and dancing skills until the new year hit. Because all of a sudden in January, you got all sorts of interesting. :)

First there was that whole walking thing. You finally trusted yourself and let go! It was really fun to watch you gain that freedom and confidence. And once you started walking, you started walking really fast!

Then there was whole dancing thing. When I blasted JT's "Can't Stop the Feeling" one night, your little body just all of a sudden felt the music. Those knees started to bend in time to the music and a huge smile spread across your face. That little dance party is one of my favorite moments with you to date. :)

And Gigi reports that Collins or Addie never had this much interest in her piano at your age...is it possible that my son is musical?!?

You also have gotten into some sticky situations as a 13-month-old. You really love throwing things in the toilet...

and getting called out in restaurants by other diners who are appalled at your (lack of) table manners.

 You have also discovered your sisters' toys...

 and your love of spaghetti.

Taking you to the park this month was a real treat for Mommy because I got a little taste of what our spring/summer is going to look like. You LOVED the park and loved playing with trucks. It was so fun to watch you have your first real park experience. We will have more than you can count when it gets warm.

You also found your voice this month adding several words to your growing vocabulary..."bye bye" (still waving in both directions), "ball", "ut oh", "mommy", "daddy", and "baba". I love hearing your little voice trying to say these words.

One other big milestone happened this month- we finished breastfeeding! I am so glad I was able to fully breastfeed you for this first year of your life, but I am also very glad it is over. I am more than happy to let milk from the store take over, and I know you are fine with it too.

Oh Luke, you have gotten quite charming all of a sudden, and I am a sucker for all your cute and questionable antics. You are all boy as you like to bang things and throw things and get dirty. But you are also sweet and hug me really tight. Your smile lights me up, and makes me so happy. What fun month #13 has been! Keep it coming, Luke!