skiing for Blaise's birthday

As we walked into Brantling yesterday the staff greeted us and the boys made themselves at 'home'. They could barely contain their enthusiasm as they were soooo anxious to hit the slopes!

We've taken the boys skiing several times this season and each time I'm amazed as to how well they are doing. Ambrose is a finesse skier, controlled, slowly meanders down the hill as if out on a Sunday drive. Blaise has increased his skills and has this unique ability at the age of just turning 4 to look like he has been on skis for awhile. Although he prefers the method of point the skis straight and 'rocketship' (as he calls it) down the hill; he has progressed to turning with ease and stopping.

We celebrated Blaise's birthday with Grandma, Uncle Andy and Isabella. Each of the three kids took a private lesson, we ate a quick lunch and headed right back to the slopes. In the end, we literally had to carry Blaise off the slope kicking and screaming that he didn't want to leave!

gearing up

with his instructor Alex

showing how fast he can go

look at that form

Ambrose skiing

birthday presents to open

snack day

Blaise's birthday snack for preschool was fruit pizza. At pickup, Blaise told me 'there is only enough left for me and none for you mommy'. Blaise that's interesting because there is a 1/4 of the pizza left. I think we will divide and share at dinner tonight. Silent nod with small smile.

As the snack person you are the line leader for the day (a big responsibility). Blaise told me (while jumping up and down) how he was the line leader even for the line to the bathroom. Shouldn't we all be this excited over the little things.

for heart day

Unwrap, cut up, bake on low and surprise a gift for friends.
Heart crayons for Valentine's Day.

turned 4

Three requests were made for his special day (I'm guessing this won't be the same at 16).
Mommy can we go skiing? Can you make me a crown and can I have strawberry cake?

'In a town where I was born,
lived a man who sailed to sea . . .
. . . .we all live in a yellow submarine'.

Blaise loves this Beatles song.

For his birthday, we danced to the song, read about submarines,
watched a video about a cartoon submarine named Ollie
and most important had strawberry cake (afterall he did request it).

yellow submarine crown

submarine cake (strawberry of course)

my baby turned 4!

100 days

Today marked Ambrose's 100th day of kindergarten.
The crowns were donned, the projects displayed and cookie cake eaten.
One successful celebration!


Ambrose wrote '100 things he learned' for his project.

The 'I'm trying to eat my lunch, so quickly take my picture' smile.

this weekend

The Little Angels (Ambrose's school basketball team) played during half time at St. John Fisher. We stayed to watch part of the women's game but the boys were much more fascinated with their friend's lizards. There goes that basketball scholarship.

Before the big game on Sunday (yeah, the Giants won!) we took a hike to the top of Cobbs Hill. Blaise was a bit intimidated with how high we had to climb.

But once he got going then he wanted to reach the top.

The view from the top. Can you see the yellow playground that we play at all the time in the background?

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

feast day

Out of bed with a proclamation that it is his feast day.
to church at brother's school, blessing of the throat,
more exclamations to anyone who would listen,
'it is my feast day'.

A concerned look on his face, very serious,
eyes wide as he asked me
'do I need to prepare a feast today?'

Happy St. Blaise day!