At the buzzer

Whew, just got this post in on time to bring our April posts up to two.  It has been a busy stretch.  Ben has his usual spring craziness and was a finalist for teacher of the year, Nina had a few events at school, there was a fun wedding in Pittsburgh, a birthday party, and Pip always acts as if she is doing something important.  The girls have been happy to be in swimming lessons again and have even gotten the chance to play in the backyard pool on a few warm days this spring.

laughing at frogger    -----    school carnival

  

Pip's latest funny quotes:
"Nina, I have great news; your scar looks better."
"You're getting a baby gold tooth, like Papa has."
"Hear this," she says anytime she wants your undivided attention.

Fads

 

Spring is barely here and the girls are already talking about next year.  What classes they will be in, what their teachers will be like, who will be in their class... somehow they think they've got it all figured out.  We are trying to prepare them for how reality doesn't always connect with their ideas.  Nina continues to work on her reading and has become mildly obsessed with the following:

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• Playing cards (slap jack and crazy eights)
• Playing "Just Dance" especially the One Direction song
• Playing a Lego game on the iPad
• Listening to the chipmunks (especially their Bad Romance cover)

Pip mostly goes along with those fads, but likes to play party pooper if Nina has her heart set on one of them.  "Nina, I'm too tired" has become an unexpected go-to phrase.  

cousin craziness   ----   twinning with her daycare bf

trying on Mom's glasses --------counting rings on our stumps

she turns on a dime, folks

Lots to celebrate

 

Reason 1:  Happy Easter to all!  What a blessed time.  Nana and Papa came up from Nebraska and it was wonderful to have them with us.  Nana and Nina spent time learning to read with Dick and Jane, and Papa helped inspire some love for basketball.  Dyeing eggs, egg hunts, Cleveland Wok, and showing up a year late for Minne-hop-hop were all fun times for the crew.

 

Reason 2: St. Patricks Day (& Pi Day) - Ben and the girls wore green throughout the week and had a few other fun festivities.  In another attempt to go green, the girls are starting a "save our trees" campaign as it looks like the city will soon cut down our ash trees.  We're actually sadder about the elf house that will also be removed further down the street.  A trip to the MOA featured our first ride on Paul Bunyan's Log Chute.  The girls were pretty brave and had a fun day.

 

Reason 3: Mike Hindt - Our amazing Uncle Mike passed away after a courageous fight against pancreatic cancer, and we celebrate a life well-lived.  He was a fantastic father and friend and we will try to live our lives to the fullest as he did.

Reason 4: Sisters - Our girls are starting to figure out this built-in-best-friend thing.  They are playing more games with one another and laughing more.  Guess Who, match game, coloring, pass the pigs, and playing with their Shopkins have all meant bonding time lately.  When Pip leaves the car for day care she will often say, "Have a good day, Nina" and Nina responds with, "You too, Pip.  I love you." On the other side of the coin, all this close contact has meant more fighting as well, but we'll focus on the positive.

Playing "hike"   ------      Diving for grounders

"Let's go to the flower place and take pictures"  ---  "Look, I'm Queen Elsa"