The Fighter's

And we're off...and we are SO excited!!!  Can't even describe how excited we are!!!!!  Hawaii here we come!  First stop Detroit airport (Lou's bunny ears included)...then a layover in Los Angeles.  Douglas got us into the Delta lounge so we got to relax and eat "free" food.  Girls enjoyed plugging into the wifi  for a few hours before the long trip over the Pacific.  Kate was the only one that slept on the plane (as evidenced by her hair below :-)).  And we were just as excited to land and be there as we were when we were taking off!!!! 

  One of the best parts of vacation is the anticipation.  So much to look forward to - what are we going to see, what are we going to do...looking forward to just relaxing, adventuring and having fun with our favorite people on the planet.  Olivia has been coming home every day with stories about our upcoming trip.  This was one of my favorites - she drew us snorkeling (with a guide)...among fish and sea turtles.  So cute.  I'm excited too Olivia!  Despite the long plane ride.

Kate researched Amelia Earhart for a project at school and got to dress up as her to give her presentation.  Look how cute she looks.  As Amelia....and then as sweet Kate.  She looks so grown up!  She has also been such a trooper after breaking her ankle.  The girl got her cast off and it was almost like she had forgotten to walk!  Amazing how much muscle you can lose after 8 weeks of being off your foot!  She has had 2 days of physical therapy each week - and has been working hard and building her strength.  With the goal of losing the limp when she walks - and getting back to the dance floor again!  Proud of our girl.  Love her so much!  

What do you get when you mix February, with a 60 degree day....in Chicago, with no kids?  Some would say a debacle...I say nothing but fun!  We woke up, had coffee and walked (per usual on our Chicago trips).  Came back, got ready and met the Meisters and headed North to Lincoln Square for brunch.  Well...it was so nice that we ate brunch on the patio and enjoyed a glass of champagne, which turned into 2 glasses and so on..and so on....  Then we decided that it was too nice to go home and instead found another bar to sit, partake in beverages and enjoy the beautiful day (we needed to enjoy the fresh air - right?).  People had Spring fever.  Out walking in shorts, windows open, music bumping.  So fun.   After a bit of shopping we went to another restaurant for snacks....and drinks....on the patio, in Chicago on this 60 degree sunny day. We actually convinced the owner at this restaurant to open the patio.  He w...

It's the weekend!  And we have a kid free one!  So we are off to Chicago with our friends the Meisters!!!!  First stop...going to see Hamilton!  So excited about this...Doug and Jeff bought the tickets as a Valentines gift for us!!  We went to dinner first and then to the show.  And it was amazing...the music, the storyline...it was awesome!  Wayne Brady was the lead too which was kind of fun!!!! 

We walked in and found our little sweet mermaid sleeping all cozy....  

Olivia writes stories almost every day and they are my most favorite thing to read in the world.  Here is a story from this week about the upcoming dance recital.  Love her illustration too (her, Ava & Kate).  Be still my heart.  I think she's super excited :-)

This girl got her braces off today...well, round 1 of braces.  She was a trooper with the spacer and braces and getting them off (knowing that she's going to get them on again one day)!

My 3 little Valentines, sharing a Valentine breakfast!  Love these 3 so much!!  They make my heart smile.  And so does my big Valentine (not pictured here!).     And my re-modeled office!  After 8 years of working in a sort of dull space, I re-configured my office with a little paint, a new bench and some wall art to be cheery and pretty and bright!!  Amazing what you can get done in a weekend (when your husband is out of town!!).  I am so excited to work in this space!! 

Kate decided to make her own Valentines this year out of construction paper and dum-dums.  She cut them, wrote notes on all of them and used a very lean process to make sure that one was made for each and every one of her classmates.  She even recruited her sister to help with the assembly.  I love that she decided to make her own...my girl Kate.  Old school and sweet at heart.    

And fevers erupt.  You get pj's, a day of rest and broccoli cheese soup.  And then you may get tea...while wearing your dance wig.  All remedies to getting rid of those darn germs.  

Getting geared up for new adventures in Junior High!  Ava decided to play the violin in 6th grade.  She was fitted for her violin tonight.  Her orchestra teacher helped her get a feel for her new instrument.  Ava was all smiles.  Yay for trying new things and yay for learning to play an instrument!

Today was an amazing day...Ella Marie was baptized!  Thankful for the grace of God and the gift of faith that Ella's little heart was given, through the Water and the Word.  Pat, Lindsay & Ella make the sweetest family.  Uncle Rob & Aunt Lena stood by as her Godparents.  And the rest of us family - Grandmas, Grandpas and her 9 cousins stood by cheering her on.  Ella was so funny during the baptism - reaching for the water in the baptismal font like she wanted to play in it!  She wore the same dress Ava, Kate & Olivia wore on their baptism which was pretty special to them.  Love this sweet little girl.  And can't wait to watch her grow and share her light with others.  "I knew you before I formed you in your Mothers womb, before you were born I set you apart." -Jeremiah 1:5