Olivia "Livi"

I am really sad to sad that Olivia passed away yesterday. We are really heartbroken over this and I just feel so guilty that we she is no longer here. She has Liver Disease and it was too late to save her. Livi, you will be missed.

Our First Hike

This past weekend was perfect for a hike. We knew that we couldn't do too much with Anna and Max so we thought driving up to MT. Greylock would be enough. We would be able to enjoy the beautiful scenery (Legend has it that the beauty of this mountain inspired Herman Melville to write "Moby Dick"). and we wouldn't have two whiney kids. Well, as luck would have it the road to the top is closed until the spring. Now, we just spent an hour driving here, the kids are up from their nap and they want OUT of the car.

So, we went into the visitor building and the kids played in a little area meant for children and then we took a 2 mile loop through the woods. The 16 mile round trip to the top just was not an option for us. Now, Shar (she write a wonderful travel blog about travel with kids) has told me and written on her blog that picking a handicap accessible trail is a good idea and she is correct. We did not have one available to us and luckily the kids walked a good amount of the time, but there were many times that they were carried. Jon was such a good Daddy and even carried the two of them! Anna was so exhausted by the end that she slept in my arms for the last twenty min of the hike. I am impressed I was able to finish with her in my arms.

We had a great day and are looking forward to spending lots of time on nature trails with the kids. It really was fun.

Thank You Cousin Linda

We love these outfits. The kids really enjoyed wearing them the other day. Jon's cousin Linda brought them all the way from Japan. They are beautiful!

Hard Day at the Office

Thankful

I just thought I would make a little note to you all that I am so very thankful for all of the wonderful people in my life. It really is the people that surround you that make life worth living. I am just so thankful that I get to be Anna and Max's Mother. There is nothing better than receiving love from your children.

CHI CHI is Found

Okay, we have them. She finally decided to get up and get them. I guess she really remembered where she left them. Good thing I wasted twenty minutes looking for them! I even looked in the stuffed animal pile (which they were on the bottom of) a few times. She just never intermingles them with the common Teddies. At least we will all sleep tonight.

CHI CHI WHERE ARE YOU?????

Okay, this isn't funny but Chi Chi is missing! It is bed time, the kids have had their bath, They have their milk, PJs are ready to go and Anna's Chi is missing. Not one but both. Now the best part is that they are not anyplace that I can see. I know they are both in this house and I am thinking that Miss Anna put them there because instead of freaking out when I ask where they are she is just looking at me. This might be one very long night!

It is now dark out and although I am 99% sure they are in the house there is no way that I will be looking outside for them!

Wish us luck please!

More Fun Games

Anna and Max really just love to take things out and put them in another place. They amaze me because they truly do this together and they really put a lot of energy and focus into this activity. In the time it just took me turn the computer on and get this post up they emptied my pot cabinet and strategically place one in each corner of the table and then filled in the space between. There are two pots left in the cabinet that simply were too heavy remove.

Phase In Week

Anna and Max just completed their phase in week at their new school. They will be attending Mon, Tue, Wed from 8:30-11:30 but this week they went one hour the first day and then added an additional half hour through Friday. I am very happy to say that they really like their school. Today they didn't cry or even groan when we left. Josephine and Anna (their teachers) are wonderful and I am so excited that it is a good fit. I think it is human nature to be afraid of change and changing a good thing seems pointless at times but to be honest I think this school is an even better fit than the school in MI. I just love the Montessori philosophy and it really works well for our family. This school goes through Kindergarten and I imagine Anna and Max will stay through then. Only time will tell. Anna and Max will be marching in a parade with their class in a few weeks. I will be sure to post pictures.

County Fair

Where is the Snow???

Anna and Max received this beautiful sled for Christmas from Grandpa and Grandma Friedman. They really had a blast the other day being pulled around in the yard--imagine the fun they will have once it snows.

Have I told you lately that I love you?

Wildlife

I have mentioned before that we have coyotes living within earshot but I don't know that I mentioned any of the other wildlife that we see roaming our yard. Below is a video I captured of seven Deer grazing in the front yard including a buck. Unfortunately we scared them off when Anna and Max decided to chase after them.

Fun Games

Anna and Max have been spending a lot time this week playing with each other and making up new games. I get such a kick out of it and I am usually an innocent observer but Monday morning they thought it would be fun to include me! They took every stuffed animal out of their bucket and piled them on top of me. They were laughing and really working perfectly together. They even put all of the animals back when they were done with this game. Another fun thing they do is swim in the bath tub. Both of the tubs in this house are much larger than our MI tub and they really have a good time in there.

So Sweet

Tonight I have Anna and Max sleeping in my bed. Max fell asleep before Anna and she leaned over and gave him two big kisses on the cheek. They really are lucky to have each other.

Tuesday
The paragraph below brought tears to my eyes and I wanted to share it. I visited Jane's blog and am actually stealing this directly from her:

(I stole this paragraph from JK's blog about Tuesday. I thought it was too lovely to not share.
"The night after Tuesday was taken off the vent, I was holding her and we just stared at each other. I asked her if Angels had been watching over her and these huge tears started rolling down her cheeks. I can only tell you that the look on her face told me I didn't know the half of it."
You can go read the rest of her beautiful post here. )

Tuesday is such a strong little girl. Please keep your prayers coming.