Photographs by Larkin

during our week at Grandma and Grandpa's. Captions provided by Larkin and Bailey.

Christmas Day 2019

Alena's birthday party

One of Logan's classmates had her 7th birthday party on Saturday at Playland Skate Center, the same place Larkin had hers. Logan had a blast using the "skate mate" aka "kiddie walker" and saw no reason to try to skate without it yet. Larkin spent half the party with a skate mate, too, but then was skating pretty much on her own by the end of the party.

Before and After Frozen II

People said we were crazy...

...for attempting the Trail of Lights the first night of Winter Break. But it was also the first night that wasn't free entry ($5/adult instead), and that seemed to make all the difference. The crowds were, dare I say, manageable? We went with Larkin's friend Maggie and her family, which is also key--to make plans with someone else to go, or we will talk ourselves out of it every time. The girls made it almost all the way through before getting tired, so next year may be our sweet spot when they still find it fun but are also old enough to make it the whole route without a piggy back ride. Larkin and I rode the ferris wheel, too, which was definitely a highlight.

Parent Observation Day

I got to observe Logan's dance class in the studio on Saturday. She had one small crying jag during tap because of a frustrating tap move she can't do yet which made her embarrassed in front of the row of parents sitting a few feet away. But she regained her composure after some time in her mom's lap and returned to the floor for the ballet and jazz portions of class.

Learning to Gamble

With Buddy Bucks at the HEB...

Third Grade Fieldtrip to the Ballet

Larkin's class went to the Long Center to see The Nutcracker on Wednesday, where a boy in the 4th grade at Pease was part of the cast.

Reunion party

Logan and I went to her preschool friend Madeline's 6th birthday party on Saturday at a gym in South Austin. They picked up right where they left off, and Maddie's mom and I resolved anew to get them together more often.

Friday Assembly

We donated a book to the Pease library in honor of Larkin's birthday as part of the school's birthday book program. She gets to be the first student to take it home to read, and they present the birthday books at Friday assembly before singing happy birthday to the kids with birthdays that week. Larkin was pleased, which you can tell when she looks really serious.