Weather update

As you might have guessed, we didn't go skiing this week. Too cold. When I went to go pick up Lolo from school yesterday, the car thermometer read -12 (and that doesn't include windchill). It has warmed up today. We're above zero. Windchill is still in the negative numbers. A warm up is forecasted and we're supposed to be in the 20s this weekend.

Crazy hair

Lolo and I went to get Norah up from a nap the other day. Norah was bouncing up and down in her crib.
Lolo asked "Did Norah really take a nap?"
I said "I thought she did. Why?"
Lolo replies "Because her hair isn't crazy like yours right now and when she wakes up from a good nap, she usually has crazy hair."
Sometimes, it's just better to not ask why.

Doctor update

Norah is still 25 lbs. But she has grown taller, she now slightly over 33 inches tall (at our last visit in November she was just over 31 inches. Hooray for Nor!

We're taking her off of the prevacid to see how she does....still keeping the singular & pulmicort. We're scheduled to take her off of the pulmicort in June and see how things go from there!

Is it Cubby or Zippy?

A few days before our cruise, Norah decided she wanted to be called "Zippy". I'd say "Hey Norah!" She'd reply "No, I Zippy!" And then crack up laughing. Then she'd decide that she'd want to be "Cubby". I don't know how she comes up with this stuff.

Here's Cubby aka Zippy aka Norah-Kate enjoying a chocolate ice cream cone on the ship with Nancy. Jim and I came back from a day of diving and I grabbed this little rascal in my arms. When I snuggled in to kiss her, I said "Hey....I smell chocolate." Sure enough. Here's the proof.

Norah's got a pulmonologist appointment this afternoon. I'll provide an update later.

An update

Yep. We made it back. Did you wonder if I'd ever get around to updating? We had a wonderful trip....perfect timing for heading out of Minnesota. When we left, windchills were -40. YIKES.
We boarded the Celebrity Summit in San Juan on saturday. Uneventful trip down. Got settled in. And then, I discovered that I forgot my diving cards....D'OH!...despite the fact that Jim reminded me the night before to pack them and I just "yeah, yeah, yeah'd" him and continued working on whatever it was that seemed so important at the time. Big time dopey points for me. Especially since this was our diving cruise.
Anyway, thanks to the graciousness of our neighbors who came to our house searching for my cards and emailed them to me....it turned out to be a very good cruise. Stopped in St. Maarten....played on the beach with the girls and then hid under umbrellas while it rained, went diving in Dominica, Grenada & Aruba (while Nancy watched the girls), and then the girls and Nancy watched Jim & myself attempt to windsurf in Bonaire. Whew. Excellent itinerary. The girls thoroughly enjoyed the ship's "fun factory" and swimming pool with bubbles (aka the hot tub). And of course, now that we're back the girls are wondering why we don't have a waiter who does magic tricks for us at home and why we don't have treats all the time. Hmmmm.

Before we leave

A quick video before we leave....a little something to tide you over until we return. It's doubtful I'll be updating from the ship.

Another day at swim school

Another day at swim school....thought you might enjoy a video since we haven't posted a swim video in a while. Lolo has improved significantly. Today, our mermaid worked on her freestyle stroke. You'll see her swim, then float on her back to get a breather, and then back to swimming. I can't wait for Norah to start class this summer!

Surfer Girls

The girls got new wetsuits....just in time for our upcoming southern caribbean cruise (we're leaving saturday). Anyway, I decided to have the girls try on their suits tonight so I'd have an idea of whether or not they'd work for the trip. The girls were giddy about their new suits...Lolo was excited about how her suit looked like Meg, Sam & Daddy's surfing wetsuits.

Computer bug

Jim busted Norah this morning. I now understand our recent computer issues.

Ego Problem?

Yesterday, Lolo and I went skiing again. She's skiing along and says to me "Mom, I'm better than everybody right?" I say "Well, you're pretty good for a 4 year old." Lolo gets upset and says "NO! Don't say that! I better than everybody."
I'm really struggling with how to keep her ego in check. I know at one point, peer pressure will come into play and check her ego....but do I just wait this out? Do I bring her back down to earth?
I talked it over with Jim last night. Lolo and I talked about trying out the other lifts while on the hill yesterday. We've started to work on the concept of green vs blue vs black runs. I think I'm going to start skiing blue runs with her next week.

Rodent Problem or Rascal Problem

It appears a little curly haired mouseling might have helped herself to the fruit bowl yesterday....6 pears and an apple had been nibbled on. I can't decide if we're having a rodent problem or a rascal problem.

Check out the clean teeth from last night's brushing session!

What Can You Do With A Rascal?

Yesterday morning, Norah is running around nekkid. I say "Norah, what happened to your clothes?"
She replies "Fall off!"
Then Jim notices a pacifier in her mouth. "Norah, why do you have a paci in your mouth?"
Norah, acting full of surprise, "WHAT?!"
Jim says "Norah, pacis stay in your crib."
Norah replies "Oh Man!"

Back to Normal

We're back on the same schedule now. Lolo has started back to swim school and preschool. She's becoming such a little mom. Tonight, when Norah didn't eat a good dinner and tried to help herself to a piece of fruit, I said "no" and Norah started to cry and went to Lolo. Lolo hugged her, kissed her head, and said "Oh sweetheart. We still love you. You're naughty on the outside, but good on the inside." Geez! Where does she get this stuff?!?
Norah's just a "rascal" per Jim. If she doesn't like what you say to her, she'll point her little index finger at you and "spray". (Or go to Lolo for a second opinion). It seems a little out of hand at times, but she cracks me up every time she does it. Plus, Norah has picked up a new phrase from Dora the Explorer....Swiper likes to say "Oh Man"....and now, so does Norah.

My Favorite Disney Picture

More Disney Pics

For Vicki...who has been calling regularly to find out when I'm going to upload Disney pictures.

Disneyland Pictures

Not much explaining here. Another trip to Disneyland. No meet and greets with the princesses this time though....lines were way too long....2 hours to see a princess?! No way. Where's the FastPass?

However, the girls were able to stay up and see the evening parade at 6:30pm....a record for us, but no where near the stamina exhibited by Scott & Patty's crew at Disney World.

Our schemer

A comment on our littlest schemer, Norah. This little girl revels in being naughty. It's astounding. An example...while in San Diego, the girls, Jim & I shared a room. One early morning (before 5 am), Norah wakes up and tries to get me out of bed. First, she's poopy. Then she's thirsty. Then she's hungry. Then she looses her woobie. Then her pacifier "drops" out of the playpen. Then she has a "bloody nose". Finally, she wakes up Lolo. And both of them start to gang up on Mom....."Mom, wake up! Hurry up! We're hungry!" Ugh. Jim is cracking up the whole time because for some odd reason, they just pick on me in the mornings.

In direct contrast is Lolo, who never has been a very good schemer. Last night, she gets out of bed and says "Mom, Norah says she has poop." I walk over to their room quietly. Um. Norah is sound asleep. Lolo has been busted. I say "Lolo, Norah's sleeping. Go back to bed and be quiet." As I close the door, I hear Lolo say "Norah! Norah!" Another reprimand from mom. Lolo has a lot to learn from Norah.

More Pictures from Joshua Tree Natl Park

A few more pictures, just because it was such an amazing place to visit....Did you notice how Meg suddenly developed a 40+ lb shadow?

More Joshua Tree Park Photos

More photos to come...

Joshua Tree National Park - a few photos

Back home again

We made it back home early in the morning (1am today). It's good to be back. We had a great time out in San Diego....lots of activities...so much to see and do; but, as always, so little time. Sam and Meg arrived on Sunday. On monday, we went to Seal Beach, had dim sum, and then Lolo, Jim, Meg & Sam went surfing. Jim finally got a surfboard that he's been thinking about since we went to Hawaii years ago. Norah and I went to catch up with the crew after her nap....caught them just as they were getting ready to leave with a blue Lolo-popsicle. (Water temps under 60 and Lolo didn't have a wetsuit that fit). As an aside...later during the week we had pondered going back to the beach for another surfing day....I mentioned it to Lolo and she looked at me seriously asking about wetsuits....she said "Daddy, Norah, Sam & Meg have wetsuits." I replied "Yes, but you and I don't." She commented gravely, "We gonna be cold." We didn't go surfing.

Tuesday was our New Years Day trek out to Joshua Tree National Park. I'd say this was a highlight. Very interesting landscape and wonderful rocks to climb. It was much colder than I expected it to be. And at one "scenic overlook" the winds were really whipping. (Check out Lolo's dress - caught by the winds).

Wednesday was San Diego Zoo day. Thursday was a big day at Disneyland. And friday was a day a Cabrillo National Monument - spent searching for the migrating grey whales (which we never saw). The rains came on friday evening and despite the heavy fog, we all made it back home on Saturday.