Happy Birthday, Frankie! Part I

Frankie is 3! My baby girl has turned into a preschooler overnight. She will sit and read books with me for 30-45 minutes at a stretch, loves to paint, color, and practice her cutting. She has several workbooks and does "school" with Grazi or me in the afternoon during the week to work on her letters, numbers, and tracing skills. She is getting more ambitious with her climbing skills, and I can't wait to see her in her first ever ballet lessons that start in 2 weeks. Her favorite question is Why? Sometimes she'll ask why 9-10 times in a row. I remember my mom saying that I exhausted her with all my whys - I understand now, mom!

Her actual birthday was February 12th, and for her birthday, she got a visit from her Mimi! In the midst of the snow storm on the 10th Suzy managed to make it all the way here from Columbia, SC. I had to work on Frankie's Birthday, but was able to greet her in the morning with presents. She got more presents and cards throughout the day from thoughtful relatives and friends, and made a cake with Grazi and Mimi. It was half gone when I got home! :)







Dex enjoyed the new magnets from Great Aunt Ginger


After I got home from work, we went to Friendly's! Mimi, Grazi, Dexter and I helped Frankie celebrate the big 3 with chicken fingers, fries, mac and cheese, and of course, ice cream! Chris was out of town, so missed the big outing (I'm sure his belly thanks him).




Feeling a little sick?

Nope! Back for more!





Oh, and for the record, by "Greet her in the morning", this is the face I was treated to:

that scowl was serious, and lasted for a while. On her birthday. When she was greeted with presents. My girl wakes up GRUMPY. And she's only 3. Oh, the morning wake-up battles that will ensue when she's a teenager and has to get to high school!

Since I've inundated you with pictures and videos, I'll hold off for the party post until later!

Winter Madness

February is the month when "Winter Madness" (see last week's 30 Rock episode) sets in for me. The cold, dark days have finally gotten to me, and I just want winter to be over. Problem is we generally have 3 more months of winter, depending on how you count winter. It often feels like New England doesn't really have a spring; we kind of skip straight from 40 degrees and thawing to a 90 degree summer. And that doesn't happen reliably until the end of May.

Every year in February I contemplate moving South. I know this how I ended up at the University of South Carolina. Senior year of HS, living in Cincinnati, Ohio, and February rolled around. I didn't even wait to see if I got into some of my other schools. I visited South Carolina on a campus visit in Feb, and I was sold. I remember it was warm enough to not have to wear a coat, and the flowers were beginning to bloom. (So Mom McFadden, your chances are greatest for convincing us to move back South in February!).

So why did we leave the south, and spend the last 9 years in New England? Because as much as I hate the cold, dark days come February, up until February, I like it. I like the winter: the snow, the shorter days where you feel compelled to hole up inside reading or get more work done. I like going snow shoeing, and witnessing the beauty of the parks and woods when they are covered in snow.

And while I get tired of being cold and having to bundle up, I really don't like being hot and sticky, which you get plenty of further south. So really it comes down to which season would you prefer to suffer through? A cold winter, or a really hot summer? The answer for me is cold winter.

I know Sarah Murry is going to chime in to try and convince me to move to Southern Cal, where it's always 70 degrees and sunny. The problem with that (for me) is that I like seasons. I like the spring (as short as ours is here) with the relief I feel when I see flowers blooming, and the days lengthening: there's an excitement in the air as we all anticipate the glorious summer that's coming. I like that in the summer in Boston everyone stops going to work as much, and goes outside, on vacation, or just takes some time off. I like that cool, crisp back-to-school feeling in October where you get to enjoy outdoor fires and the crunch crunch of leaves under your feet. And you can't beat the first few snowfalls of winter - those magical moments where everything suddenly looks different and (if they're bad enough) life pauses for a day or so while everyone stays home to wait for it to pass.

One thing we've learned in our 9 winters here is that to survive Winter Madness you need to get out. That was easier before we had children, but we're still making the effort to get out. We have learned to allow 20 minutes to bundle before leaving.

Here is a series of photos I took in December: Snow Day Preparations

Step 1: leggings, long-sleeved shirt, sweater.


Step 2: warm socks


Step 3: vest and mittens


Step 4: snow pants



Step 5: coats



Step 6: hat


Ready to go!


Here we go!




Yesterday, despite the 24 degree day, we went hiking, because we all just needed to get out and explore our world. We picked up pine cones and other found objects for a craft later, broke up ice on the trail, crunch-crunched in the snow, tried to figure out where all the berries that were on the ground had come from (and learned not to eat them), "skated" on the pond, learned about frozen-pond safety, threw sticks for Maisy and some other dogs who we met, and marveled at the mostly-frozen water that was still flowing quickly under a bridge.

Videos!

I ahem, received feedback that the viewers (Uncles) needed more videos. Good thing I just got a Flip for my birthday! Here are a few videos, in HD!

Dex is still our number one giggler


Binocubuhlurs


This is how we spent "happy hour" the other night, waiting for Daddy to get home. Something about running in your skivvies makes it so much more fun.