Little Skiier

Genevieve took her first go at downhill (or really down-mild-incline) skiing last weekend.  It was a much anticipated event for all of us.  Last year she begged us to take her to see snow and somehow we just didn't quite manage it so I was doggedly determined to get her out this winter.  Sunrise had a good bit of snow about 3 weeks ago and fortunately most of it was still there.  We had two days of blue skies, warm skiing and decent enough snow, just about as close to heaven as it gets! 

My Mom stuck around Pinetop with Izzy and on Friday Evie took her first lesson in the morning and then stayed at "Funland" for the rest of the day while I skied with my dad.  I am still breastfeeding Izzy so about half way through the day I had to find a way to pump milk.  This adventure was made more the challenging by me forgetting by battery pack and then the locker that I put the pump in being stuck closed... with signs everywhere indicating "Use at your Own Risk"  Thankfully both obstacles were overcome, one when the maintence guy showed up with a blow torch (but then just used a master key to get my locker open) and the second when I found a nice plug next to a table in a more or less discrete corner... of the bar.  It make for a good little break for my dad, who sat and had a beer while I took care of business.... the loud music also helped mask the vaccuum sound, which was nice. My Dad found the whole thing so comical that he insisted on taking a photo...

On Friday night Patrick joined us and we skied together on Saturday while Evie took another lesson.  By the end of Saturday we were ready for her to show her stuff!  She was a little hesitant and refused to get on the mini-lift, instead prefering to use the "daddy-lift" method.

She showed us a couple of pretty darn good runs... with only a few fumbles here and there.  I must admit I was pretty impressed.

Early January Goodness

Well we have been making the most of the end of my break before school starts again.  Last week we went to the Sweetwater wetlands with my mom, brother and his girlfriend and saw lots of great ducks.  It was ridiculously lovely outside! (Which you might have guessed based on the tank top Evie is sporting)

We also took a trip out to the Desert Sonoran Museum with a gaggle of friends, including M, Evie's bud from afar.  The two girls were just about as cute as it gets and apparently M would like to marry Evie because 1) She plays princesses with her and 2) She likes her.  (Sounds like two solid reasons to me!) 

It was a fun trip out because it allowed me to neglect my "chores" for one more day (during every break I make a laundry list of things I need to do before the semester starts again, and always manage to accomplish roundabout a quarter of the list, but hey that is better than none!) and because it gave both Evie and I quality time with good friends!  Oh and putting on the bat ears always makes me happy.

Then on Thursday we set out for the high country to get in some much needed (and anticipated on Genevieve's part) time in the snow.  Tomorrow is my first day officially back at work/school so I need to run a few more errands before then so a report on Genevieve's visit to snowy northeastern AZ will have to wait for a day or so (ohh I know you are on the edge of your seat!)

Camping!

We went out for a great trip to the great outdoors this week!  For Isadora it was her first camping trip and for Genevieve and I it was our first in a long time.  Patrick was in DC for New Year's so it was also a first attempt for me to take the girls (including Kita) by myself.  Luckily I wasn't totally by myself because I went with good friends who, among other things cooked all the food for me.  I did, however, managed to get Gargantor our tent up by myself with Izzy watching me intently from a bumbo that I brought for her.  It was a glorious (and free!) campsite on the Tohono O'odam reservation at the base of Baboquivari peak.  We rolled in at about 4 pm and stayed until 2 the next day and for December it was really warm, getting up to the mid seventies during the day. 

I was a little concerned about my ability to keep both girls warm at night but in the end it worked out quite well... despite Evie's blow up bed deflating in the middle of the night.  Luckily I had brought extra sleeping pads with me so we just moved her to the other side of me and I slept the night with a girl cuddled up on each side.  I had hoped to have Kita at my feet but unfortunately the zipper broke on the tent and so Kita had to be moved to the car (I started out with her in the tent but then she snuck out on me, thankfully my friends were still awake and tied her up...  I was a bit concerned at first when I woke up in the middle of the night and she wasn't there) 

 The next morning (after breakfast burritos complete with bacon and eggs... oh yes I choose my camping friends well) we took a hike up the mountain toward a cave.  It was a pretty darn difficult hike straight up the side of a mountain and both of the girls did great.  Izzy complied and just slept in the Ergo for 95% of the hike (the last 5% she was awake for and decided she was done with the pack so I just carried her in my arms... luckily we were off the steep stuff by then). 

Genevieve was a super hiker and kept up and kept going (without complaining even) for the entire hike.  To motivate her on the way down I told her I'd make her a badge that says "Super Duper Hiker" so now I need to go shopping for a button making machine or something :) We didn't make it all the way to the cave (it got really steep and rocky and I could tell Evie was tiring) but what we did get were some amazing views!  Maybe a year from now we'll take Patrick back and show him the spot and Evie will be ready to make it all the way to the top... 

Christmas 2011

We had a lovely Christmas this year!  We spent Christmas Eve at my parents house with my brother's girlfriends family over from Germany.  We even started a game of Risk but, after two hours, had only made it through a few rounds (and this is why my brother can never get anyone to play with him...)

 After a yummy dinner of tamales we, for the first time, went home to our house for the night and did Christmas morning just the four of us.  Santa brought Evie a bike and Izzy a rattle thingie.  He was a bit messy coming down the chimney though and spread ashes in our living room and left a few hand prints here and there too.    The most amazing thing about Christmas morning was that we all slept in until 7:30 because Evie pretty much forgot (unbelievable as that may seem) that it was Christmas and just stayed cuddled up with us in bed until Patrick wished her a Merry Christmas and she realized what exactly that meant.  After presents and breakfast we moseyed back over to my parent's house for more presents and more Rimszas.

  Many of the Phoenix clan came down this year and it was great to have the larger group dinner but not have to travel all the way up to Phoenix.  All in all there were about 25 or so for dinner (about half of the potential I think) and it was tiring but fun. At one point during the day we tried to take a family photo...

In the end both Evie and Izzy of course made out like bandits and Evie is already talking about next Christmas, but must be ready to move on because this morning she asked me where the decorations for New Years are because she was ready to take down her little Christmas tree....

Winterhaven

The fun continued on Thursday with our annual trip to Winterhaven.  It has gotten super cold (for Tucson) so it was a pretty quick, brisk walk around really only a block of the neighborhood because even though everyone was dressed warmly we were all too cold to make it too far.  (Patrick came straight from work and was still in his tie, he was better off though than our friend who also came from work and was still in scrubs...) 

 

There were a number of new fun houses this year and, of course, the favorites: water show house and the gingerbread house.

  

Whew just 2 days now until Christmas, or as Evie has been saying, the Day Of Joy....

Visit with Santa

On Wednesday (it has become the 5 days of fun before Christmas around here) we went to see Santa at the Reid Park Zoo lights.  Evie has been visiting the S-man here for the past 4 years and was quite excited for this year's little talk.  We weren't sure how Isadora would feel about him, but decided to get her dressed up just in case she was a willing participant.  She started to get fussy just before the big moment on the big man's lap but a quick nip of a bottle put her in a good enough mood to catch this photo:

Genevieve gave Santa her letter and let him know she would like a bike (with tassels and a little bag in front) and a baby crib.  Santa let her know that three days should be enough to get that bike made and she was understandably elated.  After our visit with Santa we watched a singing and dancing show.  Well Patrick, Izzy and I watched, Evie ran around in circles in front of the stage.  She ran and ran and ran.  After awhile other kids joined her in running around in circles.  She informed us at one point that running around in circles is a good way to make friends... who would have guessed?

Izzy tolerated the whole experience quite well, she was a little dubious of all the commotion at times but. thank goodness, is returning to her more or less normal self after a few days on antibiotics to treat that nasty ear infection she has had for goodness knows how long.

Cookies!

On Tuesday we had our 4th annual cookie making (but really should be called cookie eating) get together.  This year with 2 new little ones to add to the mix gourmet cookies were not on the menu.  Giggles and lots of cookie (or in the case of the parents, dough) eating was.

After cookies were made we took the opportunity for a photo op with the girls and their new little siblings... a little chaotic but decidedly cute! 

Note that Evie made not one, not two but three wardrobe changes during the course of the 3ish hour cookie making experience.

Little Angel

 Evie had another successful ballet performance this past Sunday, this time as an angel in her ballet studio's annual nutcracker ballet.  I was determined this time around to do my daughter's hair myself so I went out and bought gel and bobby pins galore... well I managed to do her hair half well this time, which is a great improvement over last time when I just threw in the towel.  And this time I had a screaming 5 month old urging me hurry the heck up because she was not happy with anything but being held (as it turns out we took Izzy into the doctor yesterday and she has a terrible ear infection, poor thing).  Anyway I say it was a half successful attempt because the bun looked great for about 30 minutes and then was a disaster...  oh well there is always the next performance.  As for our little ballerina she was not detered by the sorry state of her hair and did a great job with her little routine.  The whole time she had the cutest focused look on her face.  She also really enjoyed watching all the big girls dance after her little bit was through...

Morning Routine

Patrick and I have found that somehow, no matter how early we get up, the mornings are always a bit harried.  This is because no matter how early we get up we always can't quite get ourselves to stop the lovely part of the morning (aka sitting around in our pj's and drinking coffee, usually with Evie on his lap and Izzy on mine) until about 7 am or sometimes as late as 7:15.  This always leaves us a 1/2 hour at best to get ready for school and work.  Luckily for both of us though there are some efficiencies to be had.  The first is Evie usually gets herself ready (and is generally ready to go out the door long before either of us).  The second is Izzy's usually easy-going temperament, which most mornings allows me to let her sit in her bouncy chair while everyone else runs back and forth in front of her frantically getting ready.  The other little part of the morning routine now is Izzy sitting in her baby seat with me while I do my hair (I had to get my hair cut in a serious, and if I do say so myself, rather sassy way, which now means I actually have to spend a whopping 5 minutes doing it every morning)  Izzy just tolerates the bouncy chair part of her morning, but clearly enjoys "helping" me do my hair.  She sits in the little chair and just smiles at that pretty little baby in the mirror (don't worry I never leave her by herself there) 

Oh and in case your wondering what happens on the days when Evie is feeling uncooperative and/or Izzy doesn't want to just sit and watch the world go by... well on those days I just don't get out of the house until 9 am at the earliest and generally need to stop for another cup of coffee :)

5 Month Izzy!

I'm not gonna lie to ya, the 4 weeks that took Isadora from a four month old to a five month old have not been easy.  She went from a great sleeper (and yes we all knew that wouldn't last) to a pretty miserable sleeper.  The exact cause of this transition is not clear but I am pretty darn certain it is not due to any teeth.. given that it is pretty uncommon for a kid to teethe for 2 months straight and see no tooth emerge.  The most likely culprit is the series of colds the poor thing has had for now 2 months straight.  Early in the month she also adopted the habit of not just screaming but screeching... at. the. top. of. her. lungs.  These outbursts were so sonorous that they caused Patrick and Evie to hide in the bed under as many covers as possible.  I myself would have been there too if it weren't for the fact that after the first dozen or so I had all but lost hearing in my right ear.  Fortunately the screeching has subsided and is now only an occasional visitor.

 On other, more positive notes, Isadora started the month as a liquid only girl and now is a solid solids eater.  So far she is all about the classics, rice cereal and yams.  She is decidedly anti banana and the jury is out on avocado.  She loves the rice cereal so much that she literally gets shaky with excitement when she sees you come over with it and protests (loudly) if you take a break to oh say get a bite of your own food.  She is a pretty good tripoder but is not quite rolling over yet (although between when I started this blog and today when I am finishing it she has rolled over 3 times...)  And the best thing about Isadora right now is the huge heartfelt smiles she gives everyone and the little giggles she emits when we do things to make her laugh.  Genevieve is by far the favorite giggle inducer.  These smiles and giggles more than make up for the sleepless nights but nonetheless here is to hoping that the next month, while Evie (our own personal typhoid Mary) is out of school, we can eliminate the cold factor and all get a good night's sleep!

Thanksgiving

 We had a lovely (and warm!) Thanksgiving.  Lots of just hanging out as a family o' four in the morning, a great little walk around a park and, of course, fabulous dinner with my family in the afternoon.  The girls were dressed in matching type outfits but of course I didn't manage to actually get a picture taken of the two of them together.... oh well maybe next time the planets align and I convince Genevieve to wear what I want her to and not what she wants to wear :)

Smiley

Isadora's favorite two things: nightly massage time and her yellow blankie...

Patrick just doesn't buy it...

but I think Izzy and Evie are still dead ringers for one another... they even both have that drool problem :)

 

What you cannot see in these pictures is that Izzy's eyes are now decidedly hazel.   And don't think this means that I think they are similar in any way other than their babyish good looks because they are decidedly not!

Isadora at 4 months!

Wow has four months really gone by already? (For that matter has 4.5 years really gone by already?!)  Izzy has become decidedly more opinionated in the past month and is not content to just hang out and let the world go by all the time.  One of her favorite things to do is to face out toward the world in the moby or baby bjorn.  In fact the past few nights I have found that this is the only solution to her rather colicy self between the hours of 5 and 7.

Isadora has discovered the power of her lungs and exercises this power with large bursting screams, either of delight or frustration.  The frustration usually comes from being left on her tummy, a state that she is not a fan of and has not quite figured out how to escape yet.  She is still just about the smileiest (I am sure that isn't a word) kid I've met and that smile just melts her other Lacroix household member's hearts.  Isadora appears to be a tooth prodigy and seems to be on the verge of her first teeth... or at least I hope that is why she was uncharacteristically waking me up so much this week.

She moved into her big baby crib this month, so she went from seeming gargantuan in the bassinet to itty-bitty in the crib.  Her daytime sleep is still spotty and her nighttime sleep is not as fabulous as it once was (I think she is getting so big she needs to eat at night just to maintain her weight :)  but she is at least doing a minimum 5 hours at a stretch which is good by me.  Izzy is definitely the kid who likes to sleep in, even now at 8 am she is still asleep while Genevieve decided that she would get up at 5:45 this morning.....  She is a definite fan of her thumb and/or first two fingers and loves to put them in her mouth and suck on them all the time.  My favorite thing that Isadora does these days is what I call her naked baby dance:  Every night I give her a little baby massage as part of her bedtime routine and this makes her just about as happy and cooey as I have ever seen her.  But more than anything being totally naked makes her dance!  She uses her strong little legs to push her body up and down and squiggles all around all the while laughing and talking.  I am not sure what it is about being totally naked that makes her so happy but I really should film it for posterity because it is hilarious. 

Halloween (the real deal)

Halloween was hectic but fun.  Genevieve was a witch (for whom we could not find a hat... that I of course finally found last night on the floor in her bedroom) and Isadora was a tiger.  We carved our pumpkin at the nth hour because the pumpkin carved the weekend before was rotted by the beginning of last week... I wish I had taken a picture of it, by far the best I have ever done, thanks to last years splurge on Williams and Sonoma pumpkin carving tools, which I didn't even get to use last year because we never carved a pumpkin... so there you have it, progress in the work/life balance... this year we managed to carve a pumpkin!  Well to be honest I started the second one and Patrick had to finish it because friends started arriving at our house and Izzy was preforming her usual 6ish I act like I am hungry but by god don't you try to feed me (aka colic) meltdown.  Oh and the pumpkin didn't end up lighted because we didn't have a candle in the house...

 Anyway Evie had a great time trick or treating with her friends, including her best friend, who went out trick or treating for the first time this year and definitely got a kick out of the festivities.  Most of the adult crew held down the fort with beer on the front porch and I took Izzy around in the pack with me.  I made the mistake of wearing high heeled boots, good thing Genevieve only wanted to go around the block.  I think this "family" picture (Evie insisted her friend be in the picture) pretty much sums it all up...