Marathon Begins…

The annual Skyway marathon began last week.  We walk 2 miles a week on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for the last 13 weeks of school.  This year, we are leaving the stroller at home and Elaine is walking about half of it.  She loves being around all the kids and is doing a great job keeping up with the crowd.  This is such a fun event!!

The middle portion of her first lap

Wardrobe malfunction…

The easy part (for Elaine)

Checking in

Huh??

Catch Up on Crafts…

 It’s obviously been a while since I took pictures of Elaine’s craftiness!  She did a couple crafts at gymnastics camp over winter break and the rest in preschool.  She is always so proud of her work and loves it when we hang in on Frigidaire gallery!!

Don’t ya wish…

your life was like this every once and a while??

Valentine’s Parties…

I was afforded the opportunity to go to Elaine’s preschool class for a while last Wednesday for her Valentine’s party.  I was able to see the end of free play, clean up, distribution of valentines and treats.  I laughed more in the 45 minutes I was there than I do in a day with my 2nd graders, but I know without a doubt I couldn’t ever teach preschool.  We are so grateful to have Elaine in such a great class with such an amazing teacher!! 

Elaine got to come to my class’ Valentine party too, thanks for Grammy.  As usual she was doted on and treated well. 

Big Dips…

 Despite Jerry being in Utah for Valentine’s Day, we celebrated early at the Melting Pot.  Elaine loved the dipping far more than eating everything until dessert came out.  She loved the chocolate.  She also loved dancing and all the wait staff loved watching her so both were happy.  She always performs better for an audience and broke out several new moves (at times she looked a little like Elaine on Seinfeld–YIKES!!).  Last night, Elaine and I went to my parents’ house for dinner with them and several neighbors whom I’ve known all my life.   

Who says you shouldn’t pick up a whole piece of cheesecake??

It’s A Keeper!

The front of our first handmade card from Elaine…

The reason I will keep it forever!  Just proves that it truly is the simple things in life, huh??

Valentine Bag…

Elaine loved her first ever Valentine bag!!  She had such a great time seeing all her friends’ wishes!!!  

Valentines in the Making…

Elaine and I made valentines for all her school friends and enjoyed our time together.  What’s not to love about glitter glue and doilies??  Elaine had a great time creating, stuffing, signing, assembling, gluing and getting Mommy’s clothes all glittered!

Hard at work:

The finished product:

Good Friends…

Our dear friends, the Wallachs, visited this past weekend.  Ryan was here last weekend on his way to see his family in Taos, New Mexico and Shannon and “Baby Grace” joined him this last weekend.  We are SO very grateful they were able to spend a couple of days with us.  Gracie is 4 1/2 months old and is just precious.  Elaine was entranced and jealous of her all at the same time and loved to hold her.  Luckily our couch provides enough support, Elaine felt very successful and loved being helpful!  We enjoyed a couple of dinners together, saw 2 Palmer basketball games and caught up.  How lucky we are to have friends with whom it seems as if no time has passed between visits!!

First meeting–Gracie didn’t know what to think!!

Sleeping through the basketball game

Elaine LOVED holding and helping “Baby Grace”

Elaine’s thrilled–Gracie’s not!!

“Look Grammy–I am holding Baby Grace”

A super cute family shot

The first ever Wallach kiss sandwich–gotta love it!!!!  We still do this to Elaine who now giggles and squirms and thinks it is just so much fun.  Gracie will get there too, have no doubt!