Update after a Busy Month

Patrick's Birthday. Homemade cake for dad and a surprise chicken parm dinner! 

I was going for "Irish Lass", but I couldn't help thinking of the "Jolly Green Giant" when I took this picture of Abby and her dance mates! 

St. Patty's Day. Dance class for Abby, clay class for AP, then to the Raven's Nest coffeehouse for Irish snacks and music by the Possum Ridge String Band. Then we had dinner at Bubby's over the St. Pat's weekend.

AP took a beginner karate class w/ grandfather. Enjoyed it a lot and is interested in taking lessons at the Tae Kwon Do school in town now that he's opted to not play soccer this season... we'll see! He's also been taking a clay class after school once a week and has been enjoying it so far.

He also was chosen for the CCPS art show this year, which was very exciting. It's at the Depot and the art teachers make it very special by serving cake and special punch. We've already signed him up for classes next year... hard to believe he'll be in eighth grade... he chose art, P.E., ACE, and a computer class.

Margaret and Abby went to the public library's Dr. Seuss celebration at the beginning of the month and had a great time doing crafts and hearing stories. Patrick usually takes the kids out on Sat. mornings and I get my workout and household chores done, so it works out well. Ans as usual, they look forward to reading to the dogs each month.

 Margaret and Abby have both started a new season of dance. Margaret is taking ballet and tap and Abby will be graduating from the 3 yr old "movement" class and has started the 4 yr. old tap class already.

The whole family enjoyed the annual Fun Fair at EHE. I had to help w/ the shell game... hiding a ball under a cup and moving them all around, trying to trick the kids into losing track of it... they were NOT easy to trick! And with 875 kids at EHE, it was a busy night!!

Bubby took Margaret to her awards ceremony at CCS for participating in cheer leading and volleyball. She got a rose and a gift bag and they enjoyed a covered dinner together. Abby will be joining Margaret at CCS next year and they are both very excited!

Abby had to go to UVA again this month b/c she had another bout of torticollis (neck pain and stiffness). We are still trying to figure it all out. She seems to have neck problems after she has a resp. infection and now is relying on ibuprofen most days to help w/ stiffness. They also started her on acid reflux meds b/c they think that may be causing her to clear her throat constantly... I'm not so sure... ENT says he may need to do laproscopy if the reflux meds don't make a difference... wish we knew for certain that everything was fine. Most of the time, she seems happy and healthy, but then she'll complain about her neck and it's hard not to worry.

Artists in training | Star-Exponent

Artists in training Star-Exponent Picture of Patrick at his clay class in Monday's paper...

Happy 11th Birthday, Margaret

We continue to celebrate Margaret's birthday a few presents at a time through the month of February. We're trying to stress the importance of just having fun together as a family, rather than focusing on the "gimmies." It's a hard lesson!  But we want to make sure the birthday celebration is special, and so there is no rush... she's enjoying a new make your own calendar, some new puzzle books, and a cupcake playset she can play w/ Abby.

This evening Margaret worked hard on her Valentine's for her class. Her cursive is coming along well. Abby did a few too, and AP has out grown them. It definitely goes too fast...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Grandma and Grandpa Mac visit

Went to UVA w/ Abby this week to check in w/ the Gastrointestinal doc. After talking w/ him, it sounds like Abby's hypersensitive gag reflex is not a symptom of pressure from the Chiari, but most likely something that is unrelated and something she'll probably grow out of. We enjoyed a stop at our favorite bagel shop before we headed back to C'peper and then got our nails painted. We also picked up Margaret and had her hair cut...a short bob, which will hopefully be easier for her to manage. Now, what to do about AP's hair??

Abby's sitter was on vacation this week and Grandma and Grandpa Mac drove down from NY to pitch it for a few days. Abby had fun hanging out w/ them while the rest of us were at work/school. They got to go to her dance class and they got to see Margaret cheer for the CCS basketball team. Granpa took AP to the skate park to try out his new board and we all went to the pool Fri. night. On Sat., they took the big kids skiing... while Abby read to the dogs at the library and had lunch at IHOP w/ Bubby and Grandfather. All in all it was a busy week! Enjoy the pics!

Abby's first dance lesson

https://picasaweb.google.com/JHeelen/DanceClass1?feat=directlink

Weekend w/ the little one...

Assorted January Pics

Making a Pancake Man! From Little House in the Big Woods!

(He wanted to turn the burner on himself- I'm not ready for that!)

Little dancer enjoying a pancake man! I signed her up for "My First Dance Class" and it starts this week! She has already stated she doesn't want to do it b/c she has to go in the room w/ out me... she's so much more independent w/ her baby sitter than she is w/ me! Took the easy way out w/ the gingerbread house this year and bought pre-made kits... I miss the real one, but I don't miss the stress of having to work on it, clean it up and needing to put the frosting/candy out of reach from Abby every time we worked on the big gingerbread house... these were much easier, if not as creative...

Still sharing presents the week after Christmas... CHeck out the dolphin hat Santa brought Abby... she had asked for a waterproof dolphin costume, but this was as close as Santa could get (airmail from Hong Kong via E-bay!)

Trying out the skates Babushka left at the door for Margaret. And Abby inherited her old pair... W/ light up wheels... they ruled the skating rink on a cold Sat. afternoon!

Not enought snow to make a snowman... they worked together for an amazingly long time on this Egyptian pyramid!