Feb. Fun

Jacob has started eating a little more. He loves sitting and watching the show (Michael eating) while he dines.

Nicole and Michael barely ever let me play the piano- they are so eager to pound away. Nicole has started sounding a little better (i.e. less pounding). Michael, on the other hand...well you can probably tell from the expression on his face that he plays a little more aggressively.

Nicole all ready at the RBC Center in Raleigh for her Vday date with daddy...the Ringling Brothers circus! I packed her a little bag of snacks and Jim said it was so cute because the first thing she did when they got there was open the bag and eat everything in it.

Before the performance you could go meet the performers down on the floor.

Nicole's favorites: the pirates, superheroes, and elephants. I think Jim said a total of 5 motorcycles were in that small sphere! Nicole finished her reading lessons and as a prize got a dollhouse that I found on clearance for $40. Since Jim's history of reading instructions is a little shady, we asked a friend to come help us put it together. Nicole said she wanted to help and read the "corrections," meaning "directions" and we joked that corrections are what they usually end up being for Jim :-)

I think it took under an hour to assemble, I think Jim was grateful we've never had any toys like this to assemble on Christmas Eve. A very tall dollhouse.

Although it was bedtime, we let Nicole stay up so she could see the finished product. It's taller than she is and she absolutely loves it! The other day she had her doll sleeping in the bed and all of her toy dinosaurs around the doll's bed. Made me wonder what on earth she is pretending...of course, to her the dinos are friendly. Maybe they are Barbie's pets?If you're wondering what's been keeping us Ultra-Busy, Jim opened an office in Sanford and I went there on Wed with the kids to be there for packages and other various workers coming that day. We were there for 6 hours and books, Cheerios, and markers didn't quite cut it. The experience was definitely not one to forget- I killed the biggest spider I've ever done in...with baby wipes and a pizza box, Michael spilled a box of Cheerios in one of the rooms while I was distracted by answering questions from the Internet line installer right before the landlord came to visit (I frantically tried to close the door to that room so he didn't see it), we ate pizza on a leftover map of Sanford, shared a sprite can that became increasingly filled with floaties, and...everyone fell asleep on the drive home.

Varying states of action. Poor Jacob wanted the balloon (see hanging string)

Life is sure an adventure! We have had such a rollercoaster of emotions since the business opened last May, I can't believe it will have been a full year this in a few months. Jim has worked incredibly hard, I admire his diligence and strength and hope to support him in all he does. He is such a star. Our first time ever one-night getaway from the kiddos that I paid in full for (ouch!) had to be cancelled and we're so bummed. Maybe, someday...