Best of February

Unfortunately, the kids were sick almost constantly this winter. Ear infections, fevers, colds, bronchitis, upset stomachs, and other ailments seemed to sweep through our house one after another. The weather was funny for February and Daddy was traveling a lot, too, but we still somehow managed to fit in some fun times. A lot of our fun involved trips to the former Naval Air Station for skiing and sledding or just running around - as we were on this terribly windy day. On that particular outing, we brought Finley's dump truck along with our sled this time and also had the pleasure of Daddy's company.

We also took lots of trips to the library and made adventures for ourselves in our back yard. Because of the sicknesses, we didn't spend as much time in Kingfield as we normally do during ski season. When at home, Mommy institutes a different sort of schedule than we follow at other times of year. Without the second parent around a whole lot, either because he was coming home late after work or was out of town for races, dinners were quick and easy and cleaned up while the kids bathed in the sink. Sometimes there were bribes involved in keeping the kids in the sink long enough for me to sweep the floor. Like movies, for example (don't worry, I kept a very close eye on them at all times !):

After their "sinkies," we moved to the near vicinity of the pellet stove and slathered the kids with lotion, put on their jammies, brushed teeth, read a few stories, and often put on another movie to fall asleep in front of on the couch. I actually became quite proud of myself for being able to parent them through bedtime all by myself with a somewhat tidy house and all. I know that single parents do it all year, and I don't know how - they must be amazing!!! Anyway, by the end of the ski season, both kids would sometimes ask to "fall asleep in front of the Golden Girls" at night and, with that, my secret bedtime ritual was out to Nathan!

Charlotte looked cute here and I think she picked out her own outfit that day: