Nona at the window

Hey neighbor!

Middle School is happening

We've visited the two local middle schools, done our research, ranked pros and cons, checked our gut feelings, and today I took the first step (in an overly complicated system) to sending Molly to middle school next year.

From the start, Molly knew she wanted to go to Willard, but since the other school is so close to our house, I insisted that we at least give it a fair shake. Turns out it was a close contender, but Willard won by a hair (and a drama program plus that "feeling").

Clara, on the other hand, was ready to get started at Longfellow the minute she walked in. Slow down, girl! You've got a few more years in elementary school!

Welcome Baby Robin!

We are all over the moon with excitement about the arrival of our newest relative: Robin! She was born yesterday and is keeping Seth and Kristen busy already! So much love!

Future Clara

Found cleaning off my desk: drawing from a year and a half ago. :)

Wet swim meet

Another wet swim meet - we are getting better at this (although everything ended up flooded under the team tent). So glad we could team up with Lucy C & Robin to get Molly to her races while I was a timer.

<< sent from a tiny computer >>

Peanut Cookies - Very good crisp

While we were at Nana & Pa's place over break, the girls made some Peanut Cookies with Nana based on the recipe from Nana's grandmother!!! Yum!

Cards

And all the lovely cards ... so many lovely handmade cards made this year!

We All Ring In The New Year

Indy wasn't the only one who celebrated the new year. We did, too!

We had almost all of our usual trappings, but it's even more fun now that the girls are even more involved! We had the table & lights (decorated by M & C!), gifts (from us all, to us all - Molly made her own chapstick! & Clara made her own lotion bars! And I made Opa a lovely hat; and there was more!), everyone - even Clara - stayed up to midnight (although, as you can see, we all got a bit droopy towards the end), and we introduced sparklers this year. 

The next morning we ate a special loaf of bread (that Molly made!) with a dime in it. Lucky me - I found the dime! (and I didn't eat it). 

Indy Rings in the New Year

Indy the Cat helped us ring in the new year this year - taking turns on everyone's laps, looking sulky, and looking like she wanted to create mischief with the candles (she didn't get to do that!). 

Here's her view on the events of that night, plus the last photo, which is Indy on New Year's Day.