The Everyday

Emi's bedtime routine has evolved into a full on production. It ends with Marty or I lying in bed with her, scratching her back, her begging us to lie in bed with her longer (both of us cave)... until we have to insist that it's time for us to leave her room for the night.  Even though it's a whole ordeal... I secretly love it. I love that special time with her and I love getting to reflect as I scratch her back. I have recently felt that as much as I love her, she's His. It's a gift that I get to raise her, and I'm filled with gratitude for that chance. Emi and I enjoying a run together today! Emi even pushed me in the stroller ;) Emi drew this yesterday (the first time we've seen her draw people), and both Marty's and my hearts almost burst.

I was dying inside when I heard it was going to be a snow day today after Emi just had a week long break from school. However, it ended up being a great day! We played a lot inside, enjoyed some Gabby's Dollhouse, and went out into the snow. This storm was different than the one we had a few weeks ago, in that the temps were not close to 0 and it didn't feel as windy. Which made it easier to enjoy being out in the snow! Macy was zonked! In Emi's words: "I'm a snow ghoul." For dinner we picked up Mimi's with Courtney, Michael, and Marlie and ate together at the Belnord.  And now that I've enjoyed the day, school can start tomorrow ;)

We relaxed and knocked out our grocery shopping this morning. In the afternoon we went to meet our mid-winter break crew at the Safari Playground, only to discover it was closed! We aren't the type to let obstacles ruin our fun so we re-routed to the "Purple Park." Emi played for a bit, but then all the fun we've been having this break caught up to her and she started begging me to go home. I'm not kidding--asking over and over "Mommy can we go home?" while I was trying to feed Macy. Poor girl was exhausted.  We made our way back home, and Emi cuddled up in a blanket and watched Miss Rachel and Gabby's Dollhouse. Sometimes you just need your comfort shows to get you through the day! ...And then both girls went down for an early bedtime.

The mid-winter break festivities continue! Madness Pt 1: We made our way to Costco via bus today. It was quite the trek with our crew--6 children, 4 and under--but we really wanted to check it out and eat at the food court. haha. It was very exciting arriving at Costco and they had lots of good stuff. Unfortunately I had 0 space to haul it back with me so I opted to just enjoy looking around. The actual store wasn't too packed, but the children were crrraazzyyy. At one point Sarah, Nika, and I were in the check out line, and our girls were all lying on the floor hahaha. It was super embarrassing but I was also like "these children never have space just to run around in the winter" so I could see why they wanted to just be kids and get their wiggles out! The actual eating was also chaotic. We were trying to juggle taking kids to the bathroom, finding a place to sit in the 6 table food court, keeping the babies happy, and navigating around missed nap times. haha. Even with ...

This week is mid-winter break, which means we'll be doing fun activities at friends all week! In the morning we went to the children's museum! It was packed. But still a good time! After we were finished playing in the museum and about to head out, we hopped on the elevator to go downstairs, and just as Emi was about to hop on the elevator door shut. It was the SADDEST thing ever. I could hear her screaming as our elevator went to the main level, and as soon as we got there I ran upstairs as fast as I could and there she was (with a nice family who was watching her). She gave me the biggest hug. So traumatizing! After the incident, Emi bounced back quickly and we walked over to Popup with our friends. It's all about the cream cheese amiright?! And then home for a nap for Macy and I/quiet time for Emi, and then Aunt Courtney and Marlie came over! After quiet time, Emi came out of her room with this toy and wanted me to "glue it to her nose" so she could be a unicor...

 My Valentines! 

In my ElEd program at BYU, they taught me the importance of recognizing the good things students did and then letting their parents know about it! I tried really hard to do that with my students, and would shoot their parents an email saying a quality I admired about their child. It was received very well but I didn't think too much of it. Fast forward to now, and I got my first text from Emi's art teacher saying "she's such a great friend to her classmates." I have felt SO proud of her all day.  I had no idea that such a small gesture could make such a big impact.

Emi got to pass out more Valentine's today! Art class and preschool. Her preschool friend's birthday also happens to be this weekend, so there was a birthday celebration too!  Emi has loved giving out her Valentine's--she worked really hard to write her name on all of her preschool friends' Valentines. She also has loved getting Valentine's! It's so nostalgic for me to have these Valentine's exchanges. Speaking of nostalgia, I made the girls/Marty and I our annual Valentine's cookies. I feel like it was just yesterday that I was the one coming home from school with a big Valentine's cookie awaiting me. It's so special getting to recreate that magic for my own kids. Emi was sooo excited! She was also very excited to see Valentine's sheets on her bed last week. I put them on her bed while she was at school and was hoping she'd see them when she got home. I really wanted her to be the one to notice them, so I just kept waiting for her to not...

Today was a big day because it was the Music Class Valentine's exchange. So many people were there. For the music portion it was very crowded...we were shoulder to shoulder in the primary room for music class and the exchange in the church basement was fun and pure chaos. A friend captured these pictures at music class. Love my girls! Emi and her twins. One is in her "front pack" (aka her sweater) and the other is in the stroller. She was taking them to the pediatrician in her imaginative play today. Emi's favorite game right now is rental car (can you tell we live in NYC?) and we are always bringing a baby or two along with us in our make believe travels. Little Macy Moo.

Today felt so warm! It was 34 degrees and felt like summer! Or at least spring? It was sooo refreshing after a freezing weekend. I'm hoping this means we've turned a leaf after today's weather!  I get the cutest view while I push my stroller around NYC. 

For Broadway week, Marty and I got tickets to Gatsby! Acting? Amazing. Story? Amazing (but sad). Singing? Amazing. Production value? Amazing. Music? Forgettable.  Marty and I collectively rated it a 6.5/10.

Today as I was getting off the bus, a wheel popped off our stroller. It was freeeezzzinnnggg* and I tried to quickly put the wheel back on but no such luck, so Emi and I walked and our little-stroller-that-could balanced just fine with Macy's car seat on it as we made our way home. When we got home, Marty was able to get the wheel on very easily which was great. Our stroller is the equivalent of our car. I use this thing all. the. time. I'm glad it was an easy fix! Go little stroller, go! Emi and Dad watching the Super Bowl. An Olympic ad with Golden in the background came on, and Emi's jaw literally dropped. She couldn't believe it! haha. *The NY Post: "Temperatures hit 3 degrees on Sunday, with bitter wind chills dragging the real feel temperatures to 14 degrees below zero." Yes, actual freezing!

Emi's alarm clock aka "mella" turns colors to indicate certain things--red for sleep, yellow for awake but playing in her room by herself, and green for when she can come into mom and dad's room. Emi came to get me when mella turned green today to play with her. When I came in her room, she had built this while mella was yellow. Isn't it pretty amazing?! This girl eats, breathes, and lives imaginative play. She is always creating and imagining.

Nika's 13 going on 30 birthday party! We were supposed to dress up in our best flirty 2004 attire. I tried finding an outfit off Amazon with little success...so I ended up just looking like myself! I did put in earrings, and Marty was shocked. haha. It's been years!  We went to Bad Roman and the vibe was so fun. When we walked out from dinner it was snowing! It felt very magical!

Why I love NYC:  Today we popped into William Greenburg to grab 2 mini black and white cookies on our way home from art class. Marty and I (and Macy) went to 7th Street Burger for lunch after we dropped Emi off at preschool. I think their burger may just be as good as In n Out (although I do prefer In n Out's fries).  It's so fun to get to pop into places! I love it.