Can't get enough of these kindergarten stories

This one is inspired by train rides from Berkeley to Martinez to Davis, back in the motherland of our babies, California. The Shinkansen train toy that Anna and Bri sent from Japan is also part of the inspiration, I'm sure.

Tic-tac-toe, four-year-old style

Reid came home with this from school:

I asked him about it. He made the grid and invited his teacher to play with him. He was Xs. His teacher was Os. Naturally, he made up the rules and won.

Dress up

What a guy!

Early spelling and storytelling

Well, the storytelling has been going on for a while, but I love seeing it in writing and drawings.

Maine Huts and Trails

I went on a three-day ski trip with some women friends. It was a fabulous getaway: great company, lots of skiing, meals and bunk bed provided.

Maine Huts and Trails is a great non-profit that runs these back-country huts. Most are off the grid, so electricity is solar generated (in part), water is heated by wood, toilets are of the fancy Clivus composting variety.

My buddies: Jenny Shemwell, headed across the bog between Poplar and Flagstaff.

Jenny Shrum, on day two headed down to Flagstaff Lake.

And Mimi, with all of our gear (we packed in clothes and sleeping bags).

Arriving at Flagstaff Hut!

Outside Flagstaff Hut

Inside Flagstaff. These huts provide good company--both guests and caretakers--and they also provide great food, which makes for civilized backpacking!

On our final day, we followed the snowmobile tracks across Flagstaff Lake, providing us a welcome shortcut (still at least ten miles) back to the car.

Chocolate break--thank you, Mimi.

On Flagstaff Lake

The map. Our route was composed of three days with 10+ miles each day. Day one, we started at the Stratton trail head and followed the Narrow Gauge Trail along a river, and then cut up to Poplar Hut. Day two, we skied through a bog and up to the halfway yurt, and then back down again to Flagstaff Hut. Day three, we skied across Flagstaff Lake, back to Poplar Hut, and to our car at the Gauge trail head.

Thanks to the adventurous women who joined me!

March winter

 

What Mr. Business really says

Okay, I admit it, I took the kids to the Lego movie. Soon thereafter Liam got this sticker from school:

Apparently, Scholastic Books has hired Mr. Business to say, "build a better brain." Or maybe Mr. Business hired Scholastic books, or our public school…

Regardless, we all know what Mr. Business really says: "Wuch yor bot." I like the valentine touch.

Modesta and Damaris

Modesta and her 5-month kiddo are just looking so good, I had to share this. Modesta is exhausted from Damaris wanting to hang out and chat all night long, but otherwise they are thriving.

Happy Darwin Day (one week belated)

Birthday weekend in Acadia

(Also known as, who says you can't have fun skiing, even when your poor children are sick and lethargic).

We started the weekend with cheese doodles, a.k.a. "pirate booty".

We had "cultural experiences" in Bar Harbor.

Some of us petted dead baby seals.

Then we went for a ski.  Thank god for the sleds. We pulled the wee fellows through almost two feet of fresh snow:

Find the second human.

Hibernation mode:

Sand Beach under snow:

I skied back to get the car, and 15 minutes later I returned to two fellows asleep on their sleds and Tim standing watch next to them, listening to the chickadees and our babies snoaring:

Happy birthday, Reid! We love you!

Mom and dad.

Reid will soon be four!

Reid asked to go to Acadia for his birthday, so we are headed out tomorrow for a weekend of fun. We jumpstarted the celebrations with a birthday dinner and cake at home tonight.

Reid cooking his birthday dinner:

Spicy sausages, cheese noodles, and corn were on the menu.

One thing I never expected to grind with the mortar and pestle: candy canes.

We've almost used up our Christmas stash, and they make for a tasty cake topping.

What a guy!