Changes

January was a month of lots of change for us.

We got back from our amazing Disney trip.

I went to Las Vegas for a wedding. A wedding that is now being annulled so that has been a bit of an emotional and mental roller coaster.

Ally started back at school, with an increased level of Spanish. In her class they are now doing 1 week of Spanish and 1 week of English. So there are days when the teachers only speak in Spanish!

Our beloved babysitter Lauren returned from her internship in Hawaii. This is a great thing, but it does mean that I don’t see Ally in the morning anymore, and while both Ally and I are happy to have Lauren back, it has been a more difficult transition than we anticipated.

Snow fell and it got really cold here.

Ally finally agreed to braid her hair (thanks to Lauren).

My mom, Grandma Barbie, had a serious health scare, but all is well now and she in Florida and we’re  looking forward to seeing her and Great Aunt Martha there in 2 weeks. But we were all worried for a few weeks.

Becky’s job is pretty stressful – lots of kids this year and one of her co-workers experienced a personal tragedy which has affected Becky and her teaching team greatly.

My job continues to be a challenge. We are doing amazing things in people’s homes and I am really proud of the work we do. My boss’s wife is terminally ill and that has made the personal side of work difficult, as we all try and support him and his family during this time.

Ally has grown an inch – yes a full inch in about 6 weeks! I can only imagine how that must feel to her.

All of these changes and adjustments and things have lead to a pretty clingy Ally. She has always wanted Mommy (me) when she is sad or scared or upset. And so during this recent period of unrest in our lives she has wanted more and more of me. Becky and I have talked about it together and with a couple of trusted friends and advisors and we’re pretty sure its just a phase and that as Becky and I feel better about things, so will Ally. One of our jobs as her parents is to help her feel safe and secure and if she needs more Mommy right now, we can do that.

But we are all really looking forward to our Florida vacation in 2 weeks!

A few pictures:

Ally remains determined to grow her hair long. It is currently the longest its ever been. Ally has let Lauren braid her hair several days before school, and will let us do it on the weekend. Becky and I need practice on the French braids, but I can do the one above pretty well.

This braid is Ally’s favorite – it runs over her head at the front. She calls this her #1 favorite and the single braid in the picture before her #2.

 

Yes that is a dog in our house, with our cats. No we did not get a new pet. Its Lauren’s dog Pilot. On Wednesdays Lauren picks Ally up at school and babysits her for the afternoon. They walk from school to Lauren’s house and pick up Pilot. Then walk home to our house with Pilot. They hang out, play etc. at our place until we get home and then Lauren takes Pilot to her school (at the theater) with her. Its one of Ally’s favorite things all week – to play with Pilot!

The cats are pretty good about it and hang out in the bedroom most of the time. And Pilot does not even bark at them.

All in all life is good. And I’m finding it more and more important to remember our blessings and focus on our happiness and good fortune, of which there is a lot.

Mini Olympics 2013

Ally’s gymnastics gym had their annual mini Olympics last week. This year Ally’s friend Stella and her sister Violet have been taking classes at the same time as Ally so the girls got to experience it together.

For the  mini Olympics the coaches put out a variety of equipment and mats and each class does a circuit and shows what each girl can do on that piece of equipment at each level. It was interesting to see the different classes and what they learn to do. The first mini Olympics Ally was ever in she was the same age Violet is now, so it was fun to watch and remember Ally at that age.

Ally, Violet & Stella

Violet on the beam, Stella on the practice bar.

Ally’s class always goes last, since she is in the most advanced class at her time slot. I love her look of concentration in the picture on the right.

The tumble track is always a blast – jumping and leaping!

After the show the girls get a blue ribbon for participating.

Ally is with her class and just for you Aunt Martha, two of the other girls are named, Hadley and Gemma. The other two have interesting names as well, but Ally and I can’t remember them right now.

Holiday Day with Aunt Beth

Aunt Beth came to visit for the MLK Holiday and it was fun packed day – Open Gym at gymnastics in the morning and then ice skating in the afternoon. I was working so I met up with Ally, Beth & Becky at the ice rink. I do not skate but it was fun to watch them.

 

New Accomplishment

 

Can you guess what it is?

Ally can skip a bar on the monkey bars!

She is so proud of herself. Her arms are finally long enough!

At gymnastics recently her coach told me Ally’s new nickname is “muscles” because she can do chin ups so easily! She certainly is strong.

Still Swimming with Stella

These two are still taking swim lessons together. I think its been 2 years now. The are now in Level 3 and can swim half way across the pool and back all by themselves. They are still great friends and happy as fish swimming during lessons.

Olive’s Birthday Party

Ally’s friend Olive always has animals at her party – long time readers will remember pictures of me with a snake around my neck and Ally holding an alligator! For the past 3 years Olive has had a reptile show at her party. This year it was at a farm and there was a small petting area and pony rides!

First thing was a craft project – painting a horseshoe. Ally and her friend Willow made quick work of that and then found the wooded horse to sit on (that is Willow standing next to Ally and below looking out the window at the farm yard full of animals). I was grateful for the company of Willow and her dad in the car – the farm was about 45 minutes away and the ride seemed to fly by with friends with us.

Ally had a lot of friends at the party – on the right she is with Lizzie, Daniela and Willow.

They fed goats, and sheep, held a bunny and even got the chance to groom the animals.

But the highlight was the pony ride!

No party is complete without cake!