Start Young

Despite a less-than-enthusiastic early response to the best winter outdoor furniture Maine has to offer, both girls now love digging their own snow seats. Top photo is winter of 2005, bottom photo is January 09. Moriah is on the left and Bridget on the right in both.

Much of the snow is gone at this point and we're busy looking for signs of spring - bulbs, mud, and more mud. All over clothes, preferably.

Can't Get Enough of Winter

It's official: these two are crazy for winter. Bridget (in the blue jacket above) is showing us her "scary" face, but she is actually pretty manic outside. Moriah can't stop grinning.

I was snowshoeing with my class last weekend, and Doug brought the girls partway up the mountain to meet us on the way down. I was surprised they had climbed up so far - almost to tree line. They gave my students a run for their money on the way down. Moriah led the pack for a while, with Bridget following behind yelling "Watch out! Get out of the way!" Doug said that the trip was in his Top 10 Parenting Experiences to Date. The girls were hilarious, they had a great time, and the students had a good time with them.

Sledding movies

Look out, Warren Miller.

Where I've Been and What I Missed

I was here (Gertrude's Saddle, overlooking Milford Sound, NZ):

I missed this (2 feet + snow in one storm):

We're taking advantage of the outstanding sledding conditions now that I'm home. Bridget (top) after a spectacular wipeout, and Moriah (bottom) going off the jump. This run in the front yard is pretty much perfect for four year-olds.

Still here!

Sledding, skiing, sliding, shoveling - we're outside as much as we can, keeping busy and staying warm. Classes have started and the girls are going to pre-K three mornings a week. They're in with a slightly older group ( just 4 and 5 year olds) and they're very excited about it.

In less than a week I'll be on a plane to New Zealand until the end of the month. I'm trying to squeeze in as much winter fun as I can before I go, in case there's a huge melt event while I'm gone. We'll put some outdoor pictures up soon! The sledding has been outrageously good; we regularly slide all the way across our front yard AND our neighbor's.

Cross-Country

Skiing has been an enormous hit with both girls this winter. Bridget and Moriah received x-c sets as a late birthday present, and they've been out on them almost every day since we got home from holiday travels. We're lucky to enjoy groomed trails right across town, orlooping through the yard if there's been fresh snow.

Bridget (top picture, purple pants) has taken off like a shot - she is definitely going for distance. Moriah (second picture, blue pants) really enjoys the hills and would be happy going up and down all afternoon. Both of them think falling down is extremely funny. I wish I felt that way - I've taken quite a few tumbles trying to help Moriah down some hills.

Happy New Year!

We rang in the new year with a visit to friends and playing outside in spite of the cold (Moriah top, Bridget below). For all the fun that we've had in 2008, we are looking forward to the adventures awaiting us this year. We wish as much fun for all of you!

The girls show off their holiday spirit and decorated Christmas tree below. Our camera rested at home for our holiday tour to see family, but rest assured that this was the Best Christmas Yet. They are so lucky to spend time with their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Flurry of Activity

The middle of December is always busy as classes wrap up and the holiday season starts. We've had to get extra bundled up to enjoy wagon rides through town (above) and picking out this year's Christmas tree (below). The girls are literally brimming with excitement about Christmas. They wake up every morning absolutely full of energy, and keep on going through afternoons of sledding and late nights of parties. The hum is contagious!

Chester Greenwood

Even the school buses are wearing earmuffs! The annual parade celebrating one of the historic own celebrities brought us out on a brisk morning, even if we weren't sporting his invention. The girls had big smiles for nearly everyone going by, with the exception of the civil war reenactors who discharged their firearms right in front of us. The candy they collected more than made up for being briefly upset.

Think Spring

Bridget and her friend helped me plant dozens of tulip bulbs a few weeks ago, before the snow was on the ground. This raised bed faces south, and the wall behind helps it to warm up in the spring. We can't wait to see what comes up!

First Road Race

Despite chilling winds and overcast skies, the girls roared through their first road race on Saturday. They completed a one mile course, watched the start of the adult 5K, and celebrated with some hot chocolate! Both girls had a great time running. Whenever we got close to one of the university students monitoring the course, Moriah would say "I'm turning on my motor" and take off like a shot for 100 feet or so. Bridget ran a nice, steady pace throughout, and they finished together. Next year: Boston.

Leaves

Before all the rain this weekend, the girls had so much fun raking, running, throwing, and jumping in the leaves. They love to get buried, then leap out!

Are you ready for your close up?

Four is Fantastic

We had such a good time the week the girls turned four, we're just finding the time to share some pictures! Above are Moriah and their friend Maddie enjoying the swings.

Friends (Alex, Carson, and Maddie above), grandparents, cake with strawberries and blueberries we picked this summer, and scavenger hunts outside - who could ask for a better birthday?

Horses!

A birthday party for one of their friends was at a local farm, and all interested young folk had the chance to ride a horse. Moriah opted to watch with one of her buddies, but Bridget went around, and around, and around...

Letters

Before attending a friend's wedding in York a few weeks ago, the girls and I hit the beach to soak up some of the last warm weather. We only had a few minutes to run, splash in the waves, and draw in the sand. The girls love to practice letters. M, B, H, T, A, D, and J are favorites.

Best Day Ever (since Yesterday)

We took a special trip to an apple orchard this afternoon to celebrate one of the best autumn afternoons yet. Huge honeycrisp apples, little pumpkins, and bright leaves at a family orchard surrounding a pond made for a perfect outing.

Narrow Gauge

The fall foliage is starting to come out, and we thought that this afternoon would be the perfect time for a short train ride!

The Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad runs historic cars and replica or rebuilt engines on a short stretch of narrow gauge track on the weekends during the summer and fall. This is all that is left of an extensive rail system developed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in this part of Maine. The railroad is almost entirely run by volunteers who are serious train buffs, and their dedication to this project, including new acquisitions and maintenance of several cars and engines is pretty impressive.

The girls loved the trip! They sat on their own, and were very excited to have their own tickets for the conductor to punch. This is Moriah sitting up by herself. The band-aid on her forehead isn't covering a scrape, she just likes the giraffe pattern.

Bridget is beaming! This trip was a hit, and sure to be repeated next year.

Before Gifford's

Doug took the girls up Bald Mtn on a beautiful Monday this week, and made sure that they had positive associations with the hike by finishing up at Gifford's. I was slaving away on campus, so I think there's an ice cream in my future.

How the Summer was Saved

Many thanks to Uncle Neil and Aunt Meredith! The timely arrival of a mysterious package in the midst of the rainiest part of the summer saved us from certain insanity when we opened it to reveal two soccer balls. Not just any soccer balls - paint-your-own soccer balls. How good was this?

So good that I don't have any good action shots. Too blurry!

You might notice that Bridget and Moriah have very different artistic styles. It has been especially pronounced lately. Bridget wanted very bright swirls of single colors, while Moriah carefully painted each hexagon fully then added lines.