Skiing the Northwoods

Winters can get long in Minnesota, so it's always important to plan some sort of getaway, preferably somewhere warm. Baba Delia has invited us to spend spring break with her in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and we can't wait. Unfortunately we still have two and a half more months till March!

This weekend we beat the cabin fever by driving five hours north to Lake Burntside, Minnesota for a cross-country skiing vacation. We joined several of our friends for the first of hopefully many yearly trips to Camp du Nord.

With the temperature hovering around 10 degrees fareinheigt, we were a bit concerned about keeping Lena warm, and we wouldn't have been able to enjoy our trip without the ski chariot. We were lucky enough to borrow this key piece of equipment from a friend and it proved to be absolutely necessary to our vacation. Without it we surely would have been stuck inside as the winds and cold were pretty strong. But the Chariot kept Lena surprisingly warm, warm enough for her to even take several of her naps in it while we skied. We were able to spend quite a bit of time outside, and Lena seemed happy and comfortable in her ride.

A Tooth! January 2011

Lena has a new tooth for a new year! We went to the doctor last Friday for a check up and mama asked why Lena hadn't gotten any teeth yet, when most of her buddies have already spouted one or two pearlies. The doctor took a look in Lena's mouth and noticed the gums were a bit swollen. She assured mama that Lena would probably get a tooth soon, maybe in the next month or two. So imagine our surprise a week later when mama decided to feel around herself and felt, yes, a little baby tooth! We didn't expect Lena to sprout a tooth that quick! And we were expecting the teething process to be painful and disruptive, but it seems that little tooth broke out without much commotion at all.

It's a New Year: 2011!

It's a new year and we've been busy! December was filled with lots of parties including Hanukkah at Bruno and Alicia's, Baba Delia's Birthday, Lena's Six Month Birthday, and New Year's Eve here at home.

Play dates were scarce in December because of the busy season and the crazy amounts of snow that made driving so difficult. We were lucky to have Lena's friend Ansel over between Christmas and the New Year, and he and Lena had a great time playing with the "crazy table" cousins Levi and Talia lent to Lena.

In the past month Lena has perfected her sitting skills so we no longer have to prop her up. She can sit by herself for quite long periods of time without falling over. She enjoys sitting on the carpet and playing with different toys. She especially likes Sophie La Giraffe, a cloth book about animals that used to be Levi's, a felt box that holds different small stuffed objects which she pulls out and sucks on, and a tambourine. We were also lucky enough to borrow an exersaucer from Ayla Rose, and Lena loves hanging in her gym playing with the different pop up flowers and musical trees.

Deborah was busy this month with different knitting projects including a bonnet for Lena's friend Stella, a cap for Ansel, and an earflap hat for Daniel. With so many snow days you'd think she'd have more done than she actually does.

Lena

Lena wearing the hat Mama made for Ansel

Lena and Ansel playing with the "crazy table"

Lena and Ansel

Lena does some Yoga

Lena meditates

Bath Time, Lena's favorite time of day