Most Improved Skater

After treating Hailey & Riley well, identical, or close to it, for four years, it has been difficult for me to come to terms with the fact that one is much better at something than the other. We know they have different preferences, personality quirks, likes and dislikes. But that one is really just naturally better at something than the other is different. We've always tried to encourage them equally, but I think after ice skating trip #2, it may be time to foster different hobbies. Let's just say Hailey kicked some ice skating butt, while Riley preferred to climb up and down the bleachers with Grandpa Tom! Look at this kid go. (At the end she says "Mom, I'm done with that race." She was pretty tired out.)



Here's Riley after a fall. Don't worry, she's not hurt. She decided to stay there and make snow angels on the ice.


See, she's ok!


This has nothing to do with anything, but here is Riley eating an avocado out of the skin with a spoon. I just thought it was funny.


The next time you hear from me will be during or after our trip to Cancun! First airplane ride coming up on Wednesday; we can't wait!

More Winter Sports

We're trying everything this year! This was tough - the verdict from the girls was that ice skating was a lot harder than skiing. By the end of an hour they were showing real progress though and a few more times this winter they may be flying around the ice!

Hanging out, waiting for dad to come back with the little kid skating bars.


Riley, before her multiple falls. Let's just say we were glad she had her helmet on! She wanted to quit after she fell a few times, but after a break she came back out and had a blast.


Hailey seems to pick these things up pretty quickly. She was trying it without holding the bar or holding our hands at the end!


Hailey skating to mom (sorry for my obnoxious voice). Watching everyone else is far more interesting than watching where she's going.


Hailey would have won this one, had it been a race!

Snow Stars

First ski trip = success! The girls loved it! They're already asking when they get to go again. (Based on how tired mom & dad are from skiing today, that might not be until next season!)

We went to Okemo Mountain (2 hours south of where we live, never thought we'd go south to ski). Our friends Ethan & Meaghan invited us to her parents' ski house so we went yesterday and skied today. The girls had a playtime-lesson-lunch package from 9-1 (they skied about 2 hours of that) and Chris & I got to go on the "grown up" mountain. Not a bad deal.

Here's Hailey, showing off with their instructor Keith. It was practically a private lesson, Keith only had Hailey & Riley.


Riley & Keith


Go Hailey! All by herself.


On your mark...


...go Riley!


Hailey going up the "magic carpet".


Keith said for their first time out they did really great and were a pleasure to teach. We are so proud and they are so proud too!

One more holiday picture

Hailey really likes this picture of Riley and asked me to "pick" it. I think she meant for the blog, so here you go.


Now for the skiing pictures!

More from the Birthday

A few nieces/sisters/aunts/grandmas/great-grandma!


A couple of "4" cakes, courtesy of Erin:


Being sung to:


Let's get our cake on!


Handmade baby doll beds from Grandpa Tom (and handmade blankets from great-aunt Kim). They're strong enough for the girls to stand/sit/lay on, and since the one he made me when I was little is still around, I think these will be played with by Hailey & Riley's granddaughters!


That's it, I'll be back in a week or so when I have new pictures. I'll try not to go so long between posts next time.