A few years back, I savored the fact that our weekends were still largely ours….meaning we didn’t yet spend Saturday mornings on a soccer field or in dance class.  I truly savored that time because I knew the time would be short lived.   That time has since arrived for us. Avery’s Saturday morning 9:00 a.m. ballet class started in September.  This morning was parent observation week and Harper and I went to watch.  Avery and her class are really progressing….they understand the technique and it was really impressive to see how far the class has progressed since September.

Meanwhile, Justin took Emerson to her first soccer game of the season, which started at 10:15 a.m.  Avery, Harper, and I joined Emerson and Justin at the soccer game during the second quarter.  Emerson is on the same team she was on in the Fall; today  she was hustling on the field today…understanding the game is still a work in progress.  She decided she wants people to start calling her Emme and her name on the jersey was one step towards the nickname becoming more official!

We arrived home before noon and the gorgeous weather kept us outside.  The roller blades and basketball made an appearance.  There was also some tree climbing and some picture taking with Karolin.

Our cherry tree is nearing full bloom, the sun was shining, and warm.  Our morning was busy with activities, but the afternoon and this life is ours!

P.S. And just when I thought the day couldn’t get better, THIS girl learned how to ride a bike in less than five minutes.

We probably took 25 pictures and this is the only one were we are all looking at the camera! I guess that is what happens when you have a family of 8! Yes, 8! Au Pair life! Feeling so blessed to have three of our four au pairs together tonight.  Once a part of our family, always a part of our family. 

Karolin arrived last night from Germany.  This is her third time visiting us since being our au pair…we are so fortunate for our continued relationship and that she continues to spend her time and her money visiting with our family.

Mila (and her boyfriend Artem) joined us for the evening as did Larissa.  We celebrated Karolin’s birthday which was earlier in the month and Mila’s birthday which is later this week.  Karolin’s 24th and Ludmila’s 30th!

I’ll let these pictures do most the talking.

It was a great night.  The girls were rowdy; fortunately the wait staff at Chef Geoff’s didn’t seem to mind. I took it all in and even teared up a few times – it really is amazing not only to have an au pair become a part of your family during their stay, but also to remain a part of your family afterward and on top of that to have your au pairs be friendly with one another and furthermore in the same place at the same time!   The girls were so young when they met Karolin and then Ludmila the following year; yet the memories are still vivid and the relationship so tight. Feeling so incredibly blessed and thankful this evening!

A few randoms – February and March weather has been all over the place.  We have had some really cold days and some really warm days.  On one of the warm days, we went to the track.  Avery and Emerson were fully decked out in their new workout gear.  

Avery and Emerson dressed up for character day….Emerson as Mary Poppins and Avery as Pippi Longstocking.

Emerson and Avery at World Thinking Day.  Their Brownie Troop’s country was Sweden so they all dressed as Pippi Longstocking.  Emerson was not excited about her freckles.

And all three on their way to school.  Seriously, I can’t get over who grown up they are becoming.  I love that they are growing and learning everyday….off to school they go to become better humans!  Love these three!

Emerson. Emerson is older than her years. She thinks make believe is lying. Playing with dolls or pretend play of any sort is boring for her. She could literally watch television all day. Socializing with her friends is a necessity. At breakfast, she must know what is on that evening’s dinner menu. She prefers to read, organize, or clean-up to playing. She often gives me glimpses of what it is going to be like parenting teenage girls. She is mature above her years….at least she still does wear donut pajamas.

My sister has lived in London for 8 years and I had never visited until this past week.  That is crazy to think about…. while not an excuse the last 8 years flew bye for me…. I had three babies, then three toddlers and by the time we were ready to make an international trip with our family, we went to Sweden last year for Lauren and Gabo’s wedding.  When my sister told me she was pregnant, I knew I would finally be making the trip to meet my little nephew.  Two months after booking the flight, the time had finally arrived!  I stocked up on food and home supplies for the family, created a schedule, coordinated logistics and while cold temperatures and school closures altered it some; Justin and Larissa handled it just fine.  And off I went to London!

The purpose of my trip was to meet Noah and help my sister.  It wasn’t too sightsee; however, being a first timer in London, I definitely wanted to see some sights as well.  Flying overnight with the time change is the way to go.  I basically got a full day in at work and almost a full day in London.  I slept for two hours at most on the plane, but I pushed through…. I knew sleep would come later that night.

I met Noah; we cuddled; I smothered him with kisses and called him Harper fairly regularly.

I walked! We walked!  Noah slept in his “buggy”.  We saw sights!  We took selfies.

Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen:).

Big Ben under construction…maybe I will have better luck next time!  And by the way, it was cold in London!  This particular day, I was wearing 2 undershirts, a heavy sweater, and two jackets…thus, the hefty look!  But I was warm!

Westminster Abbey and a double decker bus.

A visit to London wouldn’t be complete without a picture in front of a Red Telephone Box.

The London Eye

My first time on the Tube on the way to Bourough Market.

Notice the Paddington Station route….

The colors, the smells, the samples, the livelihood…was ALL amazing and my imagination and senses were running wild as I was tricking my senses into believing that I was tasting each and every amazing smell.

You just wait little man….one day soon, your senses will be awakened and you too will experience all the goodness.  Speaking of goodness, Lauren and Gabriel bought cheeses, salamis, and mushrooms, and Gabriel whipped up an incredible dinner. I knew he cooked; however, I did not realize he had such a passion for food and cooked with such love and deliberateness.  Right up my alley!

We had several delicious meals at home!

And we visited a Pub!

We ventured to The Columbia Road Floral Market.  Beautiful flowers at reasonable prices equated to insanely packed crowds.

With our purchases.

A quick stop at “J.C. Penny” after the floral market, a.k.a. Ottolenghi, a delicious cafe we visited three times during my entire stay.  One of the locations had a blue wall behind us…thus the J.C. Penny backdrop.

Exploring Kensington Gardens on my own on a beautiful sunny morning.

The Sunken Gardens at Kensington Gardens.

My walk through Hyde Park was glorious!  The sun’s beams glistened on the lake and with the swans dogs running around freely, it was simply blissful. 

A quick stroll stopping for a view of The Shard, the tallest building in Western Europe.

An awesome view at dusk of the Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world.

Fun at The Tower Bridge!

A stop at Paddington Station on the Tube.

A visit to Trafalger Square on a rainy afternoon. 

And since Noah spent much of his time on our outings sleeping contently in his buggy much like this…

…I decided it was time for him to join in so there was proof that he was with Lauren and I while I played tourist.

And the visit wouldn’t be complete without a quick stop in the National Gallery.  I explored some really amazing exhibits while Lauren fed Noah.

Thanks little man for being such a trooper (most the time:)) while your mommy took your auntie on a week-long London expedition!

I wasn’t expecting it to be a vacation, but it was!  I was “present” and enjoying every moment of the time spent visiting another country, the time spent with my precious little nephew – feeling his soft skin and smelling his baby smell, spending quality time with my sister for a week straight, and the time getting to witness Lauren and Gabriel’s love for life, each other, good food and wine in their environment.  Saying goodbye to the little man was hard.  The tears flowed knowing that the little guy would be close to five months by the time I see him next.  And the reality of the situation as I said my goodbyes was that this would likely be the norm…. me knowing my nephew, the girls knowing their cousin through FaceTime and week-long visits a few times a year.  Noah will be raised on another continent saying calling my sister his “Mummy”.  I’ll cherish each and every visit, each and every snuggle, and pray that one day these cousins might may be raised in close proximity to one another and be cousins that love and respect each other with great admiration for one another.  And while the future is unpredictable, one thing is for sure…this was a week, I will forever remember and treasure.

The first real snow of the season!  Everyone all bundled up and ready to go!  

Larissa joined in for the fun.  Right before I snapped this picture, Emerson threw snow in Larrisa’s face…so that look of excitement is really a shriek from ice cold snow on her face!

Then Avery got a taste of that ice cold snow on her face and was less than thrilled. 

Emerson actually tasting the snow.  There was a lot of that going on the initial part of the morning…especially with Harper.

Happy Larissa enjoying the snow.  Pretty sure she even put on make-up for her snow pictures…I mean it isn’t often Brazilian’s see snow…this photo is going to probably be showed over and over again…I would have put on make-up if I were in her shoes too!  Speaking of pictures, I got a new iPhone yesterday and it takes great pictures!

Harper getting ready to sled.

Emerson sledding.

And now Avery.

And while I didn’t get a picture of myself sledding, I had a great time sledding.  Honestly, sometimes it feels so great to just be a kid again…even if it is only for a few moments. I even managed to wipe out Avery the one time Justin took a video…mom of the year!

After these girls had enough for the first round of the day, they came in to a nice surprise that Karolin had sent for Christmas and had arrived last night.

The girls went sledding again in the evening.  Justin finally used the snow blower…the one that we bought two years ago after the prior years 2+ feet of snow and since that time, it hasn’t even snowed enough for Justin to use it.  He was a little nervous it wouldn’t even work.  I’m happy to report that not only did it work, but also, he had a fun time using it.  In total, we have somewhere between 8 – 10 inches of snow. School is already cancelled for tomorrow. So while it is back to work for Justin and I, these girls will enjoy another day in the snow with Larissa.