The sun and warmth was last week. Now it is cold and wet. These abrupt "flip flops" in weather get us all down. Sid has been dealing better than most (or not so well depending how you look at it), by becoming a beer brewing machine.
By the look of the pictures, I guess he's found some "friends" (Emma's friends) to help him out.
Emma loves Busby.
Our local museum, The Museum of the Rockies has a fun treehouse exhibit up which combines a "how do toys work" theme with "hidden secrets of animals and nature". It is a fun interactive show for both parents, kids and grandparents. Gail, Page, Sid, Emma and I recently went there on a sunny, but cold Montana day.
Oops. That isn't the playground. :-) Above is a photograph of the first batch of Sid's 2009 stout homebrew. We had a Guiness:Sid-stout taste-off. Sid's gave the old stout standard a run for its money.
Emma is once again in Phoebe's "damsel" hat. It really is Phoebe's. They just happened to do a switcheroo the other day.
Here is Phoebe doing her best Bart Simpson-baby-sister-sucks-on-her-pacifier impression.
It started on Thursday of last week. The girls were just fine with it. After some mental readjusting, I am as well. It helped that today I went out and finally got a "kinder shuttle". It is a sled for towing along the "wee (or not so wee) one" while you ski or snow shoe.
Today was our first outing. I couldn't quite figure out the poles and human sled dog system, so I just pulled Emma along with the short end. So, no skiing for me, just walking. The fresh snow was just too beautiful not to go, regardless. Emma, after some wild arm waving at me and nervous "uh uh uhs", hit her stride and enjoyed the ride.
She really did have fun. This is at the end. She would like out at this point and would rather not have me taking pictures.
To the "other" cabinets in the kitchen.
In the picture above, Emma lays out two mysterious objects from therein. In parallel; to better evaluate them.
For a while, she considers the two objects in partnership.
Quickly, she determines the meat baster has nothing to do with the "still to be identified" wooden object. The baster is discarded.Determining that the object spread open is a major breakthough.
Shortly thereafter, Emma bursts out: "Mother! I've figure it out. It is a recycling plastic bag drying rack. Of course." "Bags are washed", she informs me, "then hung on the prongs of the rack to dry and then be re-used again." She smiles at me in delighted understanding. I nod full of love and awe and say, "Yes dear, of course you've figured it out. Once again."
We are all VERY proud of Emma; as is she of herself. Of her well above average, dare I say near genius problem-solving skills. Who needs Baby Einstein CDs when you have wooden drying racks?
After crossing the pass as we headed to Livingston, we got caught in a pretty substantial snow storm. It snowed hard the entire way and continued once we arrived.
I love days like this at Chico. The snow creates a mysterious and hidden world of water and steam.
Plus it was mid-week, so almost no one was there.
BTW: Emma's day was wonderful as well, she got to play away at Phoebe's house and hang with power French nanny Francoise. She was in good hands.
Gray, Deb, and Lucia (she is hiding in the baby pack).
Deb, Lucinda, Makena, and Emma.
We had a great walk. Emma looked like a little purple highlander lass. I've gotten very into jumper dresses lately.
Emma was very intrigued with the new baby.
And the basket itself.
Emma also discovered that she really likes popcorn. By the time we were ready to leave the bowl in the for-ground had been completely consumed; by Emma.
