Still winter

 We may have passed the first day of spring in the official sense, but here in Saskatchewan it is definitely still winter. The days are getting longer, and the sun is melting a bit of the snow, but with an overnight low of -24 Celsius predicted tonight the end of winter is not quite in sight yet. 

So, we still have lots of indoor play. The kids are starting to get creative about what counts as a toy. This afternoon all of the babies were wearing crowns (biscuit cutters) while holding cookie press discs inside of mini tart pans, and sitting on top of thrones (these things that are used for making dumplings/pierogies/turnovers).

I love the creativity, but I am very much looking forward to being able to spend more time outside!

Swimmers

 For the past week, Maren and Linden have been taking antibiotics because it turns out that both of them had strep throat. Jeff and I missed a fair amount of work caring for sick kids, but fortunately they are all better and things are back to normal.

Yesterday they had their last day of swim lessons for this session, and Jeff snapped a great photo of the two of them:

Read-o-rama

 

My great big 4-year-old

 Last week Linden turned four! She requested a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and chocolate sprinkles, and we added a chopped up chocolate bar too. 

I love how grown up this little gremlin is becoming ❤️

Yesterday was haircut day. Both kiddos got new ‘dos, Linden doing a much more dramatic change than Maren:

I can’t decide if Linden looks more grown up, or reminds me of her toddler self. I can see both, and for now I think I’ll just decide which version is better to see in a particular moment. Carrying a stack of dishes in a way that makes me nervous? Remind myself that she’s a big girl and don’t say anything. Screaming at me for doing exactly what she asked me to, but that now she doesn’t want? Remind myself that she is still oh so little. My little big girl ❤️

Linden’s latest masterpieces