Leia Week 89: The End of the Snow - 3/11/15

Well, we didn't get any more new snow, but what we had hung around for another week, so Leia got a little more time to learn about the joys of the winter outdoors.  Another snowman, of course, and a few more days of sledding.  Unfortunately, once the snow all melted, she was kept getting pretty disappointed when I would tell her that there was no longer enough snow to sled.  We had to bring the sled to the street and sit on the pavement a few times without moving, and still, she's not really convinced.  And she was very sad watching the snowmen melt...tried to rejuvenate the head a few times with little success.  I now feel very bad that her entire winter basically consisted of only a few fun snow days.  Oh well, maybe next year.  More work on the potty training, but it's still not consistent.  She is, however, learning the art reading books on the potty, as well as the advantages of her father's dump desk invention.  But her biggest joy this week was when Nana produced her very own pair of slippers!  Now she can be like Mommy and Daddy whenever she wants, and boy does she love those slippers!

Our little Mozart is getting quite good at the piano these days!

Leia the Little Mozart from Katharine Transue on Vimeo.


Leia's Piano Boogie! from Katharine Transue on Vimeo.

New toddler version of Daddy's infamous dump desk.

24 Weeks pregnant!

Loving her new bunny hat from MorMor (Linda)...we are all prepped for Easter now!

Leia's new favorite thing: Jumpies on skis!  After she learned that one, she wouldn't do anything but jump, jump, jump all the way down.

More danger trail jumpies.

Tonight she decided to wear a sleeping cap to bed!

Ninja Turtles look fabulous in fringe!

Usually she likes to swing her babies in the swing, today she wanted to snuggle herself.

"Walk, ou-side, walk"

Soaking up the sun in our driveway and waiting for Daddy to come home!

Last snowman of the season...definitely a masterpiece!

Daddy-Leia Day fun includes rolling golf balls down Matchbox Tracks!

Leia Week 88: Snow Bunny Steals the Show! - 3/4/2015

Leia is making so many new strides every day, and this week was no exception.  We had two more successful uses of the potty (but it's by no means regular yet), she's very helpful about picking up spilled crumbs and water on the floor, and when she see's that we've left open any drawers or cabinets, she always says "close" and then then closes them for us.  It's a very good new habit for her since she's the one who usually bumps her head on said open cabinets...safety first!

GramGram and Grandpa sent Leia a brand new ski helmet and goggles, so we finally got to put those into use this week.  She was so excited to have a cool helmet just like Mommy and Daddy.  Grandma Viv also sent a bunch of new clothes, which also made their fashion debut on the ski slope.  We definitely had the best dressed snow bunny on the hill (luckily the weather was absolutely beautiful since these great duds are definitely fashion over function)!  We had to ski on the big chair (Far East) since Papoose was closed, but she quickly started having so much fun and confidence that she started telling me "move" and "go away".  So I let go of her along the Champs Elysee, and next thing I know she's shot ahead of me so fast (heading straight for the edge of the path) that I had to skate really hard to catch up and grab her!  She was laughing and loving the whole thing, and yelling at me to let go again, so we just kept doing that the whole way down the trail.  It was awesome, and her speed, balance, and confidence is so impressive!

Hanging out in mikos and worm slippers, just being goofy!

Testing out the new ski outfit...this is how a helmet works right?

Our little brainiac loves reading!

Insisting on playing in the bathtub even if I wouldn't let her actually take a bath!

My little snow bunny in her fancy new outfit and helmet courtesy of GramGram and Grandma!

Even fired up to carry her own skis...thata girl!

Too cute for words!

Cutest little fox on the mountain today!

Finally decided it might be ok to try out getting pulled!

Skiing with Nana and Poppy is the best!

Yep, maybe this getting towed thing isn't so bad!

Now everyone has cool goggle lenses!

Riding up Far East Express...maybe those goggles are a little big!

Aspen Extreme!

A little Apres Ski run around the parking lot!

She doesn't like to see water messes on the floor of the bathroom...not to worry though, Leia will clean it up with her rubber gloves and scrubber!

Drawing pictures with her favorite friend Georgia!

She just loves those rubber gloves!!

It finally snowed in Tahoe...and a surprising good amount!

My little helper trying to clear off the deck...only thing we need to work on is throwing it over the railing!

Yep, it's deep, waist deep if you're 1.5!

Learning the difficulties of pre-snowplow road travel!

Oh yeah, this sled goes fast on an icy road!

Tea party in the snow!

Mom's first of many winter sacrifices...giving up the warm gloves to cure a case of cold, wet hands!

One of our only changes all year to really build any good snowmen!

Attempting to teach the art of Snow Angels...she wasn't too interested.

A beautiful Snow Angel nonetheless.

A few Day 2 improvements to old Frosty.

More fun with speed sledding!

Helping Dad make another snowman on the back deck...Dad is sooo happy to finally have an excuse to play in the snow again after all these years!

Leia Week 87: Pool Party! - 2/25/2015

Another big week of adventures this week.  We started off with a Northstar Ski Team Party at The Treehouse, which is a very fancy clubhouse for a new development up there.  They had a pool, hot tub, game room, bar, living room, great views, and sushi!  Leia got up a little late from her nap, and I was worried we'd be late if she acted difficult, but I told her that we were going to go meet Daddy and go to a Party, and man was she excited.  "Daddy!"  "Party!"  I'm not actually sure why she was exciting about a party because most parties are not actually that fun for her, but she was, and when we arrived she was rewarded.  First thing she saw was this big beautiful pool full of kids, and she couldn't stop staring at it through the balcony rail...there was definitely no denying her that pleasure (luckily I was prepared with bathing suits)!  We decided we better get eating out of the way first, and then it was game on.  She was in Seventh Heaven.  She loved jumping in from the side of the pool (just like all the big kids were doing), and it was nice to have a little more space than our normal hot tub dips to have her float around and try to kick.  We got cold (no sun), but despite her shivering she wouldn't admit to it and didn't want to get out.  Finally I just grabbed her and headed for the hot tub against her will, but that turned out to be just as exciting because it was packed with kids too.  She couldn't take her eyes off all the people and the grin on her face couldn't have gotten any bigger.

Leia and I also headed up to Alpine Meadows to watch Uncle John compete in the Banzai.  I told her we were going to watch John race, and he goes really fast, and after that she was really excited and kept announcing that "John Race Fast".  It was a tough hike up the hill to the finish line, with a baby on my back and another in my belly, and to make matters worse I left the water in the car.  Right when I really started feeling dehydrated and exhausted, my little Hawk Eye Leia spotted a water bottle in the snow right next to where we were hiking.  "Water!" I congratulated her on her good find, but informed her that we couldn't pick up someone else's used water bottle.  But upon further investigation, it turned out that the water bottle was unopened and untouched!  Leia saved the day!  I had to keep begging her to share it with me, but luckily after a little convincing she was very cooperative.

Long written post this week I guess, but I still have more news...  As I mentioned before, Leia loves to be my little cleaning helper.  This week I asked her if she would help me vacuum the all the ants that have invaded my bedroom, and she was happy to comply.  But it was the cutest thing because I went to pick her up to take her upstairs, and instead she ran off to grab her toy vacuum to bring up with us so that she could actually help.  And one night, she made my day by specially requesting that Daddy be the one to change her diaper...we had a good laugh about that, and Josh is praying that it's not a pattern!  Finally, Leia had her first nightmare this week.  Woke up at 4:30 am totally balling and calling for Mommy.  Of course neither of us really wanted to get up, and we didn't want to run to her at the first cry if she could learn to comfort  herself, so we waited about 5 minutes, and she did calm down and fall back asleep on her own.

Checking out her brand new goggles that just arrived in the mail!

Yep, these are a hit!  She's so happy to have her own goggles like Mommy and Daddy's.

Practicing her ski moves on the tramp...left, right, left...

Actually cooperating with my fashion photo shoot for once, and the pictures couldn't be much cuter!

I love sneaking in the sleep pictures...snuggling with her Snuggle Bug and Monkey.

These glasses are just ridiculous...cracks me up every time she puts them on!

23 Weeks and counting!

Seriously, this belly is already to huge for 23 weeks!

Leia and her Roman Warrior Helmet!

Seriously, it's not fair how good she is at Downward Dog!

Already figured out how to properly use the tongs to pull hot veggies off the grill...so advanced!

Absolutely mesmerized by the sight of this gorgeous pool!

Mommy, can we please go swimming??

Luxurious pool, luxurious chairs...this Northstar place is pretty cool!

Learning to ride her first pony at Nana's house!

Arr Matey, time to walk the plank...across the creek that is!

Watching Uncle John compete in the Banzai!

Emmett and Stacia watching their Daddy.

Check out this cute happy family!

Group selfie turned out so perfect!  Emmett is so interested in his crazy cousin!

My little cleaning helper hitting it hard with the vacuum!

It's always a good idea to wear your safety glasses when doing hazardous work like cleaning the Transue house!