time off

ramona's preschool is closed for a 2 week winter break. she's 3, so this is a new phenomenon in our parenting lives. i knew it would happen in the public school years of the near future, but never thought it would start with the preschool/daycare setting.  i remember winter break when i was a kid, and wonder now if the joy and wonder of a long winter break is the same for my 3 year old as it was for me as a grade school kid. because we have absolutely no other form of childcare, david and i took lots of days off of work these last 2 weeks to stay home with ramona. james' school was open over the last 2 weeks, but he spent a lot of time at home with us, too. it really was so wonderful.

we played and played and played.

super boy eats an apple,


and clever girl shows off her home made skeleton and red blood cells (thanks, magic school bus, for kickstarting what i hope will be a lifelong love of anatomy and physiology. [fingers crossed]).

we also took james out on the ice rink for the first time (no sharp blades attached to his feet...not yet, anyway).


he loved it. his huge grimace-smile says it all.


ramona is increasingly strong on her skates,


and skating continues to reliably tire them out. here they are, passing out on the floor of the warming hut.