She's 6! Monkey is 6!

Believe it or not our Monkey is 6! She's never been little but she's always been our fun, loud, lovable Monkey. I can't believe she is really 6. She loves Kindergarten. She loves her little sister. She enjoys being able to play with her big sister. She loves having American Girl dolls like her big sister to play with. She loves that she received a "big" Lego Friends set to put together. She's still a picky eater (somethings don't change) and she still enjoys soccer and swimming. She's learning to read, write, someday soon hopefully tie her shoes. She tells it like it is and has no filter. Sometimes her timing isn't the best but it doesn't matter we love her. OH, and yes she is still stubborn just like her older and younger sister.

Her birthday was a day off of school around here because it was President's Day. It was a low key day because both myself and Emma were recovering from being sick the day before. She didn't seem to mind. She watched her favorite shows, played and picked a new favorite spot for dinner - Outback. She seems to like their macaroni and cheese (believe it or not - it's not Kraft). For dessert we enjoyed applesauce cake at home that she and Ethan made on Saturday night. Applesauce cake is her new favorite. Cora had no problem enjoying Katherine's ice cream at the restaurant.

The best Valentine gift - a visit from friends.

Valentine's weekend we had a nice surprise from one of Emma's best friends from GB and one of my fabulous friends who also happens to be Cora's Godmother and Emma's friend's Mom, Follow that? Anyways, they called us in late January and said they were coming to visit for a long weekend. WooHoo! Very exciting for all of us to have friends visit. The girls had a half day of school that Friday and we filled the weekend showing them as much as we could of our new town and area. We had hoped to take them to the Aquarium but it was very cold that weekend and most of the aquarium is outside. Instead we checked out Mystic Pizza for the first time, girls played outside in our 2 feet of snow and then we checked out, for the first time, an indoor bounce place. I kept the girls home from school on Friday so they could enjoy more time with our friends, and we all went to Cora's music class in the morning. I know Emma and Katherine loved being able to see what Cora and I talk about each week. Cora loves music class! Friday night we took them to dinner at a local seafood place - Flanders Fish Market. Chris had Lobster and Ethan had crab legs. So much fun!

On Saturday (Valentine's day) Emma, Aubrey, Chris and I traveled to Storrs, CT to watch our first UCONN women's basketball game. With the luck of knowing someone at UCONN we scored some tickets for a low cost. We had great seats and a wonderful time. I took a lot of photos of the entire weekend and have tried to choose just a few to post. Saturday night brought the start of another winter storm in CT which made for stressful travel on roads and highways that I am zero percent familiar with but we made it to our hotel after awhile. The girls swam, Chris and I talked without having to worry about any other kids to entertain (so nice!), and the next morning in the continuing snow storm we drove them to the airport for their trip home. Sad to see them go but so fun to have friends visit! Emma and I made it home after two hours of driving in the winter storm (it should only take an hour).

100 Days of School

Monkey aka Katherine brought this home as her 100 day of school project. It's priceless, I think!

Six Months

Realized that today is the 6 month anniversary of arriving and living in Connecticut. "It seems longer and shorter than that at the same time." Words of a great friend who sums it up well.  We are enjoying it. There is a lot to see and do around us and we haven't even hit on a little of it, yet. The girls have both enjoyed playing soccer on the local recreation and parks teams. They are back in swim lessons this winter. They both enjoy their school. Katherine loves Kindergarten! Emma likes her teacher and class though her transition has probably been harder than all of us. She really misses her friends, teachers, and family at times. It's definitely different here. Roads are windy, narrow, hilly. Some people are friendly and some are the "typical New England not nice" as some around here have put it. We have found a nice parish. I am starting to know some 4th grade Moms and have met a few other women from various places. Cora and I go to a music class on Friday mornings which she absolutely loves. She is also back in swim lessons and loves the water just like her two big sisters.

Ethan is hard at work. His new position is challenging with long hours but it's a great opportunity for him and should lead to advancement in coming years.

The day we arrived at our new home in East Lyme, CT. August 2, 2014.

 This is at a local restaurant, Flanders Fish Market

This is a new favorite, a hot lobster roll. 

Saybrook Point

About a month after we moved to Connecticut I met a new friend who introduced me to Saybrook Point for a great running location. I went here on Saturday afternoon to run alone. I needed some motivation and head refreshing. Running near the water makes me feel at home. Me, my new running shoes, cold, windy air and the water.  Here are some pictures from my 6 mile run. My miles were so consistent I thought perhaps my watch was broken. My previous runs have felt tired and slow. Saybrook Point is so picturesque. I didn't even run through the golf course this time where you can see Katherine Hepburn's previous residence. The last picture is the coffee shop that my new friend also introduced me too. Cora enjoys going here as well because they have the cutest toy area for kids!

 These next three pictures - I believe are Long Island.

"Snow. Side. Cora. Boots"

Another snow day with sunshine this time. 

 She decided on Wednesday she likes to eat the snow too.