Winter Weather School Break

What a strange two weeks!

The kids have only been to school two partial days in the last two weeks!

Between planned teacher work days and snow days it has been a lot. It seems that January has been a loss in terms of schooling. But there has been lots of fun. 

Last week we did some great sledding. Steep hill in a little plastic chair Esmé got for Christmas. We had lunch at Cannon's house and endured some very cold weather. 

Saturday we had the Newell's and the O'Neills over for dinner and had a great time. Zaven and Cannon had their 2nd cotillion dance and Zaven got a ribbon for good manners. 

We went ice skating again on the last day of the season. It was fun. Although Zaven started to feel bad and we cut it short. By that evening we were to go to Isabel's to celebrate Lilly's birthday, Zaven said he did not feel well enough to go. We went on without him and had a nice time. Esmé and I sang the song that we song about Splash and Lilly. 

"Splash and Lilly are fluffy pups, they love the play and have bupbups. They love Esmé and the play. Splash and Lilly come back". 

Isabel gave Esmé a stuffed Portuguese Water Dog for Christmas and she calls it "SplashandLilly" 

Anyway, Zaven had a fever. The next day he was super floppy and still had a fever. By Tuesday I decided it was time for the dr. They tested his for strep and flu and he was positive for flu. So we started tamiflu and by Wednesday morning his fever had broken and he was feeling better. We layed low. All staying home because of another round of snow. About 4 inches. 

Thursday we had Katie come and stay with the kids and went on to work and Esmé to her school. 

Today things had warmed up and the trend conitinues for the weekend. 

2014!

Wow! We had a great Christmas and New Year. I can't think of the last time I posted. Do I need to say we had a great Thanksgiving too. I think so. And we did. We went to TN and celebrated Nell's 7th birthday. We helped out with Grammy's hurt foot. We loved seeing cousins. 

Christmas time was great. Zav sang and had a piano recital. Nell and Zaven sang in the choir and participated in the pageant. Milla and poppy came for Christmas. Chris and I celebrated 17 years of marriage. Esmé started school. And now Zaven got a haircut. Here are some pics 

7, sweatshirts, turkey etc

We had a great time traveling to Chattanooga/Cleveland for Thanksgiving.
Our first order of business was to celebrate Nell's 7th birthday! I can't believe she is 7. We had a good day. Went to see a movie with Zav and Uncle Brice be then dinner at Grammy's house with Milla and Poppy and Ella. Nell loved her cake, iced in pink with a turquoise peace sign.
She loves hearing the story of her birthday. Born at high noon, destined to be a bright spot in our lives.

Good Reports

Well we have been getting lots if good reports here at the Epperson house. 

Zaven and Nell had dentist appointments and no cavities! So, we went and got froyo to celebrate 

Then we had teacher conferences last night and both kids got glowing reviews and Zaven got straight A's. He is happy and we are pleased that he met his goal. 

Sunday we had a funny morning getting ready for church that ended in Esmé wearing an outfit that was mine when I was little , but that happened to be an outfit that was quite small. Then somewhere along the way she found a harmonica. I wanted to get some pictures, she was just dancing around it was such a fun moment. 

I also got exciting news that I have been offered and accepted a job as a production manager for Colonial Williamsburg. I start on Dec 5th. Should be a fun new chapter. 

Funny daddy, funny baby

On Friday Chris stayed home with Esmé in the morning so that I could play tennis. When I got home Esmé went about telling me what she and Chris had been doing. And then she said that he would not give her the bagel and cream cheese she had asked for. So I asked Chris why he did not think she should have it. And he said "she did not ask for a bagel and cream cheese"

To which Esmé replied "burger cheese". Chris' face changed and he said "well, she did say that, I thought she wanted a cheese burger and I told her we did not have one". I guess you have to know the coded language of the toddler for smooth time together. It was really funny. 

More visits, more fun

Milla and Poppy came for a visit and we had a great time. We went to Yorktown, showed off at tennis practice, had a dinner party, did some shopping all in a few days 

It was fun having them. 

We are gearing up for Halloween and Esmé dressed as a cat or what she calls a yowmee for the Fall Festival at school. 

The big kids did not wear costumes but they had a good time. Saturday we took our Christmas card picture, we think we got some good ones. Here are a few out takes. 

Esme kept a tradition going by falling and hurting her face before the photo, we went to get Zav from tennis and she fell on the clay and it scratched her up. She is ok, but last year she fell and busted her lip, even bleeding on her dress, before re cooperating and getting the picture done. Not exactly a family tradition I am looking to start. 

Yesterday Esmé and I were in the kitchen and she said "ooh a spooky" and I looked up and saw a few ghost shaped Peeps. 

Then she went on " I whykik spooky mommy. You whykik spooky?"  Oh sure I like spookies. "I eatit a spooky, mommy" well by this point I was just in love with her calling them spookys that I let her eat one and the. She took one to Nell. Nell whykik spooky too!  

A great birthday!

I had a wonderful 38th birthday. Truly a great time in our lives. I am so glad to be home with Esmé, I love walking to school with the kids. I have great friends, near and far- and I was just keenly aware of all of that on my birthday and then add presents and cards and thoughtful phone calls, emails and texts and it is a great day !

We also have the great excitement of Grammy being here. She arrived on Wednesday and we have been shopping, walking, playing etc ever since. We always seem to send Grammy home very tired! 

Grammy was the "mystery reader" for Nell's class at school. That was really fun.

 

Nell's class seems like a very good group of kids being led by an excellent teacher. Nell is doing great with her reading and writing. It is so fun to see all of that developing. On a side note she has had a couple of random cases of hives on her left arm. It is very strange. 

We also celebrated National Walk to school day on the 9th.

As the chair of the Healthy Lifestyle Committee I organized a walk, at the last minute and we had a group of 14 kids plus many parents come out for our "walking School bus".

It was a rainy morning so I was pleased with the turn out I made posters and the kids had a good time. Nell sustained a black eye after bumping into someone, but other than that, we all arrived safely at school

It has been a low key week for after school activities with the rain canceling tennis. Hopefully Zaven will get to play today. He is doing really well. He has a crush on a girl at school, Isabel and word has it that she likes him too, heaven help us!

 He is doing very well in his studies and is reading a lot on his own in addition to his class reading so that is really good. He has also agreed to sing in the Christmas concert at Bruton with the main choir, so that will be fun. 

Chris is doing well. He seems to be enjoying work and is being faithful in him bike riding. We have been lucky with great weather for the most part, but the indoor trainer is an option for tight timing or bad weather. 

My business is still moving forward. We shipped another basket yesterday and met with a rep of some products. We are still building. 

Last night we had a little dinner party with the Anderson's, who brought Armen up, Armen and Isabel. It was a nice night. I made chicken curry with all the side boys, including the chutney. Yum!  I also have to brag on myself and tell you that I boiled the whole chicken in the morning, in a big scary pot. I have never done it before. First roasting now poaching, will wonders ever cease!