Nana and Sophia

I like this photo of Nana and Sophia taken on top of the Albany Hill last time Nana was visiting. Sophia is holding a monarch butterfly in her hand.

Mallard Mom's Night Out

Here are some of the Mallard moms, from Sophia's preschool class. Jasper's mom, Colette, is on the left, then Oscar's mom, and Hazel's mom, Leila, and Holden's mom, Karen, and Leila's mom, Kim, and Heather.

Bracelet

Thalia made this bracelet for me today at preschool. She was very excited to show it to me when I picked her up. We also had a memorial service for her teacher, Jacqueline today.

Tonight I go out to dinner with a bunch of moms from Sophia's class. 12 moms at Fonda, which is just a few blocks away from me. Should be fun. Steve will stay home with the girls.

Portrait # 2

Here is the second painting. My friend brought them over to the restaurant last night at mom's night so that I could see them before she made the finishing touches. I should have them this weekend. I love them!

First painting of my girls...

My friend, Julia Kosivchuk, painted this portrait of my girls! I love it. This one has a cafe theme, which is very appropriate, and the second one has a music theme.

Another yoga photo from today

Chinese New Year

In celebration of the Chinese New Year, Thalia's classroom ate Chinese food for lunch in their classroom. Chow Mein was the most popular item for the kids. Thalia is wearing the black sweater and she is sitting next to Zola, who is in orange.

Poolside at Death Valley on my Birthday

Sophia's drawing

Sophia made this drawing in her Spanish class. Its a drawing of me, Thalia, Sophia, Steve, her Spanish teacher, Ancelle, and Fernando, one of her preschool teachers. Her Spanish teacher put this on the front door of her classroom.

Sophia's classroom at Duck's Nest

Here is a shot of Sophia playing house with Jasper and Leila in her classroom at Duck's Nest, taken on Friday. Later that evening they would stay on for Parents Night Out. They stayed up until 10:30 in their pajamas eating pizza and running around the classroom with their friends. We watched "The Artist".

Yoga

Here Sophia and her friend, Zelda, are practicing yoga at Duck's Nest. Zelda's mom, Amanda, took the photo and sent it to me via iphone. You can also spot Jasper in the photo.

Sophia and I

My Mom took this photo of Sophia and I at the top of the Albany Hill. We were there looking for the monarch butterflies. I like this photo because it shows Sophia holding my hair. She has always loved holding my hair, ever since she was a baby.

Coats

I just want to post photos with the girls' winter coats. I love these and they had so many opportunities to wear these so far.

Joseph in the snow

Here is a photo of Joseph taken in their backyard.

Snow in Seattle

Nirmala sent this over - lots of snow in Seattle this week.

Nana's Visit

Nana was here for a few days here to help me while Steve was away at a conference in the Phillippines. This conference was cancelled at the very last minute but I asked Mom to stay anyway. She was a big help and we had fun seeing the monarch butterflies on the Albany Hill. We read that there are record numbers there this year: 2000.
I've also posted a photo of Sophia's pet fish, Colette.

UNLV

Sheila recently started working at UNLV as a professor. It was fun to visit the campus with her and to see her office! We also visited the museum on campus and you will see a photo of the girls drawing in the museum. They had a spot dedicated to anyone who wanted to do their own artwork. My mom especially likes the expression on Thalia's face when she is looking at the camera and pointing at the chalkboard. She thinks this is how Thalia will look when she is all grown up.

More Red Rock Canyon near Vegas

Red Rock Canyon

Las Vegas

Before we visited Death Valley we stayed for a few days in Las Vegas visiting Sheila and Mike in their new house. We spent some time in Red Rock Canyon, which is only a 30-minute drive from Sheila's house. It is so beautiful there. Here are a few photos.

Art

This morning Sophia made about 20 pieces of art using oil pastels and markers. She sits at her "art studio" which is a little table in the living room near the front window and works away, sometimes for as long as one hour.

This morning she carefully showed me each piece that she had made. My favorites included one of "Sophia with Mommy", another one of the Mallard class - her preschool class and another one seen here, of a butterfly catching bumble bees. The saddest one was done on black construction paper of Sophia lost and looking for her mom in the dark. She tells me this is the most beautiful one.

Meanwhile Thalia made this picture for her sister.

Same size?

We weighed the girls last night and they both weigh exactly the same. 32 pounds. And they wear the same size clothes and shoes. It will be interesting to see what happens in the future. Sophia is still taller.