Hooray for February, Part 2

Okay, this really isn't a post about the second half of February. I thought I'd spend the last few weeks visiting the Pearsons, but Ashley decided to mix things up and actually carry her baby to almost her due date.

Here's the only other thing that happened in February, and trust me, it's a mark on your calendar, celebrate with ice cream kind of event. I know, right? Talking Hailey into trimming her hair is akin to convincing her she needs a double leg amputation. I did promise (and deliver) an ice cream stop if she cooperated. I bet you're impressed I forced myself to get ice cream to help motivate Hailey.

Makayla got one too, just to keep things equatable. 

Actually, because this was leap year, I did manage to arrive in February to see Kenison Jane Pearson, nine days old, on the 29th. Isn't she absolutely perfect? Adorable? Wonderful? Angelic?

Clearly, she takes after her sisters.

I think she looks more like Brin than Nora.

I got to sleep in Brinlee's bunk bed, bottom bed. Every morning between 5:45 and 8 am, her little face would appear, hanging from the upper bunk, to check my status. Trust me, it woke me right up! What a delightful way to start the day, although it was more delightful at 8 than 5:45.

Brinlee is just as sweet and wonderful as I remember. She's a joy to spend time with.

Brin doesn't even seem annoyed that Kenison has more hair than she did for the first three years.

Nora, on the other hand, is a hoot. She's rapidly approaching the terrible twos and has been practicing hard to live up to the well-earned reputation of two year old's everywhere. 

Case in point: over the course of one morning, Nora started out the day wearing this:

Soon she'd switched that purple dress for pink. Much more suitable for a sister picture.

She spotted this lovely number, and immediately realized she needed to let out her inner mermaid. However, note that blue shiny number in her hand.

Yep, she decided THIS was her look for the day.

That is until she remembered THIS is what she meant to wear.

See what Brinlee's wearing? Nora's not above borrowing her big sister's clothes...

...right down to the shoes. Brinlee was completely gracious about letting Nora wear her outfit. Remember that when you're both teenagers, girls!

We did some needed retail therapy one day.

Which lead to this.

When you can't decide what to choose, choose both!

By the time we were ready to head to the grocery store, Nora had tried on a dozen outfits but settled on the original look.

Once we were in the store she starting dance up and down the aisles like a disco queen.  Nora had everyone in the store laughing in no time. There was no music playing except in her head, and her happy feet just couldn't resist.

I wish I could have recorded her fancy dance. These cell phone snaps just don't do her justice.

Nora was not really into shopping. That will change.

That mischievous face is as enchanting as sister Brinlee's sweet smile (but a lot more exhausting).

 Kenison is lucky to have two fun, beautiful big sisters.

Brinlee goes to preschool a few days a week. I am impressed by how smart she is, even though I'm her totally unbiased grandma.

She has a terrific vocabulary AND

she could whip this complicated puzzle together in no time. 

Because this is Portland, we had to go try the local cuisine several times.  There was this Thai food with plain fare, but delicious sauce. 

There was frozen yogurt.

Have you seen these new-fangled inventions? They are perfect for keeping kids calm at restaurants. I think they're going to catch on. I wish I'd had them a few dozen years ago.

This is the remains of a delicious dish I had one day called "Massaman Beef". I've devoured most of the beef, and am making my way through the Massaman.

Of course there was ice cream. Again. Salt and Straw. Ashley and I sampled every one of the 6 or 7 chocolate flavors they had that day, ranging from cinnamon chocolate to coffee chocolate (Oops. They tricked us with their fancy names.). I'm going to miss Salt and Straw when the Pearsons leave Portland.

My favorite place is still Bamboo Sushi. Brinlee agrees.

I tried the Green Machine and NW Philly.

 Our last meal was at Pine State Biscuit. This artery clogging delight consisted of a biscuit stuffed with fried chicken, cheese, egg, all smothered with rich sausage gravy. I'll be pounding the treadmill for a month to get rid of this one.

Brinlee was happy with the fries.

Do we look full? We are.

We checked out McKay's new school, just recently finished.

McKay's tuition has obviously been put to good use.

Here's a classroom, accessorized by busy girls,

and Brinlee runs catwalks. 

The building has great views.

and up-to-date equipment. This is THE VERY CHAIR McKay's patients sit in to enjoy the view. 

Portland has a lot of great views.

This one is just outside of Ashley's ground floor apartment.

It's going to be hard to go back to brown Billings. My lawn doesn't even have a baby sleeping in a car seat on it.

 Their parking lot is perfect for bike riding

 and an evening drive.

Our time together just zoomed by.

Kenison is going to be smiling, cooing, and signing up for her first college semester next time I see her. Ok, maybe not that last thing, but it will feel that way!

I'm going to have to blow a kiss to Nora. She's napping so that she's got enough energy to do all of her Nora antics.

I had so much fun with your family, Ashley! Let's do it again! 

The airlines lost my luggage coming. Then they lost it again going home. Fortunately, it eventually arrived both times. I got a generous compensation for my inconvenience in the form of a credit for a future airline ticket. I'm pretty sure I can think of a few ways to use it.

At least my little sweeties are on the other end, waiting for me to come home. They had a sleepover with Grandpa while I was gone, and stayed over another night when I got home. 

They were doing that other thing sisters love to do: fighting. I suggested we walk off some aggression, which they refused to do. I made them do it anyway.

I have a list of the five best places to hike along the rims. This is number one. Yeah....

It's literally the backyard of some nice houses. I bet they love hikers climbing around, admiring their hot tubs and nice views.

Hailey spotted a dragon's den.

Grandpa spotted a bunny.

Do you see him/her?

Hailey found this dragon vertebrate. I know it looks like a deer bone, but nope.

We discovered this trail that goes all the way under the road

and takes us to the second best place to hike along the rims.

 Physical activity ends sibling squabbles every time. Hailey. Put. Down. That rock.

Pointing to the best view.

After several hours of wandering

and after we were completely sure we'd worn these two out,

and after the sun starting going down, we headed homeward.

Life is good!