Trendy Leila

It's that time of year again folks, the Patagonia winter sale! Leila looked so stylish in this vest that we just couldn't say no!

Groundhog Day

Leila made this groundhog at school yesterday and she took it outside this morning. It didn't really see it's shadow (though it almost did for a second) so spring must be on its way!

Lego family

It now includes a dog.

Dance class

Leila started her creative movement dance class today and loved it! We have to take advantage of the gazillion activities and things to do here before we jet off to Africa where there will likely be...nothing.

Sorry it's a bit blurry, but you get the idea! She seems to be taking charge (and looking ready for Valentine's Day in red & white!).

Piggy Bank time

We emptied Leila's piggy bank this morning and she had saved up $66.94 since we returned to the US. As an aside, it is incredibly difficult to cash in change these days. The "coin counters" take 9%, our bank won't take coins unless you have rolled them ourselves, and once we did roll them, Target wouldn't let us pay with the coins because it messes with their "system" (whatever that means). Ah well, it all worked out in the end!

The deal was that Leila could spend the money on whatever she wanted. We went to Target, and she asked me to take pictures of all the things she was considering. Here they are.

(**Side note for the Grandmas: Leila went about the selection process a bit randomly. We don't think she was actually overly into anything...don't go out and start shopping!)

And the winner was a doll with a star on her shirt. Not our first choice, but it wasn't our money.  

Tennis lessons!

Leila's tennis lessons through Arlington Parks and Rec started today. She had a great time. Here she is practicing her volleys.

Snow in Washington!

Leila was very excited this morning to see the snow on the ground.  We tried to make a little snowman, but it was too cold and we quickly retreated back to the warmth of the house.  Perhaps in the afternoon.

Lunch

Stopping for lunch with an Obama supporter and her two best friends.

Inauguration Day!

From left to right, the Washington Monument, Arlington Cemetery, Erica Meeks, Leila Meeks, Jason Meeks, Jefferson Memorial, Pentagon, and Capitol Building (you have to click on the picture to see the full image).  You can't see the jubilant masses huddled in for the celebration from this angle, but we knew they were there.

Picture Find

Leila and Erica made a picture find for me, and we thought we should share it with others that might want to help find the hidden pictures.

The Cousins Taking Pics of each other

This is a picture of Lily and Leila taking each other's picture on FaceTime this morning.

Bienvenue!

Nous avons fait des crêpes pour le petit-déjeuner ce matin. Leila a dit: "MMM, yum, yum!"

Pancakes with Whipped Cream and Strawberries

Double Birthday Parties

Leila had double birthday parties to attend today. She is way more popular than we are, as if there was any doubt.

Leila Scootering to School

She made it about half way today. Not bad!

School House Rock 40th Anniversary

The Kennedy Center hosted a 40th Anniversary concert for the kids' educational cartoon segments that appeared in the 70s and 80s called School House Rock.  

Leila took her camera along to record the event.  She took pictures and wowed the kids around her with the games she could play on the camera.

Here she is front and center.

Here's the kid's band Rocknocerus, together with the man who created School House Rock, Bob Dorough.  I believe this is them singing, "Conjunction Junction What's Your Function?" or perhaps "Interjections!"

For a short concert, the stage was packed with people.  I suspect that, like us, many parents dragged their kids along as an excuse.

The Guy Who Wrote School House Rock!

Sleeping in

Okay, so Leila wasn't sleeping, she was just "warming up."

Pretending to be Vikings

We might have been pretending to be Vikings, but we're really Packer fans through and through.

A little mother daughter baking