Winter Feast and a weekend with Robyn

On the 10th Matt and I attended our Annual Winter Feast at the Dunn-Schwarz home. The feast was a month late this year due to Melanie and Axel being in Paris during December for Mel's final installment of courses at Le Cordon Bleu for her Patisserie Degree. Our meal was inspired by their Christmas trip through Germany down to the pretzels dipped in lye to create a perfect brown, crunchy outside! It was an awesome meal (as usual) and a wonderful evening with friends. Thanks Grandma T for babysitting the girls so we could go enjoy some adult time. Matt and I have to really start thinking about finding a babysitter in town we can use regularly. I need a friend with a teenager I trust darn it!

The table at Winter Feast

Grandma T and the never-sleeping children

For MLK weekend, Robyn flew out from Houston to stay with us. It has been over a year since I have gotten to see her and I was so excited just to see my friend face to face for a while! Robyn took Madi's room and the girls bunked in with Matt and I. This made the most sense as the girls end up with us half the night anyways (also because we couldn't remember where we put the air mattress, turns out we stuck it in the tent bag and the tent in the air mattress box . . . parenthood may be wearing on the Howe sense of organization).

Just so we all know what it looks like when Ella sleeps on mom

Robyn flew in Friday evening, just in time to pick the girls up and have dinner at home. Luckily she was still on Texas time and had no problem with all of us going to bed by nine. We spent Saturday taking Madi to dance, having lunch at the Kensington Cafe, and fulfilling Madeline's very loudly voiced desire of taking Aunt Robyn to "her" park. Saturday was finished off perfectly with a visit from the Kuhlman family for a bbq. As expected, we served sausages and hot dogs along with famed Siesel's baked beans. Amy, Dan and Everett hung out until Madeline fell asleep in her big chair in the living room. She and Everett had so much fun running around the house and yard!

Sister love at lunch

One heart one way - My mom happened to be in Sigma Kappa land while Amy, Robyn, and I were together

We all woke up Sunday exhausted from too much fun on Saturday. After a relaxing morning, I took the girls on a looooong drive while Aunt Robyn visited another friend (and enjoyed some much needed quiet) and Matt went golfing. We rounded out the day playing in the back yard where Lani ate a bee which involved her then being forced to take benadryl and be watched for hours.

"fun" hangover

Ella trying to figure out why Madi was so sleepy

Mommy win during our Sunday drive

 Monday was supposed to be my special grown up day with Robyn . . . but Madeline developed a fever overnight and had to stay home with us. So after Madi's first nap of the day, she went to Boudin with us for lunch since Robyn can't get good sourdough in Texas. We went home where Madi took a second nap and I left her with Matt while Robyn and I went for pedicures (so nice). Sadly, I had to bring Robyn to the airport and send her back to Houston. I can't wait until I can go see her house and have a nice peaceful visit without my girls!

The girls re-organizing their dishes

Madeline spent the rest of this week vacillating back and forth between running a crazy fever and feeling fine. She stayed home Tuesday with me, went to school Wednesday and on Thursday afternoon I got a call that she needed to be picked up early for a fever. Matt worked from home with Madi on today. I was so sad that Madeline was sick this week (and not just because my adult only day had a kid in it). She was supposed to go to the zoo on her first field trip with school this morning and had to miss it to her fever. Hopefully Madi will recover from whatever is going on and we will all be able to go to work and school next week.

Trying to tempt Madi to eat a whole meal on Tuesday at her 2nd favorite place (sonic)

Swinging in the back yard

Ella hanging out while Madi slept on Thursday afternoon