All Things I Declare These Games Open.

Oh, the Olympics. How we love them. Especially the Winter Olympics. There's Snowman Building. Bobsledding. And Hot Chocolate Consuming.

What??!!??

Those categories don't exist in the Winter Olympics?? Really?? They did in ours.

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All Things Pause Button.

Sometimes in real life, you just need to hit the Pause Button. And we did in February. The kids were Off Track from school and the weather was in turns perfect and miserable. We took advantage of it and just kicked back.

We enjoyed the little moments -- the Vancouver Olympics. Hugs. And even laundry was fun when you have a Silly Moment.

Oh, and we made scones. Sconeapalooza. Blueberry. Cranberry-Orange. Hazelnut Chocolate Chip. And Raspberry.

So, it's your turn. Take a moment and hit that pause button. Oh, but wait, here's a scone...just for you.

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All Things What The Girls Wrote When They Grow Up.

As we move through Track Break, there are many creative opportunities. We have a gazillion art supplies but I have to admit that some of my favorite moments are when I see them huddled over a notebook with a pen in hand, writing something that's oh-so-very-important.

So here's a sampling of Kata's latest musings in her Writing Journal:

What The Girls Wrote When They Grow Up
When I grow up, I'm going to be a grandma.
When I grow up, I'm going to be a big sister.
When I grow up, I'm going to be a rock star.
When I grow up, I'm going to be a teacher.
When I grow up, I'm going to be a vet.
When I grow up, I'm going to be a ballet dancer.
When I grow up, I'm going to be a store owner.
When I grow up, I'm going to be a wedding dress designer.

I'm not sure where she got the prompt idea. She claims she just sat down and wrote it. And I believe her. She's only seven years old, after all. Do you remember these lists from when you were that age?

I do. I wanted to be a figure skater, a teacher, a businesswoman, a wife, a mother and a writer. I think, at this point, most of those boxes have been checked off. I'm looking forward to Kata's journey. A ballet dancing, wedding dress designing, rock-star-store-owner-vet will have tons of stories to tell when she's a grandma.

How about you? Do you remember your list?

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All Things Boy Scout and Boredom.

We're half way through our Off Track break and I'm here to report that, I think we've hit the Official Stage of Oh, Not Another Day of Park Play Wall.

Trust me, there are still activities abound. Alex has scouts and has actually achieved the first rank, of...that's right...Scout. Yes, they crossover and then achieve the rank. I'm confused, too. Girl Scouts do it differently. And much like the Dark Side, they have cookies, too.

But note the proud expression on Alex's face? Okay, it's not pride. It's the Mom-Not-Another-Picture-Please Tween face. There was an eye roll after the photo was snapped. I just missed it.

And then there's Bella. She just tags along to all of the activities so happy to be part of them. Here's she is at Kata's swim lesson. Kata's on the far left corner (with fashionable pink goggles) in the lane nearest Bella.

Happy to know that we're at the halfway point and hey, didn't we hear the magic words last night?? "I declare open the Games of Vancouver...." Just in time, let the games begin!

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All Things Climb Every Mountain.

The older two kids have Track Break in February which means they are out of school for the entire month. So we're subjected to a lot of indoor activities but every once in a while there's a day that's not too cold and we venture out into a park.

I had my nose buried in a book and when I looked up I saw this sight -- four-year-old Bella on the rock climbing structure way up high with Big Brother Alex right behind her.

"How did you get up there?" I asked Bella.
"Bubby helped me," she answered confidently, "And Mama, look at me, I'm up so very high!"

Indeed. Wishing you a moment where someone gives you a confidence boost to scale that next mountain.

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