A spring of hope

 Hope, but still Covid. Amazing flowers, amazing daughters, but still a feeling of lacking. Vaccines not coming soon enough, people still getting sick, not enough patience. Lots of time around the house means more time with the girls. One thing that totally paid off: Cati learned how to bike without training wheels!!!

We got the vaccine. Maybe hope?

 

 

 

 

My absolutely perfect 11yo Cati

 Second pandemic birthday for my sweet and gorgeous Catalina. We had no idea what to do, how to celebrate, how to show our absolutely perfect, amazing, and so loved daughter that our hearts melt when we look at her. We kept asking what she wants, kept giving suggestions, but in the end we were still mostly confined to our house.

It was still a weekend celebration. Saturday we went shopping ( Cati’s only request). Masks on, we went to an outside mall and pretended to be normal. 

 

Evening came with beauty activities: face masks, showers with fancy lotions. Cati is such a little lady. Barely any leftovers from the child who needed mommy all the time. 

Sunday was Cati’s big dinner party. Our only surprise was a chocolate fountain and she loved it. We loved it too, fresh fruits covered in sugar...Tartare hut, icecream cake, zoom party with the family, presents, and the usual decorations. 

 

 

 

 

I took the day off for her real birthday, on the 9th. She was in school, so I had to wait for her to hug her and kiss her and wish her all the stars and the moons. Ami and myself did playdough cards for her, while waiting for her lunch break.

We had another little dinner and a cake. I wished we had more stars and fireworks, more people celebrating one of the greatest should on Earth. But I also know that no party, no present, absolutely nothing can capture what I feel on Cati’s birthday. So I’ll just shout it out, even if it’s only for me: I love you, amazing child! You are beyond perfect!

 

Snowy 2021

 We had amazing snow in 2021! At least, that was plentiful at the beginning of a new year. Sledding, lots and lots of snow men. “Ioana’s Day” and Amelia’s cake. Not a shortage of celebrations or smiles. Still quarantined life, but still healthy. So good and happy 😊

Ending 2020 holidays

 Of course, there is Christmas. Decorations, presents, good food, laughter, family, we had it all. First Christmas without my beloved bunica. First Christmas when all the celebrations were online, looking at screens. With all this, we have plenty. The girls bring magic to our lives, reason to push through. We are still healthy. Hope is still around. We opened presents Christmas eve.  Amelia left cookies and milk for Santa. With Catalina knowing Santa’s ID it was so much easier to plan everything, so Santa came in person Christmas morning. Ami was reluctant to sit on a Santa’s lap, but she was encouraged when she saw Catalina do it. She was even shy to get her presents. There was bounty with the presents and with 

the love.

We had few days to rest after Christmas and then we left for a short mountain vacation in Vermont. With so many restrictions still in place there was not much we could do. We rented a cabin, but the owners still lived upstairs so it was not a lot of freedom. We learnt we like hotels and people to spoil us during vacation. We had lots of snow fun and a fun New Year little party. The drive back home was long, on snowy roads. We were not excited about starting work again, but as always, each new day is a new day with our girls. Happy 2021!