I don't have many photos from the past week and a half, but I thought it might be nice to post just a few. You'll notice that in most of the pictures, Caroline is enthusiastically posing for the camera, whereas Nora is, at best, merely humoring the photographer. Who's the ham now?
We got a glimpse of spring at the end of this week, enjoying 60 degree weather and the chance to go to the Ocean View beach on Friday night wearing sweatshirts instead of coats. But then March decided to come in like a lion this weekend, bringing back 30 degree weather and tons of rain (we're even supposed to get snow tomorrow), which makes us even more grateful for the chances we got to be outside on Thursday and Friday. Caroline had fun sampling the sand and running up and down the ramp leading to the beach while Nora and Omi built sandcastles and collected shells for Nora's new seashell collection (which she's very excited to show Daddy when he comes home...this month!!!)
We had lots of fun with Annie and her dog George this weekend, although it was hard to tell at times which the girls liked more - George or his kennel! We spent Saturday morning at the Virginia Living History museum, where we went to a fun little planetarium show and walked around the outside exhibits, visiting with wolves, deer and foxes, trying not to freeze ourselves in the 40 degree weather. Kelly Lee, fellow Iwo Jima spouse and Willy caretaker, joined us for dinner tonight (and survived to tell the tale!) and humored Nora by playing our homemade bean bag toss with her, followed by a rousing game of Hullabaloo. Never a dull moment with these Rudmann girls! 
Here are fun photos of the girls enjoying their Springsteen dance-a-thon after dinner tonight (don't you love Nora's move in this first picture? She's so proud of it...I call it the Chicken Dance), as well as a photo of the girls with Tibby (my old JVC roommate) in Williamsburg yesterday and Mike's beautiful Valentine's Day tulips.
Caroline had her first lollipop yesterday, and quickly mastered the art of licking it after watching Nora (except for a moment of slight confusion captured below). The lollipops were from the Nora's stash of Valentine's candy from her school party. When I picked her up from school the day of her party, the car instantaneously filled with the smell of strawberry frosting. Nothing like picking up a kid who has sugar oozing from their pores! All in all, we had a good, busy week. After a particularly stressful dinner on Thursday night, I stuck the girls in front of the t.v. for a while, while I attempted to regain my sanity, and their expressions pretty much sum up how we were all feeling by that point. We've been thinking and talking about Grandpa a lot this week - we hope he gets better soon, now that he and his new knees are settled in at Sea Pines. 
We had such a great time visiting with Grandma, Grandpa, Great Grandma, Uncle Matty and even Uncle Danny, Aunt Mary Anne, Danielle, Uncle JB and Aunt Gail in the Sunshine state this past week. Although it was the coldest week Florida's seen all winter, Nora, Caroline and I loved the 50 and 60 degree weather, compared to the 30 degree weather we left behind. It was so nice to be able to walk around in the sunshine with our fleece pullovers, instead of our heavy winter coats. Since it was too cold for the usual pool and beach activities, we discovered new ways to have fun. Nora rode her new-used bike almost every day, and even learned how to play a little tennis ("little" being the operative word). We visited the Brevard Zoo with Grandma (where we narrowly escaped yet another bird attack) and made daily trips to the Bayside Lakes playground. We played lots of Wii games (actually, it was more like Grandpa played and Nora watched) and learned how to play Trouble (or "Trouble in the Bubble," as Nora calls it). Nora and Caroline also entertained themselves with Daddy's, Uncle Matty's and Aunt Alli's old Fisher Price toys and other assorted books and dolls. And last night, we had half-a-Birney bash, when Uncle Danny, Aunt Mary Anne, Danielle, Uncle JB and Aunt Gail all came over for a cookout dinner (and Great Grandma and Uncle Matty too). Cocktail hour started at 3 and ended at 8, and we had a blast watching the 2008 Bonnaroo video and getting to see Shea, Mike, Matty, and half of JB's face at the Avett Bros. concert. As sad as we were to leave this morning, we're happy to know that we will see Grandma and Grandpa again (and maybe Uncle Matty?) at Easter, and that Daddy will be here too! We hope Grandpa's surgery goes well on Monday and can't wait to see how much his Wii scores will improve after he gets his new knees! :-)
