We were back outside in January...a bit. I had my weeks when I just didn't have the energy to bundle up the kids much. So, there have been times when I've felt a little cooped-up. The canal is now open for skating and we've been out a couple of times. It's a popular spot in the city. I have seen people out early in the morning and even later in the evening. I've even seen my neighbour walking home from work with skates over her arm. That's inspiring.

We celebrated Patrick's birthday at the end of the month. We tried something new and made our own sushi, here at home. It was revealing what an art sushi is. Our sushi ended up tasting pretty great but it didn't look very pretty. Patrick was so happy...there ended up being more sushi than he could eat (this never happens!) 

It seems that all our pictures this month have a background of snow. Funny thing - I think I have gone outside more this winter than the previous years (in balmy Washington). Well, the kids love the snow. They still whine and even cry when it's time to go inside. They are doing well. Brigitte started ballet again on Saturdays and she now declares that she wants to be a ballet teacher when she grows up. (She also insists that she will be going to the moon when she's 4. Thanks for the IMAX movies Nonna!) She's really grown up the past months. Her tantrums have nearly disappeared and she's really asking intelligent questions and making clever remarks.  Felix has had a rush of testosterone, we believe. He loves to wrestle and poke and hit and fight...and he laughs through it all, like it's some big joke. He follows Brigitte throughout the day and yet he's quite content at times to sit and read books by himself or play with his animals (and make his animals fight with each other!). We're not planning much the next couple of months...just more fun in the snow.