Snow Day

For the first time since we moved here several years ago, we had an anticipated snow day- on Tuesday they announced that school would be closed on Wednesday due to an incoming storm and the anticipation of inclement weather.  I was still skeptical, but we did end up getting a decent amount that day- for a couple of hours mid-day it was snowing at the rate of 2" per hour.  We headed out to the park in the afternoon and were quite surprised to see many many people out- as if it were the middle of summer!

There must have been at least 10 snowmen throughout the park- I took pictures of a few of them.  I particularly loved this guy who had to be at least 8 feet tall!  A little while after I took this photo, a group of teenagers dismantled him.

We made our own snowman, though not as large as the others.  We also made him a little pet dog- a tribute to Aunt Laura's Odin.  Sadly, they were both decapitated not too long after we abandoned them to play on the rocks in the snow....

We also found the remains of a fort, so we added more snow to it and built it up to be our own.  Ella found a little mound inside that she enjoyed sitting on, so we added a little more to build her a bench inside.  I had happy memories of a huge snowstorm when I was a kid and my grandfather building a big igloo for me.

We stayed out for about 2 hours- until well past sundown.  The GW Bridge through the twilight snow:

Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day in our home is extra special.... because it's also Matt's birthday.  And even though I'm days (weeks?) late in posting this, we are really really really happy you were born!

The girls created a classic candy-gram (with some help from mom)

 Dear Daddy Matt,
We love you to (Reese's) PIECES and we hope your birthday is like a SYMPHONY in New YORK. We promise not to SNICKER(s) about your age if you don't tell WHOPPERS.  Our POP ROCKS!
Love, The SOUR PATCH KIDS

Wanna Help Me Celebrate?

My birthday's coming up.....

During an interview for his birthday in 2008, the Prophet and President of my church, Thomas S. Monson, was asked what he would consider an ideal birthday gift from his fellow church members.  He answered, "Do something for someone else on that day to make his or her life better. Find someone who is having a hard time or is ill or lonely, and do something for them. That's all I would ask."  We've recently been asking this question at dinner every night, too, to get us thinking about being nice to others: "What did you do for someone else today?"  Alexis and Ella are better at remembering to ask the question than we are!  And they seem to enjoy thinking back on their day and hearing everyone else's answers.

I was recently reading around in blogland and came across this blog where a woman wanted to celebrate her birthday by doing service for others.  I felt inspired!  So that's what I want to do for MY birthday, too!   I'm basically copying her idea exactly, because it's so wonderful.  And we belong to the same church which has an amazingly well organized world humanitarian effort.

In her post, she wrote that there are areas of the world where women are bringing home their newborn babies in newspapers with no hygienic way of washing & caring for their babies. Can you imagine what that must be like?  Our church has specified the following items that, when assembled together, constitute a newborn kit and will be distributed to needy moms & babies in poorer areas of the world. 

• 1 double receiving blanket (cotton flannel or lightweight fleece, two pieces of fabric, each between 36" square and 45" square---- or a medium weight fleece in single layer, 36" by 36" with the edges serged.)
• 4 flat fold (single thickness) cloth diapers (100% cotton Birdseye Cloth or 100% cotton diaper flannel), approximately 25". Please do not use pre-folded or disposable diapers.
• 4 diaper safety pins
• 1 pair booties or baby socks
• 2 regular-size bars of soap (Ivory or other non-allergenic brand)
• 1 newborn layette gown (please, no footed sleepers)

 
Since I'll be 33 this year, I would lovelovelove to assemble 33 kits- a little gift for a new baby's birth day. But I can't do it alone- will you help?  I will need donations to reach these numbers:

• 28 25 double receiving blankets (crafty friends! This is a perfect fast&easy project! This page has directions )- (I already have several that I've made)
• 132 flat fold cloth diapers  (like these)
• 132 diaper safety pins  (like these)
• 33 pairs booties or baby socks
• 66 regular-size bars of soap (Ivory or other non-allergenic brand)
• 33 newborn layette gowns (please, no footed sleepers)
• 33 2-gallon size ziplocs

Leave a comment telling me what you can do to help, or email me directly (kendracope@gmail.com).  I'll give you my address so you can send me your contribution.  Then, I'll package everything together and take the kits to my local Bishop's Storehouse where they'll be sent off to the Humanitarian Center. 33 seems like a lot to me, but I know it's only a fraction of what must be needed around the world.  Spread the word to your friends, too- if we get enough for more than 33 kits I'd be over the moon!

 ETA: I set up an Amazon wishlist right here if you'd like to choose stuff from there and have it shipped to me.

And we're planning an assembly party! (thanks for the idea, Abbie!)

MLK Day

“Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

A couple of weeks ago, we celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by participating in a service project with  an organization known as Children For Children.  They organized a huge service activity in a local high school- there was station after station after station of child-friendly service projects many of which focused on crafty things that my kids LOVE to do.  We spent over 2 hours and didn't even scratch the surface of the opportunities to make a difference for someone else.  I have long wanted to get my kids involved in service but have not been able to find an organization that has projects that are suitable for young children.  Children For Children is the perfect solution!  And I hope we can spend a little more of our time giving this year.

Decorating socks that we filled with catnip & stuffing- to be donated to a local pet shelter.

Decorating eco-friendly tote bags

Making bracelets for children in rough home situations- each bracelet had a "peace dove" bead.

Tying blankets and scarves for residents of local homeless shelters.

Making placemats for local food pantries to use when they distribute dinners.

Decorating the inserts for mugs- to be donated to nursing home residents etc.

Once There Was A Snowman

We had a little snowstorm this morning, so Ella and I headed out to the park.  Perfect packing snow.  So we built a snowman.  Ella's first.  We were only sorry that Lexi had to be at school.

(he's a little dirty looking because of the dirt & grass & leaves & things under the snow).

Neon Trees!

So we've been friend with Branden & Emilie Campbell for 7 or 8 years.  We met them in Provo when we were first married.  They rock.  Literally.  Branden is the bass player (the guy on the right, above) in this hot new band called Neon Trees.  We were able to go to their first gig here in NYC last month- and Emilie was able to come, too!  I'm really enjoying their stuff- we bought their EP and it's been downloaded to my running mix.

Their album, Habits, is being released in stores on March 23, 2010.  And they're playing here again at the Mercury Lounge on January 14, 2010.  Come check them out!!  You'll be glad you did when they hit it big in a few months.

Alexis Mae

January 1st- my New Year's baby! My first born. My daughter.

Your favorites:

color:  red 
food:  pizza
vegetable:  peas

drink:  milk
school subject:  drawing
thing to do:  crafts, puzzles
movie:  Shrek (even though you only saw it for the first time 2 days ago)
game:  Operation
book:  the scriptures
restaurant:  Sosa Borella (that's your answer, not mine!)
holiday:  Christmas & your birthday
animal: zebra and giraffe

Tell me about your friends:
Well, I like Lily. And I want to sit with her every day.  And I like my bus mates Amaya and Karen. 

What do you like to do when you’re not in school?
I would like to, um, to do crafts or something creative. Something that's like art.


What do you want to be when you grow up?
A paleontologist.

If you could go anywhere on vacation, where would you go?
Uuuummmm, I would go to Horseheads.

What do you love about each person in our family?
Dad…That he's fun.
Mom…That you made me a child of yours.
E…That she plays with me.


You are an independent person.  You have many leadership qualities- you have a strong personality and like to take charge.  If you don't want to do something, you can't be bullied into it.  You stand up for yourself.  When you get to do something by yourself, you take time to think about your little sister and what you can do for her (like when you go to Grandma's for the weekend, you think about saving an ice cream sandwich for her, or drawing her a picture).  You share almost all your toys with her.  You like to read to her.  You can be  a very good helper.  You like to do the dishes.   You love to help prepare dinner, even though you don't always like to eat it.  In fact, you don't like to eat a lot of things.  You set and clear the table and love to fill the ice trays.  You love going to school and riding the school bus every day.  You love to play games.  You love the playground.  You love to do crafts and would do them all day every day if I let you.  You don't like to zip up your sweaters or coats, and you regularly refuse to wear gloves and hats.  One night you even left the house with no socks when it was only 19 degrees outside.  You are learning to read and are the best reader in your class.  You love to go to the library and check out new books.  You love to sing and are a stand-out voice in the ward primary.  You like to read the scriptures and learn about Jesus Christ.  You seem to love life and are a happy little girl.

This year you told us you only wanted to have a family party, so we gathered together for lunch and games at Chuck E Cheese to celebrate your day.  We are so happy you were born!  And we're happy you're a part of our family.  We love you, Alexis Mae.

(all photos by Marcus Bowers)

Holiday Baking

Lexi and Ella helped make chocolate covered pretzels with sprinkles.  We gave some to our super, Lexi's bus drivers, and as a favor at our Christmas Eve dinner/party.

The Tree

After our trip to Macy's (in which I forgot to mention that Aunt Allie came along- she has a few more photos so maybe I'll upload them if she gets them to me), we headed over to Rockefeller Center for the obligatory visit to the tree.  It's really quite amazing how huge it is- and that it's real!  Matt met up with us there and we took in the Christmas spirit.  For a city with so many religions and cultures, New York is really very festive at Christmas time.  I love it.

Santa and Such

The week before Christmas, we took a trip down to Macy's after school.  Alexis wanted to see Santa even though she doesn't believe he's real (and we don't tell her otherwise).

 
I had already taken Ella to see the big man earlier in the month when I happened to be in the vicinity of Macy's, but it did not go well.  On the way upstairs in the elevator she was singing "Who laughs this way ho ho ho? Must be santa!" (lyrics she learned from Bob Dylan) and seemed like she was looking forward to seeing him.  But when our time arrived, she was so scared and wouldn't even walk in front of him.  She didn't want to enter the room where he was or anything.  After some major coaxing from me & the elves (who were really really wonderful and kind), she decided to walk past him.  We paused in front of him for a moment so she could get a good look.  He asked her to "give him 5."  She obliged and slapped him on the hand which triggered his "Ho Ho Ho!"  He managed to get her to do that 2 or 3 times.  But she refused to get any closer or take a picture.

Anyway, this time around was a little smidge better, but maybe because her big sister was IN LOVE with Santa.  As soon as we arrived to see him, Lexi ran at him full speed, jumped on his lap and hugged him really tightly.  I was actually shocked at this emotional showing of hers, considering she doesn't believe he's real.  (She's the one ruining it for your kids.  Sorry 'bout that.)  She talked with him while Ella warmed up to him.  And then we tried to take a photo.

Waiting in line

Talking to one of the Elves

Hugging Santa

Notice how Ella won't even look at him.

Snow Fall

A few weeks ago (December 19, 2009) the east coast was plummeted with feet of snow.  It happened overnight on Saturday night into Sunday morning.  (We typically don't get much more than a couple of inches here in Manhattan at any given time, although over the past several years there seems to have been one huge storm.)  Church was NOT canceled, so we trudged through the snow, pioneer style, to get there.  After church, we bundled up in our snow gear and headed over to the park to get some good snow action.  This was Ella's first real experience jumping in and playing around in the snow.  We don't have any sort of sleds (mostly b/c we have no where to store them) so the kids have yet to be initiated into sledding.