Dresses and Blossoms

 Hello everyone!

It is finally beautiful spring here so we three slipped into our delicious spring dresses and ran down to the garden to take some photos while the blooms are still out! Becca likes the bright yellow forsythias best, and Charlotte prefers the bold pink blossoms, but my favorites are the delicate white ones.

"My heart is fresh and fearless, and overbrimmed with spring."

- Sara Teasdale, May Night

I hope you all have a lovely Easter!
~ Kirsten

Becca at the Grand Canyon!

Hi Everyone!! *waves*

I (Becca) got to go hike at the Grand Canyon this last week! Kirsten and Charlotte don't care much for strenuous activity in heat, so they declined to come, but I didn't mind - it was great fun and so beautiful! 

The first hike I went on went down into the Canyon, which was amazing! I didn't go all the way down to the Colorado River because I would've had to spend the night, but it was still super cool! 

As you can see, it was quite sunny, but it actually wasn't too hot! Just about right for hiking. :)

At some places it was super windy, which was quite refreshing. I sat on this ledge for a while, enjoying the cool relief and admiring the stunning view! 

I was grateful for my bandana cause it kept all those funny little hairs from getting into my eyes! My bangs went everywhere, though!

The second hike I went on was actually in Sedona, which is a little ways from the Grand Canyon. This hike had a lot more plants and green-ness, which was really pretty! There was a little river that kept popping up here and there throughout the hike. 

I ate my lunch at a nice green spot on some cool rocks. This was one of the only places where I wasn't surrounded by orange on all sides!

I had a splendiferous time and hope you enjoyed my photos!

~ Rebecca

A Cold, Blue Morning

It snowed just gorgeously here a few weeks ago! It was so beautiful out that Becca and I went out and she took some photos in the cold, blue morning. 

"I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently?" 

-Through the Looking Glass

~ Charlotte

Snow Day at the Cabin

While we were relaxing at the cabin, it snowed just beautifully during the night! We went out right away after breakfast to sled and explore.

"Wow," I said, pulling the sled and looking about me,

"This is beautiful," breathed Charlotte.

"It really is a winter wonderland!" Kirsten exclaimed.

"Okay," I said, pointing the sled downhill, "hop on!"

Kirsten sat down behind me and I picked up the rope to head on down. However, there was one slight problem.

"Hm, we don't seem to be moving," Kirsten observed.

"Yes, how queer," I added, "Charlotte, would you give us a push?"

"Sure!" she agreed, but just as she gave Kirsten a shove, what did she do but jump on back as well!

"And away we go!" Charlotte cried.

We went flying down the hill, all three of us clinging to each other for dear life and laughing as the snow blinded flew in our faces. It was grand fun, and when we reached the bottom we all fell off and lay breathless in the snow. 

"Yipee, I'm going again!" Charlotte announced, picking up the rope. "Who wants to come with me?"

"Would you look at that?" I murmured to Kirsten. "That's our proper, fashionable sister!"
"Oh hush," Kirsten said, "I guess she knows a good time when she sees one!"
"I know," I laughed, "but aren't you just a wee bit surprised at her enthusiasm?"
"Well, maybe a little," she admittted, "C'mon, let's make a snowman while our "fashionable sister" flies around."

"Okey dokey," I said, and began rolling snowballs.

"Here's the head!" I plopped it on top of Kirsten's little snowman.
"He's a little small," Kirsten said critically, "but little ones are a lot easier to make."

"That's true," I said, "Let's go find some arms."

"Hey, nice snowman!" Charlotte said.

"Thanks! How's the sledding?" I asked.

"Thrilling!" she replied gleefully. 

"Here are some sticks for arms," Kirsten handed me one and stuck one in her side.
"Ta-da!" I said, "He looks pretty good!"

"Well, you two want to go on a walk through there?" Charlotte asked.
"Sure! It looks beautiful!" Kirsten agreed.
"Let's do it!" I cried.

It really was gorgeous and we had a marvelous day!
~ Rebecca

At the Cabin

Hello! We recently went on a little vacation to a cabin in Idaho. It was beautiful and snowy and relaxing. Charlotte and I took the time to read some books together in front of the Christmas tree while Becca explored the house. 

Charlotte was reading Little Women, per my suggestion. I was quite surprised when she said she'd never read it!

I was reading Mary Poppins for, oh, probably the fourth or fifth time! It's such a fun one.

We were having a grand time, reading away and giggling at the funny parts, when Becca came in with a pack of Apples to Apples cards. 

"Hey, you two bookworms!" she said, cheerfully, "D'you want to play Apples to Apples?"

 "Sounds good to me," Charlotte agreed, "I've read several chapters already."
"You're reading Little Women?" Becca asked, "Did you get to the chapter where they go on the picnic? That's my favorite--their story is hilarious!"
Charlotte laughed. "No, I haven't read that much yet!"

By the time they were finished reminiscing about Alcott's classic, Becca had removed and sorted the cards, which had clearly been returned to their box in a hurry by some previous cabin vacationer. 

"Here, Becca, I'll shuffle them," I offered.

"How many cards do I deal out?" I asked, when I'd finished shuffling.
"Hmm...I can't remember, let me check," Becca replied, pulling out the instructions. "Let's see, five per player."
Once I'd dealt, we all settled in for a crazy round of Apples to Apples.

 "Okay, the category is 'Good,'" Becca said, drawing a green card.
I looked through my cards, "Rock Stars...aren't really any good, Tacos are good tasting, Cavities are terrible, Lemonade is delicious, and A Dollar is pretty good, but you can't buy much with it," I thought to myself. After a bit more deliberation, I chose Lemonade, 'cause Becca loves it, so there was a good chance she'd pick it.

 Then she read off our answers, "Lemonade or A Pile of Leaves. Hmm...lemonade is delicious, but a pile of leaves is a lot of fun," she paused, "I think I'll have to go with lemonade!"
"Yes!" I cried, taking the green card.

And so, the game went on. Each in our turn reading off the other two's silly answers and deciding between them. 

 We had an awesome time, and there was quite a mess of cards afterwards!

 Until nest time!
~ Kirsten

Christmas Time

"Charlotte, wake up, it's Christmas!"

Someone was patting my head and I opened my eyes to see Kirsten looking right at me. 

"Come on," she said.

"Oh boy, Christmas!" I hopped up and we both slid down from the top bunk that we share.

"Wake up, Becca!" I said cheerfully. The mass of hair and curlers groaned.
"Huh?"
"Becca, it's Christmas!"
"She's usually the first one up," Kirsten commented, "But those curlers can be pretty painful."
"Whew!" and with that she too slipped out of bed.

Stretching and yawing, winking and blinking, we were finally all up.
"Yikes, I'd forgotten what fun it is to sleep with curlers in," Becca exclaimed.
"Try sleeping with claw clips needling your head all night," I added.
"Hmm, I slept pretty well..." teased Kirsten.

We laughed as we stumbled to the closet and pulled out our outfits. We don't own any Christmas dresses - we really don't have many occasions for fancy clothes - but we dress up for each other as best we can.

"Can someone zip me up?" Kirsten asked.
"Why certainly, Madam," and with a curtsy that nearly sent her sprawling, Becca did so.
"What're you going to wear?" I asked Becca, who was looking into the closet.
"Hmm...I must admit I'm unsure," she said, "Aha, I've found just the thing!"

Once she too was dressed, Kirsten set about removing the curlers from Becca's hair, with many an "Ow!" from Becca and "Sorry," from Kirsten interjected throughout the process. While they finished their painful task, I undid my own hair from its little knots and set about fixing my curls.

Eventually, we were all dressed and trussed and seated around our tree.
"Well, Charlotte, why don't you open yours first?" Kirsten asked.
"If it's okay with Becca," I said.
"Pshaw, I don't care," she said, "just open it up already!"

We laughed and I reached for the one with my name on it. I had no idea what it could be.

"Oh wow, a hat!" I exclaimed, lifting it up. "It's so pretty, I love the cable knit!"
"And it'll go well with your snow clothes, too," Kirsten added.
"Thank you!" I said.

"Open yours now, Kirsten!" Becca exclaimed, handing it to her.
"Okay," she said, ripping it open.

"Oh, a sweater, it's beautiful! I love the pattern!" exclaimed Kirsten.
"It'll look really good with your eyes," I said.
"Thanks!" she said.

"Oh boy, now it's my turn!" Becca said, "I have absolutely no idea what it'll be!"
"Good," I laughed.

Becca ripped the paper off eagerly.

 "Snowshoes, awesome!" she said, "wow, thanks!"
"You're welcome!"
"Now if only it would snow..."

After we'd admired our gifts for a time, we cleaned up and Becca went to the piano. I brought out the cookies and we all sang Christmas carols and ate Christmas cookies together by the pretty tree.

It was the most wonderful Christmas ever! I hope yours was just as lovely!

~ Charlotte