Now that Clare is deep into her preschool years we’re beginning to see the next phase of family life.  She’s growing up, has a longer attention span, has some capacity to skip a nap or a snack, and just has a little more flexibility.  Now rather than just playing with her on her level, we can do activities with her that are her playing with us.  Case in point: we took an overnight trip a few weeks ago to Mt. Hood to go sledding.  As you can see from the picture above, we all LOVED it. 

Clare especially LOVED it.  She adored sledding, grinning from ear to ear as she went down by herself and with us.  She loved playing in the snow (Daddy’s girl).  She really appreciated being with Mom and Dad by herself – eating at restaurants, staying in a hotel, and having our undivided attention.  It was such a treat to just be one on one with our girl.  She is so big and independent now.  She toted her own sled, went down the hill by herself, kept track of her hat and mittens, and just generally participated more as our equal than as our child.  Of course she is three, so bedtime was at 7:30, we asked “do you have to go to the potty?”, and I may have threatened a time out.  But it was a inkling of more fun family times to come.