Day 31 - Sunday

I took a lot of pictures today.  And now, as I update my blog, I just really can't decide which one should be The One for today.  What do you think?

I snapped this one while my family was walking into church.  I just don't really see how it gets much better than this.

And then, there's this one that I took of the three girls who were early to Sunday School.  They love to color pretty pictures and giggle a lot.  Makes my heart warm! 

I've been taking pictures of my sister who is pregnant with her first... and she looked so stinkin' cute in her new sweater that I suggested it was time to update!  And what a cute belly it is!  (You should see my fat face pictures at the same gestational age with my first.  Blech.)

Alexis had been watching as I took pictures of Dana, so I said, "Hey, Lex, let's do one together!"  Love this girl!

Then, this afternoon, we went to a 1st Birthday Party for the sweetest little guy ever, Lukas.  I kept care for him from the time his momma went back to work, until he was 9 months old.  He's a doll and he loved that cake!  Happy Birthday, Lukas!

Day 30 - Alexis, my helper

Alexis has really been in a funk lately, and I'm not sure what the deal is.  She's super clingy and emotional and just in general very needy.  She's upset a lot saying things like... "I wish I were born last so I could be the baby!" and "Why does Ty always get to go FIRST?!"  You know, normal middle kid stuff.  Gah.  I've tried over and over to tell her that she is JUST as important as her brothers and that she is so very special because she's the only girl, etc, but she doesn't care or seem to listen... she wants to think what she wants to think and it doesn't matter what we say.  Sigh.  Anyway, this way of thought comes and goes, and right now, it's here full on. 

I decided that she needed some time just with me.  No Brothers Allowed!  I took her to this exotic place called the supermarket.  Ever been there?  It's pretty neat.  Especially on a Saturday afternoon at 3 PM when everyone else who lives in this city was there.  Anyway, Alexis loved that she was the only one who got to come, and thought it was very cool to be the official "List Crosser Offer."  :)

I'm hoping that it's times like these when she realizes just how very special she is to me and her dad, and that we wouldn't trade her for the world.  I hope, I hope.

Day 29 - Where's the beef?

So we split a 1/4 cow with my inlaws.  Yep.  That's a lot o' beef!  Over 100 pounds alone in our freezer.  Should last at least a few days, don't you think?

Day 28 - A Happy Heart

So this is what I found when I went to tuck my 8 year old into bed.  He had somehow shoved his entire body into a small storage tote, and said it was comfortable!  He asked if he could sleep like that, and I tried to tell him that he'd wake up with a pretty stiff neck if he did...  Finally, after much coercing, he put the book down and stretched out into his bed.  I have to say though, I love, love, love that he's reading so much and enjoying it.  It makes my heart happy.

Day 27 - Magical Snow

You know, if I never saw snow again in my entire life, I really don't think I'd miss it.  I do agree that it's pretty when you look out and the flakes are falling softly and everything is quiet and peaceful... but 7 or 8 months out of 12 each year with the White Stuff and it starts to get old.  Plus, who likes muddy wet carpets?!  Not me. 

The difference between me and my three little people is that they think snow is like magic!  It's a wonderland of fun for them.  They don't care about the wet piles of melted snow under your socked foot.  They also don't care that it's dangerous to drive in and that people can get too cold. They just see the wonder in it all... it makes great snowballs!  And the flakes, if you try really hard, sometimes you can catch one in your mouth!

Perhaps I have something to learn from them afterall.

Day 26 - Sweetness

In church Sunday night, I looked down to see Alexis writing something.  A while later she whispered to me, "how do you spell brothers?"  I told her.  After a while, she shows me her note:  "I love my mom and dad and my brothers and me"  How could I not take a picture of that?

I love this kid!  And then today, she was looking out the window, and I captured this shot!  So very sweet.

Day 25 - Packing Peanuts

You know, I kept telling myself that I really should get rid of the box that was full of packing peanuts.  It would be super easy to just go take the box out to the dumpster and get rid of it all... much easier than picking up foam peanuts off the carpet.  But then, I'd remember that the wind and snow were swirling around outside and I really, really didn't want to have to go deal with that.  And so, the box sat, unmoved.

That is, of course, until Carsten discovered it.  He must have been thinking...

"What sheer fun it is to throw these little treasures all over the carpet!  And just think, mama is sick, so she doesn't realize I'm making this huge mess since she's feverish on the couch!  Whee!  It's snowing inside, too!  How utterly delightful!" 

 Greeeaaat.  He wasn't nearly as excited when I made him pick them up.  Halfway through he says to me, "picking these up makes me busy."  I said, "do you mean that picking these up makes you tired?"  "No, mama, not tired.  Busy." 

Kids!

Day 24 - Sticks

I was very content to stay under my warm fuzzy blanket, but my sweet sister in law Stephanie was begging me to get up and come learn this new game with her.  I realize now that I wasn't feeling good at the time and had a fever, but nonetheless, she won out and I got up. 

The game was really cool!  It was sort of like a mixture between Rummy and Phase Ten.  Each person chooses a stick from this bag.  You can't show it to anyone else, and everyone else also has their own different stick.  You then have to try and get the combination that the stick asks you to get...  It was fun, and we played for a bit.  We would have played longer, but Uncle Ron and Aunt Sherrie had to scoot out to go back home. 

I guess it was worth it to get out of the covers.  Thanks for making me, Steph!  :)

Day 23 - Ha! Caught red handed!

Sometimes you think no one is watching.

Sometimes you're wrong!

Day 22 - Sis Betty

On Wednesday morning, the world lost a lovely, beautiful lady.  Sis. Betty struggled with disabilities after having multiple strokes, but you never saw her frown.  She couldn't talk any more, but her mind was still sharp.  She always had a smile on her face and was such a lovely example of not letting one's disabilities get in the way.

I saw her just a few weeks ago and told her she looked beautiful and that I was happy to see her.  She smiled at me.

Now, Heaven will open it's arms to her, and she will be able to dance with Jesus with a perfect, brand new body!

Rest in peace, Sis Betty!  We love you!

Day 21 - Sunshine

We live in a place where there isn't a lot of sunshine... so, when it comes in, we have to take advantage of it!!!  Alexis was half asleep, but she was willing to smile for me anyway...

Day 20 - Saying Goodbye to Grandpa

So the good news is we got to see my dad for a few days.  The bad news?  He had to go back home.  He came over early this morning and I made breakfast.  After a bit, and a few cups of coffee, he said it was time to go.  We had a blast while he was here though!  Thanks for coming dad!

Day 19 - Stomp at Miller

So I called my dad to see the plan for dinner, and he said, "How about going to see Stomp at Miller?"  I started freaking out!  I love Stomp and was fortunate to see it in NYC and also in Denver.  Josh had only seen a smaller version at Great America, so he was pumped as well.  Everyone but my brother-in-law Andy were able to come and it was fun hanging out sans kiddos!  I wanted to take a few more pictures, but the meanie usher lady flipped out when I just took the picture of the playbill...  Sheesh.

Afterward, we went to Waterstreet Coffee Joint and got gellato and hot chocolate.  It was fun to sit around and laugh and tell funny stories.  When we got back home, my FABULOUS in-laws and sister-in-law had graciously put the kids to bed AND cleaned up our house!!!  How nice was that?  Maybe Josh and I should go out and leave the kids home with Grandma and Grandpa more often.  :)

Day 18 - My New Nephew!

My sister Dana and her husband Andy are expecting their first little person to arrive at the beginning of May.  I can't wait to see him in person, and not just in a black and white ultrasound picture!  Love that she's finally starting to show!

Day 17 - Happy 8th Birthday, Tyrus!

Gotta love that grin from the birthday boy!

Day 16 - Grandpa Mark comes to visit...

We were very lucky that my dad got to travel all the way from Colorado to come out and spend a few days with us...!

Day 15 - Movie Night Madness

I didn't feel good.  Josh was at work.  Big things were happening the next day.  The kids wanted to go places and do things and I just didn't.  So I announced that it was time to get on PJs (at 6:30!) and bring down their comforters and pillows and we were going to watch a movie!  They loved it.  The movie was UP! which was OK, but the memories and Crunch N Munch we ate will be with us for a long, long time.

Day 14 - Red

Well, you guessed it.  The kids got my camera again.  I guess I need to put it out a reach a bit better.  It is neat to see the world through their eyes though...  And really, if they think my Kitchen Aid mixer is picture worthy, than who am I to argue?

Day 13 - Carsten's Craziness

Craziness.  That pretty much sums it up, don't you think?

Day 12 - Uno, Uno, Uno

One way to play!  The kids got a Uno game for Christmas and so one night, Josh decided it would be fun to play with the kids and teach them a thing or two... well, they ended up winning more than he did!

Day 11 - Sudoku Puzzle

I love Sudoku puzzles and so does Tyrus.  This particular one is a puzzle.  Most puzzles have a picture on the outside of the box showing you how it looks so you can sort of get an idea of where the pieces go.  Not this one.  And to make it even more tricky, all of the pieces fit in all the places, so just because it "fits" doesn't mean that's the right spot.  It's enough to make anyone lose their mind.  Even my sister-in-law Stephanie who is a whiz at puzzles got tripped up on this one.  I was finally able to get it figured out and thought I better snap a picture for reference if we ever try to put it together again!

Day 10 - Sweet Prayers

Lots of folks looking on as my sister's sweet niece feels the presence of the Lord on Sunday.  It's not the best picture in terms of quality, but the lighting wasn't so great.

Day 9 - Daddy & Daughter

Not a lot better in life than this... Daddy & Alexis watching Tyrus play basketball early one Saturday morning.

Day 8 - Go Bulldogs!

We're new to our little city.  Well, I guess you can't even call it a city.  Or a town.  It's a Village.  Amazingly in such a small area, the schools are fantastic and have done well in State Sports.  We're proud to be part of the Red & White!  Go Bulldogs!!!  (Picture courtesy of Tyrus K.)

Day 7 - Ty's Self Portrait

You'd think that if he was going to steal my camera and take a bunch of pictures, he'd at least smile when he was the subject of one of them?  Guess not.  The kid isn't so fond of pictures.  Oh well.

Day 6 - Fancy Nancy Phone

I guess I need to keep an eye on my camera a bit better, because another little sticky fingered (and believe me, I have my guesses) person took this one...

Day 5 - Clone Legos

One of the many toys Tyrus got this year for Christmas was a Star Wars Lego Clone set...  he's a whiz at this type of stuff and put it together in no time at all.  I''m not sure which one of my kids took this picture, but it is artistic, nonetheless.

Day 4 - Carsten and his puzzles

Carsten loves puzzles.  Every day, there are oh, half a dozen or so of them on my kitchen floor in various stages of completion...  one of the kids took a picture of this one.

Day 3 - First Sunday of the New Year

Tyrus looking spiffy in his new Christmas clothes!

Day 2 - Ummm?

Carsten, acting like a goof!

Day 1 - Happy 2010!

Playing 'The Office' DVD game with some friends over... Carsten got a hold of my camera, and "say cheese, momma!"  "CHEESE!"

Day 365 - New Year's Eve

It was late.  Carsten was very upset because all he wanted was his warm and comfy bed... but, it was NYE, and we decided "hey, it only happens once a year... he can sleep in late tomorrow!"