Valentine's

Surprise Candy bar cookies . . .

Strawberry cream cheese bagels bitten into hearts and love potion . . .

Heart shaped lunch . . .

Heart trail lining the stairs . . .

Making Valentine's . . .

Valentine's parties . . .

Happy Valentine's Day!

This Week

It was the flu
that got me down for the week.
And on those days
when my fever was high
and my body ached
I couldn't help wondering 
how I would ever survive the day
and started thinking to myself
how these were the most miserable days of my life.
And then I realized
my goodness
how lucky and blessed I am
that the hardest days of my life
have been because of a sickness
(that I know will go away eventually)
and tending to four smiling and energetic children
(well, one also sick, but even when he's sick
I think he still has more energy in his arm
than I will ever have in my whole body).
Speaking of Kacin,
he has gone down in my book as a hero.
Let's just say, that even though
we lived on the couch for the week
and our minds turned to mush 
going back and forth between tv, wii, and ipad,
When ever he noticed I needed help
with the two little ones
he stepped right up
no matter how he was feeling
and it was sweet and helpful and heroic.
He is a strong, good boy.

Fun Times

Eric misses too much fun while he is away on business trips.
Things like
many bodily fluids and solids
coming out from their proper places.
In a matter of two and a half days,
I had more fun than should be allowed one girl.
I cleaned
poop out of the bathtub four times,
vomit in the car,
and, maybe the funnest of all,
two shredded to bits
dirty diapers
with contents spread throughout the bedroom
when someone dug them out of the diaper genie.
I think Eric was sad he missed out on all the good times.

When he got home
we tried to show him a good time
so he didn't feel left out.
But walking along a beautiful trail,
looking at ducks,
and eating out for dinner
don't quite compare with the fun things
we experienced while he was away.

Aren't you glad I'm sharing these pictures
and not photos from while he was gone?

blowing her nose face

As always,
we are so glad you are home, E!

Pinewood Derby With Two

Two boys in cub scouts now

means two pinewood derby cars
finished the night before the race.

So many cool cars!

I'm a bit partial 

to both of the cars racing in the middle 

in these next couple of pictures.

Nice job, boys!