may 5

Today, Laci told me, "Today is the best day ever!"

Why?

"Because it's so fun!"

Today, Mia told me, "You need a time out!" 

Because I was trying to make her eat lunch and she didn't want to. 

She also said a handful of other obnoxious, sassy things to me that landed her in trouble. And even as I was trying to be firm, I was really laughing inside. 

I would guess that Mia doesn't agree it was the best day ever. 

Oh well, can't win them all. 

april...

Oh, hello.  Why yes, I'm still here.  April is quickly passing and I'm finding blogging to be the lowest priority on the list.  I'm not really happy about it.  I don't like to have gaps in our story, but such is life.

We spent the first couple weeks of the month being sick.  Laci passed her fever to Mia who passed it to Noah who passed it to me.  Instead of all being sick at the same time, this virus decided to take its sweet time between us, leaving at least one of us feeling bad for 12 days in a row.  But, we are all well, for the moment, and Ryan somehow made it through healthy.  Excuse me while I knock on some wood.

My dad's stay in the hospital lasted much longer than planned due to an infection, which was brutal to his body, but he is home and getting better each day.  And the girls didn't complain too much because, although they missed my parents, they had the company of Maverick for ten whole days.  We had a visit from my Aunty Jenny and two of her boys.  I took only a few pictures on my phone.  We've been playing outside a lot.  Driving jeeps, digging in dirt, flying kites.  Laci is enjoying dance class.  Noah is getting giant and trying to figure out how to scoot across the floor.  And Mia continues to amaze me each day by finding new ways to get into trouble, and by being the cutest two year old I know.

I'm sure there are stories I have already forgotten, but there's no sense in trying to "catch up."  Time is continuing to fly, so I'll just start with a seriously random group of pictures I grabbed from my phone, spanning the past couple weeks.

Random pics, right?  But isn't that was life is...just a random collection of events, big and small, that make up our "story."

storms and sunshine

Life is unpredictable. That's usually where the difficulty lies, in the events you didn't expect to happen.

My dad's surgery went well. Very well. Unfortunately, he has developed a somewhat unrelated infection that is keeping him in the hospital longer than planned. He is too far away to visit, and even if he weren't, his infection isn't something I need to expose myself or my family to. My mom is with him, as she should be, and we all miss them. 

Here at home, Laci started running a fever Friday afternoon. She's had some stomach issues and a persistent fever, although it was much better today and I feel like she is finally getting healthy.  Mia is healthy at the moment, though I haven't let down my guard. The house is well-stocked with towels and bowls in strategic locations, and I have plenty of Tylenol and Advil.  Just in case. And Ryan and I are tired. We haven't slept much in the past three nights. 

This hasn't been the easiest weekend, but surely not the most difficult I've ever experienced. Not even close. So, I'll continue to dig deep for patience with my children, for energy to keep up with life, and fill in the gaps with coffee. 

So, since this was a dark, stormy weekend, both literally and figuratively, I'm rewinding to a couple of weeks ago when the sun was shining and warm and we planted flowers and seeds in the yard.

Yes, it was even warm enough to play in the water.

And, at the risk of sounding entirely too poetic (sappy), don't we all grow best after a good storm?

(Sunflower sprout - photo taken yesterday)

friday phone dump

March is here, and marching right along.

On Saturday, we made a cake for Ryan's birthday. 

Mia smothered her brother.  

He survived.
Barely.

On Sunday, I washed the sheets.

Which means they jumped on the bed.

Mia sat still enough long enough for her first french braids.

And we celebrated this guy's birthday.

On Monday, I paid bills while drinking coffee and holding a baby.

Probably not the best spot for my cup of coffee.

I moved it once I realized how dangerous it looked sitting there.

On Tuesday, Mia gave Noah shots in his hand.

And listened to his heart.

And prodded his eyes and ears.

She also took control of her wardrobe choices.

It was just a pink kind of day.

On Wednesday, more sisterly love.

It doesn't look like it here, but this boy really does love his smothering sister.

He lights up when he sees her.

Even if she puts her fingers in his mouth.

He also really likes his feet.

This girl eluded the camera most of the week.

On Thursday, we had a tea party.

After many, many interruptions over the span of an hour,

I did finally sit with her to eat Fig Newtons and drink "tea."

I may have stepped outside for a few minutes in the afternoon

to breathe fresh air

while everyone inside the house was either whining or crying.

His foot is just cute.

And that, dear friends, was our week.

Good night.