Nice.

Today during church Eddie crawled behind me and played with the neighbor's "therapy" dog.  That doggy licked and sniffed Ed up and down.  Now I need therapy.

After church while Austin and I were doing dishes, and Nick was "watching" Eddie, he crawled into the kitchen, pulled himself up onto the trash can, and starting eating the garbage.  Luckily it was just the dirty napkins from lunch.

In both situations he seemed so pleased.  I was not.  I am pleased, however, that he is mine.

Carrot is to Chicken Soup as Book is to a Head Cold

Last month we were sick, really sick.  All eight members of this family got a severe bought of the common cold.  Thus, we read.  Lots.

The Family Under the Bridge
A Midnight Clear
A Christmas Carol
The Witches
The Tale of Despereaux
I Am Number Four
The Power of Six
The Rise of Nine
Edenbrook:A Proper Romance

I had been promising the kids that we would watch the movies of the books we'd been reading.  Just last night we streamed "The Witches" from 1990 and watched it with our kids.  It was actually less scary then I remembered, but the kids thought it was pretty intense.  Maddie fell asleep in Austin's arm (shocker that he fell asleep with her) with a blanket over her head.  Maisie scrambled when it was too intense.  Nick kept moving to the smallest hole between people he could find, he surely thought that if he burrowed under the couch the Grand High Witch couldn't get him.  Andy conveniently got up several times to get a drink or eat a snack.  Meg took it all in stride.  I sat there cuddled with the baby on me and the children nestled around me.  I liked it.  And, I didn't even have scary dreams, like the ones I've been having about the Mogadorians in the Books of Lorien.

I do love to read.

Happy New Year!

We are a week into this new 2013 year, and I am a weak blog poster!

Shelly came and visited.  My cute sisters-in-law only ever come for 24 hours, but we love 'em every minute.

We celebrated the new year with a "dance" at the church.  Hardly nothing better than a large room where the children/adults can run and play and dance and sing.  We also collected science fair specimens (Meg and I made the agar).  We finished the evening with snacks and "operations" at Mom's house.

Maddie is a sunbeam!  We currently have no one nursery (which has never happened since Meg began), but we have 5 in primary.

 FHE tonight was the activity from the Friend.  We made a paper-doll family.  Ha!  We filled the 4 boy slots and the 4 girls slots on the paper dolls.  Mostly we felt the spirit as we talked about how we are all children of God, that He loves us, and that we love each other.

My current internal debate is instagram vs. blogging.  The first is so simple, the latter is hard to give up. Thoughts?

I'm 32!

What a glorious day!  I did absolutely nothing for anyone else (well, I did feed Eddie, helped Maddie, lotioned Nick, kissed Maisie, went sledding with Meg and Andy).  All my daily tasks were completed by Austin and the children: Meg made my birthday cake and Andy washed the cake dishes.  Maisie, Nick and Maddie decorated for my party.  Austin made the most lovely dinner.  I am so thankful for the phone calls and texts.  I feel loved, though I probably don't deserve it.

Dinner

 Cake (My niece Haley and I share the same birthday.  My niece Gabby and I, too.  She's not pictured, though.)

 Party Games

 Party Animals

Pre-Party

I decided to celebrate my birthday today; we went to the rollar rink.  Maisie and Eddie were the best duo, she pushed him in the stroller for two complete hours.  Meg entertained the younger kids and Austin and I skated for 20 whole minutes uninterrupted.  So fun!

Merry Christmas!

Today was a simply delightful Christmas.  The children awakened after 7:30; then we spent all morning on the floor playing with legos and toys.  Afternoon was spent playing laser tag at the church.  Evening was spent talking quietly in Mom's living room.  Late evening was spent exploring our new devices.  What?  That is a first.   Hooray for a Nike+ Fuelband and a new smart phone.

But what I really have wanted to blog for the past two weeks is Nick and Maisie's duet.  Enjoy.

A Safari

 Austin took Meg and Andy to Kenya with him to visit his parents.  These are my favorite pictures from their adventure.

 Safari

 That lion is so close!

 Primary kids.

 Chillin' with the grandparents.

All three travelers had an amazing time!  They want to go back.

Grandmother Dearest

Grandma wanted to be on my blog.  I wanted her to be.  Isn't she wonderful!