happy nevada day plus two teacher work days plus all my kids were sick

It started with Thomas and a 103 fever.

Two days later I got it.

Lennon came home from trick or treating burning up. 

The next morning it was Larry.

I thought Ruby had escaped it all until she started throwing up.

This all happened during Nevada Day's five day weekend and I almost lost my mind.

One day (I think day four?) the kids were so sick of being sick that they built this Rolls Royce and started pushing the baby around in it.  No one was fighting, no one was complaining or arguing so I documented.  Silver lining in a pretty stormy long weekend.  Thomas was in heaven.

Another silver lining: Ruby kept throwing up so when I put her to bed I put a bowl next to her on the dresser.  I told her to use it if she needed to throw up and then to come wake up Mom and Dad.  She said ok and went to sleep.

The next morning I went into her room, assuming she hadn't thrown up.  We didn't hear from her all night. I looked into the bowl and it was full.  She threw up all night in it and never woke anyone up and didn't even make a mess.  I asked her if she just threw up and kept going back to bed and she said, "Yep!"

Sorry boys, your sister is tougher than any of us.

Also, a quick public apology to Tod for backing out of the garage today before the garage door was totally open. The good news: Garage door still works!  Only missing that bottom piece which (in my opinion) was just for looks anyways.

holidays + hormones = our house

I have been pregnant over the holidays four times.  It feels like deja vu.

 Running family 5K pregnant with kids in tow?  Been there.  Twice.  My boys made it about a mile and then I dragged them the other 2.1.  Which I believe is harder than running.

 Tod came in 2nd? 3rd? last time but not this year.  Oh no.  He sprinted that last half mile and beat Uncle Joe who is 50 but very fit.  Nice one Tod.

 We are desert people now so yes my boys were equipped with parkas while everyone else wore t-shirts.  We could even see our breath which was new.

 Dinner at the Homestead in Midway, UT.  So beautiful.  So easy to show up, fill up your plate, eat, then fill it up again.  Then go home and no mess.  I think I'm done cooking Thanksgiving dinners. 

 Bowling afterwards where my kids sort of ran wild and Tommy and Shantay tied with 68s.  They are meant to be.

 

 

 

 

 We took the boys to see the temple lights on our last night.  This never gets old to me because the beauty of the temple mixed with Christmas lights makes me so happy.  We only lost Larry once.  And no Ruby wasn't invited because I'm not kidding...that girl wears me out.  Plus they got to ride Trax with cousins and watch Frozen.  I'm so happy people love that movie but I will never, ever say I like it when characters converse in song.  Just SPEAK!  Stop SINGING!  Towards the end they started singing again so I just left and wandered around in the hallway.  Don't buy me tickets to a musical.

 

And I didn't think that snowman was funny at all.  Sue me.

 

 

Christmas has also come and I have very few pictures to prove it.  Here's why - we spent the entire week throwing up.  It started with Larry, quickly transferred to Lennon (about five minutes apart) then hit me Christmas morning and Tod Christmas night.  On Christmas Eve I felt fine as Tod and I enjoyed roast and potatoes while the boys ate a cracker each.  We devoured Crème Brulee French toast in the morning with bacon and oranges and I was feeling great...until suddenly I wasn't. 

 

Glad we are all feeling better now...bring on 2014.

a few things

First: This poor girl is surrounded by boys and Viking hats.  She was also sick/teething last week and I thought to myself -- THERE IS NO WAY I CAN EVER HAVE ANOTHER KID, EVER.  EVER.

 

Because when your baby is on day four of fussiness so you give her a bottle to settle her down while you fold a mountain of laundry and you can hear the boys fighting in the backyard then you look over and she is puking all over your carpet so you clean her up, clean the carpet up, then put her to bed and she does it again...you feel pretty tired.  And sort of sorry for yourself.

 

But she's better now and calling me Mama and her dad DaDa and eating buttered toast everyday.  So maybe another one is possible.  POSSIBLE.  And one more thing.  If my kids didn't fight, being a mom wouldn't be half as hard.  I'll do the laundry, I'll buy the food, I'll make the meals, I'll sweep under the bar 10,000 times per day, I'll carpool and I'll help with homework and bathtime and teeth brushing and everything else.  But the fighting? 

 

Someone stop the fighting.  I'll paint your entire house.

Speaking of painting...my walls were covered in scuff marks so I did the unthinkable -- I taped and painted without Tod's help for the first time and no huge disasters.  I am horrible at details.  I am not creative or careful.  But I did it.

 

People are right; painting is therapeutic.  And my walls look fabulous and our house feels a little less trashy.

 All week long.  I'm getting old. 

And: I couldn't stop laughing when these two walked down the stairs dressed like these two:

As pictured, Larry is still styling his hair like a pedophile and Lennon is really into tucking in shirts.  They were on their way into the backyard to find "predators in the African Savana."  These boys are really funny.

Finally: My favorite Tod quote this week:

Tod: You have the longest arms.  What's your wing span?

Me: -----