Big Changes

So, I haven't blogged in a while. I have been working on another project, which will have to remain a secret for now. Enough about that! We have had a couple big things happen! First of all, Emma finally lost her first tooth. Although I have to say, she didn't really lose it. More like she 'lost it' when we decided it was time to pull it out before the other one came up completely behind (not under) it. After a half hour of weeping, trembling, begging, bleeding, screaming, and kicking, the little sucker finally popped out. As soon as it was out and the bleeding stopped it was all she could talk about all night. "Mom, it whistles when I do this.....Mom, it feels funny when I put my tongue in the whole.....How much does the tooth fairy bring, exactly?" Good thing kids don't know about inflation. I think it was a dollar when I was her age. We ended up giving her $5, even though she informed us that her friend said she got $10 (sheesh, how much does a 6-year-old with no life need?). We did tell her that the tooth fairy brings more money for your first tooth and only a dollar or two for the others. When she asked why I told her she had a lot of teeth in her mouth, and if the tooth fairy brought her $5 for every tooth she'd go broke. She seemed alright with that explanation, so we'll just leave well enough alone.

Next was Valentine's Day, and Sean hit it big this year. He brought me flowers, like I knew he would (he has never missed a V-Day, Birthday, Anniversary, or Mother's Day)
AND got me the DVD i have been wanting like no other.

Dionne and I were all set to see it in the theater when I was at her place during the Lake Powell-mock vacation-cryptosporidium thing, but it was sold out. So I have been dying to see it. I can't wait!

Last on the list is our new couches.


We've finally faced the fact that it's time to bid adieu to the couch Sean's parents gave us a couple years ago, which Sean informs me is about 20 years old. The fabric on one arm and at least 2 cushions is ripped, and the stuffing is falling out and being eaten by Spencer. So with part of our tax return we got a new couch/loveseat set.


I know, it's stupid to put pictures of this on here, but Amy asked me to.

Sean and I stayed in for dinner last night, so we decided to get a babysitter and go out tonight. Nothing special, just Rumbi Island Grill and then a little shopping, but it was a much-needed break from the kiddies. Now I get to look forward to dicing and cooking 20 pounds of boneless skinless chicken breasts for our blue and gold banquet next Friday. And somehow I need to multiply my sweet & sour sauce recipe by 10. I will be a much happier person when February is over.....

Torked

I don't know where that word came from, or if it's even really a word. But that's how I feel - irritated, mildly annoyed, etc. This is the first school day that Kenna has even been well enough to go to school. She has been playing normally for a few days now (no more lying around all day) and her nose hardly needed to be wiped yesterday at all. So I figured I was fine to send her to school. Woke up to more snow, of course, so after I shoveled the driveway I got her to school. I had no more than walked in the back door, taken off everyone's shoes and coats, and settled down in front of Pride & Prejudice to give Spence a bottle before his nap, when the phone rang. It was Kenna's teacher. She wasn't feeling good, she was lethargic, she kept wiping her nose and asking for mom. GIVE ME A BREAK, CHILD, YOU WERE PLAYING ANIMATEDLY WITH YOUR SISTER AT HOME 1/2 HOUR AGO. Luckily I hadn't put Spencer down for his nap yet, so I put everyone's shoes and coats back on, hopped back in the car, and went to get Kenna. I did the bad mommy thing of leaving Emma & Spencer in the car (locked in) while I ran in to get Kenna, since I WAS NOT going to drag everyone in and out twice. Of course kenna perked up the moment I walked through the door, with NO TRACES of a runny nose, I might add. Now Spencer is walking around eating old dried noodles off the floor, which is funny, because he won't eat them off a spoon when they are warm and NOT on the floor. On the upside, we are taking the kids to Carl's Jr tonight for dinner because it's 'kids eat free'. It may seem funny to some of you that this excites me, but any relief is profoundly welcome!!

STILL SICK.....STILL SNOWING

Yes, the 2 things I complained about at length. Oh well. One positive about Spencer being sick is that he is very cuddly. I have rocked him to sleep twice now. As long as it doesn't become a habit; I quite like putting him to bed wide awake for naps and bedtime, and him putting himself to sleep quietly and happily every time (most the time). I am ready, however, for Mackenna's heightened emotional state to be gotten over. Those of you who know Mackenna - well, let's just say the "when she was bad she was horrid" part of her personality has been probably three times as bad. And she's still not eating great either, turning her nose up at anything offered, unless it's pickles. We have resorted to only offering the 'treat' part of the meal just to get her to eat (normally chicken & tator tots - now just tator tots.....normally a hot dog and chips - now just chips) you get the idea. I had to draw the line when she woke up and threw a fit over not getting a pickle for breakfast. We also woke up to more snow this morning, and our neighbor shoveling our driveway, since we are all sick. Sean stayed home from work yesterday, so at least it was different than I was expecting it to be. Here is a funny picture of Emma - she always puts things on her head for hair or a veil or something. I just laugh at her b/c I remember doing that as a kid. Who does she look like to you though???

"Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match.....find me a find....catch me a catch".


Here is the snow piled up all around our mail box:


Here is what our front yard looks like right now. Can you make out the sidewalk from the lawn, or see the tips of our fence?

WARNING.....boring post

This is mainly going to be a vent session, so it you aren't in the mood, don't read! I AM TIRED OF SNOW. We got another, what, 6 inches last night. I have shoveled the driveway twice in a row now. The first time Sean was sleeping after a graveyard and today he was too sick. I don't mind, it's good exercise. Makes me feel less guilty about those peanut butter cookies with chocolate kisses in the middle I have been grabbing throughout the day. The problem is there is nowhere to put anymore shoveled snow. Those of you living in Utah now will understand, nothing further said. You have to clear the driveway and the sidewalks. You can't throw the shoveled snow onto the street, and you have to clear the approach to your mailbox. Hello? The snow isn't melting, we are running out of places to put the piles! Well that is the least of my grievances. I AM TIRED OF BEING HOME WITH SICK KIDS. Here is our last week and a half. Last Wednesday: Kenna wakes up with pink-eye. Last Thursday: Spencer starts getting pink-eye, but we treat it right away and it never goes full-blown. Saturday Night: Emma gets a fever of 102 after Spencer's party. Sunday: The whole family except Spencer have now begun getting the cold. Monday-Thursday (this week): Kenna is so sick she lays around all day, hardly plays, and won't eat or drink unless forced, not to mention the sporadic fevers. By now Emma is over her cold and I am rigorously hand washing to prevent the baby from getting sick. Wednesday: Spencer starts getting sick. Thursday: we take Kenna & Spencer to the doctor to discover they most likely have RSV. Today: Sean's cold takes a turn for the worse and pink-eye starts to re-emerge for Spencer. Last night: Spencer woke up about 10 times and due to my can of diet pepsi with lunch, 44-oz diet cherry coke from sonic yesterday afternoon, and diet dr. pepper at cafe rio with dinner last night, I maybe got 2-3 hours of sleep total. Also the fact that I was coughing and blowing my nose all night. Sean works tomorrow so I am stuck home again, with oozing, snotting, drooling, gooing kids that I can't take anywhere, for fear of worsening their condition or infecting the public. AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH! The upside is they are with me and not someone else. By the way, Amy, we saw Nanny Diaries.....LOVED IT. It cracked me up so hard. Anyway, Baby Einstein is nearing the close of its second run, Emma is asleep on the couch (it's 5:40 p.m.), and I am wondering how to fill the rest of the night until bedtime. I am looking out at the snow, enjoying a hot cup of lemon zinger herbal tea, wondering how much I'll have to shovel tomorrow.