happy wednesday

 

 I guess it's a sign that it's been too long since my last post when Dave asks when I'm going to post again.

 

So how about a camera phone dump and a little recap of our last week, backwards, since I'm too lazy to rearrange the way the pictures loaded.

 

Last night, the kids started soccer, with Daddy as their coach.

They are so excited and can't wait for their first game. 

 

 

Early Friday morning I flew out to Dayton, Ohio to visit my sister (who actually lives over the border in Kentucky).  It was lovely packing everything I needed into one carry-on and not having to check a bag.  But they took it from me at the gate anyway, because the overhead storage was full.  They asked me where my final destination was and I told the lady Cincinnatti.  She looked at my ticket and corrected me.  Oops. I guess it's important to know where you are going.  But it was really early in the morning.

 

It was my niece's 1st birthday weekend, so I was so excited to be able to be there to help my sister with the party and help them celebrate their little Alice!

I promise she liked me more than the shows in the pictures.

 

I stayed up super late and helped finish up party details, and then slept in both mornings with no one to wake me up.  It was delightful.  And a MUCH needed break for this mama.



I love that technology these days allows me to see my family face to face.  Mason took the phone back to his room and got under his covers to talk to me.  We made funny faces at each other and he told me some secrets.  He's so fun to hang out with, even on the phone.

 

 

The weekend went way to fast, but it was so nice to be able to get away on my own and spend some time with my sister and her family.  We just need to get better about getting me to the airport on time.  We are 2 for 2 in the last minute arrival and sprint to my gate.  I almost could blame it on the shopping we always do on the way, but this time it was unexpected traffic, and not the shopping.  I ended up making it on the plane with plenty of time, but when everything you read tells you to arrive 90 minutes prior to your departure, when you pull up to the airport with 25 minutes till the plane takes off, it's a little nerveracking.

 

We had a pretty simple, but fun, Valentine's Day before I left for my sister's. No mommy and daddy date out this year, and I was okay with that.  We started the morning with heart cinnamon rolls.  I just used the canned cinnamon rolls and unrolled them enough to reshape them into hearts.

 



 

The kids loved our Valentine's countdown, and reading a note about something we loved about them each day.  They are pretty proud of their love notes, and taped them all in a very special place.

 

 Before I left we had a fancy little Valentine's dinner as a family. We had an unintentional bacon theme going with Pioneer Woman's bacon-wrapped filets and green bean bundles, but everything is better with bacon, right?

 

Oh yeah, and Dave came home from work with flowers for both of his girls.  He has a tradition of bringing Taylor flowers, and I never know when I'm getting them and when I'm not.  So it's always a fun surprise when I do. 

 

 

Mason had a cute little Valentine's party for Pre-K, that included a few songs for the parents.  He counted down for this day for weeks.  And now the countdown continues for his birthday.

 

 

 We usually try to make it to one hockey game each year.  And thanks to Dave's cousin, we always get seats in the first row along the glass.  The game went into a shoot-out at the end of overtime, so it was especially exciting.

 

 

During one of the breaks, the kids got to go on the ice and pick up pucks that the crowd throws down for a game.  I was shocked they went.  Mason stuck close to Taylor and didn't actually bend down to pick up any pucks until near the end.  It takes him awhile to warm up to things sometimes. 

 

 

So far this week we are just hanging out.  It's a slow week, which is always nice. And we are anxiously awaiting a possible 1-10 inches of snow.  I've heard all different things, so we'll see.  

 

The best thing so far is that I came home to a completely different baby than we've had for weeks and weeks.  We can't figure it out.  But sweet little Gavin has not been so sweet lately.  I was nervous leaving Dave at home with all 3 kiddos.  When normally he does amazing, and I don't have to worry about a thing.  Gavin has been so hard on me for awhile now, that I wasn't sure how Dave was going to survive alone.  Much to my surprise I got reports back that he all of a sudden was acting way different.  As if he hadn't been feeling well for a month or more and now he does.  We don't know, but we are thankful for the change, and relieved to see our happy boy back. 

 

Today he let me set him down.  He let me walk away from him.  He did more laughing and playing than screaming and crying. He danced and laughed and ran and only checked in with me for the occasional snuggle.  As oppossed to the all-day-long-comforting.  He still likes to be a challenge at meal times.  But at least now we have the patience and energy to get through the meal times with him much easier.

 



 

Well, I'm off to watch the beginning of the snowfall.

Have a happy Wednesday!