2 weeks of March

I guess bi-weekly is admirable.

So, we must back up to St. Patrick's Day.  I guess even before then, the boys wanted to do something for Dr. Seuss' birthday, so we had green eggs, no ham...aaaaand, I forgot to take pictures, or else I was sleeping, who knows.

Usually I go all out for St. Patrick's Day, I've even been known to throw a party.  Not so this year...too many other things on my plate, sick kids among them.  I took Tyson to the see the doctor, where he tested positive for strep.  With no antibiotics, he got better within a few days!! Then got a cold, bummer.

However, St.Patrick's day was not a total loss....

We had GREEN Hawaiian Haystacks for dinner:

Parker's fave dinner.

Despite the painful look on his face, Tyson loves it too.

Spencer also enjoys them...and loves to say CHEESE.

The green smoothie made it's way into the day, and Kade always requests a picture of his smoothie face.

We all wore lots-o-green!! Even to the dr!

And I made a homemade cake with fluffy green frosting!

 Tyson and Dad set out a Leprechaun trap the night of St.Patty's, hoping Leprechauns still look for gold.

Turns out they DO come then too!  And leave boxed cereal...a real treat around here!!!

Spencer experimented with his pockets during the last week.  It was so dang cute.  He's really, really tall, so even though he's only 19 months, he looks like a big, little kid with his little hands tucked away.

Who wouldn't love to go outside when they had these little darlin's to greet them!!  My front and back yard make me smile even thinking about them.  The crocus have graced us beautifully, with lots of sunshine to encourage them, and the daffodils and tulips are patiently waiting for their turn.

I mean, come on, that's beautiful after the long, cold, gray winter!

All the boys have taken their turns being sick.  Vomit, coughing, runny noses, and general unhealthy has graced us (hopefully for the last time) this Spring.  This was on Tuesday, the 22nd.  Parker and Tyson both took sick leave from school.  I encouraged them to sit in the sun for 15 minutes of Vitamin D treatment.  Good rays were had by all.

Then the missionaries came for lunch, because new mission rules say they can only come to dinner if we have investigators here.  So, they came and tried out our healthy rendition of lunch....green smoothies, almonds and open face homemade peanut butter sandwiches.

And here again, a smoothie face picture.

Homemade volley ball net for Wednesday's fun.  Note Parker in PJs...he stayed home another day, which was fine. Better to vomit at home than school.

This morning Josh made DELICIOUS french toast...and I made a fun Pina Colada smoothie....so here again, smoothie face picture.

Tyson always like to be in on picture action too...cute kid.

Spencer was a good sport too...but his breakfast didn't stay down.  Poor little guy...he's been sick the longest. Hopefully we're on the upswing now!

March thus far....

I have been bad about reporting weekly. Our lives seem somewhat routine, therefore non-reportable. Also, I forget to take pictures. Words without pictures are boring.

March 1st my newest nephew was born.  His name is Jeffery Michael Black.  He has kidney, possibly liver, and heart problems.  It was a scary start, to be sure, but he has proven he's a fighter.  Everything has been much less severe than it could have been, and although he's still in the NICU, he's doing well.  When he gains a bit more weight, he'll be headed home until he's big enough for his heart surgery.  My brother and his wife are troopers, and although they are stressed to the max, they are doing well and dealing with it.

Besides them, we've had friends in Moses Lake and elsewhere dealing with stressful life issues, so I've been making meals and sending emails, phone calls or whatever else I think someone needs.  The days I have people to care for are the best days...otherwise it's just cleaning the house, which is a little lame, albeit necessary.

Kaden is talking SO amazingly well.  His full sentences make me smile, and laugh, every day!!  He is so serious sometimes.  One morning he told Josh and me that he loved God, and the He was going to lead him, and guide him, and walk beside him.  We told him we would do that too because we are his parents, kind and dear, and that we love Heavenly Father and Jesus too.  He told us we are not parents.  He's pretty sure that anyone can only be the names by which he is familiar with.  Therefore we are not parents...only mom and dad.

Spencer, wow...that child is too much.  I want to take a day to write down everything he does!  Today's highlight was spilling lemonade (which we NEVER have) ALL over the kitchen floor, then running through it in his socks and spreading it all over the rest of the floor.  Yes, I was in the kitchen...or that area anyway...but no, I had NO idea.  He's so sneaky.  Also, his favorite thing is to bump knuckles. He's always thrusting his little fist at me.

When he's in a high chair, he's okay...until he is done eating, then it seems a requirement that he throws his remaining food on the floor...in a flash...no warning.

Tyson lost ANOTHER tooth!  It was last Sunday night.  The tooth fairy didn't come for two whole nights!!  We reassured him that she doesn't work on Sunday, and then she was probably catching up on Monday...whew, luckily she remembered JUST before she drifted off to sleep Tuesday night!

2 little teeth gone so quick...and a new one well on its way already!

Parker and Tyson have been writing a novel together.  It's REALLY good!  They based it on a computer game and their pretend play they did one day.  Tyson is the illustrator, Parker the writer.  Parker is planning out the steps he needs to take, including finding a publisher.

We have been lazy watching movies more often than usual.......and busy painting Parker's room (creating an outer space theme in there for him), putting shelves up and organizing the garage, feeding missionaries, and rewarding the boys for all their work around the house by going out for ice cream....and trying to get ourselves more 'prepared' (I've taken an inventory of everything in the house--boy are we LOW). 

So far we've liked the warmer weather this month too!!  Spencer asks to go outside every day, and is sad when it's a bit too cold, rainy, or windy.  He can stay out for over an hour and be happy!  He has enjoyed 'helping' me get our strawberry patch under control...I've LOVED it too...the sunshine on my skin feels great!

Last Sunday. We ALL squeezed on one chair.

That's more than I should write...cause it's too much to read! But that's us for now.