What we've been doing

There was a blizzard here in SLC, supposedly. Most businesses closed down early and sent people home, schools got cancelled, and events too. We haven't had a blizzard warning from the National Weather Service in a very long time, so everyone took it very seriously. Then, just about nothing happened. I went and bought firewood, just in case, and we ended up celebrating an evening at home with a disappointing blizzard outside by having a fire and hot cocoa. Not a bad way to spend an evening.

Q is just about six months old! Her birthday is in a couple days, but I decided we'd have her first meal on Thanksgiving. I made more than I thought she would eat, and she at the whole thing. She must have been really ready for it, because she was opening her mouth for the spoon and swallowing like she's been doing this all her life. I'm glad it went so well - but I am sad she's growing up so fast.

Q with Nana, Thanksgiving day, at Aunt Karen's house. It was a fun day!

Aunt Karen made dress-up skirts for her nieces, and here is E modeling them. She was in princess heaven.

And finally, here is my big boy, and his latest missing tooth on the bottom. He is currently without four teeth, and has lost six total so far - with one more on the way. Any more and I'm going to have to feed him the same mush Q gets.

I drive 32 miles a day taking L to school and back, and the kids and I have a lot of deep conversations while we're driving. Here's an example:

L: I found a Tyrannosaurus Rex tooth on the playground today!

Me: are you sure it's not just a rock?

L: Yes, because that's what fossils are: bones that have turned into rocks over millions of years.

Me: Umm, ok.

E: I think it's a plain rock, L.

L: No, it's not!

Me (Trying to head off an argument): Well, save it, and if you meet a paleontologist someday, you can show him and ask him about it.

L: Or, I can save it for when I'm a paleontologist.

Me: I thought you wanted to be a kid doctor. Did you change your mind?

L: Yes, because I can't do both in college, right?

Me: Probably not. Both take at least six years of college, maybe ten.

E: So, L will be gone for a long time?

Me: I'm sure he'll come home to visit.

E: Well, I want to be a paleontologist, too, then.

Me: You don't want to be a ballet teaching mail carrier anymore?

E: No, because I want to be with L. I'd miss him if he were gone that long.

And one more E quote: "You can only miss school if you're sick, or if you're in Disneyland."

Flashdance!

Ella quote: "You mean we had a a-cess-er who lived in a whale?" (We were telling the kids where their names came from, and that Lear's name came from an ancestor in Wales.)

Lear quote: Mom: "So Lear, how does it feel to be seven?"

Lear: "Good! Although, I feel taller for some reason."

The Yoga "Sleeping Monkey" Pose

This is how I found Q asleep yesterday. She is so freakin' cute!

L & E combined quote:

E: I can't get this thing right! **high volume shrieking and much gnashing of teeth**

L: Let me help.

E: Wow! You made it all better! Thank you!

L: What? That's what big brothers do: make things better.

And we keep pluggin' along.

We've officially put our house on the market. We'd like to build about half a mile away from here - it's going to be the house we live in forever, I hope. We want to pay it off ASAP, and then we'll have money to play. In the mean time, it's been crazy cleaning, de-cluttering, painting, fixing little things, and putting a new roof on the house. AND keeping the house clean for buyers with three kids in the house is nearly impossible - although no one's come to see our place yet, so it's really a moot point. For everyone who doesn't want us to move, this is good news. We still manage to have a little fun, though. Here's the proof:

I love this picture! Every once in a while I get lucky, even though I'm pretty incompetent with a camera

We went to a corn maze and out to dinner last weekend. E was very tired by the end... this is how she fell asleep. After an hour or so I had pity on her, changed her clothes and laid her down in a more comfortable position.

My kids enjoying a Sunday morning together. I sometimes think it will be a miracle if the baby survives her siblings.

E quote: "Why is there a picture of a mouse on the wall?" (We were sitting at an off ramp on the freeway, and she saw a reward sign for a lost chihuahua.)

L quote: "What do you get when you cross an octopus with a mail truck? Octo-mail! Haha! Get it? Octo-mail!" (I don't get it either, but he thought it was hilarious.)

Lear's "I Love My Family" song

This boy is such a sweetheart.

Four Months

My little Quinner is four months old! She is in the 95% for height and 57% for weight - considering her gestational age is only three months, she is gigantic!

This is how I find Quinn sleeping nearly all of the time. Cracks me up!

She's learning how to sit up, and is getting good at giggling.

And smiling all the time! I love this little outfit.

Ella quote: "Mom, you look FANCY!" I was wearing jewelry, for once.

Quote #2: "So cows have babies in their tummies, and chickens poop out their babies in eggs?"

Lear quote: Me: "What's four plus one?"

Lear: "Cinque!"

Me: "What's five minus two?"

Lear "Trois!"

I'd say his math and French skills are just fine. One in the eye of everyone who predicted he'd have problems!

BTW

I like comments. Comments are good. They make my feel like my mother isn't the only person who visits here.