A Day in the Life...

Dakota got a cold during Christmas and it's just lingered.  A fever came last Wednesday and hasn't stopped on its own.  Poor thing.  Antibiotic for ear infection, chest xrays and swab for RSV, and she just has to wait it out.  Hoping Micah doesn't follow.  As much as I've tried to keep binkies and sippies separate, they swap spit all day. Shandee mistook this pic of Kota for Micah.  The more I look at this picture the more Micah I see in Kota's face.  Guess they look more alike than I notice sometimes!  Even when they are sick they are super pretty and adorable. Meanwhile, talking to Copper:  Tim: Copper, do you want chicken for lunch? Copper:  No, chicken tomorrow. Tim: What do you want today for lunch? Copper: I can't remember. Tim: So you can't remember what you want today but you know you want chicken tomorrow? Copper: Yeah, Tim.

In our kitchen we have puke golden oak cabinets and railings.  I actually think that's the name of it- puke golden oak.  Not really my taste.  So after a bit of research into what I wanted, I picked this dark, expresso-colored stain and went to work. I'm WAY happy about how it's turning out. Clean, sand, clean, stain, wait, second coat, wait, third coat, wait, finishing clear coat, wait, second finishing clear coat. About a week for all the coats and finishes and waits.  Good thing I like this sort of project because it's time consuming and slow coming.  Mostly because I don't have all day to work on it.  I'm applying it with a sock, it's a smooth glide.  Although, twice now my latex gloves how broken underneath the sock and I didn't realize it until I pulled them off to find my hand completely expresso-colored. This past weekend I tried to do one coat while holding Micah.  Needless to say, she looked like she had a magnific...

Every year when we get our tithing settlement statement I wonder where the crap our money goes. Seriously. Then I think: That's before taxes. Before $1200 in hospital bills every year Before 10% plus $1200 in tithing/fast offerings Before $3600 in student loans every year Before $12,000+ in house payments Before $8,000-$10,000 in child care Before insurances, food, gasoline, phones, utilities, car maintenance and some fun (and btw, our fun is pretty low key- like going out for ice cream or dinner).  Living.Is.Expensive. So I'm pretty grateful for a fantastic husband who works hard.  And I'm grateful for a good job that pays pretty well.  Well, you know, for as well as state jobs pay.  Grateful for the divine way life has of working out- how it led me to the right people to put me in the right places at the right time.  I applied for graduate school on a dare.  I didn't really have any desire to get my master's degree.  But I got in so I ...

Copper: Mom, a bumblebee is on my finger. Me: Where? Copper: Right here. Me: Copper, that's not a bumblebee.  It's a buggar from your nose. Copper:  Oh yeah.  Not a bumblebee.  Buggar.  Silly Copper. Me:  Did you forget? Copper: Yeah I forgot, mom.  Me: Copper, who do we call when our house is on fire? Copper: I don't know. Me: Yes you do, just think hard. Copper:  Oh, Mickey Mouse.

Tim's working until after bedtime tonight.  Spending the day in Idaho for work.  The first of many out of town trips, though most of them will be at least a few days at a time. It will be harder at home without him there. But know what it means? Grilled cheese or cereal or peanut butter dinners. And that we kind of get to do whatever we want. I'm a little excited. Here's some fun things they've been up to: The other day Tim pushed the twins around in their doll strollers.  A little sad they fit in them.  Micah didn't cry at all, don't know what's going on here.  Maybe she's yawning.. Dakota hasn't stopped clutching these plates.  Yes she's taken them to bed before.  Copper's dress up clothes=still a hit Micah just cooking some dinner... Looks kind of like an old man... Bebe going in for a big sister hug...

I'm going to (try really hard to) stop blogging about how crazy life is with the kiddos. What I write about the kids shouldn't define others' perception of them, especially if it's negative. When someone else lives in our home and can get the big picture, then they can define my children.  In the meantime, I'll make sure the bleeding effect my words have is positive!  So I guess this is a reminder to myself to write about the perfectly wonderful things about my kids.  They all have rock star personalities and are quite unbelievably adorable. Dakota: For only being 18 months, she's incredibly considerate.  When she finds an extra binkie, bottle, blanket, or other item of comfort, she immediately finds Micah and shares. She makes silly faces and is fun to be around.  She loves to show off and says, "ma, ma, ma, ma" followed by what sounds like, "watch this!" Micah: This bebe is quite brave.  She's not afraid to try new things, like walk...