LIFE IS GOOD. BUT IT SUCKS TO BE SICK.

Everyone in my family has gotten the flu bug at some time or another this late winter/early spring. Every time it took one of them out, I prayed that it would have mercy on me. Mamas can never afford to be sick, ya know? I've been pretty lucky, miraculously avoiding it. Until this week. I thought for sure my number was up. I've had a constant headache for four days, a few dizzy spells here and there, and I slept with a bucket by my side last night. But it never came. That's the worst. You know how you just wish it would hit you so you could feel better and move on? I don't know what's bringing me down this week, but I do know that I am not pregnant. Yes, one could make that assumption given the stated above symptoms, but I have ruled it out because I peed on a stick this morning and those suckers don't lie. So, I'm left to pray that whatever this is goes away soon, and if not, I'm holding out hope that my chiropractor has some answers next week, when I can finally get in.

I state all that to remind myself to not take being healthy and feeling energetic for granted. When I'm knocked down on the couch holding an ice pack to my head, all I can think about is how much it sucks to feel yucky and of all the things I want to or should be doing instead of lying there. And my kids. My poor kids. They need me and don't understand why I'm cranky and carrying a bucket at my side.

It's also given me a glimpse of what it will be like to be pregnant while also caring for two small children. Pregnancy and I do not mix well for the first, I don't know, eighteen weeks or so. Lord have mercy on me when I have to cross that bridge for real. Why must women suffer like that?!

Anyways, we've managed to squeeze in some fun, in between my aliments this week.

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My kids have taken a liking to small spaces. And bring naked. You've got to pick and choose your battles, and I am totally okay with my kids being comfortable and free in their own home.

 Repurposing our foot stool.

 My kids go bananas for forts.

Laundry basket beds are pretty cozy. That is if you are three or under and can actually fit in one.

Here's a little fun the whole family is sure to enjoy. Go on a scavenger hunt. I printed this one from Pinterest, and made a pair of binoculars by stapling two toilet paper tubes together and attaching a long piece of ribbon. Nugget thought it was the greatest thing ever. Every time she spied one of her pictured items, she excitedly exclaimed "Cross it off!". I think we found all but a bus.

I've been watching and waiting for this day. A chance to share with my girl a fond memory from my own childhood. Except I remember actually putting on my bathing suit and going "swimming" in it. Yikes. Too bad this happened the day after my girl was taken down by a little stomach bug and I not feeling up to par. It wasn't quite the romp I had hoped for, but we still slipped into our rain boots and frolicked in the water.

Flushing out the fire hydrant across from our house.

Brother had his first run in with concrete this week. Let's just say he didn't win the fight.

It happened when we were over at a friends house for a play date. He was getting a gentle ride in a little fire truck, pushed by one of Nugget's friends. I think it involved making a turn and Brother not knowing the importance of holding on, and out the side he toppled, met by a face plant onto the driveway. He wouldn't let me hold ice to it, so it actually got quite a bit worse than pictured here, but scabbed up quickly and looks better already. Other than the initial impact, he hasn't seemed bothered by it, even when he woke up the next moring with his eye almost swollen shut. Poor dude.

And today, on our way home from having a picnic lunch with Daddy at work, we stopped at a few garage sales where we scored big. I filled a grocery bag with quality clothing for the little man for only $18, and Nugget scored the ride of her life for $7.

I'm thinking it will serve well as a winter boredom buster, no? Brother loves it too. It's funny watching a one year old learn to jump. For now he just stands on it and bends his knees. So cute.

This weekend holds promises of dance class followed by a trip to the bakery with dance friends, then getting some work done around the house/yard. Oh yes, and evening Mad Men marathons with my man. Can't wait.

SNIPPETS.

Bits and pieces of our lives the past few weeks...
Nugget did her own hair and was so proud...

After nap one day, Nugget brought me one of her Animal Baby magazines, opened to a craft page in the back, and said "I want to make this". With Brother still asleep, we printed off the materials from the website, and went to work. The love of raccoons continues....

Brother is really interested in feeding himself recently, using plates and utensils like a big kid. He is surprisingly a pretty clean eater, but he does need some practice drinking from a water jug. Case in point, soaking wet pajamas. But he was SO proud of himself. Gotta love independence.

Fact: Bubbles are fun, whether you're 1 or 3 or 29.

 

Nick took us on a weekend adventure to Fort Snelling, where we enjoyed the gorgeous day and explored...

Brother can spy a bird or a plane from a mile away...

Melt my heart, why dontchya...

Brother continues to add moves to his dance repertoire...here he's doing the 'turn around while doing arm circles' move. After a turn or two he gets too dizzy and falls over.

Our bathroom remodel is dragging on, although we are thisclose to completion. In the meantime, I'm looking past the mess and smiling at these dimpled baby buns. Who can resist?

BUDDING BALLERINA.

A couple weeks ago, Nugget had pictures taken at dance. I wasn't sure what to expect, as parents were not allowed into the studio. We got them back this weekend, and I am surprisingly impressed. Look at my budding ballerina and her beautiful form!

Saturday Morning Dance Crew (3-4 year olds)

Back L to R: Lacey, Amy, Nugget

Front L to R: Olivia, Emily, Abby

EASTER.

Easter was pretty laid back for us this year. The kids woke in the morning and discovered the Easter bunny had paid a visit and left them some awesome baskets overflowing with goodies.

Nugget especially loved her princess Polly Pockets...

And Brother wanted to eat his treats right away.

That Easter bunny is pretty impressive, knowing just what my kids love most!

Nugget spotted some eggs hidden outside in the garden, so we wandered out there to get a closer look.

Later in the morning Nugget and I went to church, while Nick stayed back with the sleeping little man. We headed to my Mom's after lunch for some family time, and Nugget got her fill of cousins.

And that was our Easter. Pretty quiet compared to some, but a fun day nonetheless.

FLASHY MARK.

About a month ago, I made a long dream come true, and upgraded my camera. I had this grand plan to blog all about it, say good bye to my trusty old Rebel and show off my new flashy Mark. I was so excited, checking my tracking status with the mailman daily, to be sure I didn't miss it's anticipated arrival. But then it came. And it scared the begeebers out of me. It was big. And heavy. And all the buttons and dials were in new places, and I felt so small and that my minuscule knowledge of photography was not nearly enough to tackle Mark. But bound and determined, I lured my kids outside to play on the deck and began to snap away.

But my amateur status was confirmed when I realized too late that Mark was set to shoot in raw. Not the end of the world, but I didn't know how to access them. So there they sat, in a secret folder on my computer for almost a month. And I really didn't think much of them until today.

While chatting away with a new friend, cameras came up in our conversation, and low and behold, she knew how to help me! She emailed me step by step directions on how to open these gigantic files and wah-la, my gorgeous pics laid out before my very eyes.

Who knew that my rookie mistake would turn out to be an awesome learning opportunity. Turns out raw and Photoshop go pretty nifty together, opening all kids of doors I didn't even know existed.

While I sat here during nap time today figuring this all out, I realized something. I like learning. It makes me feel pretty badass to pursue my passion. I'm a badass. Mark's a badass. And I think we're going to get along swell.

FOR THE LOVE OF AN EGG.

I'm a traditions kind of gal, and look forward to the fun and excitement that each holiday brings. Traditions ground us in this ever busy, fast paced world. They make us slow down, stop time, enjoy the gifts that are right in front of us.

We didn't waste any time prepping for Easter this year. Nugget knew what was in store, and dyed some eggs like it was her J-O-B. And Brother? Well, he's still in training.

He faded out quickly, but Nugget stuck around for the long haul.

And I don't know if it was using farm fresh eggs this year, or the fact that I actually followed the directions on the box, but these are our brightest, most vibrant eggs yet. I like.

Too bad no one around here likes to eat hard boiled eggs. Happens every year. Normally they get lost somewhere in the dark places of our refrigerator, only to be discovered well past their prime. This year I tried to be proactive and whip em into delicious egg salad sandwiches, but turns out, no one likes those either.

But we do like the process, so we'll continue with it. It's all worth it to see this little love snuggle up her egg like its a baby kitty and smooch it and hug it and ask to sleep with it. I said no to the later, but we did compromise and she went to bed wearing the ears.

So, yeah, these traditions...I love em.

Oh yes, and I also love when I stumble upon one of Nugget's creative quests. Like when she decorated this house plant with plastic eggs. Crack a sister up. She's a funny one, my girl.