March

My favorite flower is the crocus. They are the first to bravely peek their heads out of the frozen ground, the first hopeful sign that winter may possibly end.

March has gone by so fast, I can't believe it. Not to be rude, but March and February have to be the worst months here. It is a lovely, sunny day out today but everything is so brown and muddy it makes me want to crawl back in my bed. (Granted, it doesn't take much to make me want to crawl back in my bed, I'll give you that.)

Matt is healing well, his incision is healed and he has been able to get around with just his walking boot. That is so nice.

I have been doing ok. Good days and bad days. I finally broke down and bought some Unisom and B6. For those of you who don't know this trick for morning sickness, it really is the best. I love it because I sleep great and don't feel sick the next day. I don't know why I waited so long. The upside of being sick is that I haven't gained any weight yet. Silver linings and all that.

Matt and I were both feeling a little stir crazy from all the time we have been in the house so yesterday during Sunday school we decided to skip the rest of church and drive over to Eastern Idaho (Shelly) to see Matt's brother Val (& Tami, Katelyn and Sadie). We all loaded up, exited to get going. It started snowing about Arco. Snowing Sideways! Not to be deterred we kept driving. It was like a full blizzard by the time we got there. It snowed the whole time we were there, one of those nasty snowstorms that you say to yourself, "I'm so glad we don't have to go anywhere." Except of course we did. Right when we drove out of Shelly it stopped snowing. The roads were crummy for while (I take for granted our awesome snow removal here in Blaine County) but then we drove out of it and into a beautiful sunset. All's well that ends well.

New calling

I have a new calling, well I got it over a month ago but I haven't made any comments about it here so...new to you right? I am the Primary chorister. When I was sustained Matt leaned over to me and said, "You don't know anything about music. Do you?" I shook my head happily, "no". I love Primary songs, how hard can it be. Well... factor in an amazing pianist that knows every song but sadly follows the chorister (WHY? For the love...Why are you following me, isn't it obvious I'm just flapping my arms around up here?") and a little morning sickness, then throw in a round or two (FYI, rounds: way harder than they appear when someone else is leading them.) It's a recipe for a disaster. So what can I do? I just keep bringing chocolate every week and hoping for some kind of miracle.

Daylight Savings

We (Me and Grace) are having a hard time adjusting to daylight savings time. Grace does not want to go bed at her usual bedtime (8:00) but then she is like a hybernating bear the next morning. So one night last week I told her that for Spring Break we would pretend Daylight Savings didn't happen, she could go to bed an hour later and wake up as late as she wants in the morning. She liked that idea, even told her teacher about it the next day.

So...a few days later her friend Dani (Merrick) is over. I am asking her if she is exited about going to Hawaii for Spring Break, (she is.) etc. etc. Grace pipes in excitedly, "Guess what we are going to do?" "We're going to pretend Daylight Savings never happened. "

Hey. Some kids go to Hawaii. Some kids get to pretend D.S. doesn't exist. I guess attitude really is everything. (Also, I think it helps if you've never been to Hawaii so you have nothing to compare it to.)

PS. I have decided since Carrie likes D.S. so much not to be such a hater.

Clarity and Insanity

In case you hadn't heard or didn't believe it because I hadn't posted about it yet, I'm pregnant. In a moment of clarity and insanity we decided to have another baby.

You know those brief moments in life when it seems the stars are aligned just so and time slows down just a bit and in that instant when everyone is calm and happy you see a glimpse of eternity, realize what is really important, like family. Perhaps say to yourself, "I can handle this, I can do this. Our family is clearly not complete." Clarity.

In the next instance things are spinning wildly out of control, children are whining, Matt is on crutches, the sight of food is nauseating, the only comfort is the thought of sleep, sweet sleep... I think to myself, "What was I thinking?" Too late now. Insanity.

I am so grateful my first trimester yuckiness doesn't last my whole pregnancy like it does for some of my friends. I have emerged a little early (knock on wood) feeling good, slightly tired, and ridiculously optimistic.

Fully clothed

So, I'm in the tub, reading a magazine, enjoying the peace and quiet.

McCade comes in, leans over, starts playing in the water, goes and gets my plastic gloves so he can play without getting wet. Pretty soon his whole front is soaked. (Big surprise.) Then he says, "Can I get in with my clothes on?" Why not? I'm clearly done with my relaxing soak. He wanted to be sure I got a picture with his floating pants (He thought that was hilarious.)

I think he is hilarious.

I know, that is a really full tub.

A handicap sticker AND a minivan

Sorry I haven't posted for a while, but seriously things have been painfully boring around here. (Get it, "pain" full.) Matt has been hobbling around on crutches. We found out the the walking boot he gets today isn't really for walking...yet. He will be on crutches a while longer. Still, it could be worse.

We have gotten into a new routine with his injury. Like... I have to let Toby out in the morning and put him in his kennel at night. I have to take out the garbage. I am finding that Matt did alot more around the house than I thought. When I was really sick, he took care of everything: he worked, cooked, fed the baby at night, bathed the kids, kept the house clean, took me to doctor's appointments. I don't know how he did it all. That is so him. Alot of times I think of us like a team of oxen, no matter what, Matt always pulls his weight, alot of the time he pulls mine too. I am more interested in side trips to meadows full of flowers. I tell myself life would be so boring without me.

The thing is I have been reading alot of books lately. And when I get into a book, I am beyond boring. Don't even try to talk to me. Well you can but I will just respond with noncommittal sounds like, "uh huh" and "in a minute" which even my kids know means "you should try to do it yourself, it's gonna be a while."


We went to Twin last week and left the kids with Matt's sister Pam while we went to dinner (Jakers = so yummy) and Costco. When we got there his brother-in-law, Tom, said, " A handicap sticker and a minivan? Travis (my 19 year old nephew who has always looked up to Matt but hassles us endlessly about the minivan.) will love that." Yeah, that pretty much sums up our life for the next little while.

I'm sure once the sun starts shining again and the kids stop coughing it will breathe new life into our little corner of the world. But until then... have you read any good books lately?