quickly, quickly

I'm not sure how far I'll get before Ben decided he's not happy in his jumperoo, so I'll have to use bullets for now....

• The week Kathy and Brianna were here was awesome. We just hung out chatting like old times. Brianna is just amazing and I am glad I get to see her as often as I do, but I wish it were more!


• Two weeks ago, Kathy, Brianna, me, Kaia, and Ben went to visit Tania and Simon. We had a marvelous time. It's so nice to have friends that I know I can be me around. Life may throw changes at us, we may all live in different cities now, but I know they will always be there.


• This past weekend, Mike and I and the kids went back down to see Tania and Simon, and my family. Again, amazing time, Kaia had a lot of fun with her Uncle Mick and Aunt Katie at dinner. She's staying with her Granny and Grumpy until tomorrow, what a lucky girl to have such a close relationship with them!


• Mike and I have decided to pare down what we do on the computer and do more family stuff. The paring for me will include a major shortening of the blog-list I read and only checking email twice a day, compared to 5-6 times a day while Ben is eating or sleeping (that time can be used for so many other things)


• In seeming contrast to the last, I am going to try to bring back Glimpse of the Day. Every evening I will try to quickly post a single photo from our day.


• Today I am going to Natasha's to learn felting! My first project is going to be a rattle for Ben. After I get good enough, I already have several projects in mind! I have NO idea how expensive dyed wool is, better find out!

That seems like I'm condensing the last couple weeks down way too far, but I don't really have time for more...I will leave you will a photo!

will post a longer post sometime soon, really!

heading back home tomorrow morning. Having a really good weekend, and this coming up week is going to be good too. And last week was marvelous with Kathy and Brianna visiting, and being able to visit Tania twice! What did I do to get such a wonderful life, I ask?

I do have several pictures of the last week or two, which I do plan on posting at some point, but life seems to get in the way lately of computer time, which I am not complaining about!

happy valentine's day to me, from my son

I had a great past week, but don't really have a bunch of time to write about it. I also have some sweet pictures, but will post them later. I wish, however, to just say the following:

Ben gives kisses. The open mouth, drool-filled style of kisses, of course, but kisses. I know they are kisses and not his usual put-his-mouth-on-anything-and attempt-to-eat-it because he doesn't attempt to eat your cheek. He just puts his mouth on it then pulls away. It's very, very, sweet. and wet. but that's ok with me.

Friday Morning, early

Here were my two darlings this morning, along with my two cats, all hanging out together listening to Disney's version of Sleeping Beauty being read by Kaia. We are trying to patiently wait for Kathy and Brianna to wake up, and I have let Kaia stay home from school to visit.



I wish to point out a couple of details--

First, notice the sweetest bit--Ben holding on to Kaia's arm. He actually was holding on to it more, but moved his hands before I could capture it. This is pretty darn sweet though.

Second, notice the "tattoo" on Kaia's chest. She loves fake tattoos. Actually, to be precise, she loves tattoos, and is usually quite pissed off that they aren't permanent. Someday she will thank me for not letting her get a sparkly dragonfly emblazoned on her chest, but for now she is deeply disappointed as well as bath-shy.

Thursday Morning

Ben has a bit of a sniffly nose that kept him restless all night, which means I was restless all night. I had decided to sleep this morning with him during his morning nap, but of course now I am just slightly too awake to do that, but I don't want to put him down and risk waking him up--he really needs to get some solid sleep.

so here we are, on the couch, he is laying on top of me sleeping, and I am almost done being able to waste time on the computer. Also, there is cleaning to be done! and if I DO decide to just sleep, I know that at the exact moment I begin to drift off, he will begin to wake up, which will just make me grouchy.

Maybe I'll work on planning Kaia's room. We are getting her some new furniture to help the clutter issue and make it easier for her to clean her room by herself.

KATHY AND BRIANNA ARE COMING TONIGHT!!!!!!!!! We are all so excited to see them!! This weekend we are really hoping to go down and see Tania and Simon (Tania, do NOT let me forget to get a pic of all three of us for your album!) Kathy and Brianna are staying for a whole week, it will be so nice to be able to hang out with them again. Last time I saw Kathy I was so tired from Ben's birth, I honestly don't remember much of the visit. (except a really funny cookie dough story which I keep meaning to write about...will soon)

Sunday Morning

Ben rolled over from his back to his front this morning! I didn't get to see, he did it in the bedroom with Mike...kinda nice, actually, that Mike got to see a first, since I will get to see most of them.

We have a couple plans today--going on a play date with someone from the moms' group, then to a birthday party for one of the girls in Kaia's class. Mike is staying here to get some down time and possibly to clean a bit.

Next week is very busy, more on that later!

Ben got some shots today. It was very sad, he was so smiley at the nurse before she poked him four times. He screamed all the way to the car, where I nursed him until he fell asleep. He's still in in car seat, on the floor, sleeping. Poor little dude.

Although, speaking from experience, shots at this age - four months- are SO much easier than shots at the older ages when they KNOW you are letting some stranger hurt them, and you TRY to explain, but really, kids just don't understand about measles, mumps, and rubella. They just know that you are helping to hold them down while needles are shoved into their skin.

I told Kaia this morning that I was taking Ben in, and she told me that on her next visit, she will be "the bravest girl ever!" for her shots. She's so wonderful. Last time, (on her 6th year one) she had to have 4...two in each thigh. I had promised her before we went that she could have $1 for each shot to spend at the dollar store after her appointment. Stupid me, didn't think about the fact that her legs would be SORE, so I ended up having to cart her 6 year old self around the dollar store while she sniffled and tried to get more comfortable while looking for 4 things to get. Next time, I think we'll go with ice cream, purchased BEFORE the shots.