V'Day

We had a nice Valentines this year.  It was my turn to teach preschool so I got to see all the cute Valentine boxes and cards the kids brought.

Drew was out of town, but as he said before he left, he "made arrangements."  He sent us roses, chocolates, cake pops, and chocolate covered strawberries.  We sent him some cards and licorice, but we didn't get around to sending it until the actual holiday so his gift was a bit delayed.

In the evening I gave the girls their love notes and candy from me and we had a candlelit dinner together.  Meanwhile, in Utah, Drew and his sister went out to dinner.  In all I think it was a nice celebration all around.

Kids Night at Silver Diner

Lainey and Ellie got their faces for the first time (usually they only dare to have their hands or arms painted).  When I texted the pictures to Drew he said, "Somehow the face paint really fits both personalities."  They loved it so much that I let them wait till the following evening to wash off the remnants.

Longwood Gardens!

Last Saturday my lovely friend, Jessica, took me to Longwood Gardens with her.  It was a really fun day.  I always enjoy visiting those gardens, but it was extra fun to do it with a friend that actually knows plant names and facts.  At one point, Jessica pointed out the flower that she had on her cake (something I'd never heard of) and I realized that I only knew the names of three of the many flowers that where in my wedding bouquet and on my cake: rose, gerber daisy, and lily.  Not too impressive.

 Alaina loved smelling the flowers and having her picture taken with them (especially the pink ones):

 Ellie also liked smelling the flowers, but had a hard time remembering to keep her hands off them, thank goodness she didn't pick any:

We spent all our time in the conservatory (along with everyone else that visited that day) because it was so cold (and the flowers were so lovely and fragrant).  Flower chandelier?  Yes please.  Now I know what was missing from my wedding.

 

Lainey was way excited about the rock bench (or couch according to her), but didn't last long thanks to the sun in the cacti section:

 Of course we had to end in the children's garden:

 

Ellie got completely soaked, in part because she purposely scooped up water and smeared it on her face and clothing.  Luckily I had a change of clothes for her.

Luckily I also had a change of clothes for Lainey because she peed her pants.  I told her that it wasn't okay and that she couldn't do that when she started school in the fall.  Then she cheerfully explained that I could just put a change of clothes in her backpack and when she had an accident her teacher would help her change her clothes.  Argh.

All in all a good day, and it was especially nice to carpool.  .  .  .  Meanwhile, Liz and Drew were off skiing with a father-daughter duo that I think will be their new ski buddies.

ANNOUNCEMENT!

Fun stuff the girls have said to me lately:

(above picture by Danelle Empey)

Lainey looking at my wonton soup: "Is that pee?"

When I told Lainey that I was going to the bathroom and that she could talk to me when I got back: "I can talk at the door and you can still hear me."

Lainey every night: "Good night, dream tight."

When I asked Lainey what she's afraid of (for her preschool registration form): "Hmmm, getting taped to the wall. . . . And bats." (I just put down dogs and bugs.)

Often in the midst of a tussle with her sister, Lainey will call out: "Mom! Ellie says I'm not part of this family!" (When I've heard nothing of the sort from Ellie.)

When I can tell that she needs to go to the bathroom: "I'm just cold." (Liz used to say: "I just like to wiggle.")

When we tell Ellie that we love her: "No!  Jesus loves me!  You no love me!  Only Jesus loves me!"

Also when we ask Ellie her full name: "Ellie Gabrielle Ellie" She absolutely refuses to acknowledge that her last name is Nielson


Lainey, when we ran low on milk: "When is a cow going to pee out some more milk for us?" 

After an interview with her piano teacher Liz reported: "She had to face a Styrofoam too." Turns out she meant stereotype.

Sick Week

One night last week, Andrew and I were having a heated discussion (a.k.a. argument).  At one point I started to get a little dramatic and extreme in my statements (I can say that now, but at the time everything made perfect sense).  Andrew kind of chuckled and said, "Okay, let's all calm down.  I think we're making a bigger deal out of this that we need to.  We just need a little dose of reality."  And then, right on cue, we heard the tell-tale coughs followed by the sound of liquid splattering on the floor and walls.  Lainey had thrown up all over herself, her bed (two sets of bedding by the end of it), and the hallway.  As we bathed her and moped up vomit, I asked Drew, "Is this enough reality for you?"  I'm sure it wasn't what he intended, but it sure made us forget our disagreement.

 As often happens we didn't deal with just one sick family member, it seemed everyone had something going on.  Ellie battled pink eye while also adjusting to her eye patch (she has to wear one a few hours every day because glasses just aren't cutting it for her lazy eye).  Liz came home with a fever Wednesday afternoon that kept her home from school the following two days (luckily we were able to bring it down enough with ibuprofen so that she could try out for the school play during that time and she made it!).  

 Then, to finish off the week I managed to throw my back out Saturday while reorganizing my closet (and lifting nothing heavier than a stack of folded sweaters I swear).   I immediately laid down and called Drew (on his way home from a ski patrol shift).  I asked him to order pizza for us because I wasn't sure I could make it to the wallet I left in the van.  I'm still not sure what's up with my back but in the meantime I'm walking like an old lady and laying on the couch a lot while the kids wreck havoc on the basement and watch tons of television.