is this thing still on?

Is anyone still out there? Apparently I've taken a leave of absence from my blog. No one has complained so perhaps no one is reading. However, I need the record for my own sake so I guess I better come off the blogging hiatus and catch up on my life. Ready or not, here I go....

I'm 17 weeks pregnant. Baby #6 is due to arrive July 8.

It is cold. I'm feeling jealous of those members of my family basking in temperatures above 50 degrees. Hello, out there in Atlanta, Anthem and Los Angeles! We have been blessed by a few lovely days but my children like to go outside regardless of the temperatures. Usually without jackets or shoes. They always leave evidence they were there.

Emma is growing into a young woman. She attended her first New Beginnings, got a cute haircut, has a role in a play at the elementary school (even though she didn't audition and doesn't attend school there) and performed in her first Triple Threat Showcase with On Broadway. She was wonderful. So wonderful in fact that the director invited her to move up a level.

One day, I let the kids stay in their pajamas all day. It wasn't even Saturday. They thought I was the coolest mom ever.

We are spending far too much time in front of screens. I really try hard to limit it our viewing time but still it is a little out of control. Between the laptop, computer, three TVs, smart phone and iTouch, we have enough screens at our house that every single person can be doing something different. That probably isn't a good thing.

 

 

Anne swallowed a battery so we got to go to the ER. Fortunately it passed down her esophagus and into her stomach without any problem. The doctor thought it would continue to go through her system in the next few days. As my friend said, this too shall pass.

Nathan begged to take Taekwondo. He was so excited about going that he asked every day if he had class that day. When we got there, he refused to try even one thing and just sat watching instead. He asked every day the next week when class was and promised profusely that he would try it. Once again, he just sat and watched. I'm willing to keep taking him but now he doesn't want to go.

Anne is completely and thoroughly attached to me. I think Mommy is her favorite word. She loves to take baths. She pleads to watch her "show" which is Backyardigans. She puts her little hands together and says, "Peas, Mommy. Show?" all the time. She's usually has food in her hair, her thumb in her mouth and personality busting out all over.

Slade is still Slade--sweet one minute and then raging, crying, and defiant the next. On a positive note, he has started singing along to the hymns during Sacrament meeting. I think he likes finding the correct page mostly but he does try to follow along. He still utterly refuses to give a talk in Primary though.

I've read four books this month: In Defense of Food, Nutureshock, The Price We Paid, and Persuasion.

Dave is working 60 hour weeks. He still swears he loves his job.

Here's to February. Maybe I'll blog more than twice next month.

12 on 12 | january

[click to enlarge]

First a technical note: I discovered when I downloaded these pictures that my camera had been set on high ISO all day. Tons of noise in all the shots. Frustrating!

1. We have all been having a hard time waking up in the mornings. I'm sure the Christmas vacation contributed to the sleep issues we're having, but mornings are just brutal any way you look at it. 

2. Anne's collection of essential sleep paraphenalia: two babies, a sippy cup and a blanket. 

3. 10:00 means school time. Emma, Nathan and Sawyer are getting started on their Math.

4. Anne spends the school time pulling books off the shelf, playing with alphabet magnets and sorting toys, and watching the kids play Starfall on the computer.

5. Slade had been sitting here working on his Math. He stormed off in frustration over something I said. Pretty typical. Why do we have to have the same fights day after day? Man, he wears me out. He finished his Math so that he could lunch but he never did complete the rest of his work today. No screens or friends for him this afternoon.

6. Nathan and Sawyer worked on a puzzle together after lunch.

7. I dropped Emma off at history and science co-op today since we have lots of nasty coughs and snot at our house. Anne has had a low fever the last two days also. I didn't think we should share our germs so the rest of us stayed home. Emma brought home the extra balloons they used for a game and they provided lots of entertainment for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

8. I enjoyed a bit of quiet time in my room reading a couple of new magazines plus email and blogs on my iTouch (I totally love that thing, by the way).

9. The kids get to enjoy some screen time at 3:00. Nathan usurped Anne's chair in front of Backyardigans, her most beloved "show".

10. Wednesday is Leftover Night. Nobody was too thrilled with the offerings tonight.

11. Bath time. 

12. Slade loves building with these Trio blocks. Mostly he makes weapons but he created this bug creature for me tonight.

Dave didn't make it into today's photos at all. He came home for lunch and then didn't walk in the door until 6:50 p.m. which has been the norm lately. He quickly ate some dinner and changed clothes before walking back out the door at 7 for Elders' Quorum meetings. When he came home at about 9:20, he changed back into his work clothes and went back to work. I don't expect him to come home until after midnight.