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.