So I'm Trying to be Sneaky...

So I'm trying to be sneaky about this whole Easter Basket thing. Yesterday I took the baby with me while I purchased a few little odds and ends for the Easter Baskets. And I was determined to get something in particular for Lucy and then she found this:

Yes. Nemo. She is obsessed with Nemo. And the whole time at Target she would not let him out of her hot little hands. She traded everything she ever threw into the basket (because she does that now, we get all sorts of things in our basket) for the swimming Nemo (and it does say for 5 years and up, but really how could a Swimming Nemo not be for a 2 year old? Tell me how?) So...had to smuggle Nemo into the house...without disturbing the axis of the earth.

And I was successfull. REally. I was. And I hid it perfectly in my dresser drawers that are empty since I reorganized my closet. No one EVER looks in those dresser drawers.

Until today.

Lucy had Nemo ESP. How did she know? And I couldn't get it out of her hot little hands. Maybe the Easter Bunny should just come early? I am on Divert Lucy Mission #2. And I need a new hiding place!

(Oh and totally destroyed Sophie's dreams of the REAL Easter Bunny, because she wondered what Lucy was doing with a Nemo...oh and, she heard me talking to Adam on the phone about "getting all the Easter stuff done." Whoops).

We're on the Mend

Hip hip hooray! I feel giddy like a penguin. Don't these penguins look happy? I wonder what they're talking about? Perhaps they're amazed that we survived Adam's surgery aftermath. Aren't you surprised? :)

Thank you for your encouraging words about Adam's recovery...he is already doing sooo much better. Thank goodness for all of us. He has been hobbling around going on business trips, riding in wheel chairs, and losing his crutches. Hopefully he won't reinjure himself as he crosses many time zones. Right? Please tell me he WON'T reinjure himself! He is on the mend. I am determined that he will be on the mend.

My Non-Florence Nightengale Syndrome

Okay, So have you ever had a day or a week where you realize something about yourself that is not that great? I consider myself quite compassionate, sympathetic, and nice. In general, I think I'm pretty nice.

But this whole taking care of AW 24/7 has thrown me off my game. Granted, he is a lovely patient. Very sweet. Alot of "Could you please's" "So sorry to bother's" and "Thank you very much's". I mean, he couldn't be more nice. But it has been hard to take care of the family (without his help, mind you) and to also take care of him.

Sigh. So it turns out,I'm really not that nice.

I hate to admit I've been tired, grumpy, and longing for the days of a daddy who can climb stairs and give babies a bath, or even a daddy who can bathe, get dressed, and fix himself a meal. And for the times when I could sneak away to Target without worrying the entire time whether AW needs meds, or food, or maybe he has fallen and cannot get up.

Really. Wish I were better. And my hats go off to all of you who have taken care of someone, or who are still taking care of someone. I've been thinking about a few friends and family who are doing just that. Bravo. You really give Florence Nightengale something to be proud of. Me? I'm nothing to shout about.

Lemon Cake and Surgery

You'll all be happy to know I am no longer HUNGRY. Whew. That was rough...and let's just say my 11 day diet turned into an 9.5 day diet. Sorry. How could I resist a decadent slab of lemon cake placed on my door step by my practically gourment neighbor for my birthday? Well. I couldn't. At that point my willpower was practically non-existent.

AND.


AW just had his knee surgery...and trust me that has been enough to drive a girl to eat (In-N-Out is my new BFF). Not that he's a bad patient--- he's just a 38-year-old-male-patient. Last night I felt like I had a new born again with all the getting up in the night. Sigh. But he will get well. Hopefully sooner than later.

Hunger

Have you ever just had one of those days when you were HUNGRY? Not just: hmmm, I think I'd like a little nibble of something. Not: I might like to share a dessert with my husband after dinner. No. Nothing like that.

I mean serious HUNGER.

Like: I want to eat this entire ice-box cake by myself, with no helpers, no sharers. Me. Only me.

So.

I may have felt that way on occasion...

Like, NOW.

I have been on this 11 day diet thing for 7 days. Today is day 7. And people, I am HUNGRY! And I'm supposed to be writing my book, but all I have been doing is surfing through my favorite cooking blogs noting recipes I will try once I can actually eat again...in 5 days. Actually. On my birthday. So people, this is the birthday cake I want. Doesn't it look divine?

If you too are HUNGRY...check out the Smitten Kitchen and I guarantee you will find something that will satisfy. No calorie counters, fiber percentages, fat caloric notes in sight. This is a serious cooking blog that creates food that will satisfy.

And tell me what you ate. I'm totally into living vicariously through other happy eaters. Yesterday I made Adam tell me in detail what he had for lunch at The Olive Garden.

Love Day and Pioneers...

Yes, it's the annual 4th Grade Utah History Play. Grace was Mary Horne, a pioneer who traveled across the plains to settle Utah. She did a great job and, as usual, was extremely expressive. Just love that Grace.

And we can't have a play without going to have a little In-N-Out. Grandma actually went to In-N-Out BEFORE the play, so we made her go with us again afterwards. Like I said, my family has a definite In-N-Out problem :).
I just l-o-v-e valentines day. I know it's kind of a gimmicky, somewhat of a capitalist plan to have people spend money buying flowers, cards, candy (lingerie...wink, wink), etc (wow, I sound extremely cynical...). So. Valentine's Day is great for the economy, right?

But I just love a day to remember all the people who make my life wonderful. And, Valentines Day always reminds me of my birthday, so I just love heart shaped sugar cookies, red Hot Lips, and the colors pink and red. Call me crazy. And how fun is it to celebrate V-day with a bunch of over excited, sugar crazed, silly, kidlets? I loved it. Here's Lucy with her valentine necklace and bracelet. She felt like such a big girl.
Awww...so sweet. She just makes my heart melt.

Boo-boo's and New Adventures

Poor Lucy had a very unfortunate accident at The Little Gym...like a full speed nose dive into a balance beam...and then an encounter at REI with a metal hooked sock hanger that went right up her nose. I thought it was broken, but it just turned out to be horribly bruised. This picture was right after her fall at The Little Gym. It was the last day of class full of certificates and balls and pictures (and unfortunately her swollen sniffer). Poor baby.


This is her usual happy face...
Aunt Kim and cousin "Hammy" (or Sammy) go to The Little Gym too. We have a lot of cousin/sister fun.


And here we are traveling up The Canyons lift to take Spence, Grace and Sophie to their brand new skiing/snowboarding adventure. Lucy's nose looks a little bruised above.

The kids had a blast a ski school (even though it was a blizzard), ate pizza AND mashed potatoes for lunch, imagine that! Had plenty of hot cocoa breaks and succeeded in becoming addicted to freshly falling powder...Now, I think they all have caught the 'skiing bug'. Although, Spence snowboarded. We went up again for another lesson and they were all in heaven. I guess if I can't live in California, I better find something I like about the snow (ugh). But these cuties seem to make the snow a little more magical...


And here is my recent reading list: I'm not finished with them all, but The Help was heartbreaking and beautiful. I loved it. I'm working on the others. Anyone have any other ideas about books they love?