I Love Holding Babies

...especially mine.

I really do. I hate putting them down. I probably carry them around too much. I tote them around while I do everything. If I'm cooking or doing laundry or anything that I can't tote them, I give them some tummy time or bouncer time and keep looking over at them, wondering if they are bored or lonely, trying to hurry so I can pick them up again. And after they are asleep, sometimes I have a hard time putting them down in their beds.

This is probably why Maggie sometimes has trouble leaving me alone during "quiet time." I have raised her to need constant stimulation.

But, seriously, it's worth it.

I have the cutest babies. Is that vain to say?

(1st pic--Emily; 2nd pic--Kate; 3rd pic--Maggie)

Spring Is Springing

I love Monday mornings. Even a dreary one like today. There's the rejuvenation that comes from the prior day of rest and worship. The promise of a whole week before you to enjoy, to accomplish, to do. Even the spilled milk didn't phase me, as we are probably due for a mopping anyway.

Spring is springing rather early after our warm winter. After breakfast, Maggie was looking out the window and happily announced, "The daffodils are open!" Last week was quite warm, working it's way well into the 70s most afternoons. (I had to get out some shorts and, of course, the bin is still out.)

Sadly, another sign of spring is that the ants are trying to get into the girls' bathroom. I've been expecting them this year. It seems they try every spring to get in somewhere, usually it's my back kitchen door where they try first. Luckily, I now know the procedure. I don't waste a day googling ant species and calling my mom about what to do. (I'm kind of bug-a-phobic.) Instead, I killed the ones I could see with Windex and wiped down the area with vinegar water (they don't like). Then I had Mike pick up some Terro traps and put one in the bathroom, where it seems to be already doing its job. I feel bad; I often take spiders outside because I do hate killing things, but I just wish the ants would know to stay outside my house. I don't do creepy critters.

The girls and I joined friends Sophie, Molly, and Amber at the zoo on Wednesday. We had just as good a time as last year. (And yes, Mag is wearing the same dress. She insists it still fits because "It says 3T and I'm 3!" With leggings it works.) Maggie had so much fun that when I said it was time to head home (after an almost six-hour stay) she said, "But I want to stay at the zoo all night!" Kate seemed equally impressed and especially loved the train. But Emily said she didn't see what all the fuss was about. All the girls played a lot of musical chairs between the two strollers.

Thursday, We visited my friend Samantha's new home and played with Jase, Chance, and Brock. Sam's house is gorgeous and has the funnest children's suite ever and she's got all sorts of fun projects she's been working on to make it home. If I didn't love my home so much and know we can't afford one like hers right now (and maybe ever) I would be jealous. :)

We started St. Patrick's celebrations with green eggs and ham at the library on Friday. Then our whole family celebrated St. Patty's day with cousins in honor of the baptism of my niece, Sarah. I felt really lucky to be able to participate by leading the music and my sister-in-law Lisa gave such a beautiful talk for her daughter. And, as usual, Lisa made a fabulous meal. She is such a good cook. However, my favorite baptism comment ever is still my niece Abigail's, after her sister's baptism a little over a month ago: "I don't want to get baptized...'Cuz then I can't lie anymore." On another funny note, Mike and I have heard the girls playing "baptism" lately, especially in the tub, with each other and their tub toys. I should probably put a stop to it and explain the concept of sacrilege, but it is pretty cute. (Below the cousins are excited over their Pot o' Gold Rainbows that Lisa made.)

It was a fun few days. But I am relieved to have a much-needed home day. I am planning for a few of them this week.

March Madness Begins

Well, this week finds us beginning March Madness and filling out brackets, as I have since Mike and I became an item in 2006. Before then, I barely knew what March Madness was and had never watched a second of it.

Tonight BYU had their play-in game. They had a terrible first half and kept turning it over, while their opponent, Iona, was unbelievably on and kept making every basket. At one point BYU was behind by twenty-five points! I handled the stress by watching Murder, She Wrote and folding laundry. (To be honest, I prefer watching old mystery shows to watching sports. Competitive sports are too stressful. Though if I had to pick one, basketball is my favorite.) But finally they turned on partway through the second half and pulled ahead in the last few minutes, winning by six. Thank goodness. Hartsock really saved the game. Now Mike will be able to sleep tonight. :) I'm only kind of joking. He is soooo happy right now and I'm lucky he didn't wake up the girls with all his shouting.

I am reminiscent of last year when BYU went to the Sweet Sixteen and the girls and I would watch "Teach Me How to Jimmer" on YouTube all the time. Maggie was so cute singing along and both the girls loved to dance to it.

Name That Show

Well, Kate got the flu last night. At first I thought she was scared of a part of a story we were reading, then all of a sudden I knew what was coming, but couldn't put the baby down and whisk her away fast enough. She threw-up on the couch, on the bathroom floor, and in her bath before we got her comfortable, poor thing. While I was trying to tend to Kate, the baby was fussing (I don't think she's been feeling very well either). Then while I was trying to tend to the baby, Kate was calling for comfort. Maggie was crying on and off because she felt bad that Kate was sick. And Mike was at class. But bless his heart, when he got home he got the dishes done I had left when I was preoccupied by the other messes.

So we are having a recovery day: a stay-home, play-in-our-pajamas, watch TV, and do laundry day. The kids think it's grand as usually I try to limit TV to a small amount in the afternoon, if any.

Luckily, Maggie woke up happily announcing, "I didn't get sick in the night, Mom!" (As I had set a trash can in their room and lined towels on the floor just in case.) Let's hope that good fortune holds.

In the meantime, recognize these lines from our favorite shows?

a. "Be a good little monkey and stay here."
b. "I'm berry glad we're friends." (I didn't know you could overuse "berry" for "very," but I'm starting to wonder if this character knows the difference between the two words.)
c. "Come on. Vamanos!"
d. "Bust my buffers!"
e. "I say, Tiger."
f. "A clue. A clue."
g. "Can we fix it? Yes we can!"
h. "I just love to dance with my best friend Alice."

And on days like today I love the perspective this video gives:

Savior, Redeemer of My Soul

This. song. is. beautiful. I just rediscovered it on my cousin Emily's blog after falling in love with it a couple months ago on a movie my sister Becca got me for Christmas. Then I spent some time researching the composer Rob Gardner and some of his other work. I would love to be involved in putting on some of his oratorios.



Love the art in this too.

I am truly grateful for my Savior. And all he enables and inspires me to become.