mention of sympathy

One thing we missed as a result of sickness was the funeral today for my brother-in-law's father, Chip. Lift up Jonathan and Meagan, if you would, they have just welcomed their first child into the world on February 10th, and now to have to bury a parent...but baby Isaac is doing great, and they are wonderful first time parents. Actually, they make it look too easy.

so much for the flu vaccine

Poor Nathan started to not feel right on Monday, first with a fever and headache, as well as congestion. Then he seemed better, and I thought maybe it was a sinus infection, but then he started having all kinds of complaints, basically his whole body hurt. Well, now I feel his pain, as I've apparently got the flu, or something very flu-like. I started feeling wierd at Target Thursday morning, and tried to convince myself all day and night Thursday that I was fine, but then on Friday decided I did, indeed, feel like crap. Jon worked from home so he could transport Mychael to and from school, and do the grocery shopping that needed to be done. We kept Nathan out of basketball practice and his game today, just to make sure he was totally well, and didn't overdo things only to relapse. It took him a full 5 days to be well, and today he has had a great appetite, and has his Nathan energy again! Today was my worst day, after coughing all day yesterday my chest and back are very sore, and the head and body aches kept me in the bed most of the day. Jon took Mychael to his game (4 baskets, yay, Mychael!), and has looked after the kids. My precious friend, Andra, brought us chicken pie, which was really more like chicken pie for the soul, it was such a nice act of love! And a salad that was as beautiful as it was delicious...thanks, girl, you're the best! Anyway, with Tylenol and Sudafed (the real, behind-the-pharmacy-counter stuff) on board, I've ventured out of the bedroom, though it's not quite as bad as it sounds, I've been doing lots of reading (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) and resting, something I don't do very often if I can get away with it. I'm a bit of a workaholic when it comes to my family and my home. It's nice to lose myself in a book for a time....

a white valentine's day!

I had seen on the news before I went to bed that they were calling for snow, I had no idea that was in the forecast. When I woke up at 6:15 to start getting ready for school I looked out the window and saw a beautiful white blanket of snow on everything (more than a dusting this time!). Of course, school was cancelled (part of me wonders if they did that for the kids' benefit, so they could enjoy the snow since it's so rare for us to get enough to actually play in), so I didn't rush up to wake the kids, instead I opened up their blinds so they could just see it as they woke up, like a surprise. I was downstairs reading my Bible when I heard them slowly wake up, notice the snow, and ooh and ahh. I sat down there just grinning from ear to ear, listening to their sweet surprised little voices as each one woke up the next. Ahh, childhood. Then they thundered down the stairs, fumbling through the basket of gloves and hats, put on 2 pairs of socks and rain boots, ski bibs, the whole nine yards. I don't guess the neighbors minded all the hootin' and hollerin' that was going on at 7am, but they took turns sledding down our hill, and then we made snow cream. It's a powdery snow, we couldn't make snowballs or attempt a snowman, but Jordan liked how it sounded crunchy under her boots, and I sent her down the hill a couple of times in the sled (she told me she was too scary, though, so we stopped... that's what she says, "I'm too scary."). Now they're up there playing 3-player Battlefront on the X-Box 360 (a Star Wars game). If you've ever noticed how just below Zach's lower lip is always chapped, it's from playing Battlefront because he keeps that tongue out while he plays, concentrating. I'll have to try and catch it on camera, but we have to constantly tell him, "Keep that tongue in your mouth, boy!" Anyway, that's our Valentine's Day snow story, have a good one, everyone, we love you!

the crutches!

I told Mychael I thought that the picture of him with the crutches would draw some attention, so let me explain that those belonged to the children's museum we were visiting (from the "doctor's office" center). They happened to fit him perfectly, so he had fun getting around on them. Also, let me add that he scored 3 baskets at his game on Saturday, and Nathan got the star for most Christlike. We're very proud of both of their performances...

Jordan's first self-portrait

Oops!

I can't believe I also didn't thank my sister and my grandma in that last post, it's early in the morning and I've only had one cup of coffee! Thanks, aunt Mee-mee, the Cinderella stuff was awesome, and she loved the dress my sweet grandmother sent her. We love you guys!

The princess is 3!!

Jordan had a wonderful birthday yesterday...Nana, cousin Isaiah, and our friends, Andra and her kids, went to a children's museum, then back to Andra's for lunch, cake and presents. I had made her a princess cake, because she is definitely all about princesses. She got some Jasmine Polly Pockets (thanks, Kit, she LOVES it!!), a Barbie townhouse and dolls from Nana (all four kids play with it), an outfit from Grandmother, a Princess scooter from Grandma (and Moonsand I'll be taking back, which I picked out and later heard it's awful stuff), and a whole bunch of other things. Thanks, Andra, for graciously allowing us to party at your house, and to everyone else who helped make Honey's 3rd a memorable one. Love to all!

Jordan's 3rd Birthday