Snow Day!

Well, we nearly didn't have one this year, but very late in the season, it finally snowed! Of course, it had mostly melted by the time the kids woke up, but then it started up again in the afternoon. The kids were in the middle of an enforced room-clean, but I released them from servitude to go and live it up while it was white. (Sorry about the many many pics of T, but it's been so very long since he's given me any decent shots of him!)

MissE wants to play!

Hmmm...this is odd...

Taking a test...

%*@! - that stuff's cold!

Oh, and just in case there was any doubt about what makes snow melt:

Tristen is 9!

I truly can't believe my little curly-headed baby is 9 years old. Really, truly can't. I knew so little about anything when he was first born, and have learned so much through being his mother. He's frustrated me, perplexed me, delighted me, astounded me, and brought me endless joy. He's a wonderful big brother (when he's so inclined), very responsible and helpful (again - when he wants to be), a natural athlete and video gamer, quiet and observant, and rowdy and goofy. He's a carbon copy clone of his father - but I'm there in his eyes and dimples. I remember when he was a baby, thinking, "This baby/parenting stuff is easy! I could do this 10 times, no problem!" So thank you, Tristen. Thank you for being first. Because if your brother had been, there would have been no more. You're a tough act to follow.

The Hyrulian Sword (Zelda). The "rock" for holding candles also disguised my super messy spots. No more carved cakes for awhile, kids - please?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Just an average Valentine's Day around here - parties for preschool and school, candy and little gifts all around.

The night before, we'd done a Family Home Evening talking about Christlike Love (loving everyone, regardless of who they are or what they do to you), and made Valentines to give to someone the kids thought might need one. Of course, like many of our FHE's, I felt like nobody was listening or getting anything I was saying, and was thus in a nasty mood. Then that night, PJ and I went to bed and found these under our pillows:

What Happens When You Leave 4 Bocek Kids in a Waiting Room for 3/4 Hour?

Eowyn is 1!

My baby (my last, final, ever baby) is 1. I can't believe it. As always, it simultaneously feels as though she's been a part of our family forever and like she just got here. It's horrible how fast time goes by, and how the pace of life has picked up since my oldest baby was born. Miss E's early days are already hazy, and many of my most vivid memories of her revolve around her passionate love for me and need to be attached to me at all times.

But she's a sweet, loving, funny baby girl. Her first words were "dog", "Wow!" and "Hi!" and new favorites are "Yay!" and "Whoa!" along with the perennial child's favorite "Dada." She adores her big sister and brothers and just lights up when she sees them. She's generally still awake when they go to bed, and is constantly barging into their rooms to play. Since starting to walk in December, she's now a walkinig machine, and I just can't believe she's trucking around like a pro at only 1!

She's trying, she's exhausting, she demands pretty much every waking (and sleeping) moment I have, but I wouldn't trade any moment or dollar that it took to have her here with us. She completes our family, and I can't wait to see who she becomes.

The only way Mommy gets any work done - with Miss E attached to her side or back.

Not so sure she likes what's going on right now...