Day 13

Aiden and I are taking a little break from church for a few weeks, trying to avoid being anywhere public as much as we can during this awful flu season! So we had a nice big family breakfast. It was nice! The four of us at the table together is so rare with Steven's schedule. When it's just Aiden, Rian and me (which it mostly is) we always sit at the table. Family dinners are what we both grew up with and they've always been important to us. Even when Aiden was a little guy and it was just me and him, we ate at the table together!

Then Steven's dad came over and they put the flooring in the kitchen area, while I hung out and watched Parenthood! (I got an amazon gift card so I ordered the first two seasons.) It makes such a huge difference, soo pretty! Every time something new is put in, it's so exciting!

It's gotten super stressful and annoying living like this, I try my best not to complain since he's so busy. But things getting done little by little has turned out to be a little fun. There's always something new and pretty to get used to. Steven started chipping away at the dining area last week before he got sick, so hopefully that gets done within the next few weeks too. Come May, I'll have lived with a disastrous kitchen for a YEAR. Then I'll definitely be complaining.

Day 12

We woke up bright and early (and freezing!) for Aiden's second soccer game. We talked to him alllll week about it. He said he was going to play this time, I was skeptical.

The game started and there he was, running around with a smile, while I was fighting back tears with a big silly smile on my face. I felt so proud and happy in that moment. A few minutes later grandma and grandpa joined us, followed by Titi and Uncle Geoff then a surprise from Daddy in between jobs!

There's a little ball hog on Aiden's team, once the whistle blows, he already has the ball half way down the field, so it makes very repetitive and pretty boring to watch. Aiden got to kick the ball about three times- very exciting!

We had hot cocoa (coffee for me!) to warm up when we got home. Our fingers and toes were numb! Did cleaning and laundry and hung out with my mom for the rest of the day. Our Sunday movie night has slowly turned into Saturday nights. We watched Ted, pretty funny, and the kids watched Toy Story 2. A nice, mellow day. :)

Uncle Geoff, Titi J, baby Oliver and Aiden:

Day 11

While I was eating lunch and watching General Hospital, Rian was playing on her laptop repeating letters, sounds and words that start with that letter. It was soo cute, I watched her til she noticed and got shy.

In November, Aiden's teacher gave us a learning book to work on at home. It has flash cards to color and practice with, the kids are obsessed with them! They always want to do them. Their cousin Ryan is 2 1/2 and already knows his letters, Rebecca thinks its because of his laptop toys. So we got one for Ri for Christmas. They both love it!

Aiden's been getting better each day at letters, he's so interested in them, which makes Rian interested in them. Last month, they each knew maybe 8 letters. At dinner tonight, Rian was looking at her fork and told me, "Mommy there's a U. N. k." It says "Nuk" on her fork! Then Aiden told me the letters on his fork: g,e,r,b,e,r. So I pulled out the flash cards and what do you know... They both know every single letter!!! I was SO dang excited! Little sponge brains!

Day 10

A pretty uneventful day, I like those. :)

After we took Aiden to school, we ran some errands then did some cuddling on the couch. Rian fell asleep about 20 minutes before we had to leave to get him, I don't like waking her up. Plus she gets grumpy!

Steven's dad offered to take Aiden to soccer practice, yes yes yes! The week before Rian was running all around, getting in the way so I wasn't exactly looking forward to it. A few minutes before he got here, the wind went craaaaazy. (Knocked a big branch off of our neighbor's tree) As soon as they drove away, I got a phone call that it was canceled. So he came back and got Rian and took them to his house to see Grandma. A nice little break for me!

Our highs this coming week are going to be in the 50s! Aiden's game is at 8am tomorrow- eek! It's going to be freezing, our wardrobes aren't prepared for this!

Day 9

Hallelujah! Steven's feeling better and the three of us didn't get sick. I quarantined him to the room til today, I can't wait to sleep in my own bed tonight!

Today Aiden got riding on two-wheels down perfectly! He hasn't wanted to ride since the 1st, today he got on and just went, he rides and turns in big circles without needing Daddy right there to catch him and brakes like a pro. All in just a few minutes. It's amazing what a change in attitude can do! Watching him ride around made me so teary. My big boy! So very proud of him.

Steven took down a toy Rian got for her birthday, a stuffed pig that you draw on with markers. It came with little jewel stickers, they look just like stick-on earrings. He put one of her face and she loved it! By bath time, her face was covered with them.

Day 8

It's been nearly 24 hours and so far, Steven's the only sick one. I've been praying all day that it stays that way. Waiting to get sick is scary! I really hope he feels better soon, poor guy!

Rian has been pushing me to the edge lately. Any naughty thing she can do, she does. And she'll do it more than once. Her sweet moments are so rare these days. I'm super thankful that occasionally, I still get to hold her while she's sleeping, at her very sweetest. Reminds me of the good ol' days. ;)

She had her well-check is morning. The three year one is definitely one of my favorites! No shots- short and sweet. (Giving them a break before the awful, HORRIBLE 4-year check.) She's my big girl!

The stats for the kids' last two checks:

Aiden at three: 28.5 lbs, 37 in
Age four: 32.5 lbs, 40 in

Rian at two: 29 3/4 lbs, 35.5 in
Today at three: 34.5 lbs, 39in

She's above average for height! So big compared to her big brother. It's very noticeable too. I can carry Aiden like nothing, Rian is heavy! She's very dense. But she's healthy as can be and that's the most important thing. :)

My Punky:

Day 7- boring post!

Every night after Aiden's bedtime story, I lay in his bed and we talk for a few minutes. Last night we were talking about what we wanted for breakfast: he said strawberry waffles and I said a bagel (which we didn't have.) Around 7ish, I opened my eyes and Steven wasn't in bed with me, Rian was. I went back to sleep for another 30 minutes or so. He was at the store getting bagels and cream cheese! Se sweet. :)

Aiden had school for a couple of hours, he was so happy to go back! Him, Steven and Rian basically spent the entire day outside while I pretty much spent the entire day on the recliner with a stomach ache. Blah. [Update a few hours later: Steven is feeling horrible, looks like the flu may have hit our house. I might cry. :(]

Besides cleaning the kitchen, doing some laundry, going to the store (because for some crazy reason, our mattress sheets always ended up thinned out and shredded on Steven's side) for new sheets and contacts, I've been like this: