Keshia's in the MTC

Keshia's been in the MTC for just over a week. She has a new blog - Sister Laws - set up where my parents will be posting emails, letters, and such that they receive from her.

Trade offs

Two little girls happy and content, playing with each other while Mom is cooking dinner, what could go wrong? Did you see this coming? I saw it coming, but it was better than all the whining and crying and hanging on me that usually happens while I'm cooking.

And of course it would be the sugar they spill instead of flour or something they wouldn't want to eat.

The Gale Center

We were planning on going to the zoo today, but the weather wasn't cooperating - SNOW!! So we ventured to The Gale Center in South Jordan with some friends and had a great time!

To cook or not?

Does anyone else get depressed by cookbooks?

I get excited about cooking and want to try something new so I look through a cookbook only to realize (1) I don't want to do anything with too many steps, (2) there are a lot of ingredients I don't stock up on (fresh fennel?), and (3) I hate the idea of making something that will lead to a huge debate with my kids just so they will try one single bite, gag, and spit it out.

(Warning - I'm about to whine) But I want to eat all the delicious food I read about.

Happy 10th Anniversary!!!

Super Wow!! Kurt and I have been married for 10 years, which is positively crazy to wrap my mind around. Sometimes it seems like our time together has flown by much too quickly and other times it feels like several lifetimes (for example, Olivia's one day in ICU horribly lasted forever!).

Kurt surprised me by taking the day off. In the morning we decided to take the kids to Thanksgiving Point's dinosaur museum, which I later realized is something we did last year for our anniversary.

In one hands-on part of an exhibit there were some large fans blowing up some clear pipes, and the kids could put things inside and watch them be blown to the ceiling and float down We had a great time tossing up papers, small paper bags, muffin & coffee liners, and sno-cone cups.

These skeletons are my favorites - they all look so wickedly happy.
Another favorite area is this place where the kids can play and experiment with sand and water. Kurt, Austin, and Nyah built a huge dam, diverted water to create a lake behind it, and then made flash floods to wipe out the unsuspecting dinosaurs.
At the end of the museum the kids can dig in the sand looking for dinosaur fossils.

Most of the kids were just playing in the sand, but Austin and Nyah were trying to uncover a dinosaur they found.

Later we had a babysitter come so we could go out - nothing super exciting. I'm craving wings so we went to WingNuts - the mango pom currey (?) was DELICIOUS. Then we went to see a movie - Sherlock Holmes, which was entertaining and fun. Lovely day with my sweetheart.

Frogs

We had frog invasion last night!

Valentine's Day

On Friday we were supposed to have our homeschool group Valentine Party but the host ended up with sick kids. We arranged to meet with a couple friends at a local park. Not as many kids, but still lots of fun.

Kids treat bags

With our friends at the park
On Valentine's Day I set up a Valentine Treasure Hunt for the kids. They really enjoyed it!

I'm glad I picked bubbles and not more treats because our house is over flowing with candy!!

Blowing bubbles with Dad

Kurt and I don't really do much for each other on Valentine's Day. Our anniversary is in a week so we wait for to celebrate. We tried to do fruit and chocolate fondue and a movie once the kids were in bed, but "kids in bed" is an oxymoron. Its hard to set a romantic tone with kids getting up for drinks and bathroom (Austin & Nyah), waking up crying 30 minutes after going to bed (Jolie), or yelling "Dad I want to talk to you!" for an hour (Olivia). And then there was the dog and his gas. UGH. We are looking forward to the babysitter's arrival Friday night!!!!

Jesse's Baby Shower

I am posting these mostly for my sister Amelia, who couldn't make it to Jesse's shower because she lives in South Carolina. We missed you so much Sister!! I didn't take as many pictures as I meant to (I missed the food and decorating onesies) so I hope Mom and Keshia took a bunch too.

Filling out cards and looking at the album Amelia sent-

Playing the candy bar game-

Present Time!!

Amelia - this is the blanket that I made for her-

We had a great time!!

Baby Richards

It's a GIRL!!!

tush is on the left - left femur on bottom, right on top - nothing in between!!

This is the first pregnancy where I've had a feeling about the sex of our baby before we've found out what it will be. I had been thinking this pregnancy was a lot like the last three and the baby's heartbeat at the doctor's has been high (130's range), but those are old wives tales, or new wives tales, or whatever, so I didn't think too seriously about them. But I did start thinking about a name. Then, about a month ago, Kurt came home from work and I was busy dealing with kids and dinner and only sort of paying attention, and he said something like "I've thought of a name if we have another girl." And I couldn't help thinking "Oh goodness, what has he come up with?" Not very charitable of me, I know. So he said "I like the name Sophie." I asked "How did you think of that?" He said (or something like this) "I don't know. Its just been on my mind and I like it." And I said "Well, that's the same name I've been thinking about for a girl."

Seriously.

So we are going to be having a little Sophie girl join our family.

"Hello World!" Great pic of her hand, isn't it? AMAZING.

Short video - Her nose is pointing up -Doesn't her nose look familiar? All 3 of my girl have the same slightly upturned nose. ADORABLE

Ultrasounds are so much fun. Our little girl was kicking and moving around so much and it was great to watch her.

So, to the important question which I'm sure is on everyone's mind - how did Austin take it? He was good. He got a huge grin on his face and shook his head like he couldn't believe it, gave Kurt a hug. Then he asked if he could go see if his friend could play.

Olivia is Hilarious!!

Warning: This post contains bathroom humor.

Olivia is potty training, and its going very well. This morning she told me she had to go and we headed to the bathroom. She went pee and then tooted. She said "My bum coughed!"

I'm still laughing.

How do I love thee?

XLIII

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of everyday's

Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints, --I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life! --and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

--Elizabeth Barrett Browning

I have a book called Sonnets from the Portuguese and Other Love Poems by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, which I have been reading lately. I didn't start it to conincide with Valentine's Day, but it is a happy coincidence. I *love* the love story of Elizabeth and Robert Browning- another version here.

I confess the above poem is one of my favorites because of the movie Roger Rabbit - "Dear Jessice: How do I love thee? let me count the ways. One one-thousand. Two one-thousand. Three one-thousand. Four one-thousand. Five . . . "

Kids these days!

Returning from a secret service mission - I convinced them to clean up toys, chairs, etc. that were left out at a neighbor's house after we all went inside for lunch by pretending to be on a secret mission. I can't believe how well it worked. This is what Olivia does when she is wearing her patch including lots of crying, whining, whimpering, sniffles, and dramatic silences - does it still work if she completely covers her head?

Happily painting

Why paint on the paper when its much more fun to paint on your arm?