Missing You....

I started this post by listing the hours I worked today. There were too many and it sounded whiney. I deleted it and started over.

This was a long day; longer than most. In the car on my way home I started to think about my blog and how much I miss writing here. Some people see their lives as status updates on facebook. I know people like that. I've hidden them from my news feed, because I don't care to know their business every two hours. But truthfully, I used to look at the daily happenings with my babies as fodder for my blog. I'd think about something funny they did and plan in my mind how I'd post it here. I just don't have that kind of leisure time anymore, and I really miss it. I'll have it this summer. I can't wait for this summer. The truth is, though, that the job I do away from home is important too. It matters to me to do it well. It is never complete after eight hours. Ever. I always have a running list of how I could be doing things more effectively, kids I need to conference with, parents I've gotta catch in passing, snacks to bring for meetings, supervision duty (that might be this week. I should check the schedule.) and kids to prep for their presentation at a school board meeting next month. And I haven't even taught anything yet. This job is insane. What was I thinking? I know. I love it. And somebody loves the kids in my class the same way I love my girls. They care that I do my best everyday.

Enough already. This is starting to sound like a mission statement moment like the one that got Jerry Maguire canned.

At the end of the day I love coming home. I love the flat footed (thud thud thud) run of Peyton when she greets me at the front door. I love pretending that I can't find Libby wherever she's hiding (and giggling). I love the people who love my kids when I can't be with them. Thank you.

Enough.

Tonight....

Bedtime silliness....

If you look closely at Peyton's forehead you can see a distinct purple mark over her left eye. Today, Shane opened a door and the edge of it caught Peyton right in the forehead. Ouch. I asked her tonight, "Peytie, did you bonk yourself?" She answered, "No, Daddy bonked myself."

Momma's slippers.

Tonight, Shane made a late run to the grocery store while the girls and I hung up the alphabet in their room. Libby loves her letters and is starting to read some simple words, so tonight seemed like a good night to encourage reading.

Snow!

We did a trip to Bend this weekend, and while it was really quick, it was also great to get home (Bend) to the snow. It's great to not be at home (in the valley) where there are unfinished projects that I should be doing. Instead, I napped through the second half of yesterday's Duck game and then we played in the snow.

The girls made muffins with Grammy Jane. I told Peyton she needed to put a clip in her hair, so she could see what she was doing, but she opted to wear a hat instead. It worked. Here she celebrates her little independent victory with a mouthful of muffin.

Heading out to the sledding hill. This is the snow in my mom's yard. It's deeeeeep!

Ready!

Peyton had a harder time moving in her snow clothes than Libby. Libby really impressed us. She rallied and never asked to be carried or held. A surprise, really.

Our first hill.

It's hard to see the sled under Daddy, but it's there.

Libby's ready for a bigger hill.

They could really get cookin'.....

.....and were all smiles.

Peyton climbed the hill herself a few times too.

Grammy Jane wasn't about to be left out of the fun.

The Month of Love (and Boundaries)

Remember how I'm over having kids in my bed? Here's why. Peyton might have boundary issues. I took this picture one morning as I was getting ready for school. Would you look at them, though? It's hard to stay frustrated for long. Truth be told, this last week was so much better. We can get through the night in our own beds, just not always.

The girls continue to treat my classroom as their own personal playground. Works for me. If they ever come after school, I usually work a later day than usual, because they love being there. I'll take advantage of it while I can.

The girls loved Valentines Day this year. Libby had a party at school, and they could both get used to love-filled treats on a regular basis. Well, I could too, actually. Here they opened some cuddly Valentines from Kevin and Susan. Would you look how happy?

Thank you Kevin and Susan! Libby loves her zebra and Peyton loves her "draff".

Who needs toys or learning tools when we have a classroom with a recycle bin?

A month ago two of the students in my class qualified as finalists in a culinary competition called "Future Chefs". The competition was last weekend. The girls and I went to take some pictures and stayed longer than we intended. It was a really cool event, and the girls love this particular student of mine. They played while the judges deliberated over awards.

One highlight of the event was that the bathrooms in the high school have blowers. Bonus. The girls were growing restless, and seriously, this was a hit, so we played in the bathroom for longer than we should've.

After "Future Chefs" we had lunch at a favorite spot and then headed to Mark and Amy's for Ella Boo's first birthday! Happy Birthday Ella Boo! There were babies, babies everywhere and Amy didn't miss a single detail. Ella didn't mind being the center of attention and dug into her cake with gusto. You can see more of her big day here. And when I say Amy missed no details, I mean it. Check out the table. Amy is a teacher, but could easily be an event planner. This was a super cute bash!

Milestones

I know in our kids' lives some milestones will be bigger than others. At one time we had sleeping through the night down. In the last week it's all gone south. Really south. I'm exhausted. So sleep deprived, that I've wondered if a return to breastfeeding might be the answer. And you know how happy I am to have closed that chapter. Bedtime is one meltdown after another and I'm sleeping, or rather, not sleeping every night with an elbow or someone's heel stuffed in my ear. Oddly, even Grunden has been a little clingier than normal. I think I might've been a little arrogant at one time in my claims against co-sleeping and family beds. At this point I'm co-co-co sleeping and I'm starting to wonder if there's more than one family in our bed. And, make no mistake, I've never been more against it. This afternoon, I found myself ignoring the girls so I could research king size mattresses. I reeeeeeeally hope tonight is better, because I'm taking my class to the ballet tomorrow. And most of them are boys. And I'm gonna need to bring my A game.

On a brighter side, Libby did achieve a milestone tonight though that may redeem our course. At bedtime (sniff), After books and prayers (sniff), our Libby Lou sang (get this) the entire Oregon Fight Song start to finish.

All.

By.

Herself.

Are you kidding me?

Who needs to sleep?

Just kidding.

I do.

I reeeeeeeally, really do.

Fishing, Dancing and a Weinermobile....

Shane's been building and selling (here and there) fishing rods. Some to his customers, and some to friends. He is meticulous about the rods that he builds and they are really nice. You wouldn't think I'd know anything about it, but I've done a little investigating and I'm telling you, they are beautifully crafted. I asked him if he could teach me how to do what he does, so I could put them on Etsy (in all my free time). But then, I revisited that idea and I realized I can put them on Etsy even if he does the building. So we're back on Etsy. Go take a look....

For my momma's birthday....

The other night after the girls got ready for bed, we had (as we often do) an impromptu dance party. The girls are definitely getting older, as evidenced by some pretty rad dance moves....

When Peyton gets into it, she usually has her tongue sticking out and needs to be reminded to take her fingers out of her mouth.

Groovin'

The Robot

The Sprinkler

Then, yesterday while running around town, look what we ran across! The girls were fascinated, but Libby hesitated to get out of the car when I told her Oscar Mayer was probably looking for cute four-year-olds to sing their jingle. Once I promised her she wouldn't have to sing, she agreed to having her picture taken. My bologna has a first name.....