Light Show

Fun with a flashlight in the dark and a toddler who doesn't hold still.

Rain, Rain, Come and Stay

Rainy days are novelties here in Phoenix.  Micah enjoyed his first all-out splash-fest, and had a grand time. Hannah and Olivia never miss a chance to use their umbrellas (sometimes even when it's not raining).  It's amazing how even sunny days get taken for granted without some variety to remind you of why sunny blue skies are good.

Fun in the Mud

Against my better judgment, I relented and allowed my kids to play in the mud this afternoon.  We had a huge rainstorm last night (with lightning and thunder to boot), and it left us with lots of puddles.  We have one spot in particular in the back where we recently removed a tree that had died, and now it gathers rain (on the infrequent occasions that this desert gets any) like a rain barrel.

Hannah and Olivia made stone soup (with salt and pepper included, but no meat, milk, or vegetables, thank goodness).  Micah just made a mess.  Here are some photos I captured of Micah enjoying himself.  I was sprayed with muddy water in the process, but it was worth it.

What happened to my blog?

What happened to my life?

I went back to work, and now balance on a knife.

Hannah is 7, Olivia is on the eve of 5, and Micah is 15 months. I'm still hoping for a good night sleep. Now, not because Micah doesn't sleep through the night, but because the only way to keep my so called life in check is to work while my loved ones slumber. Someday, these days will be behind me, and I will miss them. Or so I'm told. For now, these days have worn out their welcome.

Despite my generally sleep-deprived state, life has its glimpses of joy. I'm thinking my problem may be that my eyes aren't open wide enough. Maybe it's an eyes-half-open vs. eyes-half-closed kind of thing. The other day, I noticed a plastic hook in my kitchen. Right on the front of one of the under-the-sink cupboard doors. I have lived in this house for more than a decade, and I am quite positive that I have never seen that hook. How can that be? Some of my blindness is for self-preservation purposes, and is thus necessary. But how much beauty am I missing because my eyes are a bit more shut than they are open?

Micah Loves His Toes

My Friend

I just love this. Danilo told the girls they could not have a treat, despite about 100 requests that day. Olivia found Hannah eating something that looked very much like a treat. Hannah insisted up and down that she was not eating a treat (some trick of semantics, I'm sure). Olivia to Hannah: "That's a TREAT, my friend." So, McCain's "my friend" phrase is being put to good use in our house. To create some balance, Hannah could have responded "yes we can [eat treats all day long], my friend."

Have a great week!

(Once I can get a semi-decent night's sleep I will post something more substantial with pictures. Micah is now 5 months old and so unbelievably cute that I can hardly stand it. His smile is pure joy.)

Micah's New Year's Resolutions

1. Stop sleeping in my car seat at night.
2. Stop eating 4 times a night.
3. Stop making Mom wake up every 30 minutes all night long.