Out of the Mouths of Babes

So, despite many protests when I said I was going to get Michaela's hair cut, everyone so far seems to think the new 'do is very cute. We went to Saum Chiropractic yesterday and everyone was talking about the hair. Misty, one of the assistants, came out to look. Something was said about Mama getting her hair cut too. To which Hunter piped up "Yeah and she got it colored too to cover up her gray hairs!" Misty told him "I don't think you're suppose to be telling people that!"

Speaking of "out of the mouths of babes". I've told some of you this story. Michaela is newly fascinated w/ trucks. For Christmas, Uncle Morgan got Hunter a big metal dump truck. We got Michaela her own when they went on clearance at Wal-mart because she kept trying to steal Hunter's. The problem is, she can't say 'truck'. She says it with an 'F' . . . Most people understand she's just a little girl. But it's still unnerving to hear your two year old yelling that word through a parking lot!

Before. . .

. . . and after.

Deadly in Pink

The Fancy Schmancy Camera

So, you may have noticed varying quality in some of our pictures.

Allan got a Cannon Rebel when Michaela was about 6 months old. The Fujifilm camera we had when Hunter was born was good for our apartment in Spokane that had lots of natural light. (It was the camera I used on the AZ trip.) It wasn't so good for our dark house on base here. I call the Rebel "The Fancy Schmancy Camera" because I can't figure it out! I should have let Allan take the pictures of the Clone Trooper Army at Hunter's Birthday Party back in December. These were my sad attempts. There was a blurry child in every shot!

This was the best shot I got.

Compare the above to the action shots Allan got of Hunter at gymnastics last summer.

I guess for now Allan will be the main photographer and photo editor and I will be the picture post-er and journaler (if that's a word -ha!).

Kid Logic

So, we are having a hard time adjusting to the time change. It doesn't help that with sick kids last week, we had been sleeping in late. Monday morning I needed to go to work in Starkville. Hunter had begged to finish watching a show the night before, so I said he could as long as he took a bath in the morning before going to the sitter's. I also had to bathe Michaela in the morning because she had been very grouchy and fallen asleep early. It's a 45 minute drive to the sitter's. And I'm suppose to be at the health district by 8:45am. Besides baths, I also needed to feed them breakfast, get them (and myself) dressed, and make lunches for everyone. (I know, I know, I should organize everything the night before. Sometimes, though, it just doesn't happen!) I set the alarm for 6:00 and finally managed to drag Hunter and Michaela out of bed at 6:15am. Hunter said "Wow! I've never been up this late in the night!" "It's not night time. It's morning," I told him. To which he replied "Na-uh! It's still dark outside!" Makes sense to me. =-)

The Birthday Girl

This past Thursday, March 5th was Michaela's 2nd birthday! (What? How is that possible?) Despite feeling not so well most of the day, presents and sugar (cake & ice cream) perked her right up! And yes, I am a terrible mother - she is still in her pajamas at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. (Give me a break - I had two sick, clingy children. Why create more laundry if I didn't have to?) I was able to find her a toddler sized bike helmet at One Step Ahead. She calls it 'my hat!'.

I don't know why she always insists on putting sunglasses on upside down!

Breaking through all the packaging was a perfect job for Hunter.

Sweet girl!

The cookie icing I got was a lot runnier than I expected. The cake is supposed to say 'Mikey'.

Trying to keep her hair from catching on fire!

Michaela was having some trouble blowing out the candle.

We asked Michaela if Hunter could help her. She said 'Yeah', but didn't see the actual candle go out. When she turned back and saw the candle was out, she clapped her hands together squealing - "I did it!" Too cute! And Hunter was such a good sport. He played along and let her think she had blown it out.

Michaela thoroughly enjoyed her cookie cake and ice cream.

And when she was done with hers, she tried to help herself to Hunter's!

Michaela's thinking, "Come on, Hunter! You know you want to share w/ me!"

"Oh well, he won't mind if I just help myself to his water!"

Sick & Tired

"The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep."
-Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Allan came home to the above scene the Tuesday before last (Feb. 24th). It seems since we got back from Arizona it has been just one illness after another. Monday Michaela had an ear infection. But other than sticking her finger in her ear once and saying "owie!" I would not have known there was anything wrong. Tuesday (24th), Hunter was bouncing all over the house, as usual. We were just about to head out the door to drop him at preschool when he gave a shiver. I checked his temp - sure enough he was running a fever. He played all morning then crashed after lunch. He and Michaela were fighting over my lap as we sat down to watch a video. Hence the picture.

By Wednesday, I took him to the doctor. He was bit by a tick two weeks before, so they decided to run lab work. After much crying leading up to the lab work, he did just fine once they actually stuck him. (Though, Mommy wanted to cry for him!) By Thursday, he had an earache, so he was also put on an antibiotic. By Monday, he seemed better, so I went to work in Starkville. But by that night, Michaela was running a high grade fever. *sigh*

When Michaela doesn't feel well, she makes sure the whole world knows about it! The last two nights she woke up crying every time she coughed. So, we ended up on the couch. I sat Michaela between my legs and laid her head against my stomach to keep her upright and breathing easier. (I know my chiropractor is reading this right now and cringing! Surprisingly I don't have a backache - yet.) Now both kids have upset tummies from the antibiotics. What a miserable way for Michaela to spend her 2nd Birthday! The good news is Hunter's lab work came back negative for flu, mono, Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. But needless to say, I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired!

Snow Day

So, I have to imagine that everyone in the South is posting snow pictures to their blogs today! It's such a rare occurrence here. This is the sight we awoke to this morning.

View of our house and front yard.

Our fruit trees out back. What kind of fruit? I'll tell you when we find out!

This gives you an idea of how thick it was!

The kids raced to put on their warm clothes and rubber boots to go out and play. Michaela didn't last long.

It was perfect snow for a snowball fight! Soon, though, Hunter was trying to slide down the hill on his belly - silly boy! By noon it was just a muddy mess out there!