Kanab, etc.

For President's Day last week, I decided to take the kids and drive over to my sister Maria's house in Kanab. They had the day off of school but Mark still had to work and we needed something to do other than hang around the house watching Netflix (like we normally do).

 It's an 80 mile drive there, over Cedar Mountain, which is beautiful but very twisty and full of large scary abysses, so you have to drive carefully. I usually get carsick and/or a headache.

 Utah is a big, empty state...

 But we finally made it! This is my niece Nora, almost 10 months.

 And my niece Emery, who just turned 3.

 The kids had a blast (Luke decided to not wear pants anymore at some point) and Maria and I just gabbed for hours and made some gnocchi soup.

The rest of the week was super busy. I can't even keep track of what I spend my days doing anymore. I just know I'm tired and it's getting harder to keep up with stuff (I had a nasty cold to get over, too).

 Mark was quite productive yesterday, though. He decided to build a sturdy ladder for his shed.

 He had an aluminum ladder going up to the loft before, but this is a much better setup for the kids.

 

 Because they think that is their space, of course. Mark carpeted it for them and everything last year.

I have finally started on sewing some baby projects and am currently in Burp Cloth Factory Mode. Ironically, none of these will be for me because I like small, square burp cloths. But since I know 10 other pregnant women right now, I figured I needed to build up my gift stash anyway. I'd better get back to it if I ever want to see my kitchen table again!

Baby QQ at 26 weeks

 Last Tuesday, I was asked to come in for an ultrasound so a girl being trained as an ultrasound tech could practice. (She apparently asked for "petite" pregnant ladies and so Dr. Sanders said that I should be flattered.) I had to be propped up with pillows all over so I wouldn't pass out--that was lovely. Mostly, she was practicing viewing abdominal stuff, which is just a bunch of blobs. But every once in a while, Dr. Sanders would elbow her out of the way so we could try and get some "cute pictures". Little QQ had her arms up around her head the whole time, but he managed to get some 3D shots of her face. She looks like Madelyn!!

We could even see her practice her sucking motions with her mouth. It was crazy. She should have all five senses working now. She has consistently measured two days ahead, putting her due date at May 17, but they haven't officially changed it or anything. She is also currently breech, so I'm hoping she decides to flip back over at some point....

This week I am 27 weeks, and 3 months away from my due date, so HELLO THIRD TRIMESTER! Finally!!! I had to go get my Rhogam shot today and it was awful like it always is. I got my glucose and anemia screenings (yucky orange drink followed by blood draw) last week and passed with flying colors. So it feels like we've gotten a lot of dreaded stuff out of the way.

At my 30 week appointment they'll do another ultrasound and hopefully I'll have more pictures to show then!

It's springy and I'm weirded out

This pic was taken a week ago when my brother Kevin came up with his family to visit and play in the snow. We've only had about two big snowstorms this winter, and the kids stomped out what was left of the wet remains of our last one.

 Jack and Hattie borrowed some of our snow gear and had a blast!

 Luke still can't get over how delicious snow is.

 Luke and Gary. They look like they could be brothers! (They're cousins.)

 They enjoyed meeting the cat.

 Poor Tiger, he has to put up with Luke's "affections" all day.

 Kevin always rearranges the decorations on our window...

We decided to let Tiger outside for the first time a couple of weeks ago. He used to be mostly an outdoor cat, but we hadn't let him out yet for fear of him running away. He doesn't like the snow, so we figured it was safe to let him have a little trial run.

He came back quickly (as soon as Luke came out, haha). 

The first and second time, he stayed right by the flower bed, where he could pick his way around the snow. We went out and bought a collar with a name tag with our phone and address so that we'd feel more comfortable letting him out of our sight. Then I made the mistake of letting him out as it was getting dark, and he disappeared.

He didn't come back for hours and we had to go to bed with him still out. We were all worried sick that he'd run away and couldn't sleep. Finally when I got up to pee at 1:15 am, I went and checked the back door again and saw a black cat walk by. So I opened the door and called for Tiger and he came trotting over. I was so relieved!!! I had to wake up Mark and Madelyn to tell them.

 His escapades earned him another bath.

Now we let him out as much as he wants during the day, and he's happy to roam around the back yard. We still aren't comfortable letting him out at night yet, but of course that's when he really WANTS to go out. I'm sure he still has old cat buddies in the neighborhood, because his former owners just live up the street from us.

He spends a lot of time just sitting at the doorway, sniffing the air.

The weather so far this year has been so weird. We have lived in Cedar for a total of almost 8 years and usually Nov-April is wintery. (Yay, us.) Springtime can be cold and windy and snowy, with little dashes of pleasant weather in between. Last year we were in a deep freeze for most of January and February, where the temps didn't crack above freezing for weeks on end.

It has been in the MID-SIXTIES this week. Whaat??! I know most of the US has been dealing with all this polar vortex junk, and snow everywhere, but in the meantime we have been having temps way above normal these past couple of months. I am not complaining. This is the type of weather I grew up with (and usually miss desperately this time of year). The kids have been loving it this week with all the snow melted.

 

 We even have crocuses in bloom and tulip and daffodil sprouts coming up!

 (Last three pictures courtesy of Madelyn). Luke has been so happy to play outside again, and I've been so happy to not have him glued to the computer and TV all day.

I don't think we're going to go straight into spring/summer without it getting cold again, but it's encouraging to be halfway through February already.

 Short recap of Valentine's Day because I don't know where else to post about it: The kids both had class parties AND got chocolates and cards and candy from their parents. They were thrilled and super hyped up on sugar.

Madelyn's been putting her easel to good work. She is a sweetheart.

I was very impressed that she was able to sketch these Angry Birds just from looking at a picture!

 "Can you find all the pigs? By Madelyn." :)

Hearts!

I finally found time to be a little crafty! This is the third year in a row that I've made felt heart garlands (see last year's post/tutorial). I needed to make some more because I had three people I know have surgery on the same day (two for cancer, one for fixing a heart condition) and I thought something like this would cheer them up. Then I sent the others out to my sister, niece and a couple of friends. I couldn't really remember exactly who I'd sent them to last year, so.....I guessed.

This was the first batch--I'd forgotten to take a pic of one of them because it was done last minute before taking it to the hospital for my visiting teacher who had colon cancer surgery.

 This is just one really long one that I made for my friend Anya after she sent me the cutest baby afghan last week.

 

 Isn't Valentine's the best holiday?? I just love the colors.

Then I sewed the extra hearts onto some cards for the fam.

 I even made some for next year and broke out the pink glitter because....PINK GLITTER, Y'ALL.

*Sigh!*

 

 Madelyn made a whole ton of valentines, including one for the cat.

 I helped Luke make some today...and was totally blown away when he showed me he could write his name all by himself. I DID NOT KNOW HE COULD WRITE HIS NAME. We can never get him to talk about preschool, much less demonstrate anything. Well, I'll be darned.

 :)

Can't wait for tomorrow! Chocolate for breakfast!