it's not my fault!!!

I would blog more often but I've been effectively lured onto facebook. the greatest productivity sucker since, well, since blogging! :) I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I'm fully addicted to facebook, but it's true.

The fam is doing well. We've been home mostly since my last stop on blogger. We've had another preschool friend over for a playdate, this time Morgan. It was the Thursday after Brooklyn had come to play and Ella stops Morgan on the way out of school and says 'Morgan! We're gonna have you over for a playdate. OK!' and my fate was sealed! We've had about a week of great weather (yes we consider high 30's lower 40's great weather around here), so have been outside taking walks and jumping in snow puddles a lot lately. Since doing so, Mia won't let me carry her anymore. Needless to say our "in-transit" time has increased greatly, but I'm glad she's becoming independent, and she's a funny little thing.

Last weekend seemed to be "movie" weekend. Friday night wsa movies with the girls and Tesdahls (minus Jim). We watched a quick veggietales movie so Mia could take part, then put her to bed and let the big girls (and Matthew) watch Annie - which, it turns out was more for Heidi and I than the kids! Movie night is tons of fun...we only do it every few months, but the bowl of popcorn and sleeping bags seem to completely set it apart from our usual tv time at night and Ella loves it. Mia and Matthew weren't such great watchers, but the big girls put up with it well enough. We've been watching Annie every night since - which makes for a happy mom...I love Annie!

Saturday night was for Chris and I. I ran the redbox at McDonald's (greatest invention ever!) and picked up Traitor and Wanted. We both really enjoyed Traitor....and Wanted as well, although the latter was a little gory for me. Still good action and the like.

I've finally gotten smart and have implemented midday routine for the kids around here. We've been doing so much babysitting that it seemed like the smart thing to do and I can't for the life of me figure out why I didn't do it sooner....like the day Ella was born. We have lunch then play for a while (we try to go outside, as I've found fresh air makes for better nappers) before coming inside for a quick pick-up (poor Ella winds up doing most of the work with me while the babies ruin it all! but they are getting better). Then we sing and dance to a few songs, everyone gets to pick a book for a quick story time and it's off to nap time for the babies. Best of all is that it has made Ella completely compliant regarding having a quiet time. I think it's very good for her, and VERY good for me. I've committed to taking a break myself during this time, and instead of cleaning/laundry/etc the entire time I run through and do a quick pick up of what is left, wash dishes quick if needed, etc. then sit down at the table (or in this case the computer) and read a magazine or do the crossword in the paper....or both - our local paper can be read and crossworded in less than ten minutes. we're all thriving for it.

Ella's gymnastics club has opened a new class an hour earlier which we have moved to. It allows for us to go to tumbling and still get home to have some sort of a family dinner, and the class is much smaller (on account of the five o'clock start time, not everyone can get their kids there that early). Addie joined this week too which is lots of fun, and with the smaller class they're able to get more individual attention and try some more skillful stunts. I think it's great.

Valentine's party at Ella's preschool this morning - it was P week, so the v-day party was a pajama party. So fun. We got a Valentine's present in the mail from Granny and Grandpa yesterday - with new heart comfies in it just in time! Ella and Mia are both in them for the duration of the day today.

Mia has become quite a talker, although my attempts at potty training aren't taking so well. We'll get there though....she likes to sit on the potty, but can't figure out the "go" on the potty part. This could be a long one!

The local spa in town is running a valentine's special on massages whereby if you get two you get like 10 bucks off each of them....Grandma Terri and I are treating each other to said massages tomorrow (and trading childcare duties)! I can think of no one more suited for a valentine's gift from me than my favorite co-worker!!!

Happy weekend to everyone - don't forget to let me know what you're up to!