No apologies..

Every time I fail to blog for a while I start off with saying how sorry I am that I have been gone, not this time. I blog constantly, in my head, while doing dishes, I just never make it to my computer. Lots has happened since Feb, we have had 5 birthdays, 3 trips, countless play dates, I will try and catch up soon but for now, my first Flickr meme. My friend decided we needed to work on this today (because between us we had nothing better to do).



The Questions:

1. What is your first name? Michelle
2. What is your favorite food? We are finally getting a Chipotle here, I am so excited.
3. What high school did you go to? I went to Margaret Hudson, it was a "special" school for pregnant teens :)
4. What is your favorite color? Cornflower Blue, isn't it pretty?
5. Who is your celebrity crush? I have a thing for Matthews apparently
6. Favorite drink? I know everyone thought it was Diet Coke but I am trying to quit again.
7. Dream vacation? Absolutely Lord Howe Island, I am hoping we can go for our 20th anniversary, or at least by our 50th.
8. Favorite dessert? I love cake.
9. What you want to be when you grow up? I don't really want to be Martha Stewart but I would love to have house as clean as hers and as nicely decorated.
10. What do you love most in life? Family of course.
11. One Word to describe you. Adaptable is what we came up with and since I love zebras I had to choose this image.
12. Your flickr name. Andfornoreason.

We have the Pox

Well, sometimes friends bring you fun stuff. We weren't sure we were ready for this adventure but it was decided for us and we have Chicken pox. Now, I am glad we have it, so far not too bad. Only Logan and Julia have spots right now, Naomi missed this time. Logan was crabby, tired and feverish the first day but Julia hasn't really been too bad. I think they have a pretty mild case.

Yesterday Julia discovered a mid evil form of bondage (aka the bra) . She was quiet sure she was doing it right. I never thought I would post a picture of my bra on my blog but she is so cute in it so here ya go.Sleep has been kind of rare around here, and not because of the pox. A few weeks ago we lost our little Rosie to a coyote. I will spare the details but it has been kind of traumatic. I just wanted to say that although I complained (daily) about her I miss her like crazy.

Bye sweet girl, we loved you!

Some catching up...

I finally brought my camera in out of the cold (I have been lusting after a new one and really neglected my photography, a new one will not happen for a long time so I must appreciate the one I have). There are a few pictures on it I wanted to share. The first is one of our new stocking hanger, since we have no fireplace and the one like this at Pottery Barn was out of my budget my dh made one. I really liked the way it turned out. We have a matching one if anyone is interested. All of the stockings, except the plain red one, were made over the years by my mom. We do only have 5 kids, but this year since dd is technically engaged, we added one for her boyfriend. We also went to Chuck E Cheese last month for a friend's birthday, the kids had a great time. The weather was really snowy so it was a great way for the kids to burn some energy.

Ashy the beautiful birthday girl.

Julia really enjoyed all the rides. Between us we had 8 little ones (under age 7) and manged to not lose any of them, a pretty good day.

We are in the middle of basketball season, actually there are only 3 games left, here is an image of the 3 little ones watching intently. I think that was the only second they were all watching. As a general rule I don't really like taking them because I don't get to watch any of the game but I like them to see their sister play so we compromise and take them to some of the games. Miranda decided that she prefered to play on JV so she talked to the coach and gave up Varsity. At her game on Wed she scored 1/2 the points for the team! (granted there were only 8 points total...) They did lose but she had a good time and that is what is important.

Today I brought out some new socks (highlight of the day I might add and on a great sale from Old Navy). They are quite cute, you probably can't tell but they are so very soft. The girls really liked them. We also went back to cloth diapers, I am making every effort in 2008 to be more frugal, and create less waste.
I love when the girls wear dresses but my second favorite is when they both wear overalls. I just like the simplicity of them.

Logan learned to tie his shoes recently. Naomi decided she too should know how. Never mind that she is 3 years younger. So determined that she has just about mastered it. She needs a tiny bit of guidance with the last step. I was thinking the other day that Julia is the age Naomi was when she was born, still a baby. She has grown up a little faster than I would have liked but is a good big sister.

I think if I ever find these shoes in my size I will have to buy them (the socks too).

Last Saturday, Julia had a run in with the kitchen table. I think it is healing nicely, you get one guess what she was doing that got her to hold still enough for this photo. Have a great weekend!

I don't know where time goes! If I miss one day on the blog then it turns into 2, then a whole week has gone by. Well, I will just jump back in.
1. I am grateful that dd and her boyfriend made it down for the night on Friday ( the normal <2 hour trip took 5 + due to weather and traffic)
2. I am grateful that my back is feeling better and I have a Chiro appointment today.
3. I am grateful that my dd first basketball game went well even thought they lost.
4. I am grateful that my fil called and told dh that he is taking him and his brother on a fishing trip this summer in AK. ( I love halibut and it is wonderful when it is fresh)
5. I am grateful that I get to go scrapbooking this weekend. (ds is not allowed in the hammock so I WILL get to go)

grateful day : : 8

I know I was going to try not to repeat myself but truly I could type one thing 5 times and be no less grateful than the first time I wrote it. DD slept from 8pm to 5 am last night!!!!!! That is it, I am 5 times grateful for the first nights sleep I have had in about 6 years. Now, she did wake up and cry out a couple of times but never more than a few little cries then went back to sleep, didn't even wake her sister right next to her. I don't even dream that it will happen again tonight, I have thought maybe it was the blueberries she ate as a bed time snack? We will try that again although I am sure they had nothing to do with it. I could easily become superstitious and try to replicate all that is done on a night that she sleeps peacefully.

grateful day : : 7

I was thinking last night as I was putting the kids to bed (I do my best thinking then, not in the shower like most people since the kids are usually staring at me through the glass) anyway, my thought was that I am grateful that the only lasting effects of ds little accident seems to be that he will come up and hug me for no reason, then run off just as quick. I love it! Well, that was one, here's the rest.
2. I am grateful that I don't have to work outside in this wind!
3. I am grateful that my sister got a new job after being laid off, one even better than before! (good luck on your first day Beck)
4. I am grateful that my feet are warm.
5. I am grateful that I am reasonably caught up on laundry **as long as there isn't more than 3-4 loads to be done at any given time I consider that caught up ;)**

Have a great Hump Day!

grateful day : : 6

Yes, I know there was no grateful day 5, believe me it was better not to post yesterday, it would have been the opposite of grateful and since it is all about being positive, I just skipped it.
Anyway, there is lots going on most of which I will not post on the internet, and last night in the middle of the night (thanks to youngest dd I was up to ponder) I came to the conclusion that I really just needed to give it over to God and not worry so much. So todays list ...
1. I am grateful that we have a full pantry and fridge to eat out of for the next week.
2. I am grateful that my dd made the basketball team, Varsity no less.
3. I am grateful that I didn't get too cranky with the kids even though I was very tired today.
4. I am grateful that my dh heard my needs last night and took over the littlest dd around 3 am so I got to sleep for a while.
5. I am grateful that I took the time to enjoy the amazing Colorado sky on a moonless night.
6. I am grateful that we got propane delivered so I can take a nice hot bath without worrying that I might be using up the last of the gas.

That last one was a bonus!