Happy February to YOU!!

In case I missed you personally, Happy February Birthday to each and every one of you. Our family has attempted to wish 7 lucky family members a happy birthday this month--starting with new baby Ethan on the 1st. Then there's Kenny, my Dad, Ashley, Brandon, Kevin's mom, Amber and my sister Kerry.

And they call it puppy love

We are not getting a puppy :)




Grace has recently declared that Diego (cousin of Dora the Explorer) is her boyfriend. She loves to watch his show and tells us he's cute.
She has also noticed a certain young phantom boy from Nickelodeon called Danny Phantom. This is the best picture I could find. When he's not so angry and phantomy, this character also has dark hair and dark eyes.

Notice a theme here? There's one more little boy in Grace's collection of crushes. His name's Spencer and he's in her preschool class. He's got--you guessed it--dark hair, dark eyes and is a cute little outgoing guy. She asks me after nearly every class if we can invite Spencer over. (I don't know Spencer's mom, and I didn't want to be creepy and ask if I could take a picture of her child and post it on my blog because my daughter has a crush on him. She might think it's cute. She really might not). I'm thinking maybe we can take them to the park when it gets warmer.

Gracie gets a little giddy and giggly whenever we mention any of these boys. Who would have thought that at three, my baby would notice boys and have a definite "type." Tall (used loosely), dark and active.

Happy Birthday Ashley!

Ashley is ten. She wasn't very happy I had my lithotrispy scheduled on the same day, but she managed to have a fun birthday anyway. She got a ripstick that Kourtney rides every day, a new Justice outfit, Webkins, a Hannah Montana cake, etc. We had a quiet little family birthday and promised to take her and a friend out to a movie next week. This is the off-year for parties (yay!)

Ash is our creative, dancing society girl. She makes friends with everyone, is a good friend to everyone and loves everything girly. She gives Gracie makeovers and embellishes every surface with pictures of flowers, high school musical and pink. We love Ashley and her ever-changing wardrobe ensembles and nail polishes. Happy Birthday, Ash!

Valentine

Kevin knows how to treat his ladies. On Feb. 13 around 11:30 pm I heard him puttering around the kitchen. He was putting flowers in vases and arranging them on the counter.

Here is our candy-overloaded cake.

Ashley loves to get creative for every holiday and birthday. I plan to turn over all scrapbooking and blogging projects to her some day.

Skating weather

Last week right after a snowstorm Grace decided to pull on pads, a helmet and roller skates. She headed out the door and went roller skating. This was her face when we told her nobody else wanted to roller skate in the snow with her and that she should come in.

It was just for show. Both Kourt and Ash went out for a minute. Then we gladly put the skates away until spring.

Between a Rock and a Stony Place

I've been putting off having lithotripsy done on my three large clusters of kidney stones for about three years now. I've finally gotten brave and have decided it really needs to be done (especially if we're going to try to have one more baby before I'm too over the hill, etc.) Anyhoo, I finally worked up the nerve, called my doctor and I'm having the procedure this Tuesday--which also happens to be Ashley's birthday. Ashley is not happy with me, but that's the only available date for at least a couple of months. My doctor happens to be getting shoulder surgery in a couple of weeks, and Tuesday is the only date I could schedule my procedure before he's gone. Blech. SO--drink your fluids, friends; drink your fluids.

Ps. The lame girl with the lame smile on the table makes it all look rather glamorous. Don't be fooled. Besides, I'm fairly confident I won't be asked to wear a sports bra or get a tan for this.

Adventures of Henry Hippo

Gracie got to bring home Henry Hippo from preschool for the week. The kids each get a turn to take Henry all around with them for a week, then take pictures and write about what they and Henry did together. Grace wanted Henry to do her new trick, back bends. Henry also got to visit baby Ethan with Aunt Kylene's help.

New baby Ethan

Kirsten and Anthony had their baby Ethan on Sunday, Feb. 1. He's adorable--little soft dark hair. cute little lips. Grace wanted proof she was big enough to hold him, so Aunt Amber helped her.

The highlight of Sunday's hospital visit was of course the masks we found available to the general public placed around the main floor. Here are Uncle Amen, Grace and Kourtney modeling the latest in hospital-wear.