Cabin Fever

It's the end of January and it feels like there's no end to winter in sight. I feel like the kids are always on top of me. Their favorite game right now is "Booger Monster". Indie is the monster and they run from room to room screaming "AHHHHHH! The Booger Monster is coming!" I need to be able to send them somewhere! They go to the neighbors a lot, but I still feel like they are always so loud! I send them outside to play in the snow, but that never lasts long and Park won't even go. And he was the one I couldn't get to come inside during the summer. This morning I decided to cruise the internet and find ideas to help with our cabin fever. I came across the perfect one. They say to use tape on the carpet to outline hopscotch and a freethrow line, and I got to thinking...why not do it in the basement? So I made it a project.

Here is the before. Not very playable.

And the after. I know you can't see it all so here's everything we've got going on down here: A free throw line with the hoop, hopscotch, plactic balls to throw around, soccer goals and bikes with a gas pump they can fill up at that I found at DI for $3! Hopefully this helps!

Last night Annicka was especially tired. Normally after prayers and scripture stories I'll read a chapter book out loud. Right now we are reading "A Series of Unfortunate Events". Anyway, Annicka was crying because she didn't want me to read out loud, "because I'm too tired and it keeps waking me up." Park still wanted me to read and I tried telling her that she has been able to fall asleep while I was reading before. But she was adamant with the whiny crying voice. So I got out "Where the Wild Things Are" and I read it to Park very quietly. Guess what Annicka did half way through the book. She got out of bed feigning a desire for a stuffed animal to sleep with and came over to Park's bed wanting to see the pictures. "I thought you were too tired for me to read, Annicka." "I just want to see the pictures, mom!" Typical five-year-old!

Happy Birthday, Indie & Scott!

Indie's Birthday was Wednesday. It was very low key...just us. It was kind of nice that way. I do like to entertain, but I had a cold and wasn't up to having lots of people over anyway.

Indie was our first child who really got into his cake without any coaxing. Annicka we had to coax and Park wouldn't touch it, even with the coaxing.

What a handsome and messy one-year-old!

Indie got a fun present that I think Park and Annicka got more into than he did.

And today is Scott's birthday. Happy 35th Birthday, my love! You know how much you mean to me and to the kids. I'm so grateful for a loving and patient husband. And thank you, Rolyne (and Ron), for doing such a fine job of raising him! You've done an amazing job with all of your children, but I am especially grateful for Scott, for obvious reasons. Happy Birthday to my favorite husband and my favorite #3 child! I cannot imagine life without you!