39

yesterday i turned 39.

the day was all kinds of wonderful and normal mixed together.
perfect to me!

a friend stopped by for a visit, i schooled the boys, there was good phone conversations, a door knob was pulled off and i got a nap.
husband brought me home a new electric skillet and he made me my favorite brownies.

but, my favorite part of the day was when i asked everyone what i do to make them feel loved.

*there was the safe answer of going to mass together.

*one boy said when i make a good supper even when i don't feel like it.
(dear morning sickness that comes every single evening, you are so reliable)
i thought that was a really sweet and considerate.

*when i read chapter books out loud to them.
this one surprised me!
i have not been reading to them like i used to.
they reminded me of some books we've read together.
i will start again.

*when i help them with their school work.
i was also told they feel loved when i don't give them lots of math problems.
they will just have to feel unloved, because they are doing their math.

*when i take them to the skate park.
it is in a different city in a bad part of town.
i always feel unsafe there.  husband usually takes them.
guess i could take them once this spring or summer.

*the husband said when i get up early with him.
why did he have to say that???
i require so much sleep and he wakes up before it is even morning time.
by the time i roll out of bed he's exercised, done his morning readings, is even dressed and making a hot breakfast for all of us.
maybe i could try to do that once a year???

the pigs

meet charlie and stanley:

the easter bunny left 2 guinea pigs.

they were quickly named joey and charlie and very loved.

i must say, they were very cute together.

i've even held charlie once.

(don't let me get started on the easter bunny...

we wish we would've never started with these fictitious gift givers.

i can see them quickly being phased out of our family with the age gap we have.)

sadly, to some, joey died a few days later.

he was delicately wrapped in paper bags and thrown in the freezer,

on top of all my beef.

the frozen pig was returned and the boys took the last remaining pig at the store - 
stanley, the huge scary looking albino.

of course stanley is very loved now too.
the boys have grown to 'adore' his uniqueness.
these pigs have had tunnels made for them in the backyard.
they've explored most of the neighborhood.
and they are carried around the house wrapped in towels.
my boys know how to treat their animals real good.

snow

we've had so much snow this year!

the big boys made igloos again.

it amazes me they are able to make them.

thankfully, bo christian decided it is okay to

zip his coat,

wear mittens, which is pronounced mit-mits
and wear a hat, pronounced at.

this winter, even with all the cold temperatures, i have not been all frozen in my bones!
it has made this winter so different...kind of enjoyable to me.
thank you long skirts, it has been really nice.

he figured it out

several reasons to celebrate!

a few weeks ago i met a lady who was introducing her daughter to me.

she said:

this is _____, our newly adopted daughter.

but more importantly she is just newly baptized.

speechless.

i had never thought of it like that.

a few days later i read that Pope Francis said we are to find out the day of our baptism and celebrate it.

makes sense once i stopped to think about it.

it is that important!

and we are all for another reason to celebrate around here.

we celebrated bo christian's baptismal day a few days ago.

check out these cupcakes:

the girl that can't make a good cake made that!

the cake was fluffy and tall.

the icing was thick and perfect.

it even tasted really good.

i am so proud of myself.