It seems like life just keeps getting busier. I don't know why I feel that way, since it really isn't any busier than before. Maybe I'm just more tired. What I can say, though, is that we have finally kicked the sickness bug. The only thing left is a cough for Zach which he has had for over three months. I can't quite figure out what is going on. Even my Mom commented on it when she came in December. It even makes his voice hoarse after he reads aloud for more than ten minutes or so. Could it all be allergies? Hopefully I'll figure it out soon. The upside is that only the congestion seems to bother him, and only at night.
The rest of our lives are much the same. We get up. Some of us go to work or school and some of us run around like crazy people doing errands. Just yesterday Matt asked me, "Mom, why do we go to the store so much?" I felt like saying, "I don't know, sweetie. Maybe because we need milk almost every other day. Maybe because, it seems like even doing the big shopping once every two weeks we are still missing something quite often. Or maybe because the four of you can consume after school snacks in amazing fashion." Instead, I just said, "Because we need milk. Don't you want to have milk with your cereal?"
One thing I haven't blogged about is Emma's birthday. She turned two on January 2nd and had loads of fun opening presents, eating cake and playing. Notice the very evident girl theme. Last year she didn't really care what color the wrapping paper was, or if the presents were more catered to a girl. But, now that she is two she has distinct opinions (who am I kidding here, she has always had distinct opinions, she just expresses them more effectively now). So, she got to pick the wrapping paper, the sprinkles on the cupcakes, and the shirts and pants she would wear and not throw a fit about. Even with the very girl theme, she can be just as rough and tumble as her brothers. Nobody will be pushing her around, that is for sure! All the pictures are from her birthday party. It was a great day!
We did do something fun for Valentine's this year. The ward does something they call Friendship Week and we participated in it. Basically you are assigned a family and are supposed to leave "goodies" at least four times in a week ending on Valentine's Day. The trick is you are supposed to keep your identity a secret until the last day. Our kids had so much fun dropping things on the doorstep, knocking or ringing, and taking off for the car where we made a quick get away. They also enjoyed what was left for us. Probably our favorite was the first night when we got two take and bake pizzas, two two-liters of rootbeer and a loaned movie we had never seen. Our kids really enjoy having a movie night with us, so this made for the perfect moment. 
One other new thing is that Zach has been playing basketball for the last six or seven weeks and Saturday marked the first time this season he made a basket. YEAH! And where was I, outside with the other three as both Matt and Josh needed to use the restroom. Last year, Zach also made one basket and I missed it then, too. It seems this happens with frequency. Something momentous (or at least momentous for us) happens and I am nowhere to be found. Which begs the question, when will I actually be able to enjoy the moment, at that exact moment? Maybe when the rest of my kids are...I don't know, fifteen or older? We did celebrate afterwards by spending some family time together.So the rest of life is much of the same. There are some things we can't complain about being the same; none of us has true health problems, Zach and Josh are both doing really well in school, Troy is LOVING his job, and there is lots of noise, laughter and love in our house. One thing I wish wasn't the same...there are always dishes or laundry to do. But we can't really complain. Hope your life has few complaints too!
