The most bad awful no good day

The only good thing about it was that I had something to write my sister on a mission about. The boys didn't have school today, so naturally they woke up at the crack of dawn. They immediately demanded breakfast. Did I mention that we had no food? I scrounged something up, and we got ready and took Lily to her 15 month check up. No major problems with the boys, and it was a quick visit. THEN, I stopped to get some food. In a small grocery store. Mostly empty, save a few unsuspecting elderly people. And so QUIET. I put Lily in the cart, and let the boys walk. Ashton immediately stated touching everything, and would not stop, despite repeatedly being told to stop, so I put him in the cart. A few feet further, and they started making a great racket. Chanting, and laughing loudly. Very embarrassing. Then, Gilbert stood on a rack full of bread. Somehow, it didn't get smashed. Put Gilbert in the cart. The howling, chanting, laughing and screaming intensified, with Lily occasionally adding shrieks. I took them out so that I could unload the groceries onto the conveyor belt. Gilbert started grabbing items from the checkout lane and BITING them. I had to buy a candy bar I didn't want. Put him back in the cart. Meanwhile, Ashton is crawling around under the area where people are supposed to bag their groceries. Finally, I managed to get out of that store. At home, Gilbert decided to pee in a toy cup, sit on his sister, and generally run amok. Ashton encouraged him the whole time, and continued to disregard every instruction given. Also, sometimes, when Gilbert is feeling naughty, he poops in his pull up. He wears them at night, and during naps, in case he has accidents while he sleeps. If he is awake, he is supposed to use the potty. He knows this. He refused to use the bathroom when he woke up, and then, he pooped in his pull up. I put him down for a nap. Finally a break, NOT. "Mommy, I poop in my pull up (big grin and laughter)." GRRRR. Really glad this day is over. Good thing I love them.

Lots o stuff

I never remember how this thing uploads, so we are starting in Feb, and working our way back to Dec. Clint, Kirsten, and I went to New York city. Well, at first it was got to, and then we got stuck. For five days. When we originally planned four. Snow. I've always hated it. I wasn't mentally prepared to leave my kids for 9 days, but we had fun, and everything worked our okay. We are so grateful to our easy going friends, who let us stay 5 extra days and nights, and to my Mom and Dad, who watched our children for nine days! This is me and Leah, we stayed with her and her husband.

Kirsten and I at a Mavs game (in Dallas). I'm so glad she got to visit! Even though our travel plans didn't quite work out, we still had lots of fun.

The best thing about NYC: The food. The yummiest dumplings ever in Chinatown.

We saw Phantom of the Opera and Mary Poppins on Broadway.

We saw the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry.

Riding the subway. I could really do without that. I find them noisy, scary, dirty, and smelly.

Me and Clint at a bakery. It was great to spend time together without the kids.

A really delicious dessert from a yummy bakery. I miss New York food so much. I love food....

Me at the John Lennon memorial in Central Park
.

Times Square

Resting in Bryant Park. We walked over 100 blocks that day. Whew.

Kirsten, Leah, and I at a yummy ice cream place in Brooklyn.

This is a bridge. The Brooklyn one, I believe.

I had a great birthday! Clint got me a cake, and some amazing presents. A new ipod (which he even managed to surprise me with), and a purple pocket knife.



Birthday Girl. Cake is very serious business. We have so many late winter and spring birthdays, she has heard "Happy Birthday" a lot, and like to sing it. She will almost always stop crying and smile if you sing it to her.



This is what I get for A) trying to straightening my hair, and B) Having yummy marzipan in the fridge. Gilbert helped by opening the fridge



We had some lovely Danish visitors, and they were here for Christmas, New Years, Lily's Birthday, AND my birthday. We had tons of fun talking, eating, shopping, seeing movies, and just hanging out. We were so glad to see Morten and Alaina, and wish they lived closer. On a side note, the spell check is fine with Morten, but doesn't like Alaina. Go figure.

Lily getting in on the action.

Christmas morning.

Christmas! The kids got too many toys, even though we vowed we'd only get a few things. All three of them love the kitchen. Lily brings me play food, and makes eating noises in order to prompt me to make them.



Gilbert was a donkey in his school Christmas play. It was super cute. He just stood there, very somber, without singing or dancing. But he didn't cry. We also had Thanksgiving With Clint's brother Coleman and his family. We had a great time, and I managed not to get any pictures. Rachel and I had a great day shopping, and the kids had a blast playing together. It's great that they only live ten hours away!