Dave.

Dave might, probably, definitely be the best Dad in the world. Don't misunderstand me, he likes to dress Riley in cut-off overalls and has been known to, on occasion, give her sips of coke, but he LOVES our babies. There is no sleep more important, no tantrum too fierce, no diaper too foul, that can mar the way he looks at them and cuddles them and talks about them. It is something to see.

 At risk of him suing me for copyrights, I wish to share a portion of his Notre Dame application to illustrate (one requirement was to make a short power point showing that he could impart information clearly and concisely etc.):

 

 

*Let the record state: Dave is an amazing Dad. And that the ratio of sleep time to diaper-changing time is not as exaggerated as one would wish.
*He likewise is a delightful husband, but that's enough mush for one post.

Unclean! Unclean!

 So we aren't stricken with leprosy, but it ain't been no party around here. Dave, Riley, and Joe have all had this nasty bug of snotty, sneezing, Bain-sounding misery, Riley being the worst. Sometimes she just sits in her baby swing with her cup and pacifier watching Sesame Street. But that never lasts long - she has spirit, that one.

The Doctor actually gave her medicine for strep, which we have to coax/force into her twice a day. But whatever it takes, right? Nothing sadder than a sick baby. And nothing grosser than...something that is TMI and I've been forbidden to write about, but let me just say: they should issue biohazard suits at the hospital when you take home your baby. You will clean up some shi..iriously gross stuff. Out of the bathtub. You might gag a whole lot.

On to cuter topics: We have really been blessed with TLC the past couple weeks. It seems like whenever things are getting to be too much, crying babies and crying me and messy house and getting baby tylenol dumped over your head, someone has called or visited or brought dinner or something that cheered us up and I can't even express how appreciative Dave and I have been. Even Tim, missionary Tim in Vegas, who didn't know of our plight, told me in his email that yesterday he fasted for us. Gosh, I wonder what would happen if we got seriously sick? Cause I know it could be so much worse but its nice when God and people care about the little rough spots too.

Cute topic # 2: Joe the Handsome: he sits up now (kinda) and he does toothless old man face all day every day - its to DIE for! Caught a little on camera:

I think he started doing it because his teeth came in and he is exploring the feel of pulling his lips back over them. And then we started laughing every time he did it so now he likes to entertain.

More Marvelous Munions

I have just been sitting on this stack of pictures for like a week. We have partied so hard lately, thanks to a visit from some of Texas' greatest: Kyle and Megan Munion. It was so much fun to have them stay with us, and its nice to be in the family happening rather than hearing about it across the country! For months we've been saying, "We should do this and that and such and such with Kyle and Megan" and we truly did utilize the time with them! Prepare yourself: we documented:

Joe and Megan were instant friends. I think they have kindred humor - he was grinning as soon as she started talking to him. Joe really has come into his silly self, and he is always humoring us. Like when we were skyping with our VA family and we kept him flying in and out of the screen - he loved it!

SLEDDING!

   Andrea stayed with sleepy Joe while we all took Riley to a nearby park with some good hills. I love a wintery afternoon - the snow muffles everything and it becomes so serene. It makes you want to crunch through the woods thinking peaceful thoughts. Or zoom down the slopes laughing life a maniac, which is what we did.

 

  

 

SNOWBOARDING: It's one of those things that you get super excited before, scary mad when you are learning, and cautiously excited again when you start to get the hang of it. Like...crochet.

When we got off the lift at the top of the slope I witnessed a horrendous collision of a snowboarder and a grandpa on skiis (he was - the little boy with him cried out, "Grandpa are you ok?" and it was sad) because the snowboarder wasn't looking where he was going. Everyone was ok I guess but it made me nervous and more apt to fall over if I got going to fast. But the second trip down I got confident enough to relax and stand a little straighter and then it got fun.

It was a sunny 13 degrees.

I spent a lot of time doing this face.

And the boys spent a lot of time hauling us up.

It was beautiful. You can't see it but glittery snow was blowing down most of the trip - it was magical.

Um yes, I wore Dave's pants and Kyle's coat. But at least I was warm! I hope my ski coat turns up some day...

 It was a beautiful drive, and we saw a big mama moose too! Thanks to Emily for watching both the kiddiwinks so we could go!

TEMPLE SQUARE:

     I always mean to go but since I've lived in UT, I have only been up to see the lights at Christmas maybe two times. Luckily, we had out-of-towners and of course had to go! It was FREEZING! That was kind of the theme this week, actually. Family and freezing. But it was worth every frostbit finger! I am all over that alliteration today.

Which one is still wearing his under armor from snow boarding? (hint: who is happier to be in 0 degree weather?)

    What a fantastic time! We also went to the movies(Parental Guidance -cute), opened more presents, including an electric blanket that I can NOT stop talking about (crazy like Andrea is about her sweatpants, if you can imagine :) New Years Eve partying - we had pizza and watched one and a half Red Boxes (probably don't rent "Hope Springs" to watch with your in-laws, as it's SUPER awkward), New Years Day partying at the Harrelds with the best brisket you ever ate, lots of hot chocolate by the fire and playing a new game from Kyle and Megan called "Creationary" - Pictionary but with Legos (awesome).

Aaaaaand we blazed through a bottle of baby tylenol - Riley and Joe were busy cultivating the plague all through the festivities - Kyle and Megan left to go back to TX and then I took Riley to the Dr. and got her medicine for strep. So far no one else seems to have gotten that, so that's good. But we all have a bit of cold. Our babies haven't been well at the same time for over a month now and its time to take measures: Purelling everything that moves, no more day care, vitamins and ginger on the menu, etc. Sick babies are the sadest. They do enjoy the milkshake they get as a vehicle for gross medicine, though...

 On Resolutions: I don't usually do them but I'm going to carry over from Thanksgiving the goal to live in thanksgiving daily (from Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin's talk). I continue to feel that is one of the most important things for me to work on. I think God is the most grateful being there is - He is even grateful for nice things you do for others, and I think I can get closer to God by cultivating the quality of being grateful. It shouldn't be hard - I have so much to be thankful for, but it takes a little pausing and recognizing, or all that goodness is for naught.

I am so grateful for medicine, Dave's delicious concoctions, Riley's cuddles, and having day-umn good reasons to get out of bed early every morning (cause I got these babies).

Onward, 2013!