notes about nothing

so, i feel bad that all i ever do is post about my kids being sick...they really aren't germ-infested all the time, but it probably seems that way.

here are some notes about nothing. this post is more for me than for anyone else, so it'll probably be boring. you don't have to read it. :)

work: with a downward, worrisome economy, i feel so blessed to have the opportunity to work from home, as much or as little as i have time for. i love my profession and can't help but recognize some tender mercies from about 6 years ago, when i "randomly" (but i know better) got my grant-writing job right out of college, which has opened up so many doors for me and my family. even a couple of early heart-wrenching miscarriages during that time have found some sort of understanding in the grand scheme of things, when i look back. anyway, i'm glad to work so we can boost our savings...and it is keeping me very very very very very busy lately. as in, whenever i'm on the computer, i'm pretty much working.

dance: it's fine. i chose to cut back my time and am in about half the dances for our march production. our grace, idaho show a few weeks ago was fun. and i just found out last night that our valentine's day show was cancelled. WAH HOO! now i don't have to leave my babies and paul all day for a show 4 hours away. irish dance is fun -- anyone who's interested should come see us on march 14 or 16 at the ellen eccles theater. (shameless plug, i know, but it really is more fun as a dancer to perform for a large and lively audience.)

carson: sometimes he seems so very big. as in old. he's really into figuring out the world, which, unfortunately, includes discrepancies (like parents' getting to eat treats after he goes to bed) and he's not afraid to call you on it. he loves boy things lately, like legos, transformers, star wars, cars, etc. and he's decided that he likes playing "sports," if that's what you call volley-balloon and indoor soccer with a tiny ball. but i'm just happy that he's showing some interest in physical activity; i'm learning that kids pretty much have to make their own decisions about what they enjoy -- i can't decide for them. (it's embarrassing that i have to learn that, but i guess i do.) he's a good kid, a loud and repetitive talker, and a creative thinker who keeps us on our toes.

carson: "layla, if we ever meet dart bader (darth vadar), DON'T let him know we're good guys, or he'll want to fight us."
layla: "otay tarsey."
carson: "yeah, and he's a better fighter than us. he's even better than luke skywalker. and he would squash us. so don't tell him we're the good guys. just say, 'oh, hi, dart bader,' and then run away."
layla: "yeah. i promise."

layla: this girl loves to dance. she makes paul or me play the piano so she can prance around the living room showing us her moves (because addelyn is her best audience, i usually have to keep one eye out to make sure she doesn't dance her way onto addie's head). in the mornings, layla will come into bed with me (after paul's gone to work) and quietly amuse herself with the contents of my chapstick/lip gloss jar on my nightstand -- many mornings, i'll turn over and see her grinning right at me, her cheeks painted BRIGHT pink from my lip gloss that has a wand-like applicator. it's hilarious. and rather scary, unless i'm fully awake. :) layla is a big helper with stuff around the house; she feels very important to be the one chosen to go get addie's wipes or a burp cloth or something.

household: i continue to fall woefully behind in my housekeeping. but i've started "chore charts" for carson & layla, which they think is pretty cool. they get a sticker for each chore that they do every day, and they get $sweet moolah$ for each sticker (2 cents for layla, 4 cents for carson -- wowsahs, i know) on saturday. last week they amassed some serious loot -- layla $0.84, carson $1.32. carson's saving up for a lego star wars walker. at the current lego prices, he'll be able to purchase one when he's 17...

addelyn: she's a little under the weather and thus loves to be held and talked to. i think my absolute new favorite thing is when her little hands clutch at me -- my shirt neck, my fingers, my hair. there's a tender blend of desperation, trust, and love in her tiny grasp, and it just melts my heart. she loves rolling onto her belly and, once there, can pivot circles around and around. but she can rarely get onto her back again, which causes her no end of frustration. she is so sweet. she loves us all, of course, but i think her favorite person is carson, who is very thoughtful and cute with her (layla can be a little rough in her "play").

paul: i continue to be amazed at how perfectly paul fills in my gaps and weaknesses. we're both hoping that he still has a job in the next few months, as federal budget decisions are made.

other: i love my kitchen radio from paul and use it often during the day -- i never really realized how much time i spend in the kitchen! lots. it's nice to have music or, when i'm in the mood, talk radio in the background. and some other stuff, but i have to get going.

whew. that was a novel. sorry.