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 In desperation and willing to try just about anything early this week, I asked Nate to take the bars off of Carter's crib and convert it to a toddler bed.  I figured it couldn't make things any worse, and may just make it "cool" to sleep in his bed.  I couldn't have been more wrong.  Besides still being up several times in the night and having to sleep on his floor to keep him in the bed, there were three LONG, nap-less days.  And then, even before I was able to get a picture of Carter in his "big boy bed",  I begged Nate to put the bars back on. Being the good guy that he is, he changed it back the next morning, saving my sanity.  The silver lining in all of this is that I have never been so grateful for that afternoon nap!

 With all of the olympic excitement, and a [first] family outing to the ice rink in the midst of it, Zach and Emma caught the skating bug.  We were excited to find out that there are several outdoor ice rinks around town that are free, as long as you have your own skates, so we headed to the children's exchange to look for cheap used ones.  It was Emma's lucky day, and they had her size – and of course if you buy  ice skates you have to use them – immediately.  It was a good thing we did – the temperatures have warmed up (into the low 40's for the past 3 days) and there was only a strip of "good" ice right along the wall where it is shaded all day.  That was plenty for Emma, however, and she skated back, and forth, and back, and forth… quite well for a beginner, and in her words "I'm almost as good as Dad!"  Here is a little clip of her in action!  Download MOV04891

We've had such bright, sunny days this week that we've been watching for the bus from the front porch with our sidewalk chalk…

Emma doesn't want to stop at spring, however.  She said to me on Tuesday, "Mom, it's really sunny outside, can we get out the blow-up pool?"  I had a hard time convincing her that although the sun was warm, the water would NOT be – in fact, on Tuesday, it still would have frozen.   She just thought I was the meanest mom ever for not letting her do it.  

 We've all been into it, and here's the proof:  

Zach and Emma and Carter have been living it vicariously through lego versions of Apolo, Lindsay Vonn, and Shawn White, and building all kinds of olympic venues… Carter carries around his "ski jumper" (whose skis fall off about every 3 minutes and have to be put back on by mom or dad), and even he says all the "big name" athlete names.  

Everyone rushes to get ready for bed by 7 so they can "watch for 15 minutes"(my original plan) and then they actually watch for an hour after we all get so involved we just have to watch "one more run" or "Apolo comes on in 5 minutes!" (which is all marketing and does NOT mean he is racing in 5 minutes.)

Our house is full of portraits of the athletes, VANCOUVER 2010 signs, and "posters" like the one Julia Mancuso made when she was young that they show in the VISA ad, all created by our budding artists.

As I am trying to get the kids to reverently leave the church building, Zach decides to comply when he realizes (and says quite loudly) "That's right!! We're going home to watch the USA/Canada hockey game!!"

Nate and I didn't even turn on the TV tonight for closing ceremonies because we have watched so much olympic TV in the past couple of weeks, we just didn't feel like it.  

It was a fun, fun thing for our family to be able to enjoy together!  We are already counting down till the 2012 summer games in London… wonder where we'll be watching those from?  (If we had our way, we'd win the VISA contest and be watching them live, for the rest of our lives… see, I told you we've watched way too much TV lately.)  

Why you shouldn't turn your back on your toddler while you bake with your 4 year old…

 Disclaimer:  I know there are lots of people out there who have real health problems, and who have kids that have real health problems, and I am grateful every day for the great blessing it is to be healthy.  With that said, I share with you our comparatively minor irritation…

We have had quite a run with a bad cold around here, and we are all sick of it.  Sick of the eyedrops, sick of sleeping on the couch (thought we were over that!), sick of the sore noses from all the wiping, sick of the cancelled playdates and missed parties…

We are sure it is almost over.  It has to be, right?  

At 32, he's just as much fun as ever.  Happy birthday, Nate!  We love you!

 Yep, his head.  Carter must have seen way too many lego guys (whose heads come off interchangeably) and has been trying so hard lately to take his head off.  This is how it goes… "Take it off!  Take it off!  Take head off!"  (while he pulls on his poor little head…) then as he gets frustrated, "Too hard for Carter… too hard…" and then he gives up, while I try to explain Heavenly Father made it hooked on good and tight because there are so many important things in there.  It must not stick, because it's never too long and he's at it again.   (this was taken in the middle of his bout with pinkeye, poor kid!)

Spent eating candy (yes, for breakfast!), having our traditional Valentine fondue night, and sharing love.  We have so much fun even Nate is starting to love the "love month".  

 The first time, that is, that Carter was the last to go inside… and be happy about it.  Try not to notice the pink boots… it is so hard to spend $20 on boots he will wear maybe 10 times, just so they can be blue… so we rotate between the pink ones that fit, and the blue ones that are 3 sizes too big.  Unfortunately the picture caught the pink ones.