Well, I haven't posted in awhile, because this has been happening. Yep, Juliet broke her leg. She just came down on it funny while she was jumping on the trampoline at Grandma's house. We went to have it looked at at the emergency room that night, but the X-rays didn't show a fracture. We came home, but it was still hurting her, and she just wouldn't walk on it. We brought her back later in the week, the X-rays showed a hairline fracture, and the cast went on. We went to Children's Orthopedic today, and we are happy to report that it is coming off on April 16. Yay!!!

An End in Sight!

I am officially done with 6 out of 7 quarters of my nursing program. Now, only one left! There might actually be an end in sight.

Magical, musical Cole

When Cole was about 14 months old, we started to notice that his baby babble had a distinctly musical element. Suddenly, Charles and I looked at each other and said, he's humming Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star! This was remarkable to us, especially since this young boy was showing no inclination to say anything. He continued to hum Twinkle, Twinkle and then started to branch out to other songs. As his musical repertoire continued to grow, he finally began to pick up a little language around two. He continues to gain speech, little by little, but music is still his first language. He is always humming or singing a song, and not just children's songs either. He knows many, many classical songs (thanks Baby Einstein and Little Einsteins) and many Hymns. He just really loves music.

Recently, just as he started to pick up on humming songs at 14 months, he is branching out into another avenue, playing the piano. Occasionally, he goes over to piano, fiddles around with it for awhile and then starts to pick out a song. So far, he has played Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (of course), Row, row, row your boat, Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater, and Ode to Joy. He won't do this on demand, we just have to catch him at it, and he still only does it occasionally, but when we can catch him at it, it is so fun to watch. I'm hoping that he will start doing more of this and we can help him to develop his talent. Meanwhile, it is always an enchanting surprise when he shows us just how talented he is.

Ward Talent Show

Here is a clip of Cole singing at the Primary ward talent show. Not the most polished performance (He is singing the Spirit of God), but we thought he did a great job.

Kid Clips

Here are a couple of cute tidbits about the kids.

Yesterday Juliet was playing in the bathroom, and she kept talking about taking care of her baby Harriet. I walked into the bathroom and she had taken a brush and made a bed for it out of toilet paper and towels and tucked a brush into the towels. Her baby Harriet was a brush. The child has about a million dolls and stuffed animals, but she still likes to take random objects and pretend that they are babies.

Cole was so cute yesterday too. He decided that he would take care of getting a snack a couple of hours after dinner. He found some pudding cups in the pantry and carried them over to the table and placed one by his chair and one by Juliet's chair. Then he went and found spoons and put one by each pudding cup. I just thought it was so cute that not only did it all himself, but he got one for Juliet too.

Oh warm weather...I love you!

I really love going outside with my kids. It makes me feel alive again. These pictures were actually taken on the one warm day in February, but we have been putting in a lot of park time in the last couple of days. It is so wonderful, like a big hug from Heavenly Father. The kids are doing so great too. It wasn't long ago that it was SO hard for me to take them anywhere alone and now they are doing great with that. They will walk to and from the car with me and pretty much stay in the same vicinity as me. It is so fun and a big blessing.

Pajamy Time...

I really love my kids at night after they put their PJ's on. They just seem so cuddly and sweet and yes, it is an appealing thought that they will soon be going to bed. That makes them seem even sweeter.

Come on....REALLY!?!!

Cole had the worst week last week! At the beginning of the week we took him to the dentist and found out that he had a tooth abscess and he had to have a tooth extracted. Later in the week he had a fever and infection, both where the tooth was taken out and an ear infection. He had to stay home last Thursday and Friday. Friday I decided to take the kids to the library for awhile and let them play in the play area. I thought it would be a nice low-key activity and allow us to get out of the house. While we are in the kid's area of the library Cole was walking around and the one other child who was in there was messing around with a rocking chair. Cole managed to get hit in the eye as he was walking behind the chair. He has this lovely shiner to show for it. When it happened and Cole was lying on the floor in a crying heap with a rapidly swelling eye I just had to laugh....because can any thing else possibly happen!

On another note...Cole is actually doing great. He is interacting great with me, saying longer sentences, and generally in a great mood. Another wonderful thing is that he is eating so well now! I used to have to cut up all of his food into little pieces (I'm talking sandwiches, chicken nuggets, and toast, things you would just normally pick up and eat) and feed him half the time or watch him eat next to nothing in a day. Now he is eating independently and will eat a sandwich without it being cut into pieces. It makes things so much easier! I'm so grateful for this beautiful little soul who lights up my life and my heart.

A moment of creativity...

I'm always trying to come up with creative things to do with Juliet. She is just so crafty. Here are some gift tags that we made by going through magazines and finding neat images and then reinforcing them with cardstock. Anyway, it was fun, and now I have lots of gift cards. This was also one of those projects I like making with "found" materials. It makes me feel like a "green goddess."

How to show true love...

Doesn't everyone show their love with spoons? Here is my Valentine to Charles who had been complaining a lot lately that we didn't have any spoons left. Where do the spoons go? Is there a hiding place for miscreant table wear somewhere? Anyway, not really the most romantic of gifts, but quite useful. I think I may start a new Valentine tradition of giving Charles some random and unromantic gift each year in the form of a Valentine.