Irene Recitals

Irene displayed her brand new ballet skills in her recital this afternoon. She did a super job and definitely was the best at jumping over cones on one foot. Also, Agnes turns out to be a very savvy applauder (skill to list on future CV). Thanks to Grandma Becky and Baba for the wonderful Christmas gift.

Easter Triumph, Easter Joy! (Easter sicknesses...)

They all really love their dresses. Thanks Grandma Becky. 

We had a full house for Easter. My mom, dad and grandma were here. Dad had a shoulder replacement on the Tuesday before Easter, so he was still in Full Rest Mode by the time Easter Sunday got here so we had a small (just the household) Easter dinner planned. But, at the last minute, at church on Easter morning, Kyle and I both independently asked some people if they just wanted to stop over for a glass of wine or coffee sometime during the day and evening (this is largely due to an article about hospitality written by my friend Rosie). So we ended up having guests from around 3pm to almost 2 in the morning. We ate our Easter dinner of steak and scallops and lots of other good stuff and lemon pudding while we visited with friends either on the way to or arriving from their own Easter festivities. It was a wonderful day and so great to relax and visit with so many people.

Somewhere in the evening, Irene fell ill. I blamed it on too much Easter candy (probably a factor). She slept with me that night, Kyle got the couch. Easter Monday was spent taking care of Irene and then Agnes who was throwing up just a bit here and there (literally). Kyle took Evangeline out to lunch and visit some people while the rest of us did our own things--healing from surgery, taking care of throw-up kids, etc. By end of day, Irene was still sick, Agnes seemed a bit better, and everyone else was surviving just fine.

Tuesday. Kyle had a meeting in Sterling so mom and dad and grandma agreed to stay until he got back. We also had to get the tires on mom and dad's car changed. As dad couldn't drive, we all got in the car, sick or not, and headed out to the tire place. Irene seemed to be doing better, but Agnes threw up on the way there. Sick in the car...the worst? By the time all the grandparents left for home, Agnes was sick, Irene took a turn for the worse (sickness now very serious at both ends) and Kyle slept in the girls' room with Evangeline while Irene slept with me, and Agnes "slept" in her crib. Evangeline got sick at around 11.30pm.

Wednesday. Irene and Evangeline are sick, watching tv in our bed. Agnes seems ok except for some random throwing up. We all hobble through another night. This night has three girls in diapers :( and there are also three girls who will probably always feel a bit queasy around their purple "Frozen" Easter buckets for good reason. But they were so handy. Poor Anna and Elsa.

Thursday! Day five dawns to find all the girls still sick, and since Irene has a propensity for not being able to stop being sick once she is sick, I take her to the doctor once full promises are made that no shots will be gotten (this is a foolish promise as I did promise it once before when Irene had pneumonia, and she had to get two shots simultaneously. But no shots were administered this time, thankfully)  Get anti-nausea medication. Give it to all three girls when we get home. By dinner time, I dare to think that things are looking up. I make some chicken soup. Put out the whole saltine box, pour a little Gatorade. And before a bite is taken, Agnes vomits all over the table. Evangeline wisely says "this is why I'm afraid of throw-up sick kids!" and I even more wisely say "You are currently a throw-up sick kid." Then I tell Kyle I don't know if I can take this anymore. An hour later Agnes throws up down the front of my shirt. A lot.

Friday. Evangeline goes back to school, but has missed getting her Sprachmeister flag because of this dumb sickness. Irene is tender but better, and Agnes has many, many diaper changes. Everyone sleeps in their own beds.

Saturday...it is a week later, and this thing has finally gone. Kyle and I have remained healthy, if not a tad insane. We go over to friends' for dinner! We eat and drink and toast the end of a really bad time. The kids are happy and playing! Ah, life!

Sunday. I send Evangeline and Irene to church alone since I have been throwing up all night. The good news: Christ is Risen.

We are all ok now.

Palm Sunday

Progress

Milestone Moment Alert (maybe)
The girls are painting by themselves. They are being quiet and clean and got their own stuff and set it up and are enjoying painting. Without me hovering, without them spilling and fighting, without me vowing to never let them paint again. I probably just jinxed this. But it is very nice.
Also Agnes is napping so this isn't really totally real.
Best overheard quote "I'm going to be Bob Ross, so to speak."

Sprachmeister

Evangeline got her first ever "Sprachmeister" * today! And it was Dirndl Day at school, so she was feeling pretty Deutsch-y today.

*Sprachmeister is the award they get for speaking only German (during German half of day) for 10 days. Only she and Sophia S. got it today, which was the first possible day to get one. Also Sophia S.'s dad is Austrian and she has an Austrian nanny...but anyway, Evangeline says there are 4 more possible this school year and she plans to get them. She would like everyone to know the award is a German flag and is made of wood.

Really?

I can't even believe I haven't done this for 6 months. WHO IS IN CHARGE HERE?
Well, here's the situation:
It was irritating and time-consuming to do this from my iPad, and so I found the perfect blogging app. It was kind, easy going, and loved helping me out--like a great friend. Who always wanted to do exactly what I wanted to do.
Well, one day I had queued up some great photos...I believe they were of Irene's 5th birthday...and nothing would work. I really tried. A lot. Then I figured out the app had disappeared and I was back to nothing.
So, I looked for something but couldn't find anything half as good.
And, I sort of had the idea that I just needed a real laptop if only to do this blog.
But, that just sort of never happened.
In the meantime, Irene turned 5 and got a haircut, Evangeline turned 7 and won a gold medal, Agnes got more hair and turned into a Terrible almost-Two, Kyle and I took a trip to Seattle, Christmas happened, we all went to Becky's surprise birthday in Tennessee, and many more things.
So you see, I feel dreadfully underwater with this whole thing.
However, I am trying to do this.
Seriously, stay tuned.

Hmmm...

I might be starting to see some potential here.