Photo Recap

So, my friend Emily jinxed me and replied to the Sick of Sickness blog post about how it seems like Nick and I have avoided the sickness.  Well, Nick has a cold and I am getting over a bad cold.  Mine included a fever, pounding sinus headaches and a faucet for a nose.  Luckily it is spring break, so the four sick days I have left didn't need to get burned up.  Luckily the girls' day care is open, so they were able to go every day I was sick.  Luckily my parents were here on Sunday when I was feeling awful, so Lilly had someone to play with, Nick could go into work and get some actual work accomplished.  On Monday I was feeling decent so did manage to get a little work done around the house but Tuesday all I did was watch TV, pump, and nap.  I was too tired to even go upstairs to nap, my three-hour doze was on the couch.  Wednesday I turned the corner and today am much better.

That means I should be grading essays for Romeo and Juliet, and I have graded one.  My plan was grade five, take a break and do something else, and repeat until it is time to get the girls.  Clearly that has not happened.  I have managed to find all sorts of other things to do, some productive, some not.  I will work on this post slowly throughout the day and post some pictures of adventures from the last few months, that do not involve illness (if we have any).

Our winter was pretty mild, so we were able to play outside a lot. Both
girls love eating snow.

Treat of two pileated wood peckers at our feeder, all wearing hats
knit by Grandma Phyllis

Playing doctor/vet with the supplies from Uncle Ben

Fun in Eau Claire - bummed I didn't get more photos to capture all the adventures

March 11th we picked up the girls and headed down to Eau Claire.  We were very nervous for how the drive was going to go - if we aren't traveling near Greta's nap time, the car can be disastrous.  The five-point harness is the bane of her existence.  The trip went reasonably well, we stopped in Trego for Subway for dinner.  Greta eventually fell asleep in the car around 6:45, we were pretty nervous about how that would play out during the night but wasn't as awful as it could have been, but not a great night of sleep.

The reason we went was to take Lilly to the musical, Elephant and Piggie's "We are in a Play!"  My parents entertained Greta (by taking her for a walk in the stroller, which lead to her falling asleep.  They successfully transferred her to the pack and play, still asleep.  Nicely done!).  The play was hilarious, very well done, and Lilly was laughing so hard at one part she nearly fell off of Nick's lap.  It was a beautiful day and she asked to go back to Nana and Grandpa's house to play outside, rather than go out to lunch with just mom and dad.  So that's what we did.  My mom made her macaroni and cheese while we played outside and she had a picnic lunch outside.

Then, upstairs for a nap, and Greta woke up right when Lilly was about to go in.  During nap time, my brother and sister-in-law, grandma, aunt, and cousin Eric arrived.  My parents bought a new couch and Eric was the recipient of the old couch - as long as he came to pick it up.  We had ice cream cake to celebrate my Grandma's birthday and had some nice conversation.  Lilly had a rough time waking up to a bunch of people in the house that she wasn't expecting, and she took a long time to wake up, but eventually she came around (who wouldn't for Dairy Queen ice cream cake?).  It was a very brief visit but nice to see extended family for a bit.

Return trip from Eau Claire

Saturday night was pretty rough (see Sick of Sickness post), and Sunday morning we packed up and hit the road about 10:15.  The drive back was fairly uneventful, I eventually got Greta to fall asleep and she slept for about an hour.  I read to Lilly and we listened to audiobooks.  We stopped in Seeley on the way home for mediocre pizza and chucking rocks into the river.  I wouldn't let Lilly get closer because she only had shoes on it and it was muddy, so she tried many times to make it in the river.  Finally made it, threw her arms up in the air and yelled, "bulls eye!"  By the time we were approaching Ashland, both girls were getting a little sick of being in the car, but a game of me pretending to smell their feet and reacting as though they were unbearably stinky provided many belly laughs from both of them.  It got old quickly for me, but for about 5 miles I played the game because it kept them happy.  Once we got in the house, Lilly wanted to play even more.

Later that afternoon we headed out for a walk in the stroller to the grocery store, Lilly bringing her birthday pinwheel along.

Greta - it was a beautiful day, she wanted to be outside but it was too muddy to let
her play, so we brought the exersaucer outside

Watching them play at the kitchen never gets old

Weight lifting.  Greta is a fan of hefting heavy things. 

It is now 3:40.  I am due to pick up the girls at 4:20.  I have graded ten essays.  Rather than sending me into a deep depression, I am feeling pretty good about the quality.  While most of them have earned Cs, they are clearly demonstrating they understand essay structure and I have yet to receive a summary of Romeo and Juliet.  Most are attempting to analyze a theme, so that's pretty great.  Will the other remaining 60 carry on in that same vein?  I shall find out later!  Now to go to the post office and pick up the girls.