February 29 = Leap Day!

My dear, dear friend, Jaimie, is a leap year baby so I get excited when it's a leap year because she gets to celebrate her birthday on the actual day!  I wish we were closer to her so I could have seen her.  Anyway!  I took the kids to the gym today and tried the holding hands method to get out in one piece.  It worked!

 And I just wanted to share this picture of Malia- she's got more girlishness now than I ever have... Lord help us.

February 28 = Holding Hands Day

In my last post I shared a picture with a quote that made me think of Malia... today's is one for adults. 

I've had this exact thought before when I make the kids a beautiful plate for breakfast with strawberries, blueberries, cheese, oranges, bananas... and then I grab a pack of crackers on the way out.  This was a good reminder that I need to take care of myself too in order to take the best care of my babies.

So yesterday I worked on my yoga teacher training.  I'm doing a "distance learning" program so that, unlike last time I attempted this, I don't have to devote a full weekend each month- it's just not realistic for us.  So Zachary took the kids to the gym so that I would be able to concentrate.  On the way out, he learned how unmanageable they can be when you're by yourself.  So he did something super smart- told them they had to hold hands.  And they did!  He took a video of it and showed me because he knew I'd have to see it to believe it.  But today I snapped this picture of my three loves holding hands- how sweet!

Later, we had some senior midshipmen over for dinner- lasagna.  We played Apples to Apples which made me really happy.  It was really fun- the kids were great- the midshipmen are so good with them.  It was a great day!

February 26 = Lazy Friday

Malia felt like relaxing today... she started by just crashing in our bed...

Then thought the effort of pulling the covers up would prove worthwhile.

Speaking of Malia... I saw this and it put into words something I want to teach Malia:

So many girls (and boys) have self esteem issues and I believe that they lead to unhealthy relationships- you've heard the saying "you have to love yourself before you can love someone else."  I think you also have to love yourself before you can accept love from someone else.  So, along with the million other things I want to teach Malia, I want her to confidently know that she is fearfully and wonderfully made- I tell her this every night before she goes to bed.  I want to teach her that everyone else is too so that she stays sweet... but I want her to know in her bones that she deserves to be treated well so that she won't accept any less.  I know we've got a while before we need to worry about that but... I don't think it'll hurt to start early :)

February 25 = Muffin Day

I made the kids some zucchini and carrot muffins today- no sugar besides what was in the maple syrup used.  They were a hit!

Also, another facebook meme that made me laugh:

 And here's Malia in her favorite seat in the house... on the ottoman.

February 24 = Wear Daddy's Hat Day

First: two facebook memes that made my day.

And last: Two pictures of Malia wearing Daddy's hat.

February 23 = OCD Day

Zachary had class tonight so I got the kids to bed by myself- mission accomplished.  But when Zachary got home, he wanted to check on them so he opened Liam's door to make sure he was on a bed and not on the floor, and found this.  When he opened the door it moved the cars a little bit but Liam had lined them all up perfectly.  I'm sure that took a lot of patience on his part- quite an accomplishment!

February 22 = Little Man Day

Before telling him to put his feet down, I snapped this picture of Liam looking like he was checking something super important on his iPad.

I did a lot of unpacking today- our only trip out was to the gym.  These kids are so funny when we're leaving- funnier when I have Zachary with me than when I'm by myself.