Where'd 2014 go?

It blows me away that the end of the year is already here. Pete and I talked about all the things that have happened in the last year, good and bad, and if we'd do the bad ones over again, or if what we learned from them. It's been a tremendous year of growth for all of us, in so many ways.

The kids were home all last week for Thanksgiving break and we ended it on a bang, with head lice. Sad trombone. I was super breezy about it, then I realized (after talking with Mary) just how extensive the treatment is, and then I wasn't so breezy anymore. Lucia's hair is down to her waist when its wet, so imagine trying to comb through that with the nit comb. Good lord.

Otherwise, we had a good break, with a sleepover (ahem, we think that's how she got lice though), a trip to the zoo, a belly-popping Thanksgiving with Mattias and Cindy, which was so wonderful because we basically just let the kids lose their minds for 6 hours, a trip to an awesome museum near our house, and the biggest news of all -- WE NOW HAVE CABLE. We're lowering our IQ daily with TV, but man it's been great. Really great. We have a new Internet service provider and cable was free with it, so I thought why not. Pete was less excited, but I think even he will agree it's been pretty damn awesome.

Here are some recent pics of us.

Clown hair and new dress

Oh hiiiii

It has been an excruciatingly long few months. My company was gearing up for the product launch, which happened last week. Up until then, I was working the most insane hours and feeling ON 24-7. It was exhausting. So when they told me this week that I was being laid off, I was sad for a few hours then mostly hugely relieved. HUGELY. I said goodbye to everyone today and feel pretty great about it. Sure there's that whole uncertain future thing but I'm not too worried about that either. We've handled worse. 

The kids. Espen is now officially a toddler, I thought yesterday as he threw himself on the ground repeatedly in protest of some "injustice." Lucia is getting adjusted to first grade although her teacher is so damn sweet it must be a huge change for her from last year. She's had a little trouble in math, but we are working with her on it. 

Without further ado, here are some pictures. 

Sickly

It's that time of year again, when every other post of ours is about being sick. Good times! This week it was Lucia with strep and Espen and I with a sore throat virus that made us feel generally miserable and super lethargic. Here's a shot of us at the doc on Monday. Pete was with us, but Espen lost his mind when he saw me with Lucia trying to comfort her, as her fever was 102.3 (!). He's back at daycare, I'm back at work and Lucia is back at school today. Rough few days, but we're on the mend. Hooray!

17!

Espen turned 17 months old yesterday and we celebrated by getting hand-foot-mouth disease again, which means no daycare and we're basically quarantined at home. PARTY. Which wouldn't be a bad thing, except for the fact he's climbing and SO destructive. I remember friends of toddler boys telling me that everyday they're basically preventing the kid from injuring himself, ALL DAY. Yep. It's like that.

But he's so cute. This month we've seen a lot more words -- Pete says he said the word UP yesterday, for instance. He sings Let It Go with Lucia (of course), he shakes his head no, but seems to not really understand what that means. He also climbs up on our dining room chairs now, all the livelong day, and up on the kitchen table. Hugely entertaining is also standing on the ottoman and basically falling onto the sofa. And then back to the ottoman. So fun!

We are looking to move as soon as possible. I'm hoping we can make it to next summer, but I'm just not sure, watching how Destructo is. He needs a yard and places to run around.

Where'd ya like to go, ma'am?

Week in Pics

Our week in pics! 

First Mani Pedi

Lucia said she wanted some girl time a few weeks ago, so off we went for our first mani pedis. She was BEYOND cute and big-girl about it. She really got into the whole pampering thing. She's also having her first cup of hot tea here. So cute. :)

Tooth Fairy

It's possible we forgot to do tooth fairy duties this week. Whoops. Thankfully, Lucia miscounted her "moneys" and thought the tooth fairy brought her one piece. Rather than scramble in there and try to pretend she just hadn't looked carefully enough, I asked her to write a note to the tooth fairy asking what's up. 

Translation: Dear Tooth Fairy, I think you forgot to bring me some money last night. Here is my tooth I love you, Lucia. 

She also added a PS on the back to please don't take her tooth. 

Here's what the tooth fairy brought back! Look at all the moneys!!! 

She was very thoughtful this morning, and asked, why would the tooth fairy want me to brush and floss? Doesn't she want my teeth to fall out? Good point, I said. But the tooth fairy wants you to develop healthy habits. We've talked a lot about teeth brushing; for a long time when we told her if she didn't brush her teeth they would fall out, she was like YES, EXACTLY because she saw her other classmates at school losing teeth and that's what she wanted. She's clever. 

Weirdly sick, likely nerves

Lucia spiked a fever overnight on Monday, the day after she started her fancy day camp. I wonder if I talked about it too much and she got nervous. Yipes. Her fever was 101 and she slept tons, but was back in action yesterday morning. Phew. Also, in this picture she is so clearly mini-Pete. 

Morning Goofball

Hard not to smile when this is my morning companion. 

Fun with cardboard

Lucia's "spaceship" was found today and behold, fun was had. (Pardon the clutter- more to come on that but suffice it to say we've been busy!)