1. we were heart attacked on Valentine's Day which made Madeleine's day (she was sad to miss the big v-day party because she was sick)
2. sick day in bed, classic expressions
3. outside watching firetrucks put out a fire in the building next to us just last night (it was a loooong night)
4. so proud of her puzzles!
5. sleeping with a 105 degree fever!  highest reading I've ever seen!  thank goodness for doctors and meds
6. Sunday afternoon
7. Dunkin Donuts - strawberry sprinkled, like mother like daughter
8. I'm more frequently asked if I have twins and in this picture I can see why.  I love how alike they look
9. homemade indoor swing
10. Madeleine with our faithful hometeachers and good friends David and Allen

with these three.  they're my whole life and I couldn't be happier.








happy valentine's day!

we had another sick day today (still!) so what better activity than to set up our own photo booth?  suprisingly the kids loved it and Henry's getting the hang of saying "cheese" in a very cheesy way.  Spencer walked in right as we were finishing up, hence the jacket, but it was perfect timing. slight over-exposure but we're having fun with indoor manual settings as of late.

with fevers, the kids and I stayed home from church today.

instead we spent the morning enojying some sunlight, adorning my tulips, reading books (vintage Dick and Jane is their current favorite), talking about valentines day and things we love, quietly entertaining themselves (Henry has this thing where he has to be near Madeleine), playing with mr. alligator our pet, seeing the tulips open in the sunlight, eating grapefruit (another current favorite, who would have guessed?), and finally having lunch and then off to naps.

a morning with just me and my ducklings, calm moments I want to remember. The rest of the day didn't go as smoothly as the morning, but pictures help me remember the quiet mornings.

• was #40 in line at the DMV arriving just FOUR minutes after it opened
• was serenaded by Madeleine ALL. DAY. LONG.  Particularly in public.  even today she probably sang happy birthday to me 4 times
• weighed in at my lowest post-Henry weight - wohooo
• received so many cards, calls, texts, emails, wall posts and love from friends and family
• made some goals to achieve by 29
• sent Spencer off to an important interview looking mind-blowingly handsome
• didn't blow out candles but instead indulged in the great wall of chocolate
• ran the stairs in our apartment building - my new gym.  it's close, warm, quick and let me tell you effective!
• took no picutres
• remembered how fun last birthday when some dear friends invited me and the kids over because Spencer was out of town
• was surprised when a babysitter knocked at my door :)
• finished a book
• 
  had a candlelight dinner with my love
• thought how grateful I am for my life.  All those moments as a 14, 15, 16 year old where I just wanted a glimpse of what my life would be like - I wouldn't have believed how good my life would be.  Seriously, I would have been blown away by what was in store. Hope the adventures continue
• believed that 28 is going to be great
  

the real birthday finally came, whew! It was on a Sunday and Madeleine was unusually well-behaved in church with the threat of no presents hanging over her head. It also happened to be the first Sunday Henry went to nursery and the first time in 3 years I haven't had a baby for the full 3 hours of church :)


Simplicity wins out, she loved it


her prized present. Living large with her cherished scooter and IKEA kitchen. Best present ever. Both Madeleine and Henry spent hours every day upstairs playing and Madeleine even gets excited to clean up all the pieces every night before bed. The night she got the kitchen we hadn't put it in her room and in the middle of the night (3:30ish) I woke up to Madeleine making some pancakes.

Me: "Madeleine it's the middle of the night, we need to go back to bed."

Her three year old response, "oh yeah, I forgot"


Madeleine trying to find a way to look out the peep hole to see if her friends had arrived for the party


3 and beaming

And the picture that is missing is all the people that came to her party. Right before they came she was saying, "Mommy my friends are coming, and your friends are coming, and Henry's friends are coming, and Daddy's friends are coming..."

She's right because the best part of the party was that they're all the same!!! We had our good friends and neighbors over for cake - only other child was Henry. And you know what? Madeleine LOVED it. All this girl needs is attention and a listening ear to the endless stories she tells (like the one tonight when she used to be a little piggy...) and you'll get some serious three year old love.

She was beaming when we lit the candles and all the sudden everyone whipped out their phones and took videos and picutres of her on her special day at a special moment. It was also special to me to see our friends, who are our ages, not only care so much about me, but also care so much about my kids! True friends.

ahhhh, the month of love is here! 

henry's got some serious bike love going on


and I love that Spencer is able to come home in the middle of the day

(written a while ago)

Spencer flew to Poland for school on Friday (who does that??) and the following Wednesday we flew home from UT, I had temple recommend interviews with the Stake President and Bishop Wednesday night, drove to NJ with the kids Thursday morning, Thursday evening we hung out at EWR (see below), Friday we spent enjoying NJ family, Saturday morning we went into NYC and my sister Abby went through the Manhattan Temple, and by Saturday afternoon I was dead, well, really close to being dead.  I was so sick my dad had to drive me and the kids home from NYC and I thought for sure I was headed for the ER.  I somehow avoided the ER and by Sunday evening I could get out of bed and move again thanks to some meds.  By Monday evening we were back in Boston with Spencer again.

Let's just say this past week we've just been taking it easy :)

So this is where I should put in some awesome pictures of Abby outside the Manhattan Temple but that just didn't happen.  Next time?  Let's hope.

Birthdays are always better spent with family so during our time in NJ we once again had an early birthday celebration.  Pink cupcakes, lots of singing, hershey 'kissies', and FINALLY that scooter she has been longing for!