there's not alot i can say right now other than we're surviving. i'm not sure when the thriving should kick in, but i'm sure we'll get there one day! everybody's been sick, first stomach flus and now colds. both of my kids first time throwing up was within a week of each other. coincidence? i think not! I'd never seen Hannah like she was, not eating and just laying around on the couch. Charlie had a really rough time, i actually took him to urgent care because he couldn't stop throwing up. he's been to the doctor more in his 5 mos than hannah has in 2 1/2 yrs.

as i'm sure you heard on the news, we got snow! real snow. about 9" in frisco. we went over to a friend's house, fellow canadians, actually, to play. the men came up with a bigger than life snowman, that is sure to be the last thing to melt. (patrick's on the right)

we went out the first afternoon to play, but it was still snowing really hard so we didn't last long.

we being charlie, i guess. he wasn't thrilled with the snow yet.

so, i can't wait to get my "I'm with the band" t-shirt. :-) patrick has taken up the bass again, so we're excited to start jamming with the bass and the violin.

in the absence of a valentine's day party, we made up some treats for some friends and neighbours. some of them never got delivered, so we ate them ourselves.

Grandma left Hannah a surprise, and i have to say, it's really easy to please a toddler! almost every day since then, she's reminded us, Grandma gave me a present! socks, and a headband! it's SO cute.

so the day Hannah was throwing up, i gave her a bowl to carry around just in case. i was in the other room and she yelled, quite concerned, mommy, charlie's in the bowl. a little confused, i peeked around the corner, and sure enough, he was in the bowl. good thing it was still clean!

i'm not sure what skills she'd be working on in preschool right now, but i was proud that she's using scissors. she loves doing crafts. i'm sure the gluegun will be quick to follow :-)

oh, she thinks she's such a big girl. and she's getting there, unfortunately.

at first glance this may just be a jello salad, but it is actually representative of a new friendship i'm working on with a neighbour. i'm still trying to figure out my role in/out of the home, and how to be involved in ministry without sacrificing what's best for my family or letting the church nursery workers partially raise my children! so, i met this persian woman a few months ago, and we hit it off. she was a midwife in iran, and likes gardening and music. anyways, awhile ago she sent me home with this, complete with pomegranate seeds from the tree she transplanted into her backyard. i'm supposed to helping with her English, and hopefully be able to share the hope that's within me in the process.

so long story short, we're very short on sleep, but good other than that. happy belated valentine's day. i hope everyone felt loved!