I'm failing at blogging---but don't these cookies look good?

Time--- I don't have enough these days.  I have found that blogging with a newborn is difficult.  I have tried numerous times to post while holding and bouncing a baby, typing one handed--it just doesn't work. During nap-time Jace and I rush to get home-school done, then Kjersti wakes to be fed, when I done doing that- Gracie needs my attention.  Then there is the laundry, the cooking, the unfinished house projects staring me down. But I enjoy my low key days. With a frozen world outside, I love that most days I get to stay home and nurse and kiss my baby and just be with my children. Speaking of baby, she still keeps me up EVERY night until at least 1:00 AM.  But I am used to that now, so it's not as hard.  I have become what I call a "Netflix junky."  I stay up with Kjersti and rock her and watch Netflix.

The Dr had last week off. It was his first week of vacation since last April.  He only gets 15 vacation days a year. It was nice to have a break from his intense schedule.  Residency is hard. It has worn us out.  Last week wasn't much of a break. We had a three page list of house projects to complete. We now have a new kitchen and entry way floor, crown molding on the kitchen cabinets, clean carpets, fresh paint, etc. Our goal was to list it March 1st.  But we haven't yet. We will soon. This week I think.  I am kind-of dragging my feet about it.  I hate selling a house. I hate waiting for the phone to ring, so that I can start the mad rush to get it spotless and ready to be shown. I would love to just fast forward to June.  Luckily the time is just flying by.

You might be wondering why I have pictures of cookies at the top of this post.  This post was started 2 weeks ago, and I want to finish it. It seems weird to post about Valentines Day, now that it has come and gone.  But like I have said before, I blog to document my children's childhood in some way. So the rest of this post is the story about their Valentine's Day.

Baking--did I say lots of baking!  That is how I spent the day before Valentine's Day.  We have delivered cookies on doorsteps now for years, and I can say we have it down to a science. This year we dropped 13 plates of cookies. It is our record.

Here are the 13 plates all labeled and ready for the night to come.

That evening Robin and Rue made hearts to put on the plates.

It was freezing this year!  And it was also slick and icy.  Gracie decided to stay in the car with me and Kjersti for most of the deliveries.  I was surprised she chose to do that. Jace had a blast.  He delivered all of the plates. Doorbell ditching is just fun! The Dr and I reminisced about how Arizona is going to feel so much warmer next Valentines Day when we carry on this tradition.

Half way into the evening little Rue faded out.

She had spent the evening making a Valentine card for her pediatrician Dr Katie who lives in our ward and had carried the plate of cookies on her lap all evening.  When we finally got to Katie's house we tried to rally her so she could put them on her doorstep. After we worked to get her eyes open the slightest bit letting her know it was time to deliver Katie's cookies, all she would say to Ryan was "no thank you."  So Ryan and Jace finally delivered them for her.

Did I mention that we did all of this on the 13th this year?  We delivered our cookies early this year so we were free on the 14th to attend our good friends the Erickson's annual Valentine's party.  It is so fun.  Ryan and I are going to MISS it!!!

Anyways, after we got the kids in bed after their exciting night of doorbell ditching, Ryan and I stayed up to decorate for them and leave them a small gift on the table.  I opened a bag of chocolate kisses and made a path from their room into the dinning room.

Ryan and I also took a moment to make a large paper heart for each of them and write them a love note. Jace got up early and found his gift.  It was a set of Hotwheel cars.  I was still in bed nursing Kjersti, so I couldn't take pictures of him.

Here is my little Rue discovering her gift. We have never given them a Valentine before, so of course they were surprised and thrilled.

She loved her card and is going to keep it "forever and ever."

And this Hello Kitty gift basket--a true hit. 

And here is my littlest sweetheart

with beautiful blue eyes like her Dad.

I just can't get enough of her.  

She is quite content--most of the time...... 

And here is some proof that the Dr is a pretty dang good handy man.  

Behold the kitchen floor almost complete. (it's all finished now)

And that's all for today.  Hope you are having a good March!