This morning started much better than yesterday. I woke up without pain so I was thankful. Especially since today was Nathaniel’s MMR shots. He was blissfully playing before we left for the doctor.

Especially with David’s toys while he was at school.

He cried a lot during the shots (MMR, flu, and chicken pox) of course but then was quiet soon after. When we came home, I put him down for his nap right away cause this week David has 3 minimum days in a row. When Nathaniel woke up we went to get David and I asked for a smile. Here’s what I got.

Yes, we need work. But I love the faces he makes as he speaks. He’s so full of expressions.

And so is this little one. Who’s been in good humor despite the shots.

And he’s been making messes and playing with everything in sight. Especially if it’s David’s.

I have book club tonight. A big group this time and I am not sure how they will fit in my house but I am not going to stress or try to look good. I am going to do my best and be me and hope for the best. Three cheers for authenticity.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I made a layout today. It had been three days since my last one.
2. I am grateful for some amazingly good news that I cannot share just yet. But very thankful today.
3. I am thankful that most of what I was worried about for the last month seems to have dissipated. I am still more stressed than I’d like but I am slowly coming around to that calm, happy place.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. watching some sprout
2. playing on nickjr.com
3. making a picture for mommy and one for daddy
4. making a vest at school for native american day

I woke up this morning and I was feeling really terrible. My headache had exploded overnight and it took more than three advils to make it go away. I had to lie on the couch for several hours before I could even get up. I was so upset that I would be too tired and sick to function and I just decided to give myself the day off. I slept, napped, relaxed and just didn’t do anything. If I get sick, everything will fall through so I might as well take one day and heal.

My sister sent Nathaniel some stuffed animals. Which he inspected closely.

And then grabbed all at the same time.

David got some toys, too. You’ll see them in his gratitude section.

And I snapped one more of the little boy who has a boo boo on his chin. (and he’s suffering a bad tummy which also caused diaper rash. Not to mention the MMR and chicken pox shots he’ll be getting tomorrow 🙁 ).

In the afternoon I felt much better, thankfully. I had David’s parent-teacher conference. He’s doing great. On target on everything and socially doing great, too. Knock on wood. Now that the kids are sleeping, I have a list of 20 items and I am still feeling far from 100% so I am going to go slow and try to finish as much as I can. It will all work out eventually. As it always does.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I am back home and getting back into my routine. I am a person of routine and as much as I loved being with my sister, home is the best place for me.
2. I am grateful that the weekend went well and I didn’t freak out. It was my first time leaving Nathaniel and I am so glad it went so smoothly.
3. I am thankful that David’s doing well at school and thriving. I wasn’t (and still am not) sure about public school but it’s going great so far. knock on wood.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1.getting the math toy – yona sent him a match quiz toy
2. playing tic tac toe – also a toy yona sent him
3. writing in my journal at school (he wrote about how happy he was to play wii)

As promised here I am trying to make sure I catch up on all the days I was gone. I left California at 11pm Friday evening and flew all night. I brought a full-size pillow with me, hoping to doze off on the plane. I did sleep for some of the flight, but of course, not nearly enough. When I landed in JFK, I took a cab to where my sister was staying and thus began our wonderful weekend.

I had made Jake promise to take photos but all he had was my little point and shoot so here are some photos he took.

These are outside in good light.

And you can see it’s not him, the camera is just not so good.

Though I still think my kids are cute. Then again, that’s my job 🙂 I am really thankful he took them perfect or not.

And here’s me with my sister and her boys.

We spent the whole day chatting and walking. We possibly walked over twenty miles. But it was wonderful and relaxed and no timelines, no obligations, absolutely no stress. Just the two of us for a long long time and then the five of us. It was beyond perfect. Absolutely, stunningly perfect.

We ate dinner at the restaurant next to their building. During dinner, I called David to get his three things. Since we were all together we decided Yona’s kids and Yona would do them, too. So here they all are.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that my flight was relatively uneventful and passed quicker than I expected (and that I got a bit of sleep!)
2. I am deeply grateful that I got to see my sister and brother in law and my nephews. I love them so much and we don’t see each other nearly enough. I am so so grateful I did go there. And every minute was spent so wonderfully. So deeply. So relaxed. It was truly amazing.
3. I am thankful that Jake indulged me and did not get grouchy one time that I called too much or checked in too much. They had a wonderful day and I could tell they were all happy which made me feel more relaxed and present with my sister.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. getting the lego indiana Jones wii game
2. playing wii
3. going shopping with daddy

Three Things Yona’s Grateful For:
1. having a relaxing lunch and chat with my sister
2. having my sister come to visit
3. the frame my sister made for me (the one i posted last saturday, she did love it.)

Three Things Aksel’s Grateful For:
1. having my aunt come to visit
2. getting an ipod touch
3. going to the empire state building

Three Things Jeff’s Grateful For:
1. Going to the nintendo store (and getting a game)
2. getting an ipod touch
3. having my aunt come to visit

And here we are. Friday. I leave in three hours. I spent the whole day working, crafting, hugging my kids, and packing. Exercising and being tired too.

The kids were a joy as they often are.

Especially this one.

Oh, ok, this one, too.

Lest you think it’s always strawberries and peaches here, here’s Nathaniel yelling at David cause he’s sitting at the chair and Nathaniel doesn’t want him too.

And here’s David’s response.

Yeah, not always so smily and perfect, my kids. But I love love love them.

I am off to spend just a bit more time with them before it’s time to leave for the airport. No Daily Diary tomorrow cause I am not bringing my laptop, I’ll catch back up on Sunday. See you then.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I get to leave my boys with their wonderful dad. My husband is amazing and they will have so much fun together.
2. I am grateful that hopefully tomorrow morning I get to see my sister!
3. I am thankful that I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot in the last two weeks and I can leave without stressing too much about what awaits me when I come back. I still have a long week next week but I feel less like I might crush under the buden of it all.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1.daddy being home
2. getting to go out to dinner
3. getting to spend the weekend with daddy

I feel better for the first time in two weeks. One would think having both kids at home is worse for the stress level and not better but I loved having both my kids home today. We snuggled up. We laughed and hugged and even did a little workbook work. I also snapped a ton of photos of Nathaniel.

In the middle of the day, the DHL man delivered this amazing piece of art. By my friend Lia, who is amazing. Amazing. This definitely was a big highlight of my day. David thought this was amazing too and looked at it for a long time. Thank you Lia!!

Here’s David relaxing with all of his silly bands.

When I tooted and hollered for Nathaniel to look at me, all he did was give me this face. “I’ll smile but I won’t look” face.

Then I made some more noise and I got this.

He was playing by himself when I worked and when David and I did workbooks.

And he’s quite creative. He’s got the hat, the wii remotes, and the shoe.

These are just for me cause I love them.

And I love him.

Soooooo much.

And when I asked David for a smile, here’s what I got from him.

My last night before I leave for NYC. In 28 hours I will be on a plane to NYC. Alone. Flying for the first time in three years. Seeing my sister and her family. I am worried, excited, thrilled and stressed. But I know it’s going to be amazing. As it turns out one of my best friends from high school will be in New York for the two days as well so I will get to see her, too. Which is extra wonderful.

Nathaniel seems to be getting better, too. thankfully. And I know this weekend will be special for the boys, too.

Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I get to go out tonight, too. I will see some good friends from work. People who are wonderful.
2. I am grateful that my flight tomorrow is late at night so I have all day to prepare and pack cause I have done nothing so far.
3. I am thankful that I spent lots of quality time with both my boys today! And I walked 3.2 miles today! I decided to alternate between distance and speed during the week. And today was all about distance. And i did it!! I am proud of myself. This is a big deal for me.

Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. playing on the computer
2. doing the workbook with mommy (we did word completions where letters or letter combos are missing from a word and you have to put them in.)
3. playing with nathaniel