Winter in Review

I was going to post pictures from the last 2 months of our comings and goings, but our internet has been SOOOOOO slow the last few days so there is no way in Hades I'll even be able to get pictures up here. (I can't even get the "Add Image" page to load.) Not if I want to go to bed before 2am. Which I do. Because I'm sick. Cough, cough.
But trust me, they are great pictures. Christmas parties. Christmas presents. A trip to St. George with cousins. Funny dress-ups. Their first snow. John's first haircut at a barbershop. A bridal shower trip. Dancing, dancing, and more dancing. Did I mention my kids like to dance? Oh, how they love to dance.
I'm sure I would think of more witty things to say, but I'm sick. Cough, cough. And Michael is working late so I have no one to cuddle me to sleep. I've been threatening for years to replace him with a body pillow (oh, especially when i'm pregnant...how i want a body pillow!) but I'm afraid it will be too cozy & cuddly & snuggly & sleep-inducing and I'll never be able to leave home without it. So instead I'll cuddle with a book and dream about not coughing again (which is ironic because the coughing is probably what will wake me up in a few hours-- that and the fire searing through my throat). Happy end of 2009!

Bitter Sweet

As a book lover, I was incredibly saddened to read this piece of news in a Publishers Weekly article. Kirkus Reviews is one of my most trusted resources in recommending books. They have nearly always been spot-on in their descriptions and reviews and if they give something the green light I know that I have to put it on my must-read list. Obviously with the advent of computers things have been changing for the last few decades in the publishing industry--including the upsetting trend of library and bookstore closures--but this one seemed to hit particularly close to home simply because it is a personal preference of mine among book resources. Please take a moment of silence to honor our world changing at a frighteningly rapid pace. Thank you.

On to other more happy moments, I had particularly memorable one today. While attempting to encourage John to take a nap on our couch, I sat on the floor next to him and lay my head on the couch cushions next to his head. After about two minutes I think he decided that I was asleep and he threw part of his blanket over my entire head and whispered, "Here, mom, you can sleep with me." I tried to murmur quietly, "Thanks buddy, I love you," to which he replied, "I love you, too, mom" and kissed me on the forehead. Life seriously doesn't get much better than that.
Hope you're having a wonderful Christmas season so far and taking time to enjoy the small moments.