To be continued and stay tuned

Finally updated the blog pictures on the layout. Poor Milo's didn't even have one in the header.

Planning on posting at least once a day in March on at least one of the blogs.  It's like November... but in March.

Still doing daily pictures, I've only missed once.

This blog will now be titled... Table for Five.  I was sort of waiting for Justin to explain why we named Milo, Milo.  Hasn't happened yet.  Maybe soon.  But, we're a table for five (even though right now we're back to a table for four, but that's only temporarily).

I also changed "Baby Boy Lafeen" to The Caboose.  I'm too practical to start giving away all of our baby stuff (although many of it will be on loan to the new little Flint baby), but I can say that I feel like we aren't missing anyone in our family.  I sort of feel like I've emotionally moved on from pregnancies, deliveries, tiny babies, and hopefully will lose this 50+ pounds for the last time.

We just had our 6 year anniversary.  Jodi (and my mom) got us a night at a hotel downtown and Jodi came and watched ALL three kids for the night.  There's a funny story that goes along with it... I'll get to that too.  We also went to the temple and had a nice dinner.

Family pictures last night.  I'll post them soon.

Justin left today.  Pictures and hopefully a brief description of our whirlwind of a week to follow soon as well.  So far, it's mostly just like a work trip.  Until I think about how long he'll gone and what he'll be doing. I'm trying to look forward to sleeping in my king sized bed by myself (what can I say, I'm a super light sleeper, and sleep better on my own), deleting things off our DVR as soon as I watch them, less laundry, and learning how to do all sorts of new things, like doing the books for the auto businesses.  There are many more things I'm NOT looking forward to, but we'll just go with that last for now.

I'm watching the oscar's now.  I love award shows and it looks like I'll have plenty of movies to get at the Red Box over the next few months.

February 14-20

Feb 14 Valentines Day.
No big deal.  I sent a very small and practical (Junior Mints, Airborne, Breath Mints and a card) with Justin on his business trip.  He had roses delivered.  Long stem.  Normally I would say that flowers delivered to a woman not at work are a waste, but if you happen to be out of town, it still is a nice gift.

Feb 15
We have family pictures on Saturday.  To make my life more difficult, I decided that our family would have an outfit change.  This is our casual wear with the big family.  We're also doing a more formal look with Justin in his dress uniform.

Feb 16
Playing with Grandma Colleen's out-school toys.  I don't think this woman has ever thrown away a single toy, it's amazing.  Check out those sharp corners!

Feb 17
Goodbye dinner #1 with the Gough's.

Feb 18
Goodbye dinner #2 with the Lafeen's

Feb 19

To-do list.  Justin received notice on Saturday that instead of leaving March 10, he was leaving on Feb 24. We have one week to get everything done from taxes military garments to teach Melanie how to run the businesses (and personal) finances.  It's been a hectic week.

Feb 20
Sometimes I feel bad for Jake when I clean his tank.  I don't realize how dirty the water gets until I clean it.

The next week (I'm not counting anymore)

Feb 6

Milo took a little over 2 weeks to get back to a normal sleep schedule.  I was up a lot during those two and a half weeks.

Feb 7

Little Miss got a hair cut for pictures next week.  Her bangs got cut a bit short, but I think they'll be just perfect in another week.  And, they did this cute little pig tail thing to her hair that I've copied.

Feb 8

Kate likes to hide things.  Twice this week I found my phone in her little kitchen.

Feb 9

We were stuck in the house all day, the kids were bored out of their mind.  I was trying to figure out somewhere to go that evening.  And then... the Lafeen's called.  Grandpa Lafeen to the rescue!

Feb 10

Hyrum doesn't like writing, it sort of makes his anxious to hold a pencil or crayon the right way.  We probably should just practice more, but we'll get there.  He needed to write his name on all of his valentines for preschool, we did 4 a day for a week and a half.  He got a better as went along.

Feb 11

I had to wrap Valentines gifts early so Justin could take his with him to California.

Feb 12

Another screen shot.  On the way to take Hyrum to school  I heard on the radio there had been a shooting in Midvale about 40 minutes earlier.  They ended up putting 7 local schools on lock down while they searched for the guy(s).  It was a weird feeling, I was glad Hyrum goes to school so far away from our house, for once.  I also wasn't so sure I should go home.  We did, and I kept updated all morning.  They still haven't caught the guy, but it has come out that he was a known gang member, has narcotics charges, etc.  I guess there's not a big chance he'd come around our house, I don't feel so on edge about it anymore.

Feb 13

Grandma Hardcastle came over to make Valentines cookies with the kids. I also took the chance to run to a store without kids - priceless.  Will become even more priceless in another few weeks!

Jan 30-Feb 5

Jan 30

Justin was home.  Which means I got to run errands by myself.  This was my list.  It didn't matter they were mostly errands for Justin.  I was by myself.

Jan 31

Hyrum's preschool went to the Dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point.  It was rescheduled from last week during the freezing rain storm.  That day my mom was around to watch the other two and it was going to just be me and Hyrum.  Instead all 4 of us went.  I was a little nervous, but we did okay.

Feb 1

I'm a summer shoe type of girl.  I don't like socks, which lends itself to sandels and flats.  And, winter-y shoes tend to be a bit more expensive on average too, so I guess that means I'd rather buy different shoes.  But... I bought myself a pair of dressy(ish) boots.  I've worn them twice.  Once with no socks on (go figure).

Feb 2

I took this picture totally blind.  It was super sunny and I couldn't see the screen on my phone whatsoever.  So... it's not too bad considering.  Jodi offered to watch the kids at her house while Justin and I went to the Mt. Timpanogos temple down the street from her.  I had to miss the temple trip of nearly ALL the Hardcastle's on my Grandpa Hardcastle's birthday the week before, so it was nice to go.  It's been too long since Justin and I managed to get ourselves there.

Feb 3

Superbowl Sunday fell on my mom's week for dinner.  I offered to have it at my house so Jodi didn't have to drive so far.  Trevor stayed home to actually watch the game, and Jessica's dad is very big into football, so they went to his house.  We had too much food, had the game on the whole night, and played different games with the kids.  This one is a sorting 'game' with dyed noodles that my mom is trying to help the kids play.

Feb 4

This was not a great week for Baby Milo.  On the 28th he had his 4 month old vaccinations, and he was up nearly every hour that night.  I knew his leg hurt, and he seemed to be okay by about 24 hours after the shots, which is how he was with his 2 month shots. However... every night after that he was ALSO up every 1-2 hours, had shorter naps and seemed to fuss a lot when taking a bottle.  I was overly tired, overly emotional, and frustrated that I couldn't figure out what was wrong.  We started cereal thinking he might be hungry, and I made sure he stayed at home Friday and Saturday to get really good and regular naps, but nothing seemed to help.  My last two options were 1- he might have an ear infection or 2- he's going to have to 'cry it out' a lot sooner than my other kids.  We went to a pediatric insta care this night.  He had an infection.  I was oddly SO grateful he did.  We started on antibiotics.  The odd thing was, he slept last night normally (until 4am).  Antibiotics don't work that fast.  So... I have a strong feeling that being up every hour after his shots just got him in a bad habit, and either going to bed late and/or the trauma of having his nose professionally suctioned out at the doctors snapped him out of it... or amoxicillan now starts working in one hour.  I'll never know.  I just hope the trend (of sleeping) continues tonight.  We both have a lot to catch up on.   

Feb 5

I didn't take this picture today, I think it was on Saturday or Sunday.  But, I've been looking at it every day.  I love it.  His eyes are just beautiful.  It's so amazing how in love you can be with your own kids.  It's a good thing too, it probably helps them survive those long, sleepless nights!

Frustrated

I'm interrupting the weekly post with photo's for a pity party...

I seriously hurt my tailbone when I fell two weeks ago.  It might be broken again.  But, more importantly I can't exercise because of it, which means I have less motivation to eat healthy, which means I'm feeling fat and I have family pictures in less than 3 weeks.

I can't figure out why Milo doesn't want to eat sometimes, wakes up constantly at night, and has generally been in a bad mood for the last week.  I've tried everything I can think of.  I'm probably going to take him to the doctor's this evening to see if he might have an ear infection.

No sleep for Milo means no sleep for me.  So, I'm tired and super emotional.  Seriously, just typing out that sentence nearly brought tears to my eyes.  Okay, I'm lying, it DID just bring tears to my eyes.

I've had a nasty head/sinus cold for the past week as well.

I'm behind in laundry, my house is never clean and my kids spend too much time on the iPad and iPhone.

On the brighter side (and just so you don't think I'm a complete depressed loser)

Having a cold while NOT pregnant and NOT breast feeding is sort of wonderful (relatively speaking).  Thanks to Mucinex D and a nasal spray, I can usually breathe and sleep (when Milo lets me, that is)

My husband was home last week AND this week.  And, he stayed up with Milo most of the night last night. And he took Hyrum for a while this afternoon.

We got to go to temple on Saturday while my sister and her husband watched the kids.  Thank you Jodi.  It has been an embarrassingly long time since we've been there.

The Young Women in the ward just posted their cake auction fundraiser for March 5th.  I love making a cake or two for the auction and it will give me something to focus on besides the March 8th deployment date.

Later this week the temperature climbs up to near 40 degrees.  We might even get to go outside and play (and get away from electronics).

That's all for now.  I'll get to posting the weekly pictures soon.