The Everyday February

Gabe has stepped into his role as my assistant. I both love and hate this. He seems to be more stubborn than the other two and less willing to follow directions. He just jumps in there, mom's mentorship be d@#$ed!

 We got together with friends. This is a terrible picture of me, but I needed to have proof for myself that I do have friends. I am realizing more and more that I just really don't do well in big groups. I tend to leave the group feeling like I did in high school--like something is wrong with me and that people just don't really like me. If someone talks to me one on one, I usually have a great time, but if I don't have someone talking to me or listening to me, my insecurities rise right up to the surface. This happens a lot at Relief Society meetings and Ward parties, and I've noticed myself even feeling this way after getting together with my in-laws. It's easy to for me to walk away from group settings feeling super lonely and insecure, and the predominant thought is, "Wow, I really am not good at the whole friends thing. Why is it so hard for me to make friends. Clearly, something is wrong with me for so many people to consistently ignore me in group settings. I guess I'm just not likeable." and then I spiral into a depression. Well, Devri dear, below is the proof that you really DO have friends, and they are pretty great.

These amazing Watsons have been with us through the good, the bad, and the ugly, and they still like to hang out with us! Our house can be a mess, but they don't care and just love and serve us anyway. They even brought us dinner during our remodel because they knew that our kitchens were out of commission. Devri, you have friends (and more than just the Watsons). 

 Poor Michael was pretty sick though. Gabe was not.

 After Michael got feeling better, we went to the Dinosaur Museum for our monthly release night activity. They played at this water table for a long time.

I had to crack up one day when I saw Gabe trying on Cutie's (Rachel's kindness kitty) shoes. So funny!

 We hung out downstairs... a lot!

 I think Brian and I went to one of Brian's dad's concerts because we went out for ice cream with his parents, and we usually only do that after concerts. I think this was also the time that Kirt ran into a former student while Julie and Brian were in the restrooms or something. Kirt couldn't remember what his relationship to me was. He said to his student, "This is Devri my....." This is when I found out that Kirt is, as he calls it, relationship-ally challenged, meaning he's not good at naming the relationships like daughter-in-law! He kept wanting to say "Wife" but he knew that wasn't right! He knows how I'm related to him;  he just couldn't come up with the right words. I find it incredibly endearing, especially since he's so good at laughing at himself for it.

After ice cream, Julie had a little too much fun with this stacking game:

 I sure love my in-laws, especially because they let us invite ourselves over for dinner a couple of times during our remodel.

 We introduced our kids to the classic "Cool Runnings" during the Olympics. We had to help them appreciate why we wanted to watch so much Bobsledding!

 Our Smith's has little shopping carts now. I have a love hate relationship with them. Mostly hate. Kids are not very good shopping cart drivers, and they run into my heels every time we use them. But, the carts do bring the kids a great deal of delight.

 Chelsea asked me if I could make a costume for Heather to wear in her school's production of Shrek the Musical, Jr. It wasn't a good time, but she rarely asks for my help on anything anymore, so I had to make it work. Plus, I love my niece, and I love making costumes. It was a good distraction/service to do while our house was torn up!

 In February, we introduced our kids to Jenga. Michael really wasn't interested in playing, but Rachel had some surprisingly mad skills when it came to the game.

 Gabe did pretty good observing, mostly because we strapped him into his chair.

 Michael got Gabe to model his glasses:

 If he ever needs them, Gabe is going to look fabulous!

 Every now and then, you just have to sit on the top of the stairs and enjoy a good sucker.

 Brian taught Monkey how to drive:

 I'm not sure where we're going all dressed up. Maybe to Nana and Papa's house for another dinner? I did mention they were amazing and fed us a couple of dinners, right?

Turns out, I did take a picture of the bouquet Brian got me for Valentine's Day!

 On President's Day, we went to The Greatest Showman with Lea and Shayne and Nana and Papa. We all love this show!

 (This is the day that our basement flooded :( )

We got a really awesome snowfall, which was fairly rare this last winter.

 My neighbor was watching my kids while I was working from home on my photography stuff, and right after she brought them back home (and while she was still standing on my front steps talking to me), the snow slid off of our roof and solar panels right onto her and into our stroller!

 Towards the end of February, we all caught the plague. Do you remember that flu virus that was out of control back in February? Well, we were pretty sure that Michael started getting it, so we took everyone in for a check-up. Rachel and Gabe were just fine, and Michael had an ear infection and possibly strep, but they didn't test for strep because the anti-bacterial meds prescribed for the ear infection would clear up the strep if he had it. A week later, we had to take Rachel back in for another check-up. Brian and I also took a turn going to the doctor. It was really rough around here, and in the middle of all of the sickness, our cabinets were getting painted, and our flood was getting cleaned up. It was a miserable way to end the month!

 We did have some lovely snowscapes to look at though:

 Too bad that we were all too sick to go out and enjoy the snow. Instead, we just got really bad cabin fever in our torn up house.

 And watched too much TV.

 I hate when my kids are sick, but I do love those extra snuggles!

Dear February 2018: You were the longest shortest month ever! I hope we don't see the likes of you ever again! Dear everyone else, may you never get sick or have a flood during a re-model in February!!