weekend update

Well this has been quite the week. I began the week with a 24-hour flu that somehow didn't spread to the rest of my family. But it was awful. In the midst of the flu, we were potty training Elsie. More on this another time but the girl loves her potty chair and most of all her Princess Sophia underwear. All the while, Rory was watching his eggs, waiting for them to hatch. They were supposed to hatch on Tuesday and if you could have seen my sad husband on that day, your heart would have softened a bit. He was very sad and concerned something was wrong because they didn't hatch. But Wednesday morning came with the surprise and joy of a baby chick! And Thursday morning he woke me at five o'clock to watch the second chick hatch. We watched the whole thing: from little hole in the egg, to a floppy chick kicking off the rest of the egg. It was really special. After the chick excitement, we celebrated Rory's dad's 70th birthday, an epic celebration for one quality guy. Prepare for an awesome post about an awesome party.

The weather is brutally cold again and Ivar informed me this morning that, "all of my toys are just so boring." And as his mom, I sort of agree. How many times can you whip out the same puzzles and blocks and make them look fun and fresh. The boy needs to be outside, and it's just too cold. So I decided to step up my game and make sand boxes in the kitchen with trays and...corn flour. A decision I very much regretted pretty much right away.

We're hitting the part of winter that drags the most. Historically, I do fine with winter (even love it) right up until President's Day. And then I'm over it. Ready for the sound of melting snow. Ready for walks down our road. On the whole, I'm doing way better than I have the last few years, and for that I am grateful. But I'm still going to admit that this winter is getting long. (Even longer than the sticker train Ivar stuck to the plastic on our big window.)

I have a post in the works to tell all about Madison's Epic Party. It was such a sweet celebration. Hopefully that will go up tomorrow. Until then, keep an eye on The Grovestead. Rory has documented all of the egg to chick excitement this week and has much to share.