It's my birthday

Alas, the sickness was not over. In fact, it may not be still...

Natalie did go back to school on a Tuesday (after 3 days of sick and 1 day of recovery). That same morning, Alee threw up. She proceeded to "get sick" (vomit) once a day and not eat from Tuesday to Friday, missing the Valentines activities at school on Friday and the "country western dance day" (a yearly event where the kids show the dances they've learned in PE during the dance unit).

That was sad - it was probably the first time she wanted to go to school since the first day of school and she couldn't go.  The first day she went back she reverted to trying the "my stomach hurts" trick on me. Oh, Alee...

The twins (who learn about SC history/geography during 3rd grade) learned the SC state dance - the Shag. Kaitlyn wanted a boy taller than her to make the turns easier and one that didn't aggravate her, so she arranged with a friend from her class to be partners days before the event.

Natalie was not thrilled with her partner, but I'm not sure she'd have been thrilled with anyone of the boys in her class. But she did a good job showing the dance she'd learned.

Every Wednesday the school offers after-school clubs (for free) for 1 hour. Kaitlyn has been in the sewing club this past 10 weeks and has absolutely loved it! 

Her teacher has been amazed at her. (Not so much at her sewing skills, although she is pretty good for a 9 year old, but at her "teacher skills". She was a helper and very much a similar personality to the teacher. It was a good experience for her and she started bringing the girls sewing machine and has become quite comfortable with using it on her own.)

Everyone was well by last weekend (Valentine's weekend), so we went to Which Wich to celebrate February birthdays with Rob's family and then on Monday went to visit Rob's aunt. (I didn't take a picture of us eating or of Rob's aunt, but I did get a picture of Seth's artwork on his sandwich bag and of the girls with bubbles outside the condo on Monday.)

(Rob and I also went to a youth valentine's dance as chaperones since the three youngest were at grandparents' houses Saturday night and Seth and Carolyn were old enough to manage on their own and put themselves to bed.)

Random pictures of our pets:

 I'm not actually a pet fan, but I realized I didn't have any decent pictures of them when the German teacher asked all the kindergartners (parents) for pictures of pets for an animal unit.

Pet moment is over. Back to the kids!

They had some kind of awareness week at Seth's school. The only day he participated in was character dress up day.

And we finally decided to buy a new (used) van. 

Then, this past weekend, we went to my mom's for my birthday. Alee complained because we didn't go anywhere, but I got what I wanted.

I didn't do dishes. I didn't do laundry. I didn't count calories (I didn't even write down what I ate.) I didn't work on any projects. I didn't shop. (Rob thinks it's funny that I am female and don't like to shop.) I didn't have to clean up vomit...well not much.

Oh, so Seth threw up on the way down to my parents. (great...) So, my plan not to let anyone eat in the new van....well, after someone pukes in your new vehicle, eating just seems so innocent, so I lifted that ban. (Fortunately, most of it ended up on his clothes and in the trashcan. And because we were already part way there, we just continued down.)

Poor Seth was quarantined upstairs, but he only threw up on Friday and just couldn't eat until today (Sunday). Or participate in anything with the rest.

I told Rob today, I don't even know why I bother to quarantine them. We should just pass around  a cup of water and let everyone drink from it after the first person gets sick and just embrace it and get it over with instead of dragging it out over the month! :(

Saturday night the girls wanted to play beauty salon. 

(The curling irons are not plugged in.)

Carolyn learned to french braid!

Dad monitored the progress of the SC Presidential Primaries. (Didn't turn out to our liking.)

Then, because my parents have late church (1-4 pm), my girls pulled out the hair stuff and wanted to do more beauty shop Sunday morning. Granddaddy got roped in this time. (Alee wanted to fix hair and Grammy volunteered Granddaddy.)

 Alee made "unicorn-Granddaddy". (She also made porcupine-granddaddy with Kaitlyn by adding about 12 more. Granddaddy laughed with her for a few minutes then said, I'm done- take them out.) Alee thought it was hilarious.

We also played games and talked family history.

I really enjoyed church today. I felt inspired and I felt peace. Except for the sickness that left Seth out, my birthday weekend was good. I'm ready to finish February.

For more pictures of my birthday weekend at my mom's, check out her blog!