Alright - I've gotta get better at mosting some memories here. I found a notebook that I'd kept when Benjamin was a baby - only lasted a few weeks - and was amazed that I had no real memory of the things I was reading about. My memory isn't exactly bad, but I don't retain details. This makes me sad to think about because I can't relieve some of the great moments in my kids lives becaue of it. I don't forget big things, but the little things you want to remember don't stick with me. SO -- I'm gonna start writing here regularly so I won't regret not doing it in years.

I spent a lot of yesterday and today trying to clean up around here. I have an idea to turn the small pantry/stairwell into a walk-in pantry and I've gotta get the placed cleaned up so I won't be ashamed for a contractor to come in. Chris says we won't be able to afford one and that we can do it ourselves, but I know how that goes.... we'll still be talking about it next year. I'm ready to go NOW! He's headed out of town for some training tomorrow for a few days and I have started formulating a plan to get a contractor to come look and see if the small job (just tearing down wall/adding floor and 'trap door' so we still have access to basement) can be done in a couple of days. Ideally he'll come home to the work mostly done. I know that sounds devious.....I just know he'd be happy if he saw it done ..... if I could get it done for a few hundred dollars...... (Besides, he's the one who bought me a CAR when I was away for the weekend).

I had a nice weekend holed up in the house because of the cold weather. Chris and Ed went to their boys weekend thing and the kids and I hung out. I did feel pretty guilty because Benjamin kept wanting to PLAY and I REALLY wanted to accomplish some cleaning/organizing in the house. Of course, Kennedy's main goal is just to get in the way of ANYTHING we do. So -- she follows me to mess up what I clean up and then when I sit down to play Scooby Doo Pop and Race (old school Trouble), she HAS TO keep grabbing board and knocking the pieces everywhere.

I did get the living room cleaned, lots of laundry done, the kids room wardrobes sorted/organized, most of the floors mopped, and the bedroom bookcase re-done, AND hung some pictures on the wall. Not too much considering I had the whole weekend, but I'm happy considering I had goosey girl to handle the whole time.

Kennedy is such a character these days. She puts on a show and DOES NOT STOP when we go to Grandma Scott's on Sundays. Everyone there loves her and just fuels the fire. Elle, Joe, and Benjamin just cannot help themselves from picking her up. The are all told multiple times each time they are together to not pick her up....they stop for a while and then go right back to it. They aren't trying to be bad -- they are just drawn to her and can't help wanting to touch her/pick her up.

Well, these are great memories, but at least I wrote something. Maybe I'll make it back tomorrow.