I didn't hear anything. Nope. Not me.

Funny, but it seems my girls make me the proudest when I'm not even supposed to know what happened. Last night the girls were crafting at the dining room table within earshot of me. They were talking to each other about their days. First of all, I can't get over the cuteness of them off having their own little lives all day, and hearing them talk about it to each other.

Natalie declared it the worst day ever. EVER. Apparently a couple of girls called her Nattie. OH THE HUMANITY. But I hear her. You want to be called what you want to be called. Anything else hurts your feelings. I get it. I had hair issues when I was little. For one, my hair was orange, not red. I guess she asked them to stop and call her Natalie, but they didn't. Cue Sister Bear. If you thought the Mama Bear was tough - watch out.

Ella: "Who was it?"

Natalie: "It was M & A."

Ella: "Well NOBODY teases my sister. Do you sit by them at lunch?"

Natalie: "Sometimes."

Ella: "When I see you at lunch I'll come see if they're teasing you. And if they are I'll tell them to stop. Because NOBODY teases my little sister. Or my BABY sister."

And then she was off on some tangent imagining someone teasing Zoey by calling her tiny. I don't know, I guess I've never heard anyone actually tease a baby. And definitely not for...being a baby. But whatever.

I only wish I could properly convey the attitude and tone that went with these words. Maybe I should have said something, maybe not, I don't know. I don't think it really matters. I just wanted to sit and revel in a moment where they really loved each other, and weren't yelling "STOPIT" or "DON'TTOUCHTHATIT'SMINE!"

Pardon the tissues.

Please excuse our tissues on every surface. We are all sick. Except Captain America, of course. Superheroes don't get sick. I am diagnosing it as "Spring Crud." It started with Natalie, then Ella, then Natalie again, then Ella again, then Zoey and me. There's a fever that comes and goes willy nilly. There's gunk. And apparently when you get as far into it as Ella and Natalie are, you require boxes of kleenex. And the girls have watched enough television that they request Puffs. With lotion. It has been my joy to teach Natalie about brands and logos. And things like we call them all kleenex, but sometimes they're really Puffs.

I feel like we haven't slept in weeks. Someone is always up. "My nose won't stop running." "I can't stop coughing." "The skin around my nose is very dry." "Wah." {translation: I need my nuk, and please fix my swaddle}

But, much like the grass out there, I press on. Spring is here. There may be a stumbling block of more snow, but Spring is here. And while Winter and I are not really friends, it does make me appreciate Spring and its new life and resurrection. Even when that new life gives us sniffles.

Well this is interesting...you know...for me

It's been a little hectic around these parts lately. Not like it hasn't been hectic at your house, too. I'm sure it has. How's it going? Better I hope?

Zoey is almost 6 months already. I know! Where has the time gone? She's made some developments. There's a crazy amount of rolling. And she's doing a very modified crawl. She's not strong enough for a formal crawl yet (because she's tiny and not very old), but she likes to get on her stomach, lift up her little bottom, dig her toes in and propel herself forward. Which usually means sliding on her forehead. But a girl's gotta get around, doesn't she?

Yesterday Natalie (still 5) changed Zoey's diaper. She begged me for the chance. I had to hold the little wiggler's legs still for her, but she did a great job. And she wants to help out like that more often. Natalie gets a gold star for the day. And my undying gratitude.

Last night after a series of mildly unfortunate events, we found ourselves heading out to eat. We went to the giant buffet. Which on some level, always makes me a little sad. But the kids eat food when we're there. And that's a really important part of going out to eat. While we were there, Natalie decided she needed to find the restroom. And Ella decided that she needed to be the one to take her. Okay then. So Ella gets a gold star for the day. And also my undying gratitude.

All of these things are making the prolonged winter seem a little easier. I'll see green again. Someday.