This week's 13.

1.   Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

On tonight's menu is chocolate pancakes with chocolate ganache syrup, whipped cream and strawberries.  Yum!

2.  Ana is done with basketball as of tomorrow.  On Monday she starts soccer.  She wanted to run track too, but we told her no, because that would be too busy.

3.  We've had three days of beautiful sunshine.  My kids are in the backyard digging holes in the mud as I type this.  Ahhh...bliss! 

4.  Here's a real time update of Elena at her Valentine's Party at school.  Only they call it a "Spring Party."   Whatever.  They still exchange Valentine's cards though.  Here's Elena with Audry.  Her mom sent me emails with the pictures just now.

5.  I've been sewing, and it's heavenly.  Halfway done one dress for my niece, Miriam.  I'm going to enter it into the Inspired by the Movies contest at patternreview.com.  It's inspired by Parent Trap.  ;)  Well, not really, but that's what I came up with.  It's the same dress I made for Ana in gray for our family pictures, only I changed it quite a bit.  Aren't you so excited to see?

6.  I thought Nicolas inherited all of MY side of the family's genes because he used to be up in the 90th percentile for height and 70th for weight.  Nope.  He had a well-child visit on Tuesday, and now he is in the 50th percentile for height and the 10th percentile for weight.

7.  I had a Ob appointment on Wednesday, and an ultrasound.  My baby is a very, very active....BOY!  So as of right now, we sing "Oliver, Oliver, never before has a boy wanted more...." a lot to him.  We also like the name Marcus.  And Leo says we should break the mold and go for a Scandinavian name--Jorgen.  I like Jorgen, but I don't think I'm ready to break any molds.

 8.  Some pictures of my monster Nicolas.  Sick kids make me want to pull my hair out!   At least he's happier today.  He's wanted to be held non-stop all week long.  

 9.  Ack!  I'm running out of time, my kids want to come inside, and I already took a break to strip down Nicolas (he was covered in mud) and put him to bed and make the bread into loaves.  Can the rest of my 4 things be pictures???

10.  The kids are watching for Leo to come home.  So adorable.  Nicolas loves Leo so much!  He squeals and runs to him as soon as someone says Dad's home.

11.  I didn't go to church on Sunday--I was home holding Nicolas.  But I did snap some photos of my two handsome men.  

12.  And here's the mailboxes we made.  Good times.

 13.  And Ana with Nicolas one of the days he was sick.  She was sweet and held him while Dad and I ate.  (She had already wolfed her food down.)