I really enjoy new recipes (although not everyone in the house does), and this week I tried a new recipe with a completely new ingredient for me. I made a dinner with kale. And Ryan even liked it. Thanks, Food Network!

I am really glad that Ryan and I spent every night for the last few nights watching Firefly. I was definitely skeptical at first, but I ended up really like the series. We even rented the movie that was made after the tv series and watched it last night. It was really fun to watch some sci-fi.

Yesterday, I went to the gym (after a two-week hiatus due to illness) and I used my iPod and new iPod armband. It was awesome! I loved being able to do my elliptical with MY music. Now I'm very excited to create some good playlists to play while I exercise.

Chris went all day without having an accident! Hallelujah!

I got a free bottle of lotion today at the grocery store. I got lotion with cocoa butter because I kind of like smelling like chocolate all day.

I am very grateful that I found my long-lost iPod Touch today. It has been missing for a long, long time, and I am so happy that it finally turned up. I had honestly given up hope, and then I found it in the bag I brought to Institute today. I guess those are the blessings I get from going to Institute.

I am also grateful that everybody in this house is on the mend. Chris has gotten over his ear infection and (mostly) his cold. Max is still fighting his cold, but it seems to be getting better. Ryan was feeling well enough to go to work today, so that's progress. I am feeling better and energetic, even. I think it helps that it's around 50 degrees today.

I am grateful for our new lamp. It gives off so much more light than our old one that we might even be able to talk on the webcam with our families on Sunday nights and have them see us.

I am very grateful for such great health insurance and the ability to get in to see a doctor when we need to see a doctor. I am also grateful for antibiotics.

I'm grateful that we could have dinner with friends on Tuesday night. It was really fun to just sit and talk with the Chastons. We laughed a lot, which was nice after a hard day with sick kids.

Ryan went above and beyond this weekend. First of all, he unburied my car. With the snow that dumped on us yesterday, that was really appreciated when I went to go to church this morning. Yesterday, he also brought me flowers (white roses - they are lovely), very thoughtfully bought me some books (short stories so that I can continue my non-fiction library obsession and still read short stories for sanity), and took me out to Sonic after the boys had gone to bed for some frozen treats. I have the most wonderful husband!

We played hide & seek tonight with Chris, and it was really fun. We found some really good hiding places for Chris, like in the laundry hamper and the hall closet. Chris was so happy and cute playing and calling out to us to come find him, giving away his perfect hiding place.

I'm grateful for the internet and it's ability to connect old friends. Things like blogging and facebook have let me reestablish friendships with people.

Both boys took naps today. At the same time. Monumental!

We got to go to Ryan's work and have lunch with him today. It was really fun to see him in the middle of the day. Plus, Chris was extremely excited about seeing Ryan's workplace. He was exclaiming every chance he got: "These are great stairs!"

My kitchen floor stayed clean today. Hooray!

Today was just an all around good day.

I am grateful that we get to go to St. Louis. I'm glad that Ryan was accepted to all of the schools he applied to, but I'm also glad that scholarship offers made the decision to go to St. Louis easy to make.

I am grateful for the internet and the ability to search for apartments in St. Louis from Madison.

I am very grateful that I could try a new exercise class today. I went to Zumba for the first time and although I didn't get all the latin-dancing moves right away, I did have fun.

I'm grateful that Chris could dance with me in the kitchen today. I have a lot of fun with that kid, and he helps me be happy and energetic.

I'm grateful that I could really clean my kitchen floor today. I love having clean floors.

I'm grateful for Chris's innocence. Today, Max was sitting on the floor and had an explosive poop. It was quite loud for such a little baby. Chris looked at Max with mouth agape and then looked at me and said, "Mom, Max sounds like lightening." He was right, but I couldn't help but laugh.

I'm really grateful that Ryan is coming home tonight. I always miss him when he is away.

I'm grateful that Chris was relatively easy today. He didn't even have to go in timeout once. Way to go, Chris!

We went to the library today, and I checked out Charlotte's Web to read with Chris. Since I haven't been able to get him to nap using our typical reading routine, I thought I would change it up with a longer book with a few pictures. It didn't so much work like I had dreamed, but he was interested in the story and wanted me to keep reading. We got through four chapters, which I thought was quite a bit. It's such a cute story; it's fun to read out loud.