my tweedle bugs

This is my basil plant.  A few weeks after I transplanted it from outside in my garden I started noticing a tickle bug crawling around the dirt.  I decided to let him stay and didn't think much about it.

Then I began to notice that he was eating my basil leaves.  And that he was not alone.  There were three other bugs with him.  A family!  It was then that I realized I had my very own set of tweedle bugs, just like Bert and Ernie have in their window box!  I knew I could not throw them out, even thought they were making holes in my leaves.   

If you look really close you can see one in this picture.  I began putting raisins and bits of carrots in the pot for them, hoping that would keep them from eating my basil.  I don't think it's worked, although they do enjoy the extra food, especially the carrots.  

There's another one in this shot.  It gives me pleasure to peak in on them as I'm doing dishes throughout the day.  Who needs guinea pigs (no one), these are the best kind of pet!

january 2015 news

Usually January is a month Brian and I dread.  It’s hard to take the snow and cold after Christmas has passed.  We are much happier this January since the weather has been completely amazing.  Earlier this week Layla was out playing in short sleeves and bare feet…in JANUARY!!!   I keep feeling weird for enjoying it so much because it is so unnatural that I’m sure it means something bad, like snow into June or a major drought.  It really feels too good to be true.

I do not plan on talking about weather so much, but it really is a remarkable thing that is happening this month.

After getting a nearly $4000 bid to get tile done in our bathrooms/laundry room, Brian and I have decided that maybe we could become tile-ists.  We are calling on all experts that we know in our life.  This is a little frightening.

After a super busy December where Brian worked his guts out, he is enjoying a lighter load at work.  It’s funny how it works.  On December 31^st he worked late, like he had done every night of December.  Then on January 1^st he was home by 11 a.m.  All of the sudden, in one day, it was over.  He is happy that he has more time to devote to running and he has a race planned every month for the next six months.  Running makes him very happy.

I (Sarah) am busy planning the Valentine’s Day party for Elle’s class and am trying to make working out at the rec center a priority at least a few times a week.  I tried a cycling class and thought I might die, but I have since found other classes that I enjoy much more.  It feels good to push myself more than I had been doing.

McKay is having fun on his first Jr. Jazz team.  He does pretty well on the court and his favorite thing is when we can go to the church to practice and play around together.   I am happy for this warm weather because he has been able to play outside a lot, which makes him very happy.

Ellery is content drawing, playing jump rope or playing with Layla.  She has always been our best sleeper, but recently has been having a hard time falling asleep at night.  We implemented a new punishment for all the kids when they get out of bed.  Porch Time…which means they have to sit alone on the porch for 3o seconds to a  minute.  So far the only one to have to do this is Layla, and I must admit it was a really long 30 seconds and I questioned the safety of this practice and wondered if I was encroaching on child abuse…but I must say it was extremely effective.  Even the threat of it has worked more than anything else. 

Layla is still in swimming lessons, every Thursday.  This is something that I’m really glad we’ve stuck with because she has improved so much.  I worry what this will mean for the summer- she thinks she can totally swim, which is terrifying, because she can’t.   She is my little buddy all day long and I am so happy to share my time with her.