Seein's how Richard and I are still sick (like running fevers, can't-quite-breathe-right, sniffle-and-cough sick, not dying-of-pneumonia sick), Valentine's Day was set up to be pretty sucky around here. But Rich got up early on V-day to shovel the walk and came back into the house with balloons and Spongebob Candies for the girls and all my favorite chocolates with a lovely card for me. Awwwww! I had planned to decorate his office like I usually do, but just couldn't do it, so I sent the treats and decorations with him (along with some cute pix, cards, and treats for his parents and co-worker). Later, The Carter family in our ward arranged a special Valentine's night "IN" for Rich and me to thank us for helping w/ their computer. Terry (the mom) came and picked up the girls at 5:30 and dropped of a lovely dinner of roasted lemon pepper chicken, shrimp scampi, peas with mushrooms, Martinelli's sparkling cider, and chocolate mousse with strawberries, complete with candlelight! She also brought a movie for us to watch--"Just Like Heaven"--which was pretty cute, as well as some chocolately treats to snack on while we watched.
The girls came home a little after 8pm, all ready for bed, so we tucked them in, gave Terry her dishes, and finished the movie (Rich also installed our master toilet last night, so being able to potty down stairs was the greatest Vday gift of all!!!). So what was looking like the bleakest of all Valentine's Days turned into one of the best. Thanks, Carter family! We hope to "pay if forward" for another couple in depserate need of a date night! You guys are the BEST!
We were reminiscing about V-day 5 years ago...we had just arrived in San Diego to prepare for our wedding on February 17, 2001. We spent the day doing wedding stuff, like picking up Rich's tux in Escondido, shopping with my mom, etc. I think we went to dinner with my parents that night and it was just a really fun day, looking forward to being married that weekend. Oh, what fun! Sometimes I can't believe that five years have flown by, but at the same time, I can't believe I was ever NOT married to Rich. I mean, I barely remember life without him...which is cool because "it's a wonderful life."
And the wonderful life is calling--kids need some love and I gotta go!
Addie kissing her cousin Sam.
Aunt Jamie, Cousin Addie & Baby Sam.
A close look from Aunt Jamie. 
The New Sam Post
Cute Brothers
You may be wondering where Heidi was during the baby-love-fest...she was having a Captain Furious episode due to the lack of a nap. Charming... 
I stole this picture from Matt's blog---it's my nephew Jake showing off his new brother Sam, and I think it's DARLING! They are both beautiful kids and I think the magic of the second (or 3rd, or 4th, etc...) baby is what happens between the siblings. It still makes my heart swell when I hear Addie and Heidi collapsing in a fit of giggles together--if there is one good thing I have ever done for them (besides marry their dad), it's giving them each other.
And here is Papa Post with Heidi on her blessing weekend in May 2004. I think it's super cool that his only biological son had a son on his birthday. Sorry, dad...we didn't get you anything NEAR as cool, but we love you & are thinking about you! Have a great day!
PS: I forgot OUR baby news--right as Amie was giving birth, I was at my first appointment with my OB and we actually heard heart tones at about 153 beats per minute, so the wee one is indeed in there, pumping away at 10 weeks along. 
...And it just gets better every year.
JUST MARRIED
Me stealing a kiss from my niece, Melanie.
The day before the wedding, we all gathered at my mom's house in Ramona, CA (east of SD). One of the favorite activities was swapping babies...here, Jill checks out Evan (Dana's baby), while Dana snuggles Liam (Willy's baby), while Willy looks on (and so does Liam's big sister, Melanie).
After our BBQ dinner the night before the wedding, Richard and I gave out silly award ribbons to our siblings to introduce them to each other and show our love for all of them. It was so fun to have all our loved ones together in one place---isn't that always the best thing about a wedding? Oh, besides the part where I got THE BEST HUSBAND EVER!
I suppose thoughts of Matt are always just at the back of my mind, because dumb little things like hearing a song on the radio or the Fallen Heroes segment on CBS news just send me into sobs. Part of me knows he will be okay--I keep thinking, it can't possibly be God's will for Amie to raise those babies alone--but at the same time, the whole year will jus t be hard--there is no way around it.
I was also feeling some left-over elation at finally finding nice, simple Laura Ashley dresses for my girls at Costco, of all places. I will save my rant for another day, but I have been so annoyed now that Addie is in "girl sizes," I am expected to dress her like a junior sleaze. I cannot believe that they make the same clothes for a five year old that they make for a 16 year old. Can't my little girl just dress like a little girl for 5 more years? I was getting ready to bust out the sewing machine, but Costco came through with lovely, classic dresses in both their sizes. Let girls be girls!
That's Jake, Heidi, & Addie
Heidi riding a trout
Addie riding a frog
I am going to find a funky shower curtain (think Target's "Swell" collection) to hide the furnace & water heater and hang up my vintage "Breakfast at Tiffany's" movie poster, just to make it bright and fun in there.
Here's how it looks from the food storage room (we are putting in shelves on the left between the cabinets and the wall) ...
...and from the door of the basement family room.
Once the snow melted, dad got back to work at the ranch. We went down to pick up some cabinets for the laundry room (which are stored in the barn) and Addie helped Grandpa unload the truck at the burn pile.
Here's how the ranch & river look in winter.
Heidi and Addie enjoying their pets today (2/01).
FERRAL CHILD: When Heidi had pneumonia, we had her sleep with us to listen to her breathing, but once she got well, we put her back in her own bed. The first night, she threw that tantrum to end all tantrums between 1am and 3am. We ended up just shutting her in her room and trying to sleep through the wailing. When she wok up in the morning she looked like this. We had put her down in a blanket sleeper (those zip-up one piece warm jammies) in her bed, and we found her on her floor with her drawers emptied, wearing only a silky slip around her waist.
I tried to take a picture and introduce you to our family pets, but Dory the Betta fish is always hiding. Anyway, this is Dory (hiding in the grass) and Gary the Snail in their Spongebob Squarepants tank. Addie & Heidi got them for Christmas.
