weekend, etc.

i don't have too much to say besides i've been sick. i hate that it's "just" a cold. colds are horrible, miserable viruses. why isn't there a cure yet for the common cold? it's the twenty-first century for crying out loud! my mom took stella for the day yesterday so i could rest. i couldn't even sleep because i was so congested and uncomfortable, but i did enjoy some quality rest. i watched playing for keeps (kind of a yawn of a movie with a boring storyline and blah characters), drank peppermint tea, and read a little. stella has been sweet about my being sick. brett told her that mommy has an owie in her nose, so she always talks about that. today i had to laugh because in spite of my rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer nose and feeling yucky, stella looked at me while playing with my hair, and said, "mommy all pretty."

the weekend was fun. my dad turned 60 on the 8th, and my brother, luke and sister-in-law, naomi, flew in to surprise him. stella had a ball with her uncle and aunt; it was so good to see them, although the visits always seem to fly by before they've even begun. i am hoping the fam can get together this summer, since jared and corinne will be home for the summer. i'm annoyed at myself for not having taken more pictures, but that's just the way it is sometimes.

a few pictures of stella these days:

ponytail girl

coloring on grandma's ipad

some of her favorite books right now (probably because some of the dinosaurs are naughty)

brett's parents are driving in from ohio sometime friday night and heading back home tuesday morning. i am hoping i feel a lot better over the next few days, and that brett and stella don't catch whatever i have.

oh, if you have some kind of virus and you're congested and miserable, buy yourself one of these. they are $15 at target and are so soothing and effective.