A grownup night out was badly needed this week, with as much sickness and as little sleep as there has been at home. The annual Galentine's Dinner at Sarah's did not disappoint.

Lately mornings have been difficult, it's hard to get all of us moving before it's even light out. Especially in February. So Rowan, our early riser and our conscientious girl, has come to our room a few times lately and whispered that we have to get out of bed, we have to get her breakfast so she can go to school. We have lingered too long, and she is going to set it right. Of course, then she's happy to spend some time hanging out with her dad while he gets ready for work, and giggling.

I know some photographers who say that they really struggle to document the times that aren't so perfect. That if you looked at their photo albums all you would see is happy, smiling people, and you would think their lives are perfect. Not me, man. When I see a scene like this happening, I run for the camera. Because this is our life. Yes, we smile and hug each other and dance around and laugh. But this is really, really common too. Cranky kids, all wanting Daddy's attention...and there's just one dad to go around.

Saoirse, you remain obsessed with catalogs, dreaming of all the wonderful things you could own/play with/eat/use. Apparently Liam shares your fascination. Also, it is hilarious to see tiny people act like they are big, and he looks like he's reading the paper to me. It's amusing.

It is unfortunate, really, for all of us that you have your hardest hours, Liam, right when we need to be making dinner. I feel like I really should find some way of solving this problem...slow cooker meals every day? But every day, meals need to be made, and you need constant holding, and you get bigger every day. Today your daddy took care of this problem for me, thankfully. Please tell me that eventually you will be able to entertain yourself for long enough for me to cook a meal...

My poor girl. Three days of coughing, fevers, not much sleep, and this morning some throwing up. You are wiped out, and you slept away a big part of a snow day today like this. So tired that the activity in the house didn't seem to disturb you at all. Let's hope tomorrow's better.

This is the biggest snowstorm of the winter so far. No snow tomorrow, it's already called off. Fiona is sick, so is Liam. Saoirse is inside somewhere, avoiding the cold and blowing snow. But you, Rowan, decided to help your dad shovel.