The house is quiet! I stayed home from church with a sick baby today and he's sleeping. I better write fast or this moment may be gone for another 4 months.  I've been meaning to write since Reed was born in November- but I'll be honest.  I CANNOT FINISH ANYTHING these days.This counts for the baby announcement, Christmas letter and Valentines note I intended to send.
   Addie will be 8 on the 21st of March, and is getting baptized on March 30th.  She is so excited.  (You ALL are welcome to come, but no one feel any pressure.)  Recently she rode through a wind/snowstorm for a cattle drive for 4 hours and didn't complain once...till she saw me.  Then she cried buckets of tears.  Her poor little hands were so cold- all she had were stretchy gloves on, because she forgot her mittens were in her pockets.  Luckily her Aunt Jessica made her keep changing hands while holding the reigns, to do hand exercises.  We were glad she was o-k, and when all is said and done, we're happy she had an opportunity to learn that "She can do hard things," (as mom always says.)  She loves school and reminds me of Anne of Green Gables in her desire to beat Gilbert Blythe-er, I mean a boy named Tanner- in being top of the class.  I'm so thankful to have her help with all "the kids," as she calls them.  When she is in a good mood, they'll bend over backwards for her. 
   Shane took Will out to the ranch with him this weekend- when they got home last night I was told that he had become a man in the 2 days since I last saw him.  He opened gates for Shane so he could drive the feeder through, cleaned the barn, helped move pairs, and was a happy sidekick for his dad-  (Though he is not too impressed with having to ride behind Shane on the horse.  Its not nearly as comfortable as the saddle.)  Will's new heart's desire is to "Make something" everyday when he gets home from school.  We attribute this new passion to our own family Scientist, Jesse Fryar.  It's good to have a boy cousin close by who is patient enough to let him tag along and watch his work and experiments with awe.  Jesse recently built a bubble gum machine.  In turn, Will had to make his own toned down smaller version of a bubble gum machine.  Needless to say, my creative juices are being forced to work again after a lifetime of dormancy. I must say, Will and I are both becoming rather crafty.
   Myra is determined, all of a sudden, to grow up.  Last week she dictated to me what she wanted to write in her journal.  "I like to go to work with dad.  I'm his "Workin' girl."  I took a shower with Addie and I was so brave.  I can wear pony tails now."  These few sentences describes her so well.  She is a daddy's girl and loves the farm.  She day dreams about summer and riding in the tractor and frequently asks when it will be summer so she can.  She wants long hair like Addie.  She has a cute little stutter that hopefully she will grow out of.  Her mind runs so much faster than her mouth!  Last night she was trying to tell Shane something but just couldn't get it out.  She accidentally spilled his milk, but didn't say anything, till during a long pause in trying to get a sentence out she remembered and quickly said, "sorry I spilled your milk dad," then went back to trying to get her other sentence finished. She LOVES Reed- to the point of smothering. I don't worry about leaving Jane alone in a room him, but Myra waits for opportunities to roll him onto her lap and juggle him around, or push his swing higher, or kiss him on the mouth.  No matter how many times in a day she goes to timeout, she can't help herself!  The other day when I sent her, she rolled her eyes and said, "Can't you just talk to me about it?"
   Jane- also a daddy's girl since Reed was born, does not like to share her dad with Myra, which makes Sacrament Mtg. a little stressful.  However, most of the time, she and Myra are best friends.  When Addie and Will leave for school, the girls begin to play house and I always play the character of Grandma. They pretend to their hearts content, with very few fights.  The older kids dote on her, and she knows that if mom isn't giving her sympathy when she has a fit, she can depend on Addie or Will to comfort her.  It is hard to be mad at her.  If we ask her if she drew on the wall, she'll nod her head decidedly and bluntly say, "Yeah, I did it mom." Then, after she is lectured, "Sorry mom."  If I catch her dipping her fingers in the jam jar and ask, "Jane, what are you doing?" She shrugs her little shoulders a couple times, and bobs her head back and forth as she explains with a pacifying smile, "OH, I just eatin' some jam mom." She frequently starts her sentences this way.  ("OH, I just..")  She loves the cartoon Strawberry Shortcake, and quotes the movie fluently. 
   And Reed.  Sweet, kissable, and irresistable, are the descriptive words that explain why he has RSV.  Luckily he really hasn't been too sick.  We haven't had to do breathing treatments or anything- just basically treating it like a cold.  I'm afraid that since he's been sick, he's gotten a little spoiled.  Almost every time I set him down he yells, and flips himself to his tummy to show how mad he is.  His smiles and laughs are worth every effort we put forth to get them out of him.
  If any of you decide to come visit anytime soon,we'd love to have you! But, please prepare yourselves.  I don't think my house has all been clean at the same time since the baby was born. (Maybe once.) Shane and I just keep trying to do the best we can with all the usual responsibilities of family, church, and work, and feel so blessed.  We love you all and can't wait for the family reunion!!!
                                                                                                                       The Dallings