Bracken still doesn't sleep well unless he is next to one of us, so we have worked out a system. Nick wakes up at an insane hour in the morning. He gets a bit of work done and then, at a more reasonable time, wakes me up. He squeezes back into bed, taking my place next to Bracken. Most of the time, Carson has also found her way into our bed at some point during the night. I take some time in the early morning to workout and get ready for work. Then, just as the sun begins to shine through the slits in the shades, clean and ready for the day, I make my way back to our bed. It is a queen bed and at some point in our marriage, it felt huge. There they are, my three favorite people, sleeping. Normally Carson has started to wake up and she glances over the covers and smiles at me and then pretends to go back to sleep. Once Bracken wakes up, he demands to be read to. I sit at the edge of the bed and watch Nick read The Berenstein Bears as Carson and Bracken lay on his arms and chest staring up at the pages. Do we spoil them? Yes. Do we respond to their every cry? Absolutely. Are they dependent on us? Of course. Maybe we are crazy, but every morning I wake up smashed between two kids who sleep better when their arms are touching mine. It is good to be needed. It is good to be loved. It is good to be a family.

The month of February was spent with many loved ones. Chad and Jessica came to visit at the beginning of the month with their twin boys, Lincoln and Paxton. Carson and Bracken love their cousins. We also got to spend some time with the Bachelders. Paxton Bachelder took his first group bath with Carson and Bracken. Bubbles, water, and toys that squirt. Endless fun.

During the few breaks in rain throughout the month, we found ourselves outside. The weeds have won in our backyard. So we have begun the long process of fighting back. Shovel, hula hoe, rake, dirt. Endless fun?

Lance Armstrong made his way to Sacramento during the Tour of California. We braved the windy day and watched the bikers speed by. We then walked through Old Sacramento and Carson had her first experience in a candy store.

It is good to be a family.