a week of valentines

It all started with another successful Sunday morning...making beaded hearts for some of our favorite valentines.

Then we celebrated at preschool, we made super cute tissue hearts...Hadyn spent the most time on hers, she VERY carefully filled the whole heart in.

Then we had fun with our friends in the ward at a very fun Valentine party...we ate lots of yummy food and the kids decorated bags and traded valentines...

I never got pictures of the valentines we made...so this is it...we spent WAY too much time cutting and gluing these cute flower heart valentines for ALL of Taryn and Drake's classes and Hadyn's friends. 

The week before I made cake pops with a few friends for the kids teachers...an experience I hope will be ONCE in a lifetime...whose idea was that again??  I am still having nightmares.

Then Valentines morning we celebrated as a family with a special Valentine breakfast where we ate heart shaped waffles, and heart muffins, even the orange juice had heart ice cubes.  We each shared our favorite things about each other and began a new family tradition...every night before family prayer we share our favorite "happiest" moment of the day...sometimes 2, 3, or 4 moments but it has been a fun way to share our day with each other.

After breakfast Owen and I took off for a fabulous QUICK one night getaway to Scottsdale.  Luckily, we have a wonderful babysitter who loves our children...even when they are throwing up.  What would we do without Kara??  

We are lucky to be surrounded by so many people that we love.  I sometimes hate Valentine's day because of all the dang commercialization but, it is a holiday about love...and it is something this world could always use more of.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

 

my whole entire life....

I have always known my hair doesn't hold curl...I curl it all the time and it just falls out...usually within minutes.  It is just one of those things you except in move on...not the end of the world.  And since my girls have my hair (lucky them), I had accepted that their hair would never hold curl either.  

 Then, one day after seeing Emma's (Hadyn's BFF) hair done super cute by Tara, I asked her how she did it...she told me and then told me to make sure I bought a titanium curling iron.  So I did, and....

the curls actually held, not only did they hold...they held ALL DAY.  I curled her hair for church and I took this picture right before bedtime...a small miracle.

I have since curled my hair...and it held all day, and now (much to my girls dismay) I curl their hair ALL the time...just one more thing for them to love me for.  One day they will thank me for making them look cute right??

it started as a fun family night...

Taking a drive, walking around Westgate, looking at the fountains and a fun meal at Johnny Rockets...

It ended with Hadyn throwing up (right after the food came), Taryn throwing a fit and everyone crying ALL the way home.

We will try to do it again...in 10 years.

every kid should feel special

Taryn got this darling cookie bouquet from the achievement day girls (the group of 8-11 year old girls in our church)...to welcome her...it was a real wake up call to me, I was just coming to grips with the fact she was turning eight and will be baptized.  I didn't realize she would be going to achievement days too...I don't know if I can handle all this growing up!

Taryn could not stop smiling and looking at her bouquet.  She set it up on the dresser in her room and hasn't eaten any of the cookies...still!  

I am so grateful that there are so many that truly love and care about my children.  I think it is just as important for them to feel loved by others in their life as it is for them to feel loved by their family.  It is hard enough to raise children...so having many standing behind you helps...a little.

just to rub it in...

No snow here...just beautiful weather day after day...the kids play outside...for hours on end...I don't know about you but I just LOVE the winter!!

And yes it is warm enough for some to not have a shirts on...

Taryn and Drake made this train one night while I was making dinner...and I am pretty sure that at one point EVERY toy in our yard was part of the train.  

I just LOVE this time of year!!!

the celebrations never end...

We finished our "big" birthday celebrations with a fabulous dinner at Carraba's with most of Owen's family.  It was a wonderful meal and it is always good to get out together...remind us that we should really do it more often.

  

The big 40...can you believe it??

Okay, so maybe he isn't quite 40, but I think I am pretty funny and I thought it would be fun to celebrate his 40th birthday because 35 is almost 40 isn't it??  So when I invited his family to join us for this birthday celebration there might have been a few who questioned that I really thought he was turning 40...so I played it up with candles, balloons, the whole nine yards...funny...maybe just to me!

But, I think he looks great for 40...doesn't he???

happy happy birthday...

I am always looking at my kids and wondering how the time goes so fast and they are getting so old so quick...I feel the EXACT same way about Owen.  How did he get to be so old???  Where did all those years go???  Will they all go so quick???  I guess am just glad that I am forever in my 20s.

Hadyn wanted to put the candles in his cake, so I let her have at it.  When I came back to check she had put them all in a semi-circle...so I added the eyes and nose and viola...isn't it just the cutest cake you have ever seen?  I learned everything I know from my mother!

Sitting here looking at this cake it reminds me of the first cake I made for Owen when we were dating...it is just missing a big dent in the middle...a story for another time...

Anyway, I have made many cakes for Owen over the years and each year I realize more and more how grateful I am for him.  I am reminded daily of his love, his support, his humor, his adoration, his devotion to his children, his integrity, his friendship...so yea, I count myself as pretty lucky!

I love you baby...Happy Birthday!!!

tour de zoo

We hit the zoo this weekend with a few bikes in tow...and I have to say this is my new favorite way to see the Phoenix Zoo.  We had a blast.

I enjoyed learning more about the elephants and their habitat.  And the kids loved getting to touch elephant skin and then feed the elephants.

Obviously Hadyn didn't have enough lunch...sorry Reba.

Here's a picture of Reba for Bree...ok, I really have no idea which elephant this is but it was the only one out and...it is the thought that counts right???

We finished this fabulous day with some Barro's pizza, then Bahama Bucks, followed by a dance party on the way home, and finally, an early bedtime, though I am not sure who was more tired, me or the kids.

kids pics...take 1

So, after scheduling and rescheduling (because of bad haircuts, pink eye, and rain) we finally found a time that worked...except that I was running late, the kids were grouchy, light was fading and Taryn had to seriously go to the bathroom.  So, that being said...

Gorgeous huh?  So, no Julia...I don't hate my pictures, I LOVE them...but I do want to try once more, just to see how many times I can reschedule, because that is what I do best.  I know you can't wait...

things i love about hadyn

I need to remind myself of these things...on a daily, sometimes hourly basis...

When Hadyn is doing something she shouldn't (which is often) her most typical response is "don't say any words to me" or "don't look at me" which always makes me laugh and almost makes me not want to say any "words" to her.

Hadyn has her own sense of style and that requires at least 15 dresses and 3 pairs of pajamas a day or she HAS to wear the SAME dress everyday all day and night.  So regardless, Sundays are always a challange, getting her dressed and happy about it.  This past sunday I was telling her that we need to wear pretty dresses to church to make Jesus happy (so I pulled the Jesus card...sue me)  Anyway, after much persusion she got dressed.  After we get to church she turns to Owen and says:

Hadyn - "Jesus doesn't like that boys clothes" 

Owen - "Why not Hadyn?" 

Hadyn - "He doesn't look very pretty."

So maybe that wasn't the best approach???

In the middle of saying prayers...she stops, says hold on, and shares an experience from her day with us, then continues on...Heavenly Father understands...sometimes, those REALLY important things like "Emma hit me in the playhouse" need to be shared IMMEDIATELY.

My favorite phrase that Hadyn uses on a daily basis is "I am going to tell mom/dad to spank you with a hovel (shovel)"  And no, we do not spank with "hovels" in our home (only rakes) I really don't know how this one got started...

Another beautiful picture by Julia.

my model student

I had a meeting today with Drake's kindergarten teacher and his speech teacher...and I am one proud mommy : )

I think Drake is a pretty special kid (well, I think all my kids are the best...obviously) but it is always nice to hear that others feel the same.  So excuse me as I share my pride and brag a little about my boy.  

His teachers couldn't say enough nice things about Drake..."he is so polite..so smart...so cute...he is always willing to help...he is always on task and doing what he should be doing...he is so friendly to everyone in the class...not just his friends...so loving...he is the best kid...I don't want to give him up...he is a model student."  

What more could I ask for??  I just LOVE my model student!!!

Oh, and the model student picture...again the work of Julia!!!  Thanks!!!

i LOVE one o'clock church

Can you sense the sarcasm???  And don't tell me if "I was truly devoted that it wouldn't matter what time church is...Sunday, is Sunday" Don't give me that crap.  One o'clock church SUCKS...especially with 4 little kids.  And to all my spoiled friends in the NC Ward...just wait your time will come...and I will not feel bad at all...maybe they will give you the 2-5pm time slot...

Now that I got that off my chest.  We decided to try and make our Sunday mornings fun family time...so this first Sunday (and yes it was fast Sunday...might have forgotten that during all the cursing of afternoon church) we made sugar cookies with the kids.

Check out Owen's random fabulous jet ski...and no we don't have a jet ski cookie cutter, he just wanted to make one.  Weird, I know...  

We had a lot of fun making our creations with the kids...and even more fun giving them away.  Successful Sunday number 1...

...and we survived.  Only 51 more weeks to go.

the lion king

We took Taryn and Drake to the Lion King opening night at Gammage. When I saw it was coming to town, I quickly bought tickets. This was Owen and my first time seeing this The Lion King as well and I was probably more excited then anyone. This is one show you don't want to miss. Everything about it is amazing...this picture I stole of the Internet doesn't even come close to showing how incredible the costumes are...something you really have to see to believe. Do I have anyone convinced yet? It is in Phoenix until Feb. 8. You still have time!!!

Have I said it was amazing yet???

During the opening scene when all the animals come out, I actually got teary eyed, the music was so powerful and I was in absolute awe as the elephants, giraffes, and other animals walked right by us...truly remarkable. I will stop talking about it now...just remember if you ever get the chance...don't miss out!!!

The kids on the steps of the stage...which we got yelled at as we took the picture...oops...I guess we shouldn't be on the stairs in the middle of the performance...just kidding it was at the end, who knew it was such a big deal??

We let each of the kids pick a memento to remember their FIRST Broadway play by. Taryn picked a cute charm bracelet...

and Drake picked a Pumba.

On the bridge in front of Gammage.

I can't wait to take the kids again. I LOVE exposing my kids to new things and watching the awe and excitement in their eyes. I guess this is one of the perks of the kids getting older, though I dread it immensely. Next Broadway show for ME...Mamma Mia, in May...in the Big Apple...CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!

jammies, jello, jets...nevermind...just a happy new year to you!!

What a fabulous way to start off 2009.  We broke from our usual tradition of falling asleep before the clocks hit midnight and hosted a pajama party.  The night was full of lots of yummy food, lots of laughing, and LOTS of information...a night some may want to forget, but I don't think ANYONE will be forgetting for a long time!! 

Thanks everyone for the laughs...they should keep me going all year, and I will never look at some things the same again!!

Just in case anyone was wondering how I threw such a great party...I will give you a few of my "no fail" tricks.  Tell everyone weeks in advance the unofficial plan then don't do anything to prepare...call Julia while you are on vacation, pretend like you don't have Internet access in the cabin and ask her send out the "official" invitations, give out assignments, figure out what games to play and let her use my bed...I mean the clean my house.  Then come home from vacation and have everyone over and take all the credit!!

Here's to 2009!!!!