Happy Valentine's Day!

68 Valentines cut out

You Make My Heart Glow

glow sticks included

Helping at the Class Party
Finding my car decorated - and driving it around town all day

Friday Night Fever and Randomness

I wish I had a picture of this, but tonight we went to our school's family party: Friday Night Fever - Disco theme- and we danced the night away. My feet are killing me, not used to being on them so long! Long after John took the two littlest ones home, Madison, Brooke and I continued to dance. We had a great time dancing together and the funniest was seeing the groovy duds people showed up in!

We have a great school, and the celebration, even though previously planned, was the icing on the cake after an emotional battle to save our school.

After a nice morning jog early this morning, enjoying the beautiful weather again, and then getting the kids off to school, I took my two littles to Old Navy for what I thought would be to pick out some new clothes for Madison's upcoming birthday. They were having a sale that was too good to pass up and I ended up doing serious damage. John showed up and needed to help me with the bags to my car (too numerous, big and heavy to handle with the stroller)!! Yikes. We had a quick lunch at Panera. I love that place! Then home to nap the kiddies and start making the several dozen cookies for Friday Night Fever's Bee-Gee Bake Sale.

My littlest littles took a too-short nap, so we had time to walk down to the school to pick up the bigger littles.

Double stroller.

Big hill.

More walking.

At the school, I accumulated two more kids and told them we'd stop at 7-11 on the way home (it's Friday). I felt like the pied piper with six little kids walking down the street. Near 7-11 is a dental office that I saw some people enter. Then I realized Madison had an orthodontist appointment at 3:15 (quick look at my phone: 3:14!). Hey kids - detour! We all went into the dental office and made her appointment just in time. The staff of course asked, "Are they all yours?" I'm certain that if we were in Utah my brood wouldn't have even received a second glance. However, here I always receive comments if I have all my kids with me. Why is that? Sometimes it's a look of admiration (wow! you must be amazing to be able to handle so many kids. Or, Are you nuts . . . pollution/overcrowding/expense/etc./get a bigger TV) either way it can pretty rude.

We didn't get home until 4:00 after the walk home. The kids (including the extras) played basketball and ran around the house until the parents came to pick them up. Put on the blue eyeshadow, wrap up all the cookies and head out the door to the Disco!

No wonder my feet hurt.

A Racin' Good Time!

Christian's birthday party was a success. Thanks for everyone's suggestions.

We made a fabulous race track cake . . .

Painted and assembled pinewood derby-style cars . . .
Played "Pin the Wheels on Lightning McQueen"

and whacked a pinata . . .

Had to keep the activities indoors due to the still swamped backyard.

Happy Birthday Dear Christian, Happy Birthday to You!

Ice cream, cake, presents, playing and fun!

They decorated goody bags (white paper lunch sacks) to look like traffic lights. We filled them with a Hot Wheels car, Hot Wheels Fruit Snacks their painted car, a Learner's Permit, and the candy. The two girls also got a little Kelly doll.

The thank-you notes turned out cute, too. They match the invitation, and I created driver's licenses with their photos on them. I laminated them and put them in the note. Cute!

Happy Birthday to My Little Guy

Christian is Four!

Like most boys, he loves Hot Wheels. We found these Hot Wheels Eggo Waffles while we were shopping for his class birthday supplies - and had to get them. (The first time we've ever had Eggos here.) That was his choice for his birthday breakfast - and the easiest one I've ever made.

He loves his preschool class and attends twice a week. For his class treat, we (mom) made these cool candy/gum race cars. They were a hit with the class!

Christian has been a joy and a light in my life ever since the moment he entered it.

He's a cute little surfer dude, even in diapers.

Loves to watch football with Daddy, and play most sports.

He's a wonderful big brother to his baby sister and loves playing with her and protecting her. He has a particularly close relationship with big sis Madison and often climbs in bed with her to snuggle and read books (she loves that, too).
Christian is fun

Christian is mellow

Christian is handsome

Christian is smart

Happy Birthday Christian!

We Love You!!

Rain

You would think we're now in the Pacific Northwest.

A beautiful, warm weekend lent itself to a rainstorm that has lasted, and lasted, and lasted. It's been raining all week now.

We went to the zoo on Monday (holiday) and trudged through the showers there.

It's still raining now, Thursday night.

I don't know how much more water my backyard can hold.

It's supposed to continue all weekend. A whole week of rain.

It's cold, too! Sorry for those in really cold climates . . . 47 degrees is arctic for me.

Today there was even thunder and lightning, and a bit of hail.

That's always fun. I love a good storm . . . as long as it stays on the outside of my house. I don't need anymore spots on my ceilings.

WinterTime BLUES

Oh What Do You Do in the Wintertime

When All the World is Cold . . .

Do you Build a Sandcastle?

Collect StarFish?


Explore Rocky Tide Pool Wonders?

or Explore Caves and Bury Your Toes in the Sand?

A lovely Saturday afternoon in January
A welcome escape from the
routine of chores and yardwork!

Feed the World

To increase your vocabulary, and feed the starving at the same time . . . log on to http://freerice.com

I caution you: it's addicting!