I Wanna Dance with Somebody

I have THE coolest ward ever. Our sunday school presidency (I mean our sunday school presidency's wives) planned a valentine dinner and dance for our ward and while some may have thought it sounded a little too cheesey I embraced the idea and started planning our attire right away. I thought our old fashioned look was pretty darn good until I saw my friend Jami walk in...she took the cake. Some people were really dressed in their prom or church dresses, and others took a different approach. There was 80's attire, old school gangster looks, dumb and dumber tuxes, steve was the pimp of the party, and more. Pretty fun. We had a blast dancing the night away...and seriously could not stop laughing when our Bishop busted out a spin move right in the middle of the floor. So out of character for him but we LOVED it. We have some really really neat people in our ward...and we really enjoyed the night. So much so that we've requested it be an annual event. Must start looking for next years dress:) Official dance pictures to come...

Happy Heart Day!

I'm not sure why some people don't care for Valentines Day. I for one LOVE it! It gives us an added reason to celebrate the people we love...and who doesn't like to be celebrated?! On Valentines day we all just stayed in as a family, got take out, and had a candlelight picnic on the floor, while we watched a show together. Then the next day Tob and I hosted our annual Valentines dinner and had so much doing it. I love decorating for it, and planning the games, and the gifts. On the menu was steak, shrimp, party potatoes, asparagus, salad, rolls, and Errin's amazing raspberry cake. So good.(The pink lipstick is from our kissing game which was actually quite funny, congrats to Sage and Linds on that win) We have GREAT friends and love that we laugh so much when we're together. - The kids got their pink pancakes and strawberry milk, elle a rose and teddy bear from dad, cash a baseball from Mom, and I got spoiled with 3 roses from Tob, 1 from my brother Jordan (so sweet) and 1 Fire and Ice Rose from my Dad. Honestly I don't think that there has been a year gone by in my life where I haven't gotten a valentine from my Mom and a fire and ice rose from my Dad. That' just one thing I can always count on being on my doorstep on Valentines. I sure heart my family.

Cash

I'm getting old. There's nothing else to it. I'm losing my mind and forgetting things I never thought I would. Cash said a couple of the funniest things last week and I remember thinking "I don't have to write that down cause it was so cute I'll never forget it." WRONG. Big mistake. It's killing me now that I can't remember. So in it's place I'll share a little Cash story...something that has been on my mind for a while now. I had one of those 'Mama Bear" moments the other day at McDonalds. Tob and I took the kids there the other day for lunch and to let them wear themselves out a little. While we were sitting at the table talking Elle came walking up to us with her arm around Cash. He looked as though he was going to burst into tears. The conversation went something like this. "What's wrong with Cash Elle?" - "He's sad because that boy over there says he doesn't like Cash." - me astonished.."What? Why? Did Cash do something?" - "No he just says he doesn't like him at all." No reason no explanation...just plain and mean. So I marched over there and sucker punched the kid. Not really, but I felt like it. I wanted to go say something to the little boy but toby didn't quite agree with me. Instead Toby and I told Cash that he was coolest little boy in the whole world and not to listen to him, that we loved him with all of our hearts. He got a smile on his face, hugged us, then ran away to play. But I sat there and let a few tears fall. It's amazing how you can love a little 3 foot boy so much that it physically hurts when they are hurting. I think I was crying more of the thought of what was to come then what had happened at that particular moment. I'm scared of my kids being teased, of them being picked the last in gym class, of them not getting asked to the dance, or making the basketball team. I'm not sure I was cut out for this job. I've been so lucky to have such a sweet little boy in Cash. He loves his sister so much. It's so cute, everytime I say "I LOVE you Cash!" He says, "and I LOVE my sister." well there you go. He's so happy always and I couldn't be more in love with him. Look out world...Cash's mom will always have his back.

Color Me Mine

I can't imagine my life without this little girl. I felt like the two of us hadn't been out alone for a while..so last Saturday I kidnapped her and took her on a date! Just the two of us. I had thought about taking her to Color Me Mine for a long time since art and painting are some of her favorite things. She LOVED it!!! Of course she picked out the dog, since it obviously looks just like Chicago, and got right to work. When she finished we went to grab a bite to eat and I snuck a little shopping in. I always enjoy our "girl time" together. Then it was back home to the boys...and sportscenter.

Superbowl!

Always love a good excuse to throw a jersey on:) Go Packers!

Happy Birthday Grandma Kathy!!!

Thank you so much for all you do for us! On a personal note you've taught me so much and I look to your example often. Let make a skirt or two and cook up some asparagus soon:) So glad you live close so we can celebrate together. Happy Happy Birthday!!!!

The Way You Look Tonight

She "looked" unbelievable!!!! So so pretty. Elle LOVES to dance and it was our privilege to go watch her perform her ballet number at her recital. She looked so adorable up there and I couldn't have been prouder. She LOVES to dance and is lucky enough to go with her little friend Hope every week. Brooklyn takes at the same studio so we get to see her dance too. I recorded her little rehersal for it and have watched it like 20 times because i love how she throws her arms out and dramatizes the moves. I feel so lucky to be her Mom.

Where a Kid Can Be a Kid

As a new years resolution we decided we'd like to do better in our scripture study as a family. So Toby and the kids created this poster chart as motivation and to help get us in the routine. It has been GENIOUS. Every 10 or so chapters we get to go out and do something together as a family...and of course the first place they chose was Chuck E Cheese. (Yes I realize that going out to places like this would get crazy expensive and it's a little much but the next outing we did was icecream cones at McDonalds so I'm feeling justified.) We were excited that Grandpa Todd was able to come and join in the fun. I also realize that I don't want my kids to get in the habit of reading the Book of Mormon just so we can do something fun...but my hope is that the kids will truly start to enjoy this time together and realize the blessings that come from it. Which I believe they already have. It's been so cute to have both kids say "Dad can we please read scriptures now? LOVE it. And fyi the 30+ bucks we forked out was totally worth the three erasers, two stickers, and the slinky we won.