Happy Valentine's Day!

We had a super fun Valentine's Day this year.  Mike and I are not romantic people. We are not Valentine's Day type people at all.  My kids were so excited for V Day for their friends and school, and I kinda felt bad that their parent's should show them some extra love. So, while Mike went to work, we planned a family Valentines Day party and cleaned the house in the morning.  I took the kids to Chick Fil A for lunch as a special treat then we went and delivered some sugar cookies and hand made valentines to Mike at the dealership. Each kid had made Mike a valentine and made up a Valentines song.  It was pretty funny.  It was a good way to break up the long lonely Saturday.  On the way home we stopped at a fun park.  I learned I can't do playgrounds until my knee is better.  That bark stuff is a no go on the knee. It was a beautiful no coat afternoon at the part in February, a little windy, but still fun.  Spencer LOVES to swing!  He would scream and throw a fit every time I took him out. Even just suggesting it, he would grunt, scream, and shake his head no.  It was funny. We came home and I started cooking for our family party. I made a "Fancy Dinner" with fancy dishes and yummy salmon. 

Then we did our games.  Isabelle made a cute "Pin the heart on the card." 

Then we did bowling. They made a shape of a heart out of the pins.  This game didn't last long because of our destroyer baby.  As soon as they got set up, Spencer invaded with knocking everything over before the ball could make it to the set.  

Then we played a stacking game with conversation hearts and finished up with Valentine Bingo.  The kids had so much fun.  

We finished the night with valentines I made for the kids, valentines from grandmas and a little trinket. These lip whistles. It was a hoot. 

He's really doing a lot of cheesy faces for the camera. 

And he's learned to fold his arms. Too much cuteness. :)  

It was such a fun family evening and especially because the kids did most of it.  My kids are looking forward to next year. 

No Coat February

This winter has been incredibly warm!  To the point, I'm pretty sure we still live in Florida. We've been outside a ton!  It's getting colder again, but until the last week of February, I'm pretty sure we never wore coats.  One afternoon, I was outside in capris and a t-shirt, Spencer was literally just in a onesie.  There was no wind so it was just sun and warmth.  This day was actually warmer here than our Florida house. It has also been a great winter to own a couple ice cream shops. ;)  I've been soaking this up!!!!!  I'm finding it my little miracle that I got to move back to Utah but keep my Florida weather.  It's the little things. :) 

Video Games

We had some good friends come over for dinner.  Mike and Jason are friends from a mutual friend and our old Spokane job. They live here in the valley and we have gotten together a few times. We have lots of kids between the two of us and Mike and Jason love to play video games together. Our kids wouldn't budge from the TV to play with friends.  They all found remote controls from their cars from Christmas and pretended to play along with Dad.  It was pretty funny. 

 Spencer has realized you smile for cameras.  He was making the cutest smiles, but the flash was too bright.  

Morning Sleepy Look

At the beginning of February, I realized I hadn't been taking many pictures.  This was a silly Sunday morning first breakfast (with 1:00 church, we tend to have a second breakfast around 10:30 involving bacon and Mike.  First breakfast is for kids around 8ish to make it to second breakfast. Haha).  I just love their morning sleepy looks.

Trampoline Up and Knee Down

On Jan 22, I cleared up the spot for the trampoline the boys got for Christmas in the basement and Mike set it up.  It was so exciting!  Everyone tried to be helpful.

Two boys in the trampoline box.  Luke is gaining on Michael in height and weight.

It got to about this point, and I had to leave for a basketball game.

Mike finished it up and took pictures for me. 

It's been a great addition to our house to help little boys get out wiggles in the wintertime.

That night during my game, I fell bad and tore my ACL.  It definitely hurt pretty bad. I couldn't put weight on it for a couple days.  We were showered with service.  Mike and Isabelle took up my slack and my orthopedic surgeon brother in law took a look and told me it was torn...surgery is in my future. In the meantime, I have had good days and bad days.  I can walk mostly normal now.  I can take care of my family basics and walk on flat stable surfaces. I don't do anything quickly. :( And all my exercise involves a bike with little resistance.  My legs are dying or a good run!  I'm grateful for all the help we have gotten and grateful this isn't a permanent situation.  This too shall pass. :) 

Backwards "Milty"

Michael LOVES cereal.  He loves to have lots and lots of milk until it reaches a certain level.  He has to be able to push all the cereal into the milk. He calls it "milky," but he pronounces it, "milty."  It makes me chuckle. "I want it milty!"  

He also never ever has all of his clothes right side out and the correct direction.  Like this shirt, inside out and backwards.  This is definitely a typical look for this kid.  There is no pattern, Sometimes things are right, sometimes half wrong, sometimes all wrong. Jeans, are more often backwards than forwards.  Backwards underwear started years ago when he couldn't see the Lightning McQueen on the hiney part of his undies.  "I need to see Tars (cars-his name for Lightning as a little toddler)!"  and put them on backwards. I have no idea how he hasn't noticed that sometimes things are more comfy than others! Shoes often on the wrong feet or even two completely different shoes.  He lately has decided when he wants to be a pirate he wears a different shoe for one to be his "peg leg."  (Pretty sure he was a pirate with all backwards clothes the day Luke wore his knee pads to Costco and Spencer was in jammies....i looked like an awesome mom. Haha!)  Really he is SO incredibly unpredictable.  You never  know how he's going to look.  Good thing it doesn't bother me.  

Captionless and Busted

I don't remember the caption in my head when I took this picture, but here it is anyway. 

Spencer is definitely at the "getting into EVERYTHING" stage.  I absolutely love watching him toddle around carrying the funniest things.  He discovered where I USED to keep my marshmallows and got caught. It was also the beginning of the "I'm not getting my way" tantrum stage as well.  Pretty sure I hadn't seen him throw such a fit as when I took that bag of marshmallows away from him.  He has since outdone himself for bedtime, having to give up a blanket for the washer, siblings stealing toys and the list goes on.... He happily wanders through my house entertained with absolutely anything!  Some of his favorites are my hot pads, silverware sneaked during an unloading, chapstick, and SCISSORS!  He is our best scissor locator, which is good, because I have three very forgetful scissor users. ;)

Scissors....Again

Birthday and Christmas Money

With everyone's birthdays in the fall, I tend to buy their birthday and Christmas presents at the same time.  I put a ban on spending their birthday money until after Christmas this year.  A few weeks after Christmas, everyone had their birthday and Christmas money in hand and wanted to pick out some stuff. It's a good thing I was in a good mood because we were at Wal-mart FOREVER!!!!!

Michael finally decided on some Legos.  He has his eyes on this whole massive set, he's gradually getting a piece at a time.  He's pretty good at legos and loves putting them together. He also got some candy. 

Luke got some roller skates....this was pure entertainment for days...weeks....we are still reaping the entertainment of this little get up.  He falls way more than he skates, but wears them all the time.  Pretty sure he has worn them to bed more than once. So funny. He wore his knee pads to Costco last week.  Who knew Costco was so dangerous? ;) He also got some candy.

Isabelle got some skates as well.  Since our little skating party, it's all she's talked about.  She skated all over.  With our super warm winter, she has gotten to use them a ton.  She loves them. She also got candy. 

I woke up the morning after our little spending spree to this adorableness. Sleepy face, jammies, a belly hanging out, cowboy boots, roller skates, and a smile. :)  

Random Leftover Cuteness

Just some cute pictures I found from 2014.

Spencer discovered hats and it's pretty adorable. He brings them to me all day and wants me to put them on, but he doesn't leave it on long. and wants me to put it on again. Over and over again, we play this game (yes, still 3 months later).

We got some free kids meals at Joe's Crabshak. We went with Mike's family.  This one we went to had a play place in it right next to our table.  It was a perfect family dinner.  The kids were happy and enjoyed cousin time without getting ansy waiting for food...seriously, why do fast food places have playlands but SLOW food places don't!??!? 

The kids all love to play with Spencer in his crib.  I find all sorts of things.  It's usually cute.  Michael was reading to both boys.  Makes me smile. :) 

I never made a real gingerbread house this year!  Gasp!  I know!!!!  My favorite tradition!  I waited too long and then I didn't feel like there was any point. Well a neighbor had a ton of extras from a family gingerbread event and brought us the extras.  So nice. :)  

Grandma and Grandpa Come to Town

New Year's Day evening, my folks showed up!  They were planning to come earlier, but bad weather delayed them.  We did Christmas with them and then played with all the toys throughout the trip. We  also had a few adventures.

We played around the house.  Spencer learned how to play basketball and showed us his stuff.  SO cute!!!!!!!

Isabelle played lots and lots of duets with Grandma on the piano.  She is STILL talking about getting to play the piano with Grandma.  

One day we met my mom's parents and one of my cousins for lunch in Bountiful, and then visited my aunt and uncle for a bit.  I love getting together with family. It makes my heart happy. :) Mike's mom babysat the kids for me so it was an adults only trip.  It felt a little like a vacation. Haha!  On our way home after picking up the kids, we stopped in at Ikea, and had a bit of a disaster.  Kid care was full, and they were out of stock for what we went for.  By the end, the kids were done and it was exhausting.

We went to Thanksgiving Point one day and had fun at that museum.

Another day we went to the South Jordan Baskin for something, then we went to BYU to check out the Bean museum.  It was closed due to a power outage.  They told us to come back in 45 minutes. So we drove around and looked at how different BYU was.  Alot has changed!  Then we stopped at the creamery and mom and dad got us some BYU brownies and chocolate milk.  We all sat in the car together and had the yummy snack.  It was pretty funny, brownies and milk in a parking lot wasting time.  We tried again at the museum, but they still weren't open, so we gave up and went to the Orem Baskin and had ice cream (because yes, you need ice cream after a brownie and chocolate milk. Haha!).  We stopped to show my parent's the dealership on our way home.  Mike showed them around the place and then we headed for home. Such a random, but fun day,  My kids still talk about this day.  

So fun to have Grandma and Grandpa to come visit!  We love them and look forward to the next time.