Happy Valentines Day!

I especially love Valentine's Day now that I get to spend everyone with 

this guy!

Add those two kids, and it's even better!

This was our romantic Valentine's dinner at McDonald's. 

The kids love Valentine's, but who doesn't like a holiday about love?

We had a party at the church with some friends this year! 

  

We played games! 

Finding hearts on the walls :) 

Then we decorated sugar cookies!  

Everyone having fun :)

My little cookie decorators! 

Serious business :) 

They handed out Valentin's in Baylee's preschool class.

Completely last minute I snapped a few picture of her holding out her hand like this and stuck a sticker in the picture. They turned out really cute and fun. They were easy to make too! 

Owen saw me taking Baylee's picture, so he wanted his picture taken too! 

 I made the kids Valentine's pancakes for breakfast! 

They were really flat, and it wasn't till I had made at least half of them that I realized I left the baking powder out. 

Oh well! 

I used an empty ketchup bottle full of pancake batter to write my words.
It worked pretty well.   

Baylee and her breakfast! 

(The mark on her forehead is a burn. Mark made the kids chicken nuggets while I was at work one day. I guess she somehow touched her forehead against the edge of the cookie sheet after he set it on top of the stove.)

 After Owen's nap the kids and I drove down to surprise Mark at his work with balloons and candy. 

He was thrilled ;)

We went right before he got off of work, so we could go to dinner after. 

We decided McDonald's would be the best choice. Since all other restaurants would probably be busy, and we didn't want to bother anyone with our rowdy children.  

This is what I got for Valentine's! I LOVE it! 

It may sound cheesy, but I really love having a picture of the temple in our home.
It really brings such a beautiful feeling to the room, even with all of the chaos that goes on. 

90th Birthday!

Happy 90th Birthday Grandpa! 

My Grandpa turned 90 on February 4th! 

We went to Idaho to visit him for his birthday! 

He always has candy ready for his great-grandkids! 

He's such a good great-grandpa! 

My kids love him! 

We had a party to celebrate! 

Here he is with all of the great-grand kids that would pose for a picture! 

Me, Hillary, Stephanie, Kristal! 

My fun cousins and my sister! 

Grandpa with his grand kids and great-grand kids!

Grandpa Mitchell and his grand kids!

Front Row: Ross, Ben, Brian, Grandpa, Hillary, Jen

Back Row: Jordan, Lance, Kyle, Natalie, Michelle, Kristal, Lindy, Stephanie

There were only two grand kids that couldn't make it. 

One lives in Germany and the other lives in China!

Here are all of the grand kids and grand kids in-laws. 

My Brother Brian keeping the kids entertained!

Baylee made friends with her second cousins really fast! 

Brian, Karla, Steph

Jordan and Amanda

 

 

 

 

My Grandpa with his kids! 

Reese, Diane, Grandpa, Marilyn, Carolyn 

(my mom and her sisters didn't even plan to wear the same sweater!)

So many pictures!

What a great guy! I love my grandpa! 

February is the new January

I don't know what it was about January this year, but I didn't have any motivation to set any New Year's resolutions! I guess I was just so busy with getting ready for the cruise, and Mark turning 30. I just put off making any resolutions.
I decided we still needed to make some, so last night that is what we did for FHE.
Before I say our new resolutions I should probably give an update on how we did on last years. I like to be positive, so I'll just focus on what we DID accomplish!
Owen accomplished all of his resolutions! He learned to walk, said his first words and started nursery!
Baylee learned to write her name, and she rode her trike more!
I think I averaged making dinner 4 times a week. At least I think we ate less frozen pizza in 2011 than we did in 2010. I also almost read 8 books in 2011. I at least read 7.5, and I would be done with my last book, but I keep leaving it at work! Oh, and this was not one of my resolutions, but I did run 2 half marathons in 2011! Not so shabby if I do say so myself :)
Mark met his goal of getting a new job! Woohoo! We are so grateful for that! (Not that his last job was bad, it's just his new job is a lot better!)

2012 Goals!

Owen's resolutions:

• Learn to go potty 
• Make friends in nursery
• Practice drawing

Baylee's resolutions:

• Learn to be nice (she came up with that one)
• Learn to read (also her idea)
• Make a new friend at preschool
• Go to bed on time (totally our idea)

Jen's resolutions:

• Be able to do 5 consecutive pull ups
• Learn to do a headstand or handstand
• Keep running at least 3 days a week
• Read the BOM
• Read Ensign every month
• Attend temple at least 8 times
• Read 12 books
• Solve one Sudoku puzzle a week

Mark's resolutions:

• Get a dog and go on walks with it 
• Lower cholesterol 
• Read BOM every night
• Bring physical scriptures to church (not just the ones on his phone)
• Date mommy more (My FAVORITE) 

This year at tithing settlement our Bishop asked us to set family goals. Here are the ones we came up with. 

• As a family visit the temple grounds of at least five different temples
• Family scripture study right after dinner
• Monthly family movie night
• Two Mommy & Daddy dates a month
• Get a family dog

I'll keep ya posted on how we do :)