Valentine's Day

This year for Valentine's day Rudger had some big plans for what he wanted to do for his class. He spent the evening before writing out hand written notes for each kid letting them know they are awesome, then he rounded up treats and put them in baggies. Nothing says first grade quite like this. It made my heart so so happy! Then he wrote his teacher a note with hearts all over it and gave her a Utah Truffle. I love this boy ♥♥

Levi made a hot cocoa 'mailbox' that was quite creative. He pulled out all the crafts and did the whole thing himself. Since all the crafts were out, everyone else decided they needed to make something too. :) 

Valentine's day started out great and then I got the worst prank call of my life.

Someone, pretending to be our cities police officer, said that they were so sorry but my husband passed away in a crash on 200 N. They knew my name, and his name. There were siren noises going on in the background. My heart stopped, I kept saying...no, this can't be right, NO!! After several seconds of them saying, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, they said just kidding this is a prank, and hung up.

Who could do this? I called Justin to really make sure he was okay. I called the number back, but of course it was a number that couldn't be reached. I called the police station and let them know. They said it was probably a punk teenager. 

It made for a pretty emotional day. But I am surrounded by such kind, loving people who helped lift my spirits that day. ♥♥

 I was so happy to all be together this night ♥♥♥

valentine's week

This year, Valentine's day (and week) left mom quite sick. And when a mom a sick, fun holiday things don't really happen. But this year, there was plenty of love happening. 

The two grade-schoolers took care of Valentine's stuff for their parties. Corbin and daddy made a special Valentine's dinner. Justin gave me happy pink flowers. Adeline scrubbed walls and cabinets. :) Rudger made me laugh a lot while I laid on the couch. Daddy stayed home from work to take care of me and play with the two littles during the day. 

Each one of them knows how to speak my love language...service! So looking back, it really was the perfect Valentine's week.

 And I was thrilled when I started feeling much better Thursday afternoon, because we had a big party to prepare for.

♥♥♥ I am seriously in love! ♥♥♥

our valentine

This year Valentines Day felt extra special with our newest little Valentine.

And my favorite is that she has four brothers and a daddy who will always love her so. (and of course her mommy too)

my valentine

^^ definitely one of my favorite pictures ever (and it makes me long for summer) ^^

Justin says if you set expectations really low, you will never disappoint anyone.

We have never been very big on Valentine's day. Most years he has surprised me with flowers or chocolates, but some years we really don't do a thing.  With Valentine's Day on Sunday this year, I was not expecting a thing.  For the past week I had been feeling overly stressed about many things, number one being, how in the world I was ever going to get on top of house chores. It made me a less then happy mommy and wife. Justin picked up on this pretty quickly. :) Over the weekend, he spent much of his spare time taking care of the things I just wasn't getting accomplished. He even managed to get the boys to clean their room, which I can nag them until I am blue in the face and...nothing. Justin has a different effect on them.

And this was his gift to me this Valentine's Day. He really knows my love language!

Unfortunately for him, he just set the expectations a little higher this year.

how we weekend - valentine and presidents day weekend

On Friday the boys celebrated Valentines with their friends at school. This year Taylor had all kinds of plans for a Valentine box. He drew out the plans and found a lot of the material. He was very excited to take it to school.

Friday afternoon we went and spent some time with cousins who will be moving to another state next week. The boys loved playing outside with their cousins.

Valentine's Day I had plans for a special breakfast and spending the day together. When we woke up that morning we changed all those plans and decided to spend more time with the cousins instead. It was so fun to play frisbee like the old days, then go out to eat with the family.

^^ love these kiddos and their grandparents ^^

1. Sunday we made up for missing our Valentine's breakfast.
2. Rudger looked quite spiffy in his Valentine sweater.

Monday was so lovely just being home with our whole family.

remember the hearts and mailboxes

Every February I try my best to be consistent in making the boys feel a little extra special the first fourteen days of February. When they come home from school there is a heart by their bed with a special message and something fun in their mailboxes. Usually a simple treat.

This year I feel like I have actually been on top of it, but last weekend I completely forgot. I think Taylor was getting concerned that I was slipping back into my old ways of forgetfulness. So he wrote me a simple reminder.

And I haven't forgotten a day since last Sunday. It's a good thing Valentine's Day is tomorrow.

celebrate february

After the long month of January, I think we found any reason to celebrate.

We are not the biggest football fans, however we needed an excuse to have lots of treats and food. So we found ourselves celebrating, visiting, eating, laughing, enjoying family, and playing some card games. I still can't believe that Olivia is old enough to play games with grown ups rather than play with the kids. The boys were in heaven playing with cousins. We (or rather the men) watched a few minutes of the game. 

(I can't believe this is the only picture I took)

 We celebrated the Chinese New Years. We made paper lanterns, practiced our Chinese writings, practiced our meditating, ate yummy food, and enjoyed our fortunes. 

(Poor Rudger.) 

fyi. I've turned decorating over to the boys :) and that patch on the wall is still there after 1 1/2 years :)  just waiting to find the right color and gather the energy to paint all the walls.

We celebrated hearts, love, and each other...oh and treats.

 The boys really enjoyed waking up each morning to a heart note by their beds. 

Celebrating each one of them.

 As soon as I saw these and showed them to the boys they were extremely excited.

(thank you pinterest)

Taylor drew something on the back of each and every one. Man I love that kid and his creativity 

We even found time to celebrate a yummy bowl of cereal with delicious red strawberries.

 It was a good month.