Valentine's Wrap-Up

Whew...what a fun day!  Some many activities, so much love.  Great memories.  (Even better, now that I have my new camera to preserve them with! :) )  


Here is how the rest of the day played out.


Kids came home from school LOADED with candy and Valentine's trinkets.

Here are the Pinterest-inspired Valentine's they made and handed out.  They were a lot cuter in my mind, but hey they turned out cute enough. :)  Sometimes that is all the matters. :)

Abby and Claire raiding the spoils...

Then a "Heart-Attack" for Dad.  He was really touched and we all loved seeing his face as he read about all the reasons why we love him.

As my present to Trev, I made him a DELISH (if I do say so myself) dinner - Grilled Chicken with Lemon Basil Pasta, steamed asparagus, Apple, Pecan, and Blue Cheese salad, and cupcakes for dessert.  We had Martinelli's for our drink and the meal was devoured by all. :) My favorite part was listening to Trev go, "mmmm,mmmm,mmmm" with each bite!  Part of his love language is good food...I think I knocked that piece out of the park. :)  Although, I wish I could take credit for the recipes...those were all thanks to the Pioneer Woman. :)


In addition to my Camera (ahhhh!!!) my honey also brought me these:

I am a sucker for roses...that could come from two areas - the fact that I am a girl, or that my grandfather was enamored with roses and I was enamored with him.  Probably both. :)  


This truly was a great Valentine's.  It made me take time from busy life to really think about my kids and honey.  I spent a lot of time thinking how I could communicate my love to them.  I tried to figure out their love language and speak it.  In return, they spoke mine.  Suffice it to say that there was "love at home" yesterday.  I hope the spirit of this special day continues all year.  I know it made me think about how I need to remember to make these efforts on a regular basis...even, and especially when life gets in the way.  


Hope you all had a great LOVE Day. :)  Now on to Morgan's 8th Birthday!  That's tomorrow...stay tuned. :)

Happy Love Day!

Happy Valentine's!!!

Can I just say...I LOVE this holiday!!  How neat to take a day to reflect on, and show appreciation and affection to those you love most???  It truly is one of my favorite holidays. :)  

So far, we have had a great day.  It began with this tradition:

Then went to this: (Running the Cupcake Station at Jake's Kindergarten Valentine's Party) 

Next...a lunch-date with my favorite men. :)

But BEFORE all this...came this!!!

(drumroll please...)  

My most FAVORITE Valentine's present EVER!!!!  My sweetheart surprised me with my new camera!!!!  I have been researching, saving, and drooling over this for a LONG time...and now it is FINALLY here!!!  Such a wonderful surprise!  Let's just say my honey knows how to speak my Love Language!! :)

Stay tuned for more...the day is only half over! :)

More fun school stuff...

My kids LOVE their school!  I think it may have something to do with their sweet teachers and all the fun activities elementary school brings.  First, they always do a big celebration for the 100th Day of School.  There are fun events, crafts, and even treats.  I wonder if they think this is an official holiday?


Here is how Jake looked when he came home from his 100th day...

He was sure decked out. :)


Next was Morgan's CEO Week.  In her class, the week of your birthday you get to be the class CEO.  You get special privileges, you are sent on "important" tasks for the teacher, you get to bring in a Poster all about yourself to be kept on display all week long, you get to bring one of your favorite things to share with the class each day, and you even get your parent to come in and read your favorite book to the entire class!  Needless to say, it's kind of a big deal.  You are kind of a big deal. :)  I love how Morgan's teacher makes each child feel so special...especially on their birthday.  


Here is Morgan preparing her poster...the other kids wanted to create as well so the girls colored and Jake made a ramp for the tiny skateboard he received at his friend, Carson's, birthday party the day before. :)

Like I said, they love their school...and so do Trev and I.

Random Happenings

We have just been up to the usual lately, I just haven't had time (or energy really) to blog about last weekend yet because Trev was out of town this week. :)  I swear, every time he is gone (which isn't too often luckily) I realize just how much I need him.  In every way.  More sappy stuff coming up in future posts...with Valentine's rapidly approaching and our 10 year anniversary the sap will be free-flowing. :)


But for now, just a slew of pictures from last weekend. :)


First we started off THIF (thank heavens it's Friday) with a little trip to the aquarium.  I just took Jake and the girls so Trev could get some work done at home...Morgan was still in school. :)  It was a quick visit because we were meeting my mom to pick up my sister, but we had a good time regardless. :)  We saw lots of fish, sea otters, penguins, sharks, sting-rays, tarantulas, and tons of other sea life.  So fun!

This is Jake trying on an otter mask before leaving. :)  It was so funny I almost bought it...almost. ;)


After picking up my little sister, Jessica (or as we call her "Hessica"), we headed back home to do a family pizza and movie night with the kids.  The movie of choice?  Kung Fu Panda 2.  That show is REALLY so funny!  Trev and I quote it now to each other...maybe we're dorks??  Any ways...


The next morning Morgan had a "She and Me Valentine" Craft activity for Brownies we went to.  It was just the two of us, mother/daughter thing and it was really cute.  They had tons of crafts and her whole troop was there with their moms.  I love these little outings. :)


The crafts included making a "magic 8-ball", sparkle necklaces, pop-top hair clips, and a girl scout scrapbook.  They also had the girls write letters to send to the soldiers oversees.  Really cute.  

I have to apologize for this picture quality...makes me want my new camera SOOOO bad!  Ahhhh!


After we got back from this, we did our typical "Saturday cleaning session" and I had a Baptism to attend.  Promptly after the baptism, Hessica and I headed out to get pedicures!  This was so heavenly.  My feet needed the pampering, and my soul needed some alone time with my sister.  She had a rough week, thanks to some retarded boy and his inconsiderate comments, and so it was nice to just get out with her.  I sure love her so.

I ended my night and week with a nice dinner-date with my honey.  We tried this new place, La Jolla Groves, in the Riverwoods mall, and it was OOOhhh so amazing!  The food was great, the company was even better, and the ambience in that restaurant is sooo inviting!  We will go back!  I highly recommend it. :)  The pictures don't capture any of it, but what can you expect from asking a college-kid waiter to take your pictures.  By the way...this lemon cake dessert was DIVINE!!!

The next morning was Sunday.  Hessica was going back home, but not before the girls got a little more attention...they LOVE when Jess comes. :)  We are all sad when she goes. :(

Our church doesn't start until 2:30 p.m. now, so we are always looking for Sunday activities for the kids to do while we wait.  Coloring is usually on the docket. :)


We finished off the day with meetings for me, church for everyone, and then a Super Bowl party at our house afterward.  Let's just say it was a jam-packed weekend, but lots of great memories!  I love weekends like that. :)  On to this one...

"Love More"

Lately, I have been putting a lot of time and effort on being a better mom.  I have been reading books and blogs (mostly by the Eyre family) that have really brought me a lot of inspiration in how I mother my children.  Some have been concrete and practical ideas, others passing comments that struck a tender spot inside me, and yet all have been answers to my prayers as to how God would have me care for these sweet children of His that He has entrusted into mine and Trev's care.  


I feel as though the more I have tried to put into my career as "mom", the more joy I have been getting out of it.  Now don't get me wrong, I have not been trying to DO more just BE more to my family.  I still have SOOO many things I could do better, but I am growing as a person and as a parent.  I am sure I will spend my WHOLE life trying to get this thing "right" but for now I am feeling good about where I am at and what the Lord is teaching me today.  :)  


So here is what I mean.  Lately, I have had 2 children that have been tough.  I don't know about your kids, but mine seem to switch off on who needs more attention at a certain time than at another.  The ones that were tough a couple of weeks ago, are now the easy ones, and vice versa.  I am just grateful that they switch off...not sure what my emotional state would be if they decided to all be tough together. :)  


So the 2 that are tough right now we will "call" "J" and "C"...to protect the guilty. :) They both have been cranky, whiney, rude to their siblings, and just sending a "ticked" mist throughout the house.  They have been getting into trouble a lot...mostly for attitude and disobedience.  We are going on about 2 weeks now and I was getting a bit "impatient" that they hadn't snapped out of it.   So over the last week, I kept thinking "just stick to your guns...they will snap back."  As time went on, and things remained the same even with multiple punishments, I left that prerogative behind, and started thinking over the weekend..."They are obviously having a hard time, what can I do to help them?"  


Sure enough, as I began praying for guidance...it came.  Like it always does.  Heavenly Father is SOO aware of His children and their needs.  I am just grateful He shares that knowledge with Trev and I when we finally get around to asking for it.  Then I wonder why I wait so long.  Silly, I know.


So here is how the guidance came this time.  Reading Shawni Eyre's blog (www.71toes.com).  She is a FANTASTIC mother and I admire her A LOT!  She talked about a sign that hangs in her entry way.  It reads "Love More."  The basic idea is that when things get hard, that is the time to extend MORE love to our kids.  This can be REALLY hard when you are frustrated as well, but this idea struck me like a dart to my heart.  I realized this was my answer right away.  I needed to stop trying to force the behavior to change, but instead persuade it to change from changing my reaction from frustrated and upset to understanding and loving.  I needed to "love more."


Luckily, the next day I had an opportunity to meet Trev for lunch and we took just "J".  He had us all to himself for just an hour!  He beamed the whole time.  He felt grown up.  He felt special to have his parents ALL to HIMSELF!  Even though it was only an hour, I knew immediately that it meant a lot to him.  Then that night, I took him all by myself to his basketball game.  I turned off the radio (something I have been trying to do more lately when we are in the car together) and we just talked about sharks the whole way to the game. I watched him play and cheered him on.  He had all of me and by the look on his face, I knew he was loving it!  I tend to forget how seldom this occurs for him in a busy, young family.  He played great...he even scored 5 baskets!!!  It wasn't until we got back in the car however, that I truly grasped how much this undivided attention time that day meant to him.  As we drove away from the game, he was kind of quiet in the backseat eating his post-game treat, so I turned the radio back on low.  IMMEDIATELY he said, "Hey mom, aren't we going to talk?"  I can feel my heart stir even now as I write about it.  It was the SWEETEST moment...and such an eye-opener for me.  He was just needing  me more, his dad more, "love more."  This was just last night.  I am happy to report that today he has been markedly better.  He is getting back to his usual self.  He has been kinder, sweeter, and more obedient.  He just need us.  It surprises me that I would even need a reminder to love this kid more because seriously...how could I not???

I sure love you buddy!!!!  


On to the "other" tough one.  Oh, how I love this little face!!!  

Her big issue is that she has been much more needy.  She has always been pretty independent, but the last couple of weeks she wants me to hold her constantly, she throws big tantrums, etc.  I had the impression to "love her more" too, so I have been doing that, but I worry sometimes if I am just "giving in" and exacerbating the problem. :)  This one is still a work in process but, I think that there has been some benefit.  I started holding her when she would ask.  Bringing her with me around the house to do things.  Sitting her next to me in the kitchen while I prepared food, sitting her with me when I get ready, etc.  I can't tell if that has helped or not because she that is exactly what she wants me to do. :)  But I will say that I have kind of enjoyed the incessant snuggling from a child who never seemed to want that all too much. :)  Her behavior hasn't "changed" too much yet, but I think at least she is feeling loved by me.  That in and of itself I think I will call a success.  Instead of the constant time-out routine. :)  Like I said, still working on this one. :)  If you have any ideas...FEEL free to share!!! :)  I seriously glean so much from other moms.  


For now, I am just going to keep trying to "love more."  And taking suggestions from one of the currently "easy" ones..."M".  This is what I found waiting for me on the counter when I got home from my meeting tonight...seriously, how sweet is that??!!