6th Grade Valentines Dance

This beauty had a fun Valentines Day this year… In 6th grade, instead of having the typical Valentine exchange, they have an etiquette lunch and dance.  Everyone dresses up all fancy-like and the girls are assigned a partner to escort them to the lunch.

Morgan was assigned Truman as her escort.  The cute pink duo :)  The pictures are blurry because they wouldn't slow down for a picture… Too embarrassing :)

Morgan was the first girl to be seated so I hurried and snapped this before the room filled in.  She's so cute, I could die!

So many parents worked together to make this lunch special.  What a fun memory for these kids!  

After learning about proper etiquette and manners, they wrapped up lunch and sent the kids in to dance.  

Morgan made Meg's day by snatching her up and taking her off to dance with her friends.  

Some fun photo-boothing :)   

Happy Valentines Day!

Our sweet little Meg hasn't been going to preschool lately.  She would wake up during the night and say her tummy hurts and then she'd ask, "Do I have to go to preschool?".   First thing in the morning, she'd bring up preschool again and would cry at the very thought of having to go.  It was heartbreaking.  Mike said, "don't make my girl go if it's making her sick".  He's such a pushover :)

We let her take a couple of weeks off.  When Valentines Day was nearing, I asked Meg if she wanted to make her class a valentine and try going again.  After a lot of thought, she finally said she'd go.  Sometimes a little pink sucker is all the motivation you need :)  After preschool she declared, "Mom, I like preschool again!"  Hooray! 

The boys had fun making their Valentine basketball hoop boxes.  

Miles' class had a fun photo booth.  

Miles loves when I bring his little sisters to his class.  He loves them!  

Sunday morning the kids woke up to their traditional Mindy Mint Valentine from mom. 

They gobbled them up a lot faster than I thought they would :) 

That night we made a Valentines dinner.  Red tomato basil soup with grilled cheese sandwiches, a yummy red strawberry cheesecake jello dessert, and a pink slush drink.  So pink/red and delicious.  

I love my Valentines!!!  (I used the selfie stick Aunt Brooke got us for free from the Jazz Game!  So funny!)  

Morgan makes student council

Oak Hills decided this year to set up a student council.  They told the 6th graders to fill out a questionnaire and then they'd pick the top 6 from each class to come back for interviews.  Morgan was so happy when she got the email saying she had been picked for an interview…  Together we practiced answering all the questions we thought the committee may ask her, and she went into it as prepared as she could be.  After her interview, we had to wait a few days to find out which kids they were going to pick.  Why is waiting so hard??  I think I thought about it more than Morgan did :)  Then the email came.  She was one of the 3 picked from her class.  She was so happy (and I may have been even more happy!).  I think she'll be great!  She gets to help make announcements over the intercom, plan and carry out fun activities, attend meetings on how to be a better leader, and more.  I'm so proud of her!      

Miles' Photography

To earn his Webelos photography merit badge, Miles had to take a bunch of pictures.  Here are a few of my favorites.     

Birthday Dads

These two amazing dads had birthdays.

Mike turned 38!! 

Instead of cake, he wanted a pint of Graeter's Black Raspberry Chip Ice Cream.  Easy enough!  So glad they sell Graeters at our local grocery store :)  

I couldn't have picked a harder worker or better father for our children.  We are a lucky bunch.

My dad turned 72!  You'd never know he was 72 by how he acts.  This winter, every time it snowed, he'd clear his own driveway and then head out to clear 2 neighbor window's driveways and also the driveway of an elderly couple.   Some days that would mean hours of being out in the cold, but he doesn't mind.  That's just how my dad is.  Always serving people and genuinely enjoying it while he's at it.  He's always asking how he can help me, esp when Mike's out of town.  I've enjoyed living by my parents so much after being away for 10 years.  I think I am closer to them now than I ever have been.  I love you dad! Happy Birthday!

Miles' 10th Birthday!

I cannot believe we have 2 double digit children in this house… Miles is 10!!

He really, really, really wanted a Unicef Kids Power Watch, so of course we had to get him one :)  He loves that it tracks how many steps he takes (well, how many times his wrist moves anyway).  

He also got a new bike helmet, water bottle, and his favorite treats: a 3 musketeers bar and white cheddar popcorn.  Grandma and Grandpa Dehner sent him that Ripley's Believe It or Not book.  He loves it!  (All the kids love looking through all the wacky stuff inside.)  

He went on a birthday lunch with Grandpa & Grandma Beckstead, but no picture was taken… It was snowing out and we totally forgot… Oops.  But Miles picked Panda Express again for his lunch and he couldn't find a gift he wanted, so he took the money.  He loved spending the afternoon with them!  

Since his birthday was on a Saturday, I took him out for his birthday lunch date with mom the day before.  Miles picked Sonic because he really wanted a grilled cheese sandwich.  Funny boy!  

His friend Kate (and her family) brought Miles a little birthday treat.  It made his day getting a little something from cute Kate :)    

For his birthday party, Miles picked a few friends and we went to Get Air.  If my boys could describe what heaven would be to them, I'm pretty sure it would look just like this place.  Trampolines, foam pits, and lots of room to run, jump and be crazy.  

Ivy loved watching everyone jump.

Will made his way over to the dodge ball area and never came out.  He loved it in there.  He's a quick, little guy and he was actually really good at dodge ball.  He played against a big group of kids (some of them were teenagers) and he managed to win 2 games in a row.  I'm totally laughing while I'm writing this because I am picturing him darting around and dodging all the balls being flung at him.  He really was quite the site :) 

Will running over to me to say that he won 2 games in a row :)  

My climbing monkeys.  They always have been :)  

We brought Kate and Abby along for Morgan to hang with.  Miles liked having them there too.  They are all such good friends.  

Happy Birthday Miles!  I can't even tell you how much joy you bring to me.  I love being around you.  I love that you make me laugh, but I love how kind and thoughtful you are the most.  You look for ways to help me and do it without being asked.  You are so sweet to your little sisters and I think that shows a lot about the kind of person you are.  You work hard and want to be the best at whatever you do.  I love your little competitive spirit.  You, my son, are a dream come true to me!  I love being your mom.  

#familiesareforever

They let this rowdy bunch into the Provo Temple open house…  

It was breathtaking!  

MLKJ day

I love when the kids have a day off of school! And it's the very best when Mike has the day off too!!

We loaded up the kids and headed downtown for lunch and to see the church history museum.  

Look at this adorable bunch!

Mike introduced us to Dexter's Dogs and we were not disappointed.   (Morgan was weirded out by the homeless man at the next table, but she eventually got up the nerve to take her eyes off of him long enough to eat.  She needs to hang out downtown more often :)  

The church history museum was awesome!  They have a kids exhibit that entertained them for a long time.  We also saw the new Joseph Smith's First Vision video.  The theater wrapped around in a circle and had a way of making you feel like you were right in the sacred grove.     

Daddy was caught giving Ivy her first ice cream cone…  No wonder she always wants daddy :)  

Ivy 7 months

Ivy is growing way too fast… Good thing we're enjoying every minute of her!

Recently we all went to dinner and Ivy sat in a high chair at the table for the first time.  The cutest! 

Daddy gave her her first fry…  You can't go to Red Robin and not eat a fry!  She loved it!  

She loves to hang out in her high chair at home too.  I love her dangling feet :) 

And when the boys play basketball, she could sit and watch forever.  

Daddy giving her a taste of his ice cream…  He's introduced her to all the good things in life.

This month she started wearing a clippy instead of a wrap-around bow.  Big girl!

Sitting up all the time now!!  What a doll!

The Lyons Visit

Not long ago we got a call from Kate saying that they wanted to come visit for a few days. I wish I would have videoed the kids' reaction when I told them.  Pure excitement and lots of screaming ensued once the announcement was made. You'd think they just won the lottery!  (My ears still haven't recovered fully!)

We couldn't get enough of cousin Miller!!  Meg and Ivy got him all to themselves while the big kids were at school. 

Meg possibly loved Miller a little too much.  

 All the kids followed him around from room to room.  He isn't used to all the smothering - um, I mean attention :) 

Morgan trying to get Miller to walk...  He wasn't having it!

 I think they look like cousins!!  

Meg skipped preschool to have some extra playtime with her best buddy!

We loved seeing Kate and Chad too!  We've missed them so much!  Chad came in his wheelchair, but was a pro at getting around, and Kate was an amazing caretaker! Since Chad's car accident, the kids ask about him almost daily (and they pray for his recovery too, so I know he's in their thoughts often).  They really adore their Aunt and Uncle... And why wouldn't they...  Look how much fun they are.

(The picture of Mike playing in Chad's wheelchair is my favorite :)

 So fun!  We miss hearing their laughs.  

We went to City Creek for dinner...  I tried making noise to get Miller to laugh, but it didn't work.  At least Kate laughed :)

Yummy!!

 Morgan wrestling Miller for a picture... 

The best we could get...

Miles was more than excited that they were able to come to one of his basketball games.  Miller was the cutest little cheerleader!!

Ah, it was soooo good to see them!  We wish we lived closer.