Groundhog Party

The girls and I decided to throw a groundhog party. This winter has been super cold and snowy and we wanted to have a party with our friends to brighten our spirits and we thought maybe a groundhog celebration could nudge the little critter into bringing us an early spring.  :)

 
As our 22 (yes I'm crazy) guests arrived we had them tell us what their favorite winter and summer activity is. Then we went to Groundhog Weather School courtesy of a library book.  After which each child got to pick whether they thought Phil Groundhog would see his shadow or not on Saturday and then we tallied the votes.

Snack time with our special groundhog snacks was next (the idea we saw for this treat used pudding cups, but Ellie said, "I don't like pudding. Can we use brownies instead?" I loved that she provided a solution to the problem and accommodated her request--they were delicious).

Then off to play.  They could go downstairs and draw their shadows with chalk or go upstairs to the toy room. 


Ellie and Lila each helped make the snacks. They have been so excited about the party! Ellie would ask me every day to see our online RSVP count. Lila told everyone about our hog party and how if he saw his shadow it would mean more Christmas. :)

Life can get super crazy sometimes, but I'm so thankful that I was prompted to do this party and followed through. These memories with my girls are so special to me and hope they will out shine my not so brilliant moments. It was a fantastic time and we are so glad that so many could come and we could get to know one another better! Now hopefully Phil agrees and will bring us an early spring. :)

I Feel Pretty, Oh So Pretty

Today as I was doing the girls hair for church and I told Lila that I thought the heart barrette Grandma Moore sent for Christmas would look cute with her dress. She said, "Oh yeah." And then kept digging through the barrettes. I asked her why not the heart barrette and she said, "Because you said it would be cute and I want to be pretty." Oh my! Fortunately, a quick grammatical change and she was wearing the heart barrette. :)

Scrub-a-Dub-Dub

So our dishwasher broke a week ago. I have never really liked the thing, but couldn't stomach buying another appliance after buying several major appliances to move in. I noticed it getting worse so I was basically washing the dishes before I put them in and then last Friday the dishes came out dirtier so I started shopping. Saturday it really gave up the ghost and we ordered a dishwasher that couldn't be delivered for 10 days.  Hmmm . . . several people suggested paper plates, but that doesn't help with the dishwasher full of already dirty dishes so I took the opportunity to show the girls how to wash dishes (and we have been washing by hand ever since--just never made the transition to paper). They thought it was pretty cool to have a sink full of bubbles and scrub-a-dub-dub. Well, last night I went upstairs to find them washing their kitchen dishes in the bathroom with the nice OnGuard soap that Mimi gave us. Later I put the correlation together of me teaching them how to wash dishes and I felt bad that I got upset because they had used up most of the soap. Good thing kids are so forgiving when you tell them you made a mistake and don't mind them washing dishes just not to use the nice soap.

Here they are drying and putting away. :)

My Artist

Ellie tells me every day I need to be sure and sign her up for the summer art classes again. :)

Update: I picked Ellie up from school and asked about the library and what book she got. She was so excited they opened a new section to her class--non-fiction and she got a 'how to draw' book. ;)

New Year's Goals

We had our New Year Family Home Evening where we set goals and Steve gives us blessings. It was wonderful! I love how excited the girls get to receive the blessing. Lila was practically falling asleep on my lap and then as soon as Ellie was done she hopped up in to the chair, folded her arms, and bowed her head, ready. It is a wonderful time to feel our Heavenly Father's love and with renewed strength set goals to be a little better. It is encouraging to set goals after Christmas when we celebrate the birth of His son Jesus Christ and have a faith and a desire to be more like Him. Steve and I have made our own personal goals but here are the goals we made with the girls.  Ellie was our scribe.

Can't seem to fit the whole page on with my scanner--the numbers to the left kind of got cut off.

Jake's Married

Wahooo! It was a wonderful day that warmed our hearts from the inside (since it was 12 degrees outside). Marcee's grandfather Brother Woodbury performed the sealing and it was wonderful. We had a nice luncheon afterwards where they were patient and indulged us in giving advice and playing a game. Now they are off to Park City to spend some time alone as Mr. and Mrs. Buckley. LOVES to them!

Sisters

Yesterday Lila came into primary--we were all so excited for her to graduate from Nursery and join us in primary (this may be the only time our whole family is in primary, both girls are in junior primary, Steve is teaching in senior primary, and I'm the primary president--we just need Steve to transfer to junior primary and we would be all together for an hour of church--hehe). During sharing time a game was played where they were asked what they were grateful for and Lila said, "My big sister and my family."  Then today after we dropped Ellie off at school, Lila yelled at me from the back seat, "Momma, do you miss Ellie?" Yes I do!  "So do I." Think she is missing her sister after having her home to play all of Christmas break.  So cute!

Happenings

We rang in the New Year with some friends. They were sweet to have us to their house and we played games, ate, and visited. We were there until 11pm when Lila showed signs of weariness and begged to go home so we came home and Ellie said she had a headache, I'm sure from being tired they never stay up that late. Then Steve and I finished the Narnia movie we had been watching all week (I'm notorious for falling asleep during movies and known to pick a movie based on length hence the reason it was a week long project). The movie finished just in time for us to kiss at midnight and watch some fireworks out our window. The next morning we had our traditional New Year's breakfast of Aebleskivers and just had a nice final vacation day full of relaxing and playing. Then it was back to school and work and I tried to get the house put back together. 

Last night we decided to have our first Family Fun Night of 2013. We took the girls indoor miniature golfing, and Ellie got two hole-in-ones. Lila may be a sport lefty, we kept setting her up right-handed but she kept going back to a left hand position--only time will tell. We picked up pizza afterwords and I asked the girls to finish eating their apples they had grabbed as a snack on our way out the door. Lila handed me a stem and I said, "Where is the rest of your apple?" She looked at me confused and said, "I ate it."  Yes, she at the whole thing seeds and all. :)  After pizza, we made cookies, and watched a movie by the fireplace since it was 9 degrees outside. It was a great start to our 2013!

Below is how she ended up golfing the last nine holes when she was done with our help.