Swimming, Plan B

We had planned to go to Provo this weekend. We have Marriott points from living in a hotel a few years ago and booked a room using points. We thought it would be fun to see a BYU mens' volleyball game Friday night and a womens' gymnastic match Saturday afternoon. We would swim at the hotel and see Jake and Marcee. Then we saw the weather and decided we didn't want to try to travel home in snow with 30 mile/hour winds (they were saying we would get 3-8 inches of snow along with the gusts of wind). So we canceled our room and everyone was disappointed not to see Jake and Marcee. Then the storm turned out to be not as bad as envisioned--probably still not ideal for traveling, but we could have handled it. Oh, well. We'll make it up to Jake and Marcee and come down another time. As for the girls, we had to go swimming so we headed over to the Surf-n-Swim with Nessa and the girls. We were there for two hours and the girls had a ball.

Lila once again took some convincing that it was fun. We found a nice small wave she laid her head back and I thought she might fall asleep. Then she got to hold baby Siena. :) Izzy was not a fan of Siena with Lila. She kept saying, "Get out." and pulling on Siena.

Can you find Ellie & Steve? Ellie loved it and braved right out in the middle with Dad.

We got burgers on the way home and they were eating and riding in style in Dad's car. :)

It Feels Like a Party Everyday

Those are lyrics from a song on our new Just Dance Disney game. The girls love the game and so the song is stuck in my head and seems to be fitting for the week. We've had gym, Sasssassfras club meeting, 100 day of school party that I helped with, and of course today--the celebration of love.

Here the girls are looking at their valentine's from us, new swimsuits and my little ponies. They gave Daddy the card they made for him.







Venessa and her girls came down for our traditional fondue dinner. When we explained to Ellie what we were having she said, "Oh, I love fondue. We usually have it in the summer outisde." I told her we have it on Valentine's Day every year, but in Tucson it was warm enough to eat outside. :)

After dinner we played Just Dance Disney--everyone got in on the action. :)

Then we had dessert and watched Madly Madagascar. It was a fun evening with everyone! Lots of love!

Lila Funnies

As we were working on Valentines she said, "I love valentines because I love kissing and love."

Monday night after we put the girls to bed Lila comes out to the top of the stairs, in her little ballet tutu because that is what she wanted to sleep in and frankly I thought--no big deal (which I'm trying to do more of). Anyway, she said, "I need to ask you a question. First, I really really love you. I don't want to go to bed. I want to stay up all night with you."  :) I told her if she stayed up all night she would be too tired the next day and couldn't go to our friend's club meeting she has been holding on Tuesdays and she quickly scrambled off to bed.

Today at Joy School they had a little valentine party and the host Mom passed out cupcakes at the end and said I thought they could eat them after lunch. Lila, "I'm not having lunch."

Seriously where does this come from, this quick-witted fast thinking keeps us on our toes and a smile on our face. LOVES!

Well, she just finished eating the cupcake and was spinning around on the floor in the crumbs. When I pointed this out she hopped up and grabbed a little broom and dust pan and swept up the mess. What a cutie!

A Perfect Saturday

Last Sunday Steve received a phone call asking him to speak in church. We were both fighting that head cold this week and not functioning at full capacity. So I knew I was going to need to plan some activities to keep the girls busy all day Saturday so Steve could work on his talk and to be honest I was looking forward to a Saturday of focusing on the girls. 

We didn't really get out of bed until 8:30 and then we made aebleskivers, a family favorite for breakfast. Then Ellie and I practiced her piano songs for an hour while Lila played happily upstairs. When they got restless we worked on 100 project for 100 day of school on Tuesday, and then we finished up Valentine's for class parties. It was about a noon at this point so I pulled out some finger painting for them to do while I fixed lunch. After lunch they played for a bit while I cleaned up.  

Steve decided he needed a break so we took the girls sledding--it had been snowing off and on all day. We told the girls to put on warm clothes and their snow clothes because were were going sledding and my heart could sing every time I reflect on how well they worked together to get ready and let me tell you they are pros now at putting on their snow gear--I didn't have to do a thing. We went to a place recommended to us by a friend and the girls had a blast. Steve and Ellie accidentally went off a jump--you couldn't see it from the top of the hill and Steve hurt his tail bone pretty bad so he took a rest and then tried going down on his stomach a few times. Lila was a trooper going down several times and then decided she would be our hot chocolate holder. She was so sweet and asked everyone if they wanted a drink as they approached the top of the hill. We were their for 1.5 hours which we had to tell Ellie was longer than an hour because she wanted to stay for an hour. ;) 

Then home to baths. I quickly showered then ran over to a reception and then back in time to get them out of the tub. Made them dinner and then we played Just Dance Disney (I'm counting today's workout as sledding/climbing up and down the hill and this dance game). Then Ellie read us a chapter of their new Lego Friends book. (I was going to help them build their Lego Friends Cafe, but we ran out of time so maybe this coming Saturday.) I love days when I can just be with my family. I love my calling and all the children in primary, but sometimes I wonder what the balance is . . . and greatly appreciate days like today!

P.S. Steve's talk went great! He got several compliments and the Bishop asked for a copy of it. ;)

Reception, Swimming, & Tubing

Jake and Marcee had their reception on Friday, Feb. 1st. The reception was in Midway so my parents' booked a hotel which the girls were excited about because they knew that meant swimming and since we were in Midway Venessa had the great idea to go to Soldier Hollow on Saturday. So for one night away I managed to pack 3 bags--I had to have swimming stuff, dress stuff for the reception, tubing gear, and then the usual pajamas, bathroom stuff etc.

We arrived in Midway just in time to change into our reception clothes and head over. We had a few family photos and then the girls quickly helped themselves to cinnamon rolls and the hot chocolate bar with the works, marshmallows, carmel, butterfinger pieces, whip cream. I think Lila had 3 cups of hot cocoa and Ellie preferred to eat the toppings a la carte. 

We left a bit early so we could take the girls swimming at the pool. Which of course they loved! We then went to bed so we could get up early and head to Soldier Hollow. Before making a reservation I was worried about how Lila would do. We checked in, got our tubes, and got hitched up to be towed to the top of the hill. Lila loved that part. Daddy and Ellie found a run to go down and Lila and I went down the first one together. I have to admit I was surprised by how fast we got going and of course Lila was not all too happy. We towed up again and I told her I would drag my feet the whole way down--which I did, but she was still not all too happy so I hiked her up the hill and then convinced her to go down one more time. I wish I would have tried another run, but I was afraid the other runs were faster, but as it turns out the first run had a little hill at the end that kind of makes your stomach jump which she didn't like so she played with Izzy and Grandpa on the little hill. We all traded off so all the adults could take turns going down. Ellie never got out of the tube. She loved it we would just tow her over to the rope tow and then tow her to the run and down she would go.

Just as we finished I received a phone call from Jake asking if we wanted to meet him and Marcee for lunch in Midway. I'm so glad they called because I thought we wouldn't get to see them again and you know you don't get to spend too much time with the honored couple at a reception. It was an enjoyable meal and fun to just chill together.

Then homeward bound.  We had a GREAT time, but man did my van need cleaned after that trip. So after a quick cat nap I cleaned the cars and we ran to the car wash and got the outside cleaned. I was cutting Steve and Zoe's hair when the rest of the clan showed up and we played our new Just Dance Disney game for the Wii--Grandpa killed us, but we all had fun!

I somehow managed to get up for my 7am meeting and survive primary, but as soon as we got home I felt like I had been hit by a truck. Steve and I both got a head cold that knocked us down. We hope to be able to keep it away from the girls. I seriously miss the sun and health! We did enjoy some sun in Midway yesterday as we tubed down the mountain--hopefully that will get me to spring and healthier times.

(I didn't take any pictures this weekend, but hope to scavenger a few from family--hint hint.)