*do you like to cook?
*is it hard for you like me, to come up with dinner ideas night after night?
*do you read together as a family? We're trying to... it's hard to do.
Video of us driving downtown today- Brett's theme song came on the radio.
Today we had the awesome opportunity to go to see The Five Brown's rehearse for their concert tonight. It was absolutely amazing. Whenever they have a rehearsal they invite local schools to come and watch then ask questions-- through the community council our little school set up a visit. The girls loved it & so did Brett & I. They even picked Chloe to ask a question- it was so exciting. She asked them how old they are... 22-29. someone else asked how long they practice everyday- the oldest said at 10 years old they were practicing 2-3 hours a day!! WOe Nelly... and my girls think 1 hour 5 days a week is bad.
They were so gracious to the kids & so stylish! I wish this picture was better so you could see just how darn cute they all are.
Can you believe this? 5 grand pianos playing at once. It's really something to see. They are amazing! I wish I would've gotten tickets for the performance tonight. They perform about 120 concerts a year & only one or two in Utah- darn it.
When we got home Ruthie & the kids & the peanut came over. He is such a smart baby- he already knows who his favorite auntie is!! Look he's giving me kisses- he is so sweet.
We took him to Target & look he fell asleep as soon as we got there! Later I carried him all around Target & some lady even walked up & told me I had a cute baby...
Then when his mean mom put him back into the car seat- boy was he mad! Look how bad he misses me!!
Last week after hearing about the missionary's lack of food & toilet paper... these showed up on my doorstep! Can you believe this?! Sky~ she sent them too me. I love them thank you-
Wende the great photographer, sent me these darling buttons for my ity bitty find it treasure bags I am making. Can you believe how thoughtful? I was completely blown away by this. They are PERFECT for the bags. I am really excited to use them.
Jill sent me this totally cool thank you card - that's a picture of the good mail I sent her. It is so fun to see the package on the other end. So Creative Miss Jill!
Janae sent me a thank you for the notes I sent her for her birthday. I just can't get enough of the products from Good Things Stationery With Style. I love- love- love~ every product & it is difficult for me not to spend every extra penny I have on the weekly specials. You have to check out the weekly specials they are such a great deal!! Personalized stationery rocks my world.
I have to mention these cake pops & this card again from Karen for Valentine's day. Ever since I got hooked on the Cupcake Blog & Bakerella I have been wanting to make them but I've been way to busy- the inside of the card says- There might be girls who think they're as hot as we are, but they're wrong. -
After lunch & a last minute trip to Target
Chloe too.
We had our traditional Valentine family dinner.
Hailey got some new pj's & socks. At school they had Valentine's you could buy & send to friends as a fundraiser or something. She came home with three of them & was happy to have such cutie pie friends.
I bought Jack got some XOXO boxers and a little box that you push & it says pick up lines- it is so funny. My favorite is... are your feet tired? Because you've been runnin' through my dreams all night long. hee hee hee :)
Later Karen brought us some of these cake pops & the cutest card EVER. These cake pops taste even better than they look- they are sooo good! They are the perfect size too. I was really glad I didn't bother with dessert- these were better anyway. YUM-O
Then... the moment you've been waiting for...
It's a princess cut diamond with smaller diamonds down both sides & so beautiful.
Don't they look cute together? They had been to dinner downtown. 
*did you have a good Valentine's Day?
Last Saturday Megan's boyfriend Tony came up secretly from the college town to talk to us.
I really am not a scrapbooker. I'm a blogger- duh, but I'm making this really cool scrapbook of all my teens at school dances. Someday as we look through the pages at all the hair & dress styles that are so popular now I am sure we'll get a good laugh. 
Sky is hiding behind her boat load of photos. It's a long story, but she is an avid scrapbooker & only a little behind right now- these pictures are amazing. She may not know what my blog is but she does know she doesn't want to be in it. Funny, funny gal. 
Started a large box of stuff for the DI-- Did 5, YES 5 loads of laundry-- Cleaned & dusted my room-- Dropped off good mail at the post office-- Made a trip to the bank-- Bought Valentines with TRent... this was a very hard job, deciding between Ratatoille & Spider man proved to be very stressful & time consuming (spider man won) --picked up one of Hailey's friends from school crying, her mom was gone & she was very stressed out (I'm so glad I was home to go get her)-- made dinner-- 
and welcomed home Hailey & Jack. We had Family Night complete with the story of DAniel & the Lions den- Oh ya & I read with Trent for 20 minutes, then read my scriptures!!!
and Hailey...
Come home tomorrow.
We went to the museum.
Trent got a real kick out of showing dad the real life flight helicopter outside with all it's cool buttons & radios that really work. This was Dad's first time here so he had a lot to see & learn.
Chloe filled him in .
Here's trent adding up there groceries. Wouldn't that be something if I really sent trent to buy the groceries? After coming home & Chloe going to ballet we took the kids to Wingers since they both got coupons for a free dinner after really great parent/teacher conferences this week.
Trent was being very uncooperative at first.
He actually pulled out of it and did really well after we got seated. That's progress- fewww! I was trying to kiss him on the cheek in this picture but he didn't want any of that.
Chloe the very patient older sister & dad.
We even got dessert- what a treat! Fun times.
Yesterday I met with these great gals for our first ever blogger lunch. We have all been friends & work together on various PTA & community projects for years but other than that didn't really know each other. 
Another 2-3 inches. It's okay, it's okay really...
Today I was in my pantry & noticed this old Christmas candy. My only thought was why do I still have this hanging around my house? Heaven knows if we were going to eat it- it would be gone by now!
So I enlisted the world's greatest pantry cleaner...CHLOE! She is going to help me clean it out tonight. Chloe loves to organize things, especially the pantry. I'm not sure where she gets it- but I'm glad she's got it. She really is the best at it!
Thanks Chloe!!
Thanks Michelle for the darling thank you card for the package I sent last week! I hope you are starting to feel better... but still taking it easy- yes let's go to lunch next time you are in town!
And... a package from the Marathon bird- Holly. What a surprise!! Loads of ME product~ my favorite, she is such a smart gal. I love it, love it, & it couldn't have come at a better time. I had just gotten a cute little "bird" for Holly & emailed Jill for her address. I can't wait to send it. Her address was on my good mail list the whole time- I just didn't see it---?
THANK YOU, it may have seemed a simple act but meant so much to me today.
GOOD MAIL - it does a mommy good!
"oh, last night we were street contacting a lady was walking our way so i was like hola senora como esta, she kind of kept walking so i said ¿a donde va? thinking that that was ok... my companion told me that means ¿where you goin, wanna come with me instead...? and it was dark... haha my first nasty mess up with the language. but that at least explained the look she gave me haha. bad bad."
Almost 21 years ago I went into labor with my oldest child- a girl-Megan. As I lay in the hospital bed I remember thinking- this is a breeze! Not long after that I was in complete life changing shock. I had NO IDEA it was going to be that hard. I remember staying up all night crying while Brett & Megan slept. I felt sorry for myself & for her. My hopes of having a large family were completely shattered. She would be an only child. I was NEVER doing that again. That's the only way I can compare sending off a missionary right now. I am completely shocked at my reaction. I had NO idea how hard it would be. I had NO idea how great the rewards would be. I must be so nieve, I feel so stupid."i feel the love of my savior. i love teaching his gospel. the most powerful things to teach out here are the first vision and restoration and the atonement of our savior jesus christ. he loves us more than we can ever comprehend and the little stuggles and things that we go through are not in vain. he has felt every little tiny pain we have ever had and we should feel so comforted for that. i know that he is with me. he leads me and guides me to do and say what his brothers and sisters need to here. i love reading the book of mormon, the true word of our father in heaven. it has such power. today i read in doctrine and covenants in a part where christ tesifies of himself! its so true! none of my doubts and questions matter when im feeling the spirit and i feel it alot here. i know that he lives, that he loves us and is with us. i know that joseph smith was and is a prophet of god. with president hinckley, we got a call early this morning during study and they told us. i know that he is in the next life, in a better place. im sure the reception for him there was fantastic and i know that he can kneel before our lord and have his life accepted for his service. i pray for each of you by name, every day. i know that the spirit is with you."
I knew he should go, I never pushed him but knew he would do great & be happy serving. He has a love of people, of Christ. A real testimony of this gospel that is so much of his upbringing and our lives, and so do I. But he is my baby. A friend of mine told me- the sooner you put him in the Lord's hands the better off you'll be. I know she's right, but I just can't let go.
"we went to visit this really old man at his house. he has no hands, only a pinky on one. he actually isnt an investigator or a member but we like to visit him. we were in his house and i was really tired and my comp asked if we could sing a hymn for him. my comp had me choose and i chose ¨abide with me tis eventide¨ which is equally beautiful in spanish and we sang that for him. instantly i had the spirit chills all over my body, it was so strong, i loved it!"
Motherhood. It is such a priveledge & trial. What made me think I could ever be a mother especially to so many children? I am so proud to be a missionary's mom. I am happy he is living his dream. I guess I am living mine too.
"it gets hard. but this is so important. i cant let these people miss out on their chance to hear the message of our savior jesus christ and his church on the earth.i love you all so much."
If you make some cupcakes & don't at least send me a photo I will never forgive you!
