Lot's O' Lov'n

What a fun day we had!  

February 14th 2002 was a very special day for me.  I officially met Jason.  Unofficially I had heard my room mates talk about some guy named "Blue", but had yet to meet him.  

I woke up 10 years later to a Valentine's Day note on my bathroom mirror wishing me a happy day.  And then on the seat in my van he wrote a note that said:

"A 10 years ago today I met my best friend".

It was rather TENDER.  I loved it because it did not say "My sexy lover", or "my hot wife".  But more referred to me as his BEST FRIEND!  Oh how that melted my heart. I mean, I am glad I am all those "other" things to Jason too, ;), but being his best friend means more than anything!  

I had plans for the kids today, but Jason and I were going to have to celebrate later cause Tuesday is his late class night.  And some doofuss decided to call a study group that night.....VALENTINES DAY.....from 8-10pm.  Are ya kidding me????

I was totally shocked when Jason asked me to meet him down by the campus for a quick dinner!  WHAT!!!  ME?????  OH JOY!!!!!!  

I was even more shocked when instead of taking me to Chili's (our trusty favorite) he took me to the EXACT place we met a decade ago.  Smoky Mountain Pizza and Pasta on Park Center!  Oh I almost cried!  I could not believe that he thought of that!  We were so close to BSU, but I had not even put it together!  In celebration of our love, we tipped our waitress $10.  :)  

I woke up to these two smiling cheeseballs.  

Treated the boys to some "rings" for lunch!

Graden passed out in a Valentine Coma after school! 

We bought the kids all new swim suits for the special day.  I loved it cause it was fun and practical!  Getting us ready for Spring and Summer!  

I hope you felt love this day.  

I posted on FB earlier in the day (prior to my invite for dinner with the hubs) this:

"I don't need flowers, or candy, or a hot date....I have eternity"

TRU DAT YO!  :)

Our G Funk

"Deciding to have a child is monumentous. It is deciding to forever have your heart walk outside your body."

This has never been as true to me as it has been recently.  Watching my girls do dance, and have friends outside of people who I would have picked for them, to Graden starting his wrestling career.  It's all been so much for me as a mother.  

This is my kind boy.  

Thoughtful, silly, lovely, squishy, and positively kissable.  He is at the age where he can actually carry a USA Wrestling card and participate in tournaments.  This has all been discussed since I was pregnant.  When he would be able to wrestle.  

That time is now.  

He has practice twice a week.  Jason does Monday's and I do Wednesday's.  I thought I could handle it.  It was much harder than I could have ever imagined.  

It was clear that Graden is painfully shy with a rowdy group of boys.  He was obedient to the coaches, but not accretive enough to grab a partner to line up, so he had to be matched with somebody.  I watched as he looked at other boys running to find a partner.  He just stood there.  And my heart melted for him.  

I have kind children.  I am thankful for that.  Jason and I had a frank discussion when he got home that we are going to have to "teach" Graden to be aggressive. I would rather teach a child that, than have to teach a child to be meek.  He will have to learn that there is a time and a place to be rough.  I hope he will grasp to the concept.  Considering I have have taught him for 4.5 years now to always be sweet and kind.

My heart was outside of my body.  

My heart was with him.   

Here we go!

Natalie and Taylor will be turning 8 on March 24th, 2012.  I cannot believe we are already here!  It really does seem like just a minute ago they were babies, and I was tired!  Ok, I'm still tired, but they are older now!  They will have an interview with the Bishop, and there tell him if they have made the choice to get baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I am so thankful for my own membership in the church.  Times have not always been easy for  me, especially as a teenager, and therefor my testimony struggled.  But He never left me.

The girls attended their baptism preview on Sunday.  I am glad their birthday is in March because I don't think they could stand to wait any longer!  They got these amazing towels for their special day.  They snuggled them all day.  When Natalie woke up Monday morning I went in their room and as she was making her bed, she said that she was so excited she wished she could have been baptized yesterday :)  Silly girl!  I told her how sad Grandma and Grandpa Blue would have been if they missed it.

This subway art was displayed on the table.  I LOVE IT!  (Thanks for the post Cherie!)

And in other news.......

I don't have room in my life for HATERS.  My priorities are my family, health, calling, and a million other things before I worry about what other people think about me or my family.  

I found myself questioning this on Sunday evening.  I received an email that was not so charming.  

I'm not going to get into it, but it left me feeling like...."Am I crazy???"  "Did we make the right choice???"

Well folks, we did make the right choice.  Jason and I parent with the help of the Holy Ghost.  We follow the promptings that are given to us.  We use these gifts to guide our kids to happiness.  

So to all my haters out there......

Haters gonna hate.  

Bye...bye...

{New Beginnings 2012}

The purpose of New Beginnings is to welcome the girls that will be turning 12 that year into YW's.  The Beehive, Mia Maid, and Laurel class symbols are recognized.  

Also the theme for the new year is introduced.  D&C 115:5.  

"Verily I say unto you all: Arise and Shine Forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations;"

So we ran with the Arise and Shine Forth!  We welcomed our ONLY beehive coming in 2012.....Emily H!  Welcome sweet Emily!  Cannot wait wait to have ya! 

We had a wonderful spread of breakfast goodies along with an amazing skit about rising and shining everyday! 

{My job was the sun....you likey???}

{ I love this picture of Ursula and Bronwyn!  She is our new Laurel President!  This was her first activity conducting!  She did an amazing job!  And looked like such a beautiful 16 year old!}

{A couple of beehives.  As though you could not tell!}

{Emily H. and her mama!  So proud}

{Dina's spread!!}

{Carli acting "natural"}

{Claire also "acting natural"} {?????????}

{This really is Bailey acting natural}

{Our fearless stake leaders}

December in Parts

December has been so busy!  I love it.  But also wish I had a clone that I could split my responsibilities with.  

I'll post more after Christmas, but here are some pre-christmas shenanigans that I got into!!!

Our Annual Relief Society White Elephant gift exchange!  This was the first, and most hilarious gift of the night.  

Cherie was thrilled to get a Santa head!  

See.....

Graden participated in his preschool Nativity Program.  It's always amazing!  He was Joseph.  This was his list for Santa.  

Mary~Joseph~Baby Jesus

Do to the boy girl ratio, we had wise girls instead of wise men.  I love their costumes!  Very flashy ladies! 

On the same day I had the girls party at school to do.  I made a bazillion sugar cookies for them to decorate.  They had an art project and ate a huge feast of snacks too.  It was fun! 

The first day of vacation the girls were invited to a Gingerbread making party.  They had a terrible time......can't you tell?????  

Not sure what happened in Taylor's chimney, she says Santa exploded.  Ew. 

Nattie's says BSU on the door!  Kinda like our house!

I've enjoyed this time of year.  I don't always.  I know that it's because I started Christmas shopping in August.  We are on a tight budget, so spreading it out like that took a huge weight off my shoulders.  

We even added our own little family gift exchange into the mix this year.  It was tough all going out with each other, but we made it happen!  

Tappin' away!

The girls started dance the beginning of the school year.  It was a tap/ballet/tumble class.  A friend in my ward teaches it.  They had their first recital on Saturday.  I think they were more excited to wear make up.  I told them they cannot wear it for real till they are in middle school.  Natalie quickly did the math.  She was not pleased.  

Here they are all ready to go! 

Taylor was super excited! She posed herself.  Should I be worried??? 

Natalie!  She was a little more unsure of how to pose!  But did great!

There were little girls as young as 2 dancing in another group.  It made me sad I never did it with the girls when they were younger.  Ugh...  Oh well.  This is the only "extra" thing they do.  But in March they will turn 8 and have activity days and start taking piano.  I may have to figure out if it's too much!  We'll see!  

Some "Ketchup"

Last Saturday was a busy one for us.  

Jason and I went to the Wyoming/BSU game.  It was beautifully sunny, but as soon as the shade hit us, I was more than grateful for the $1.24 I spent on 4 hand warmers from Walmart.  To say that I molested mine is a total understatement.  Like if I rubbed them more they would get hotter???  LOL! 

We came home for a moment of quiet, and then rushed off for a birthday party at Wahooz.  It was really fun, and I know it cost the parents a lot of money, so we blew our bedtimes out of the water and let the kids stay and play till 10!!  (If church were earlier than 11, I would have easily crushed those dreams.)

Our kids got to ride to Go-Carts.  

Have you ever thought for sure your kids COULD NOT do something only to totally blow your mind?  That is what the girls did.  I thought there was no way they would be able to drive.  By themselves.  Alone.  Without Jason or I.  Did I mention they would be manning a go-cart ALONE? 

Well they rocked it!  Did a great job!

Graden however was a wee bit too short to ride alone, so in the 30 degree weather, he and Jason hit the track!  

Burke and I spent a lot of time walking the arcade.  Burke touched every button, lever, handle, blinking light he could find. (And reach)... :)  We ended up on a bench waiting for Jason and the bigs' to get done with their second round of laser tag.  We watched videos on my phone, sang Once There Was a Snow Man.  It was darling.  

Then this kid sat down that looked somewhat like my nephew Mason.  I COULD NOT convince Burke is was not Mason.  He kept saying "Matin, Matin.."  And he was going to touch him!  I caught him just in time!

We all came home exhausted.  Totally.  But it was a great day!  

{Especially when Jason and I got on the WRONG shuttle back to the car....}

But I won't mention that!  Ha!