february

I started making almond milk.

 Dave got Sawyer and Emma doing soccer drills.

Keri and I went to the Leonardo Museum in Salt Lake together.
I went to our stake Women's Conference where Susan Easton Black and Liz Lemon Swindle spoke.
Dave and I went to Dreamgirls with Keri and Michael.

 Slade and Nathan both went to classes at Thanksgiving Point.
We had a wonderful family dinner on Valentine's Day.

We went to see Rapunzel, A Very Hair Fairy Tale at the SCERA theater.
We went to the Scouts Blue and Gold banquet where Slade received his Webelos award.

Sawyer participated in the Suzuki Twinkle graduation. Emma and Sawyer also played duets together a few times. Music to my ears!

The kids spent a lot of time in front of screens. As usual.

will you be my valentine?

We began our Valentine's Day celebrations last Friday with our homeschool group party. I really love this support group. The other moms are all fantastic. The kids are all nice to each other. I am so glad we've been able to make such friends. For this party, several moms pitched in with games and crafts. I led the kids in playing Who Do You Love? to get us started. Then they got to eat food, decorate cookies and cupcakes, make an iLove (iTouch knock-off), listen to stories, and make cards. Plus they exchanged Valentines. We had to make and bring 170 Valentines. All around it was a great time. Since I forgot to bring my camera to the party, I can only share our pile of Valentines and the post-party candy exchange.

On Valentine's Day, the weather was so gorgeous that we took the day off of school and went to the park instead.

Dave brought home donuts and chocolate covered strawberries for lunch.

I took the kids out to JCW's for dinner. Mmmm, milkshakes. Then the other kids went to Aunt Katie's house while Emma, Dave and I went to her violin recital. She performed Minuet in G by Beethoven and played really well. Since I am trying though always failing to be as awesome as my mom, I accompanied both Emma and another student. Eventually the accompaniments may get too hard for me to play but for now I am glad I get to do it.

somebody loves me

I am married to one of the very best men out there. He blesses me in so many ways. Yesterday, he surprised me with these...


...and a new under-cabinet CD player since only the radio works on the current one. Man, I love him!

mom's night in

Tonight I hosted Mom's Night for my homeschooling support group. We made a Valentine's Day banner.

I started with instructions from here and here and then tweaked them. I ended up just sewing the paper to the ribbon which turned out well. I love banners. I have been wanting to make for a long time and now I can't wait to make more. I actually finished this one last night. When I came into the kitchen this morning, I found a little love note from Dave. Totally made my day.


After we finished making the banners tonight, we ate. Cupcakes, pumpkin bread, heart shaped rice krispy treats and candy.

Then we talked. And talked. And talked some more. What a fantastic group of women.