Good Friends

On Saturday we had a visit from our good friends the Jensen's. We just had a real low key visit. Kids and puppies played, then we went out to Dynasty for lunch. It was really yummy, and just right! The weather on Saturday was just amazing (we have been so spoiled this winter!) so we spent a good amount of time outside in the backyard with the kids and the dogs.

The just moved over to Medford in July and we see them about once a month, but the kids have just grown so much latley. Addie is really beginning to be less "cute", and more beautiful. Her look and personality are maturing so much! Lily is a real sweet little bug, and too funny! She turns 3 next month and is no longer a baby at all! Her pigtails are so long, and she is always singing, or saying something so funny. Harrison and Parker are such good buds. They have been best little friends since they were five years old. They'll both turn eleven this summer, almost six years. Unbelievable! It's so good for them to get to spend some time together.

Later we had dinner. Wings done 3 different ways, oven potatoes, and veggies with ranch. It was good. It was such a nice easy day, with good conversation and fun stories. We have been so grateful for the friendship we share with this wonderful family. I am happy that we can still get together and be a part of eachother's lives. This is Phoebe and Addie last year in thier ballet recietle costumes. Phoebe was a butterfly and Addie was a mouse! Too Cute.

Valentine's Dinner

This last Friday night we had our ward Valentine's dinner. It was adults only, and we ate off of people's personal place settings. The entire cultural hall was set up like a Chinese restaurant. It was just beautiful! We ( Suzanne, Tiffany, and I) spent about 5 hours the night before setting everything up. Rachel had to work so was limited to what she could help with. We had paper lanterns floating through the air on fishing line. We had white lights strung through the room as well. The lantern's were so pretty. We also had little kaboda's and Chinese lettering on the glass doors of the gym. It looked so great! We kept the harsh fluorescent lights off and had only lamps, and soft electric candle light. It was a transformed space. It totally reminded me of Top Chef restaurant wars! We would have totally won! The young women offered childcare, and the young men were our kitchen staff. They looked so handsome, and behaved amazingly. We have such great youth! The menu was egg drop soup, and a schezwan wrap (by Suzanne and Tiffany). Then main course was set out in chafing dishes. It was house fried rice-Suzanne, chicken chow mien and broccoli beef-by me. Then we were treated with an amazing performance by Suzanne's quartet. They are Chuck Hamilton, Suzanne Stewart, Christina Wehr, and Mr Lemiuex. They are so fun and enjoyable to watch. They have a blast, and make you smile uncontrollably. They sang a total of six songs, I wish they could have sang all night. After the performance dessert was served. They had a choice of Key-lime pie, or Angel food cake with lemon cream topping. Both were amazing- thanks Jodi and Tiffany- and homemade! It was such a great time. We had a wonderful turnout, and the atmosphere was just perfect. I loved the feeling of being in a wonderful, cozy, relaxed restaurant with my entire ward family. I wish we could do every weekend!

Chad and Tiff getting cozy;)

Me, crafty?

Michael's craft store opened this week, and I am so happy. I have never really considered myself a crafty or creative person. Due largely in part to my bad break up with scrap booking a few years ago. It just made me feel inadequate. But, I may have to re-evalute my relationship with crafting in general. We could have a future.

I didn't have a spring decoration for my front door and had been looking for one that I liked for the last couple of years. I could never find anything that I liked in a price range I would go for (I'm super cheap...no I'm thrifty;).
Anyhow thanks to Michael's I made my very own spring wreath for about five dollars! It's so me, and I love it! Michael's moving to town could very well be the beginning of a beautiful relationship for me and crafting.

What I really think about Jason

My husband is the best husband in the entire universe. He is so smart. He can do anything and everything. He builds car engines and computers. He can do anything in a house from electrical and plumbing, framing and drywall, installing windows or underground sprinklers, to cleaning and cooking. He is the hardest worker I have ever known. He is a one man juggling act. He works full time, doing the work of two people. He has been going to school forever and has two degrees, and is continuing on working on his masters. He serves his friends and neighbors. He is an awesome Dad to four children who adore him. He takes amazing care of his wife, always putting my needs first. Jason is the best person I know. He comes from a very difficult upbringing, and he has defied the odds. He is a most choice person and I am incredibly blessed to have been married to him for the past eleven years. It has by far been the best time of my life. Jason, you are my best friend, my confidant, my place of comfort. Thank you for always loving me, even through my worst moments you have never wavered. Being married to you is my favorite thing in the world. You are everything I need in a companion. I want to be with you forever. Happy anniversary. 

A perfect, perfect Christmas eve

On Tuesday we had a wonderful Christmas eve. It was the most beautiful snowy day, just inspiring. Our friends the Hewlett's came over for sledding. We went to the empty lot just up the street from our house. It's a good hill, and close so the little one's can go inside while the big kids can keep having fun. Phoebe and her friend Becka didn't enjoy the sledding so much. It's not a suprise for the kids to start crying after getting cold, or crashing. But I took this picture of Phoebe literally one minute after we got out there. I couln't figure out what her problem was.So DRAMATIC! Christoper was a great sledder! He and Jason getting ready to race!

I went down with Payton, racing against Parker. We caught some serious air, wo-hoo!

After sledding we had hot chocolate, and a fondue dinner! Later in the evening we opened pajamas with kids, and watched Mr Krugger's Christmas. It was a perfect day!

Where's the ice cream?

I came home late from shopping the other night. I opened the freezer to put away some groceries and asked Jason

" Did you guys eat all the ice cream while I was gone?"

"No, I had a big bowl, but there was still come left."

"Well it's not in here."

We spent the next ten minutes looking for the melting ice cream. Jason very often puts things in odd places while his attention is focused elsewhere. He constantly looses his keys and wallet. It would not suprise me at all if we found the ice cream in the cubord where he got the bowl out, or in the bathroom where he had to go and help a kid out. So we searched all over the whole house. It was driving me nuts to not know where this mess was melting. I went to recheck the boys room, I pulled back the covers on Paxton's bed, and found this. He was covered in chocolate peanut butter ice cream. I also found an apple between his bed and the wall. Evidently he likes to dine in bed

Penny the Killer

Penny killed a quail today. Our funny little baby girl puppy is a hunter. She suprises us everyday.