Here Comes the Sun

This Utah weather has been teasing us unmercifully.  Bits of warmth, blue skies, sunshine, birds chirping and then snaps of cold and grey and snow.  This was a cold snap.  Mark and Wilson went out to make the best of it.  This snowman was pretty awesome.   I was making Sunday dinner and they kept asking for things to make his face - he ended up with dried prune eyes, a brussel sprout mouth and carrot nose.  And he was super tall which the kids loved.

(lov'n Wilson's pose)

And this was a sunny day.  

I LOVED watching these kids get creative and just be kids.

We were tending Lincoln and Dylan and they were all soaking up the sunshine.

 Lincoln, Wilson, Zina

 My sweet Sam.

 Baby Dylan - who's not really a baby anymore but we all still call her that. :)

I love love love these pictures of Sam.  He is very particular about having things "just so."  And he always wants his "hat" on (be it a helmet, toque, etc).  I had laid this hat out on the back steps to dry since it was on our snowman and when he discovered it he immediately said, "hat!" and put it on his head.  He wore it all afternoon until Wilson decided to turn it into a bowl for his mud pie.

 This look on Sam's face is so Sam.  He is so often in deep concentration or thinking very seriously about things, and yet he is so chill at the same time - just minding his own very serious business.

 This is where the masterpiece begins.   They are deep in discussion about their plans.

 mid-plan

(I love that Lincoln is wearing a spiderman suit and Wilson is in his super hero cape)

Little kids are the best!

 Sammy got bored for a bit and went to mind his own "serious" business again.

 Wilson making more "muck" as they called it.

As close to the finished masterpiece as I got.

We love sunny spring days!!! (in February. :))

Valentine's Day 2012

Valentine's day celebrations always start on Feb. 1st for us.  We get out the V-day decor and then the kids get to start checking their envelopes on the back of their chairs every morning for love notes from Momma and Papa.  Sometimes I forget and they are so disappointed.  It is fun to watch their faces light up when I read to them reasons why they are loved.   We made a batch of sugar cookies and made half into mini fruit pizza's at Marilyn's one night and the other half we decorated for Uncle Adam.  

 There was a LOT of icing going on some of those cookies.  I wonder how they fared en route to Boston?

 Hopefully he felt loved by the mass of cookie, candy and icing that I'm sure was unrecognizable by the time it arrived. :)

 We sure had fun with the process. :)

  

On Feb. 14th we had our traditional family valentine's dinner.

Some family favorites: pan fried herb salmon, sauteed brussel sprouts, fresh green salad, and onion brown rice.  I know weird.  But my kids really do love salmon and brussel sprouts.  The other day we were in Costco and found said brussel sprouts and Zina and Wilson started running around yelling, "YEAH!! BRUSSEL SPROUTS!"  And some guy look at them in disbelief and said, "Are you kidding me?  How'd you do that?"  It made me laugh and I don't know how I did it.   They just like them.

After dinner Papa surprised us all with one last love note in our envelopes along with our favorite candy.  And he also came home with the table centerpiece for me. 

Thanks honey!

 After dinner we played red rover (per Zina's request).  I was a little sceptical but it was actually pretty fun and had us all laughing.  Sammy kept running back and forth saying, "Momma team,"  "Papa team"

Then Liz showed up and promised me that she would put all the kids to bed. wink wink.  The cries and wails of "momma don't leave" soon turned into giggles and whispers and Mark and I slipped out the door for a little Valentine evening of our own.  We went to go to your typical Valentine Movie, "The Vow"  but it was all sold out.  So we bought tickets to another movie and then went to it anyway.  I tried really hard to not have anxiety for breaking the rules.  Mark laughed at me but I can't help it!!!  I felt better when I realized there were tons of extra seats so we weren't keeping someone from their movie.  Anyways we both enjoyed the show and the evening out with just the two of us.

Thanks Liz.  You're the best!  

And here's Sammy helping put away the V-day decorations. 

So grateful for all my loves this February!

Sunshine makes me happy.

And it's seriously affecting our decision on where we want to live for the next 4yrs. 

To bad we only kind of get a choice. :)

This was a beautiful sunshine-y day. 

We were beyond happy to be outside. 

Can you tell?

Zina celebrated 100 days of school last week.  We had a hard time deciding on what she wanted to take to school (100 somethings).  Finally I grabbed some sparkly foam while at walmart and we cut out 100 hearts.  She was beyond happy because really what 6yr old girl wouldn't be happy with 100 sparkly hearts.  These pictures are from the left over foam.  I love when little kids get creative.  Wilson even wore his to the store.  Zina chickened out on the way in and took all of hers off  and then regretted it as soon as Wilson started getting comments on how cool he looked.  She had to tell everyone who complimented Wilson that SHE had some on too and she only took them off so they wouldn't blow away. Uh. huh. 

Snails Pace

I feel like things the last little while have been slow and uneventful.  But I'm not complaining.  I've been enjoying every moment of it.  This time of year always seems to slow down for us - call it mundane but I like to call it restful.  We have had time to just stay home and enjoy each other.  

The one snowfall so far.  Ok maybe the 2nd. 

 This was the right year to move to Utah. :)

She's mad that there are only two shovels.

And then I told her not to smile. :)

Family Night treat. 

 It's a staple around here as long as it's Costco ice cream. :)

We've been spending lots of time in the craft corner.

When Zina gets home from school she begs me to have more school after lunch.

And we always do. :)

We had to take Wilson and Papa bowling with us.

Next time we will go back to the Provo Beach resort.
The atmosphere makes all the difference

A new favorite past time.  The kids are getting pretty good.

And our other favorite place

The playroom.

It's always a disaster.

 But that makes me happy because it means my kids are in there playing with their toys.  

Building, make believe, trains, reading etc. 

And it's always extra special when Aunty Liz will play with you. :)

Another favorite.  

 Whenever we go it makes me miss home where it is WAY cheaper. 

But the kids love it (and so do I) so we keep going.

Lately I have been trying to follow Liz' advice and live in the moment.  With so many changes happening in the next couple of months it's hard not to get impatient for them - (like finding out where we are going to live for the next 4yrs!)  But it's also been so great to be here that I am trying to soak it all up.  The mountains, being so close to family, our cute little house (it's my favorite so far)  living SO close to both my sisters (I've been waiting for that to happen for 7yrs!!)  And really when I think about it I am so content and happy to be right here right now.