Valentine's Dinner

Traditions never die...even when the Mom is sick! I found this out the hard way this year. I had planned on doing our annual LOVE DINNER with the kids, and woke up sicker than a dog on Valentine's day! NO FUN! But the party must go on. I was able to get some decorations out order the heart shaped pizza, dip strawberries, make brownies, and a few other things and it actually went off without a hitch! Caleb had a basketball game that night so we had to eat a bit early. But no one was complaining! Another fun Valentine's Day with the entire family!

A view of the food

Table, food and a few of the decorations
Brit waiting patiently...

The whole gang! I have such a cute family!
Brit snapped a shot of me serving his food.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Wax Museum

At the Elementary School 5th graders get to be involved in the Wax Museum. Zach came home very excited one day, and he couldn't wait to tell me who he had chosen to be for it. He made me try to guess...I guessed sports people, presidents, or something on that order. He was so proud to tell me that he had chosen Gail Halvorsen (aka The Candy Bomber). It sort of shocked me to be honest. This wasn't the route I thought Zach would go. He dove into the book and worked hard on completing the book and report. It was fun to go over to the school and watch him perform the information he had learned about Gail Halvorsen.

Here is Zach waiting for someone to push his button so he can start his speech.

Zach giving the speech he wrote and memorized. He did a GREAT job!

He wore his Grandpa Veenker's US Air Force coat. We added some printed badges to it just for the day. Grandpa had given it to him a few months earlier.

Sledding at Soldier Hollow

Our family got a chance to go up to Soldier Hollow to sled in January. It was part of Youth Conference, all the youth and their families were invited. We had the sledding hill to ourselves. It was so much fun! Early on a Saturday, temps were a bit chilly but there was fun to be had! It was more than fun...it was AWESOME! Here are some pics of our fun time!

This was taken from the top of the sledding hill....it was a perfect winter morning. Notice the lack of snow, so the snow machines were going full force!

Caleb posing for a photo

Craig & Lib heading to the the top Me sledding down the hill, I promise you get going pretty fast! It's really fun!

Liberty just finishing her run

Craig doing who knows what!

Randomly, this is the only picture we got of Zach all day. We were there for 2 hours and he was sledding the ENTIRE time!

These two were racing EVERYONE!

Me waiting my turn to go down.

Liberty loving every minute of the fun.

See, you get going so fast, sometimes it's hard to stop...I slammed into the temporary fence. Ooops!Don't worry I was fine, and ready for more fun!

Brit went down twice, then he was done, the rest of the time he played at the bottom of the hill with the unused tubes. He had a great time!

(Most of these photos were taken by Kylie Oyler of our ward, Thanks Kylie!)
We had a very fun time! Everytime we go there we always wonder when we can go back! It's well worth it! The only way to go sledding! They pull you up to the top and you zip down and then go do it all over again. WONDERFUL!

Day 14

Day 14

I LOVE...

THIS GUY!

I love him so much! He is VERY busy these days...but he handles everything with ease. He does what he has to do for work, church and the family. Somehow he fits everything in. He amazes me! I love being married to him. He is dedicated to his calling, and I support him. He is a wonderful and supportive father to our children, and I love it! He is a great husband to me, and I feel blessed! I am one lucky gal!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Day 13

Day 13

I LOVE...

Having no TV! I know it may sound crazy but it has been a HUGE success in our home! We haven't had cable for a while, but a few weeks ago our XBOX 360 broke and we lost our access to Netflix. Which at first was kind of a bummer, but it has made it so nice. In the evenings it is quiet! We talk so much more and the kids and I will gather around and just chat. We end up laughing or playing some sort of made up game and I love it! Yes, there are shows that we enjoy and on occassion miss but we are surviving just fine without it! Give it a try and see how you like it!

Day 12

Day 12...

I LOVE...

MY CHILDREN!

Seriously, I couldn't ask for better children. We have our moments of drama, but what family doesn't. I love their personalities, I love to support them in their activities, I love the way them make me laugh, and smile constantly! I find myself watching them, seeing how they will react to different things, and they truly make me happy! Caleb, Zach, Liberty & Brit, you are my joy!

Day 11

Day 11

I LOVE...

SURPRISES!!!

(Picture via Pinterest...my pictures wouldn't load! Bummer!)

Craig surprised me in November, and I realized that I haven't blogged about it, so here it is...Craig planned an entire trip, babysitters and all for me. He took me to Disneyland for 3 days. It was just the two of us...and we had a blast! We were as giddy as a couple of jr. high kids! We had great weather, great wait times, and even learned our lesson when we tried to cut the short lines even shorter. Thinking we were SO SNEAKY we jumped the line for Indiana Jones, only to realize we jumped into the exit line and totally lost the chance to go on it our first night! Whatever, you live and learn! It was a great trip, we snuck over to the beach, did a little Christmas shopping, saw a darling missionary couple who was serving there from our ward, and just had a blast! It was the perfect surprise!

(Now what will I do to surprise him??? Ideas?)

Day 10

Day 10...

I LOVE...

SPENDING TIME WITH THESE GUYS!

Although this photo is a few years old, and it has a couple of cousins in it, this is an amazing bunch of people! Craig also comes from an wonderful family! This photo was taken at our annual Couples Valentine's Dinner. It was held on day 11 (Feb. 11)...and once again it was a great night, full of fun, food, and laughs! Again, I am very blessed not only to have a great family but to have married into one!

Day 9

Day Nine...

I LOVE...

SPENDING TIME WITH THESE GUYS!

I have mentioned how incredibly blessed I am to have such a wonderful family! We were all together tonight, and the laughs were non stop! We always have such a great time together! I love these guys so much. I can't believe how lucky I am!

Day 8

** DAY 8 **

I LOVE...

Chasing these....

With this kid telling me which way to go.

Brit has super good hearing. He always seems to hear sirens way before anyone else around here. He loves it most when they come up our street. We were playing outside on a very warm winter day and he heard it from far away...he stopped playing and said, "let's chase it mom!" So me being the nice mom I am, we grabbed the keys and took off. It made it easy for me because by the time I was out of the garage, it was coming up our street. So we took off following it, only to see it making a U turn just up the hill. Brit couldn't believe it, this Fire Truck was lost! We flipped the car around and followed it. They were driving all around our neighborhood and after a wild ride, they found where they were supposed to be. I hadn't ever seen a lost fire truck. It helped make our little adventure that much more fun! Brit loved every minute of it! Good times with my little shadow are something I really love!

Day 7

** DAY 7 **

I LOVE TO...

Whether they be big or small, there is something about setting a goal and even better achieving that goal. At the first of this year I set a goal...A BIG GOAL! This may not be a big deal for some, but for me it's huge. I thought I needed to be fair with myself, and give myself plenty of time to complete this goal. I am really stepping out of my comfort zone with this. But I want to do this...I have wanted to do it for some time now, but finally got the courage to set the goal, make those who are close to me aware of my goal, and make plans necessary to achieve my goal.

What is this goal, you may ask? Well, I have decided to RUN A HALF MARATHON on or close to my 40th B-day!!! (That gives me 21 months to train!) THIS IS HUGE FOR ME!

With goals I have found that it is easy to get discouraged, well, it could have discouraged me when I went running for the first time and just about DIED after one lap around the track. Keep in mind this was NOT the first time to the track, however; it was the first time I got the nerve up to RUN. I was breathing really hard, and I am sure I sounded like a herd of elephants coming up on other running along side of me. But I made it around one time, (go ahead laugh, cause it is pathetic!) and had to stop running. I started laughing (not outloud, seriously, I would be considered a FREAK if that were the case) in my head. I thought ... "what are you thinking? a 1/2 marathon? That's like 13.1 MILES and you are dying after one lap!"

Discouragement set in just a little bit. But then I found this quote, and I printed it out and have it hanging with some others in my office & in the bathroom.

Somehow, it gives me enough courage to continue! I am happy to say that I have been back and yes, I can now run two laps with out feeling like I am going to die from lack of oxygen. Small steps...but it is an improvement from the time before!

And just because when I saw this I totally thought of myself...one last photo!

YEP, THAT PRETTY MUCH SUMS ME UP!
WISH ME LUCK!

Day 5 & Day 6

(So I sort of forgot to do this yesterday, so I am playing catch up today!)

** Day 5 **

I LOVE...

Whoever thought of Pinterest is a GENIOUS! I can't tell you how many ideas I have seen online (before Pinterest) and thought I would for sure remember where it was found and every detail of the idea...WRONG! I really don't know how long I have been on Pinterest, but I have loved knowing I can go right to the one thing when I need it.

A word of warning: It can be VERY ADDICTIVE! It is a time waster...but so much fun! I have to be careful, because I am pretty sure I could spend all day long on it! NOT A GOOD IDEA!

** DAY 6 **

I LOVE...

Some of my favorites...

return to me

the notebook

my best friends wedding

a walk to remember

beaches

27 dresses

the help

13 going on 30

{...and the list could go on and on...}

There are few coming out this month that look great also! Call it what you want, but sometimes a good chick flick that ends with a good cry is just what the dr. ordered! (at least for me!)

Day 4

** DAY 4 **

I LOVE... BEING PAMPERED!

(image found via Google...not the best, sorry)

Craig surprised me for our 17th Anniversary last month and gave me an AWESOME Spa Package. I got to go today and spend 5 Hours at the Amara Day Spa!!! Seriously, 5 hours of relaxation! It was FABULOUS!

When I walked out of there and got to the car, I just sort of laughed...

{I had just had my muscles rubbed, my fat kneaded (massaged), eyebrows plucked, face greased up and washed off (facial), nails clipped, and polished, dead skin scrapped from my heels, hair washed, dried, & styled} And I couldn't have been happier! It was a very thoughtful gift. I LOVED IT!

(here I am in the car just after leaving the spa)

Locals: I highly recommend Amara Day Spa! They take very good care of you. I hope to return again soon.

Day 3

**DAY 3**

I LOVE...

DATE NIGHTS!

(By the way...this never happens! But I think it's funny!)

Tonight was date night! After a busy week with family, church & work we always look forward to our dates. Tonight we started with Chili's, & then to Hobby Lobby just cause we'd never been there before. (That store could be dangerous!) The best part is that we got to spend time together and enjoy each others company! I love my husband!

Day 2

** Day 2 **

I LOVE...

This could be on my mind because I stopped there for lunch today! I will try not to do too many days about food. Although, I do love food!

Taco Amigo is a great fast food place here in PG. It is always fresh and super good!

I LOVE TACO AMIGO!

14 Days of LOVE

It's that time of year...when I get to list the 14 things I love...a sort of countdown to Valentine's Day. Back again this year, hopefully I won't repeat anything, but I won't make any promises!

*DAY ONE*

2/01/2012

I LOVE HEARING THE WORDS "I LOVE YOU" SPOKEN TO ME...

How can it not bring a smile to your face! Sometimes it's my cute students at school who run up and give me a hug and say "I love you, Miss Cricket". Other times it is my sweetest parents who say "We sure do love you". When any of my darling children say it, it melts my heart. The younger ones say it often...but I have noticed that as they get older it just doesn't roll off their tongue as often. A few days ago, I got a call from Caleb, at the end of the conversation, he said, "I love you, Mom!" I got giddy hearing it from him. I think it meant that much more because I knew that his friends were standing right next to him. It just made my heart happy! Last but not least, to hear it from my amazing husband makes me so happy, I really can't explain it.

Everyone wants to feel loved. I do! I know that I am loved, but there is something about hearing it said that just makes my day!