Mickey D's (Again)

Len wanted to take the 3 little boys out on a date in February.  Guess where they wanted to go?

McDonald's of course!

Let's play!

I wish we had these climbing structures at home!

Our Olympian

I think our family watched the Olympics in Sochi this year for a total of one hour.  What can I say?  We are just not a sports-watching family.  Our little Teague came home with an Olympic torch and gold medal though!

He'll always be our champion!

3 Friends

Hiram and Ruby have been having weekly play days since school started last September.  Ryan joins the group every once in a while too.  The 3 of them usually play together pretty well.  I had to take pictures of their cuteness, but I could almost read Hiram's mind.

Cheese!

Wait a minute, I think Ryan might be moving in to my territory.

I know what to do.

That's better.

I know we're adorable mom, but could you please stop with the pictures?

Toddler time is such a fun time!

Day of Love

The kids were hard at work getting their Valentine cards all ready for school.

Noe's were Lalaloopsy.

Gavin had Cars.

I didn't even think to have Hiram make some for his friends, but some of his friends gave him one with a bag of jelly beans- so sweet!

Teague had Hot Wheels.

And Kaleb had Scooby Doo.

An assortment of some of the cards they got in return (with lots of red, heart-shaped suckers).

That evening Len and I finally made it to Mongolian Village Grill.  Mmmm, I sure love Mongolian barbecue.  The waitress brought me a red carnation with our bill, ahhh.

We went back home for dessert- Nanaimo bars!

(I forgot to take a pic of the cute heart-shaped chocolate lollipops I got for my Visiting Teaching sisters.)

  We also had a long weekend following Valentine's Day.  During the weekend we watched a couple of our favorite love stories- A Knight's Tale and Ever After.  We also drove down to Massena, NY to buy Kaleb a new suit and Noe a new dress for their upcoming birthdays.  I wish we could have a lovey holiday and long weekend every month!

Missionary Bears

Gavin finally got a turn with a Missionary Bear!  (Last year his class bear got lost before he got a turn.)  He was very happy to get to spend the week with Elder Ted E. Bear.

The same week, Teague also got a Missionary Bear.

I never thought these two looked much a like.  This photo changes my mind!

A couple weeks later, Noe got a turn with Sister Molly Bear.

I can't wait to serve a mission after Leonard retires.  I hope all of our children will have the desire to serve too!

 

Noé also brought home the bear in April.

 

My first mural

Back in September, I gave my friend, Annick 3 sketches of possible mural ideas for her basement playroom.

Jungle Monkey,

Safari Lion,

and Polka Dot Friends.  This is the one she chose, but she wanted a tiger instead of a lion and a giraffe too.

The first day I did the first coat for the tiger (except his smile, his muzzle had to dry first, but I forgot to take a picture that day).

The second day I got the first coats done for the rest of the animals.

Then I got pregnant and sick and became a zombie throughout October and November.  With the holidays in December, I didn't get back over to paint until January.  This time I painted the rest of the smiles, the mini polka dots and did some of the colors' second coats.

In February I finally finished it up with some third coats and I think it turned out pretty darn cute (if I do say so myself). 

Mr. Tiger.

Mr. Elephant.

Mr. Monkey.

Mr. Giraffe.

I hope you like it Annick!!

Now I'm ready to paint a mural in my own home...someday!

As I have Loved you, Love one another

I helped my dear friend, Mary (who is also my Relief Society President) switch up the bulletin boards.

(Please ignore the nasty flash glare.)

We show our LOVE for the Savior...

...by CARING for each other.

I adore hearts- the perfect symbol for love!

February Decor

We switched up our blues to reds to get ready for Valentine's Day.  The mantel.

The dining table.

The Little People set (maybe my favorite one- besides the Christmas ones).  These are the toys I will be keeping for our grandkids!

At the entryway.

All You Need is Love!

Happy Valentine's Day!  I know we need more than just love in our lives (like food, clothing, shelter, a means to provide for those things, etc.), but of intangibles- LOVE is what all of us need.  On this day of love I'm thinking of this quote by Maya Angelou:  "LOVE- Each of us was created of it ... and I suspect each of us was created for it."  I am so grateful for all the love I have for others, and I am just as grateful for all the love others have for me.  I know LOVE comes from God.  He loves each of us so much and wants us to love each other in return. 

Leonard and I are hoping to go out for Mongolian Barbecue tonight.  We were supposed to go two weeks ago for Chinese New Year, but I started feeling sick and he was just exhausted.  Hopefully, this time we'll actually make it out.  The kids are all having parties at school (and Hiram even got a Valentine from his friends yesterday  =).  We'll also be having some Nanaimo bars for dessert (I can't wait!).  It's snowing again today (we have so much snow!) and I wish I was at the beach like in my picture, but I hope we'll all still have a wonderful day!

Wedding Plans

I just booked my ticket to go home for this lovely couple's wedding and I'm so excited!  Lynn is my longest cousin on the Barlow side and she's like my second sister since our mom's are sisters too.  I went to high school with Scott, but we didn't know each other then- he was a Senior when I was a Freshman.

I'm bringing this little guy (who's not so little anymore) as my date.  He's also going to be the ring bearer.  I wish my whole family could go, but I'm just so excited that Teague and I will be!