V-DAY

I must have forgot to "publish" this post!

V-Day has came and went and by the look of my beautiful flowers from my hubby, the holiday is now dead and gone until next year. I love Valentine's Day! But really, do we need a holiday to remember to show the ones we love how much we love them? I sure hope not. 

The girls both had V-Day parties at school and each had to take a "valentine" to their classmates. This year we opted to make them instead of buying the box. Here in our local small town we didn't have many options: Disney Princess, Sponge Bob, Spider Man, Hello Kitty...none of these relate to my kiddos in any way. So we improvised and utilized the internet and copied someone else's creativity. Thank you Google!

Jeslyn also had to make a Valentine Box. She was very creative and made the cutest little puppy ever. But it took FOREVER and was a lot of work! She did get voted Most Creative! For her treats she took a Squeeze It with a bag of kisses tied to it saying: Kisses and Squeezes! Happy Valentines Day! From Jeslyn. They turned out super cute and were a big hit.

Jauncee took little cereal boxes and a plastic soon tied to them with ribbon. Her note said: I Cearealously Want You to be my Valentine! From Jauncee. They were super cute and were also a favorite in the class.

With Valentines falling on a Friday, Dirk and I were able to go on a date. It was nice to spend time together alone, and the best part...a nice elderly couple paid for our meal! It can't get any better than that.

Road Trip to Holden!

The first full weekend in February we were able to get away and spend a little time with family in Holden. It was a much needed break from all that we have had going on and all that we will be doing in the next 6 weeks getting ready for our 4th annual bull sale.

Clay especially enjoyed it when Brooks came over to visit. He says they are Best Friends!

While there, Dirk and I were able to go to the Manti Temple with my dad, and Judd and Kellie, it was such a special evening completed with a delicious Mexican dinner and fried ice cream. Just thinking about it now makes me hungry!

The girls were even able to stay the entire weekend! A first in a long time.

 

Saturday night we had a Birthday Party for Dakota! We were so happy to see Great Grandma Turner and Aunt JoAnn! We love it when they come over.

 

My mom always out does herself. She made a huge pan of lasagna, homemade bread sticks and her salad is to die for. It was all so good.

This lucky girl got to have an old favorite of mine, something that was tradition when we were growing up...Record Cake! It was divine.

 

Dakota was such a ham that evening. She must have known she was the spotlight!

 

Everyone was so kind and brought gifts. 

 

Dakota wanted to sit on them and Clay, well, he wanted to open them. He was so funny. He kept telling me that he was a good present opener and asking if he could help her.

 

I was so glad that we were able to celebrate our sweet little baby turning 1! I can say that Grandma Jill and Papa have both been to all four of the 1 year celebrations! 

Thanks Mom, for making party for Dakota happen!

Of course we made the rounds and Clay couldn't resist sitting in Papas tractor.

 

  

And last but not least...We are excited to welcome Kristi into our family! Everyone adores her, especially all the kids.

The trip to Holden was a success and we all look forward to doing it again sometime soon!

Goodbye to 2013 and Welcome 2014…Expecting Good Things!

Wow! It is already mid-February, which means January is O.V.E.R, and it can only get warmer from here on out!  I have to admit that I am a little late with this blog post but being 45 days in, I kind of have a feel of what may come or I am hoping already has and good things are in store. January has been full of trials, but they are slowly turning into good things. 

With that, I am going to say goodbye to one year, with all its up and downs and look forward to a new and refreshing one. Goodbye 2013 and welcome 2014! As human beings we are unable to predict the future and all that we can do is enjoy the present by learning from our mistakes in the past to make sure they won’t happen in the future. In doing so, I like to take the time to reflect more deeply on what I have done in the last 12 months to assess, evaluate, and judge whether I am where I need to be and if I have accomplished all I set out to. I recall very happy moments with my husband, family, and friends as well as stressful ones at different points throughout the year. I think everyone has their fair share of ups and downs. Regardless of what has been done, I always try to acknowledge one important thing: we are all here for different but meaningful purposes. While at many points in my life this seems fuzzy, I need to remember to always be positive and enjoy all the ups and downs, because we will never have the chance to relive any of the moments. Life does not always go according to our plans on our time. Instead, our plans are microscopic compared to God’s and he has good things waiting for everyone. And yes, good things will come out of hard things!

This year I am going to expect the unexpected, work harder, play harder, spend more time doing things together as a family, and focus more on the positive things in life and leave any negativity at the door.

And…

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. Follow him in all your ways. He will direct your path. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Merry Merry Christmas

 

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. 

I love Christmas, all the lights, decorations, presents, and the excitement and anticipation.

 

We started the week off with the Hatch's, making gingerbread houses. They are a little more difficult than they look. Guess that is why they invented the kit! The girls had a lot of fun making a mess and eating candy. Jeslyn had a brilliant idea to use the hot glue gun to put hers together with. It actually worked really well. Now if she only remembers that she can't eat the candy!

 

These two handsome boys were busy putting out fires!

 

Christmas Eve we had our annual Christmas Family Party.  Jeslyn and Jauncee both read to us the story of our Savior's birth. We then talked about the role that the innkeeper played. In the December Ensign there was a really good article called "Come Let Us Adore Him", in the article it talked about the innkeeper and the offering of a stable and what a blessing it was for our Savior to have been born among the animals where it was peaceful and private. Allowing the most sacred birth in human history to take place in reverent solitude. I think there is often times a lot of emphasis put on the innkeeper indirectly rejecting Mary and Joseph and what a horrible thing it was to have been born in a stable among the animals. The article was very informative and it really touched upon what happened that sacred night and why. Our Savior's birth is full of symbolism  I really enjoyed the article, I think I will keep it as a new edition to our party. 

After we talked about why we celebrate Christmas, the kids got to open 1 present. The girls have finally caught on to what this present is!

 

New PJ's!

 

As a kid I loved the night before Christmas, getting all snuggly in bed, knowing that Santa would soon be there. Setting out cookies and milk and carrots for each reindeer. Then in the morning to our wondering eyes should appear, presents for everyone filled up the room. It was all very magical! 

Christmas time is full of magic!

And this year did not disappoint! 

I was so glad the girls got to be home and Dirk had most the week off to spend together as a family! I am not sure which child woke up first, but it wasn't very early...8:30. By the time everyone got up and got their morning routine out of the way we started opening presents about 9:00. I know, most families are finished up by this time and back in bed for a morning nap! But this seems to be tradition in our home!

 

The stockings are the very first things the kids always go to. I think it is their favorite part. 

 

Santa did not disappoint! I think every want and need was filled!

 

Check out that fancy belt buckle from Papa and Grandma Jill!

 

My hubby has to be the hardest person to buy for! What do you get someone who has most everything and who buys based on quality not price?! I actually really like this about him...most of the time...when I am not trying to buy him a gift!

 

After we finished opening presents we all got ready and headed over to Grandpa and Grandma Johnson's for Christmas Dinner.

 

And where we opened more presents! Clay really liked this part. He was getting in on all the action! Everyone had their very own bona fide present opener!!!

 

Later that afternoon we took the kids sledding. I didn't get any pictures of this event, but we all had tons of fun!

This year Christmas break was quite a bit longer than years past, but it still seemed to fly by. We did keep busy and managed to fit in a little bit of fun. We went to Lava, ate dinner then soaked it up in the hot pools, we hit the sledding hill a few more times, we played and played with cousins and friends, Jeslyn went ice fishing with grandpa and cousins and we made a trip to Logan for shopping, dinner and the Jump Zone, that was super fun.  

Christmas was a joyous holiday spent with family. Lots of love, lots of food and lots of fun.

I am grateful for the Christmas season and the opportunity it gives each of us to reflect on our year and count our blessings. It is a time that our focus is where is should be all year long...on our Savior, his birth, his life and his sacrifice for all of us. It brings families together, it invites peace and joy.

We hope everyone had a Merry Christmas...and a Happy New Year!