Scratch your heart out... with love

I asked my boys if we could make valentine's day cards this year and we searched the internet for ideas.  Priority #1 - EASY to make, priority #2 - fun to give.  Hunter came up with his own idea.  He wanted to make a scratch-off card by melting crayon on the cards.  Sounded complicated - but I did find an "easier" alternative and it was a HUGE hit.  We "laminated" (clear tape) the heart on his cards, then used acrylic paint to cover the heart.  He had written a message saying "Go ask Hunter for _ candies!"  He did a bunch of 2's, 3's, and a few 4's - and had his bag of candy to give it everyone.  He even had a system to mark if they gotten their candy by tearing the corner of their card - what a planner.  

  

For Cole, Danny, and Skyler I did these picture ones and I thought they were adorable.  It wasn't really a card that they got to make - it ended up back on me - but they were easy so I enjoyed doing it...  even though I put it off till the night before as usual.  

Cole made a Valentine's game for his teacher - super sweet boy!

On Valentine's day I stopped at the local bakery after my gym time and got some doughnuts for the boys.  They loved them!

Then for dinner - Shayne and I had a romantic (ha, ha) dinner with the crew.  The boys helped set the table with the valentine's day decor (dollar store from last year), candles, sparkling cider, and we had the most scrumptious crepes with whipped cream and berries.  Of course, some were complaining as I was setting the table - but everyone figured out it was like eating dessert and no complaints while we ate.  

To top it off, Shayne brought home candied apples for everyone.  I got one too - and it was SOOOOOOO yummy.  We all slowly ate our apples over the next few days. 

 I love my boys - all 5 of them.  It was fun to shower them with a little extra love this Valentine's day!

Danny playing basketball...

Check out the pic of him "defending" the basket...  lol.

Like an onion...

this week's favs

Skyler: Abc's, blankie, and snow

Danny: playing "Love Somebody" on the piano, yogurt with granola, and cat in the hat books

Cole: newest invention idea is a freezing gun with liquid nitrogen, there's another blue gooey invention in my fridge, Big Nate books, and of course, he'd prefer x-box over homework anytime

Hunter: basketball, loves school/his teacher, wants to snowboard every weekend, just finished his 39 Clues book series (11 books) and is hoping to get the 3rd book of Michael Vey as fast as possible.

Sweet prayers

A couple weekends ago, Cole had a NASTY ear infection.  Well, both ears were a mess.  He kept coming into my room throughout the night complaining about his poor ears - but why do these things always happen at night and on weekends?!?  I took him to insta-care on Saturday afternoon and sure enough, the ears were very infected and the Dr. prescribed antibiotics for him.  We waltzed over to Walmart - but unfortunately, the pharmacy was closed for lunch.  We had to linger for a while until we could get the medicine.  Hunter and I spent the time buying supplies for his science fair project and Cole laid in a grocery cart, moaning and crying out load.  It was a little dramatic, honestly - an 8 year old crying aloud and just miserable as could be.  I finally turned around and said to him, "please stop the complaining.  Who are you even talking to because I'm talking with this person about cutting material?!"  and another woman behind us quickly said, "he's saying a prayer."  I stop what I was doing and sure enough, Cole was sitting there, arms folded and saying his prayer out loud to help his ears feel better.  Sweet Cole.  He did this again a little later - and once again, I was so impressed by Cole's faith in prayers.  I'm so grateful that he is quick to think of prayer when he is distressed. As a parent, I constantly worry if I'm doing all that I know I should do, want to do, and hope to do.  It's rather daunting at times. I'm so grateful to know my children know there is a Heavenly Father who is mindful of their needs.  And I'm grateful for children who teach me to be more prayerful myself.

"wock you"

My kids have all been great sleepers, fortunately!  But, none of them would sleep in our arms.  They were very well trained to go to bed and go to sleep!  The rocking chair really was just for feedings and for long, sick and sleepless nights.  Well, thank goodness that Skyler has decided to change things up lately.  Before going to bed, he'll say "wock you" and I'll answer, do you want me to rock you?  "yes!"  We'll sit in the antique rocking chair and read a story, sing a few songs, he might even lay his head on my shoulder - it doesn't last long - but it gets me a little "wock you" time that melts my heart.  He'll even say "bed" after our few minutes together.  And when it comes to the music, he's rather opinionated and will constantly say "a diff'n one" (a different one) and I'll start a song and he'll say "no, a diff'n one" again, and again - until I get it right.  This week's favorite tunes include "elefun song" (the Elephant song, willabee, wallabee, wee - an elephant sat on me) and Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam.  I wuv you Skye.

Ski Bunny

That's me!  I'm a ski-bunny now!  I've moved on to "BLUES" and I'm terrified everytime I start down the slope and I think to myself, "you can do hard things and you don't have to be as fast as Shayne!"  (ha, ha)  I'm grateful to my mom for watching the little kiddo's while we had another ski-day together along with Shayne's brother, Shad.  It was a BEAUTIFUL day in the mountain tops.  I went to new heights, literally, and I didn't crash!!  I'm really enjoying this!  And I'm already trying to figure out the next time I can go!

(this pic was actually taken up in Park City earlier in the week - lucky guys who got 2 ski days in!)

Shad, Shayne, and Hunter (the ninja)

Birthday Boy

So what fun activity did Shayne plan for this year's birthday?  Paintball was the choice.  And this was a first for me - I went hesitantly but willingly.  At the place, it was definitely "testosterone" driven - only 5 girls in the midst of 80 others standing around waiting for their chance on the "field."  (and three of them were in our group)  Hunter was soooo excited to do this and was having a great time talking up about how much fun this was going to be with his cousins.  Doug, (Shayne's cousin) offered Hunter $5 to walk out at the start of the game and be a free for all (jokingly) and Hunter thought that would be easy and awesome.  Luckily he didn't do it, we convinced him it wasn't a good idea.  

Before I even try to explain how this went down, I need to make a disclaimer and acknowledge all terminology and descriptions are going to be wrong.  I'm ok with that.  

I positioned myself behind a big "obstacle" and was having fun shooting my gun across this warehouse sized arena.  Then I felt a "PANG" of pain on my leg.  I had gotten shot on the one spot that didn't have covering (I was wearing old clothing that I thought would be ruined... hence the capri's).  I thought to myself - this is more painful than expected...  when I moved behind the base, which you have to do after every hit, I took a peek at my leg - it had already started to welt and BLEED!  It wasn't cut - it was just the sheer force pushing blood out around the edges of the welt.  It hurt.  We tried to take a pic of it but, for those who saw it you can agree, the pic doesn't do it justice.  It looked like it hurt.  So, I was the tough wife.

When the round ended - we collected ourselves back in the waiting area and Hunter was UPSET and hurt.  He was not a fan of Paintball and had no intention of going back into that arena again.  We had enough ammo to do another round and so I went in again (despite my bleeding leg).  Cherae and I traded pants in the ladies room so I could have full coverage on my legs and she had to go home, so I was a little better off the 2nd time around.  I got hit on my arm and somewhere else I can't remember, the leg hurt the most.  I know, I'm pathetic to complain but the website says that getting hit by a paintball is not painful.  I beg to differ.  I'm grateful I tried it -and I'm glad that the big boys had a lot of fun and I'm grateful to be done with it.  

One of Hunter's bruises - a couple days later...

Before we went to Paintball, I "ASSEMBLED" Shayne's best cake EVER!  He LOVES bear-claws and he made a comment a few months ago about how Cakes are over-rated and we should just eat bear-claws.  So, his loving wife made him this "Bear-claw" cake.  Easiest cake ever (ha, ha) and I threw every candle we owned on it (I forgot to buy candles) and we almost had enough to match his age, almost.

What I love about Shayne -
He's fun - LOTS of fun!
He's funny (and thank goodness for that! I'm boring!)
He's the coupon-king
It's so easy to just be with him - I miss him when life is crazy with our four kids and no time for ourselves.  Thank goodness when I do have those little moments we still love to just be together
He's my best friend
He works so hard to take good care of our family
He gets me to try new things such as mtn biking and snow skiing - he keeps me young and adventurous
He's genuine - with everyone.
He's the love of my life - and I can't imagine not having him by my side - EVER

I love you Shayne!!  I hope this year brings even more fun times and great memories than the last!