Here Comes the Sun

We have been enjoying the mild weather and sunny days of late. It made it possible for me to finally get down the Christmas lights off the roof. And while I was up there, I decided to clean out the gutters in front of the house. For the past few years they have been leaking over the stairs that lead to the front door, making them very icy in the winter. I hope that cleaning out 3 big buckets of mud and shingle mixture will fix it.

We also took the family to the school so Marianne could practice riding her two wheeler. It seems to work better than the sidewalk out front. In the parking lot they don't have to worry about staying on the sidewalk, and they can just focus on keeping their balance. She was doing great, but still a little scared. A few more times and she'll get it.

Randy and the older children came too. All decked out in their helmet, elbow, and knee pads. Janae pointed out the place where Randy had his fatal elbow accident last summer. Something they'll never forget. I also took a turn on Randy's bike, but was scolded by Nathan for not wearing a helmet. I said it was okay because I wouldn't be doing any tricks.

We also stayed and played on the equipment. Marianne really like showing Julene wear she plays at school. One of the fun things about being a big sister. Julene was just as excited to learn what's in store for her when she finally gets to go.

I have also been walking to pick up Marianne from Kindergarten instead of driving. I should have done it sooner since we just live a block away. I'm trying to get in as many outdoor activities as possible before the allergy season starts. Needless to say my feelings concerning the coming of Spring are always mixed.

Temple Open House

We went to the Draper Temple Open House on Monday. When I first got the tickets I didn't realize it was going to be President's Day. I was just going to take the children out of school, but it ended up being 3+ hours experience. Thankfully we left Jared with my mother, and he survived without me.

There were so many people that wanted to see the temple that day, that we had to wait a while at the church before we rode a bus to the Temple, and then waited in line in tents before our silent tour without a guide to accommodate the large number of visitors.

This was a different experience from seeing the Twin Falls Temple last summer. There wasn't nearly the crowds, and I felt some of the members visiting the Draper Temple were taking the sacredness of the Temple lightly. That is one of the things that I really noticed at the Twin Falls Temple. They were so excited to have temple there, and it showed in every action. There were those in Draper that felt that way too, but it wasn't as universal. Sometimes we become too complacent and take blessings for granted.

There was still a special spirit about the Draper Temple. Our children also had some insightful questions, since they had been to two open houses 6mo apart. We loved the artwork and craftsmanship. We really liked going to the Baptismal Font, Celestial Room, and Sealing Rooms. It was so nice to be together and see some of the symbolism at the Temple.

My Valantines

Randy and I went to our ward's Valentine dinner dance on Friday. It was nice to have just an adult couples activity and visit with some of our dear friends and neighbors. We haven't done that often, unless you count the High Priest Dinner which I don't like to admit that I belong to. It's not usually attended by women who are pregnant or nursing. (Still trying to accept it) They asked us to bring a wedding picture. It was so fun to see everyone's pictures, and Randy and I liked seeing how much some of them look like their children. I'm sure our picture will too when our children get older.

We had a nice evening trying to remember how to triple swing. Randy kept telling me to tone it down a bit and not become overly excited. I guess this is what happens when you don't go out dancing for 3+ years and then only sporadically. When I do get the opportunity, I just love it, and I try to remember all the cool steps I used to do. I've even thought about taking up clogging with my children because they offer an adult class, but then I weigh the time commitment, and it hasn't become that high of a priority... yet... someday.

We just loved our Valentine parties at school. We think it is just one of the funnest days of the year. Marianne thought it would be fun to write her name backwards. Good thing they just wrote who the Valentines were from in her class, or she might not have gotten any. Marianne made puppy pop up Valentines from a kit to give to her class. I was surprised at her patience. She made them all herself over a few days. We were a little worried because she had the stomach flu a few days before her party, and we're all pleased she recovered (and that no one else got it) so she could attend the festivities.

Nathan even wore a red shirt in honor of school spirit day and Valentine's. I got to help in his class party. I brought Tiddly Winks to shoot at heart targets. It seemed to go well, and I heard a few children say it was their favorite game, including Nathan. (Which is all that really matters.)Here he is looking over all his candy. He made sure to remind me that he got the least amount because his class is smaller than Marianne's and Janae's. Maybe he thought I should compensate for the difference.

Janae was excited about her locker Valentine box. We saw it in a magazine, which made it much easier to make. Hers was the only class that we had to worry about making our own box. She liked that it was red like the lockers in High School Musical. She plans on using it for a locker for her doll.

We got to have Julene's preschool Valentine party at our house. The children were so excited to bring their Valentines to exchange with their friends. We decorated bags and sorted conversation hearts on a chart.

Here are my girls in their matching Valentine outfits that I bought last year on clearance. Always love a good deal, and I'm a little partial to Valentine's day since it is my birthday month. They were all excited to wear them to their Valentine parties.

Tagged 8 Things

8 Things I did Yesterday-

1. Folded Laundry and watched Barbie Princess and the Pauper. Julene's choice.
2. Converted fractions, decimals, and percents. Janae's Homework.
3. Read the local paper as well as part of Randy's Wall Street Journal. Which I do almost everyday. I like to think I'm informed. Learned Disney's earnings are down.
4. Helped Nathan and Janae with some piano practice and theory . Maybe I'll learn to play someday by enough observation.
5. Drove Janae to clogging practice and did some grocery shopping while she danced. Excited to get some strawberries.
6. Listened to Marianne read her story 2 times.
7. Put some potatoes in the oven so we could have something for dinner.
8. Nursed and fed Jared multiple times and put the gate up to trap my other children down stairs. :)

8 TV Shows I watch-

1. American Experience
2. History Detectives
3. Saturday Night Live Political skits
4. Other PBS Shows and documentaries like Frontline
5. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (I like headlines on Mondays)
6. PBS kid shows like Super Why for Julene
7. Sometimes the news.
8. That's about it.

8 wish list- I wish

1. the dishes didn't pile up so quickly and that the floor didn't need to be swept after every meal.
2. I didn't have to say "When Mommy is done with.........,then I can help you." so often.
3. for more fun outings and getaways with my family that someone else would plan and pack for.
4. I enjoyed cooking more, everyone would love the smell of baking more in our house.
5. That my children will learn to work hard, be kind, feel success at something, want to help others, and develop strong testimonies of the Gospel of Christ.
6. Time didn't go by so fast. There is always more I want to experience and do.
7. that I could excel at something, instead of being okay at a lot of different things.
8. that Randy will continue to get back full motion and use of his arm.

8 things I look forward to-

1. Not nursing Jared anymore, maybe not, but I do like it when my body is my own, and I can be gone for more than 2-3 hours.
2. Attending the Temple. Jared can now go long enough without me, and Randy's arm can now hold him again.
3. Having another birthday, and seeing my children get excited over the gifts I told Randy to get me. But there might just be a surprise.
4. Going dancing at a Valentine's dance our ward is hosting this year. I might even let Randy lead.
5. Seeing Janae's 5th grade traveling show. She is always happy and excited to tell me about it, when they have been practicing it at school
6. Watching Janae and Nathan perform their piano pieces and clogging dances.
7. Having my Grandparents come for a visit. They are always so fun to have at our house. We will be sure to get in a game of Hand and Foot.
8. The ladies winning the game.

8 Favorite Restaurants

1. Harvest at Thanksgiving Point
2. Flour Girls and Dough Boys
3. Panda Express
4. Spanky's
5. IHOP breakfast all day!
6. Let's just say, I don't go out much.
7. Almost anywhere, because I don't have to cook!
8. Sorry ran out, maybe Subway

I tag anyone that would like to share and participate.

Jump'n Julene

Julene just celebrated her 4th birthday! We decide to go to a place that had a lot of inflatables for children to jump and slide on while the children had a teacher prep day. All the children were very excited. I have never seen them get all their jobs done so fast. It's a great place to have some fun and some excercise.

They ran around from each one and couldn't get enough. Julene even got brave enough to go on the three story slides with the big kids. She came down so fast and landed on her bum at the bottom, but she was up and moving just as quick. Marianne liked jumping and hanging from the alligators teeth as well as the slides.

Grandma got to come with us too, and she and Jared don't ever like to miss a party.

In many ways our Julene is such a big girl because she has 3 older siblings to show her how to do things. Janae gave her some lip gloss so she would stop stealing hers. She likes being grown up and having her own make up now. But she is still little and likes to have tea parties, paint, draw pictures, do puzzles, read books and play with Jared. She wanted a yellow heart cake (her favorite color) and I was able to comply. She is happy girl and has the funnest giggle, she hardly every gets down. She spreads such great happiness in our home. She demonstrated this by sharing her new toys with her family.