Sweet release…

On Feb 15th, my sweet Grandpa (age 95) returned to our Heavenly Father…it was a sad, but sweet release! This is what he’s been wanting for about 10 years now.

Grandpa had the best sense of humor. Even in his sick days just before he passed he made light of his situation. He would always say “I died years ago…I just forget and keep waking up”.

Rich and I lived with him for a year to help take care of him when we were newly weds. He would always open the obituary each morning and say “ Oh Hell…I’m not in it today”

He looked forward to the day when he could be re-united with his loved ones who had already passed away….and finally his desires were granted!

He will always be remembered as the CHOCOLATE GRANDPA! When I was little, Grandpa had a closet out in the garage that was locked. Behind that locked door was a whole closet full of chocolate. Each time we came to visit…all we had to do to get the key to that closet was to sit on his lap and give him a hug and a kiss.

This tradition continued up until the day he died. Everytime the kids and I came to see him they too could give him a hug and a kiss, which they were then rewarded with Hersey kisses. Kendyl learned the name of her Great Grandpa before any of her other Grandpa’s (hmmm….wonder why???)

This was Sadie’s first experience at a funeral….

 

can you tell???

Grandpa we will miss you! But we are happy you are finally where you’ve been longing to be.

Self expressions of a child…

Sadie got a hold of our camera…and this is how she expresses herself!

AND MY FAVORITE…..

There’s only way one way I can explain this behavior: SHE’S A REEVES

SEE DOESN’T SHE FIT RIGHT IN???

Shall we dance…

The other day I came walking past the family room and Sadie yelled “Mom, don’t look at us…I don’t want you to know what we’re doing.” I caught enough of a glimpse to know why she didn’t want me to see what was going on. SHE WAS TEACHING HER BROTHER (you know the one she professes she can’t stand because he has germs and she just doesn’t want to be near him….yeah that brother) HOW TO DANCE!!! Not just any kind of dancing…BALLROOM DANCING! (She’s learned all her ballroom skills from the movie’s “Sound of Music” and “Princess Diaries”). I convinced her she needed an audience if they were going to dance…so she finally gave in and invited me and my camera to the performance!

This is by far my favorite….LOVE THAT LOOK ON MASON’S FACE (or should I say “IRONMAN”)…SUCH A LADIES MAN!

Things got real interesting when the helmet was thrown into the wardrobe.

And the finale…

Despite what either one of them claim….I THINK THEY LIKE EACHOTHER A LITTLE BIT!

Called to Serve….

Rich’s Dad has been called to serve as a mission president in Puebla, Mexico. We are very excited for them and this new journey they get to take come July. And we think it’s really cool that Brian gets to finish out his high school days in the mission field. What a great experience for all of them! We’ll miss you!

This girl and this boy…

This girl is obsessed with taking her clothes off. I know it’s because she wants to be potty trained….but I’m not ready to go there when we probably have a big move coming up soon.

So today I took my three crazies into a running store to talk over my issues about my old degenerating running knees. As I’m standing there listening to the salesperson’s advice on running shoes…braces etc….I look over at the other end of the store, only to find MY TWO YEAR OLD HAS STRIPPED DOWN TO HER NAKEDNESS! And the only thing that could possibly add to the embarrassing yet humorous moment…was because mommy hasn’t bought her any of her own panties…she’s been putting on about 3 or 4 pairs of brother’s underwear on over her diaper everyday. So along with her clothes strewn about the store…there was also 4 pairs of little boys underwear!

I quickly dressed her (and yes I put all 4 pairs of boys underwear back on her) and we left. I think I’ll go back another day WITHOUT MY KIDS!

And then THIS BOY….has been sick all day long with a high fever. He’s been miserable! But secretly I kind of enjoy when he’s sick. A really sweet and sincere little guy emerges to the surface. His whole day is full of “Pleases and Thankyou’s” whenever I do anything for him. At the end of the day he said “Mom, I’m just so sick”….I said “I’m so sorry honey”, then he said so kindly “Oh Mom, I know you’re trying really hard…BUT IT’S JUST NOT WORKING!”. 

IF ONLY LOVE COULD HEAL THE COMMON COLD….BECAUSE I SURE DO LOVE MY MASON!

Heroes of the Scriptures…

Rich and his parents (along with members of the ward) were such good sports when they were willing to help me with singing time in Primary. I made the kids guess which SCRIPTURE HEROES each one of them were. I’m sure most of you can guess what they yelled out when asked who Rich’s Dad was…..

SANTA CLAUS!!!

Didn’t help that this was a week after Christmas….Santy was still on the brain.

Thanks for your help!!!

Be mine…

My Valentines Day was full of my favorite (but clean) F words: Fun, Food, Family, Flowers and Fitness Challenge!

We celebrated V-day a couple of days early because Rich is going to be out of town. First we celebrated US (Rich and I)….this is our 9th Valentine Day together as a married couple. And although we need to face the fact that we are getting older….we just didn’t want to for this Valentines Day. For our date we went miniature golfing and go-kart racing. I love dates where you can temporarily forget how old and boring you have become…and it feels as if we are young and just starting to date again. We had a great time!

After 9 years….this man will still do anything for me! Like chase my ball into forbidden areas! Good thing my man works out!

What a good sport!

AND THEN…he even risked his own clean hands to dig out my shoe from the mud pit I accidentally stepped in! This hole about ate my leg!

That’s true love!

I’ve decided you’re never too old to go-kart! I could spend all day racing…but it would wipe out our bank account…so I won’t!

p.s. I KNOW HE’S STRANGE…BUT HONESTLY THAT’S WHY I LOVE HIM!

What I REALLY WANTED TO DO for our Valentines date was go biking together….not just any ride…AN AWESOME…KICK MY TRASH kind of ride!

SO WE DID…..

“KEEPING UP WITH THE BOYS!!!”

Maybe I am the way I am because the only distinct memories I have of my childhood was after my only sister moved out of the house…and I was left with my two older brothers to fend for myself. I’ve always had this drive to KEEP UP WITH BOYS! Rich and his friends did the ELLSWORTH LOOP ride (17 grueling miles) earlier this week. After hearing about them mastering this challenge I wanted a go at it. I didn’t just want to finish it….I secretly wanted to either keep up with their time or even beat them (I know I’m lame and probably a little immature). Through the whole ride I kept having Rich look at his speedometer and I would ask “Our we going as fast as you boys did?’

I taught a cycling class at the gym just before going…so my legs were already beat. But I was still ready to give it my all! There were points in the ride I thought I was going to pass out because the incline was so steep. But the great thing about this ride…is just when your about to give up you usually hit a fun downhill long enough to prepare you for more upcoming hills. We stopped to take a bunch of pictures….and we still came in at about the time the boys finished…MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Not that I’ll probably ever get to go out with the boys since someone’s got to watch the kids….but if ever given the chance…at least I know I can keep up :)

 

This may sound untrue…but this was one of the best dates I’ve been on in a long time. I’ve decided I’m over dinner and a movie. You end up spending more than it’s worth…you eat too much…and it’s just over-rated I think.

 

We came home and made heart pizzas with the kids….

Then we stuck with our normal Valentine tradition…..CAMPING WITH LOVE BUGS AND WATCHING A MOVIE in the family room!!!

We made pink smores….although Kendyl had an idea for a different snack…yuck

 

 

 

I feel so blessed to have 4 Valentines to share my love with. I LOVE MY FAMILY VERY MUCH!

HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL VALENTINES DAY!!!

Date with Dad…

You know the date was a huge success when your child comes back looking like this: