A Quick Valentine Note

Some quick things about Valentine's Day:

Last night, Jeremy made us pink heart pancakes because today was Valentine's Day. 

This morning, the kids had leftover pancakes for breakfast.

Jeremy did a juggling/magic show and gave out balloon animals for both the older kids' class parties.  The timing worked out that he was able to go to both.

Jr. Jr. of course got one, too.

The kids watched a movie while eating their dinner. 

Jeremy and I were going to make our own special dinner together, but Lucky needed Mommy, so Jeremy made most of the dinner.

I was able to make chocolate peanut butter cups for Jeremy.

Jr. was a sweetheart handing out Valentines to his family members this morning.  Jr. Jr. was still asleep so Jr. set his on his bed.  When he woke up, Jr. Jr. came to me excitedly to tell me that there was his Valentine from Jr. on his bed when he woke up.

By the time we got the kids to bed tonight, I was so exhausted (the kids weren't difficult, but I've still got a new baby, which means I get exhausted from lack of sleep), Jeremy held Lucky so I could get some sleep. 

Now Lucky's asleep, I'm up and writing this blog post, then I am going back to bed.

Night Night and Happy Valentine's Day.

Family Day

Last Summer one of our Family Home Middays was spent up Provo Canyon.  We stopped at Bridal Veil Falls where Jeremy gave us a lesson about following the right path.  You want to be constantly moving in the right direction just as a river continues to flow to the ocean.  You don't want to get stuck in a lake or pond that doesn't continue on.

We fed the fish at the base of the falls then headed on up to Big Springs.

We had a picnic then got to run around with outdoor toys that we don't always get out.

Poor Jr. Jr.  There were too many yellow jackets around scaring him while we were trying to eat.  Finally he and I got away from the table and sat on the ground to eat.

We had some silly string that needed to be used up and we finally let the kids break out the bubbles I wouldn't let them spill blow indoors.

Jr. showed us that he was really good at catching butterflies.  There was one that he kept catching over and over.  It even landed on his leg at one point so he just had to set the net over it.  He was also really gentle when letting the butterflies out of the net.

It was a good family day.

And it tuckered out all of the kids.

Pitching Pennies

To celebrate Abraham Lincoln's Birthday, February 12, I set up a game for the kids to play- "Pitching Pennies."  It is similar to one we played for President's Day in 2011.  In that game we had a big tub set out on the floor.  This time it was a pan on the table.  The pan had water in it with an empty sour cream container floating in the water.  The kids stood on one side of the table and tossed pennies (with Abraham Lincoln's head on one side), trying to land them in the sour cream container. 

Sometimes they landed in the container, sometimes in the pan of water, sometimes on the towel (yes, I made sure to put a towel under the pan), and sometimes in random places on the table or floor.
The kids definitely got silly, but they had fun.

Jr.:  Oh, poor Abraham Lincoln.  We're throwing him into a bucket... and into water.

Lights On, Lights Off

It's Thomas Edison's Birthday, February 11.  I suggested something for the kids to do to celebrate.  I let them run through our home turning on all the lights then run through again to turn off all the lights.  The kids took turns doing this.
It was interesting to see their different styles.  Jr. went through once turning most of them on, then went through turning most of them off, then he was done. 
Jr. Jr. who can reach the light switches while standing on the ground thought it necessary to jump every time he turned a light on or off.  His aim wasn't as good while he was jumping so he had to jump up and down several times but he had a blast.  He also got most of the lights.

When Nichole went through, she made sure to get all of the lights, even in rooms the boys didn't think to go in.
It is fun to see how our children can go about doing things differently.  Sometimes Jr. Jr. will try to do things just like Jr., but there are times when he is just unique.
One funny thing.  As I was following the kids around taking pictures, I had to stop myself from automatically turning off the lights they had just turned on a light or two before.  It's instinct for me to turn off lights that aren't being used.
This is not something we'd do every day but it was a fun way of celebrating Thomas Edison's birthday.

Random Acts of Kindness

It's Random Acts of Kindness Week, February 10-16 this year.
Jr. got a good start to the week.  He helped Lucky fall asleep so I was able to eat my dinner.  

What a sweet kid.
Have a great week and make sure to show lots of kindness.  I know we will.

Catch of the Day

 

Remember Thank a Mailman Day, February 4?
Look what we found in our mailbox a couple days later.

Be Prepared

Jeremy and Jr. have been looking forward to their Father-Son time since Nichole and I took Mommy-Daughter time.  They planned to do some hiking today.
But plans don't always work out, do they?  It rained.  So following the Boy Scouts' motto, "Be Prepared," (February 8 is the anniversary of when the Boy Scouts of America was founded in 1910), Jeremy had an alternate plan for he and Jr.
He gave Jr. the choice and Jr. chose the alternate.  Instead of hiking, they went to the dollar store where Jr. and Jeremy each got to pick out a treat, then they took a trip to the library for Jr. to pick out a movie to watch with Daddy.
They were so sweet and let everyone watch the movie with them since they still got that one on one bonding time.

They'll get a chance again to go hiking.  It just didn't happen today.