Basketball at the Church

Jake was begging everyone to come to the church to play basketball. He loves it and wants to stay there forever. He finally convinced enough people to play!! They played 4 on 4.
Monica, Alexa, Amb and Jake against...
Grandpa, Kenzie, Alex and Brooklyn.
Me and Amy went over to watch for a while, Alexa spent most of the time on the floor. Alex was enjoying himself and got off a few really good shots. They had fun and played for about an hour or more but it still wasn't enough for Jake and he didn't want to leave!!

Harper's "SWEET" Birthday Party

Today Miss Harper turned "1" and we were all ready to party!! The party was big, both sides of the family came and we ate pizza, it was yummy!! Melissa had the basement decorated so cute, she went all out!!
So much CANDY!!!
She made these cute jars for everyone to fill up with their favorites!!
Not only was there candy but cupcakes, rolo cookies, homemade carmels and divinity!! Melissa went a little crazy with all the sweets but that was kind of the idea and it was darling!!! Harper was loving eating her cookie all by herself without mom breaking it into pieces!!
The Aggie game was on so we lost most of the men. We all sat around and chatted and ate treats.

Then it was time for Harper to eat her huge cupcake!!!
She wasn't sure what to think at first so she just kept touching it with her finger and then smiling.
She got a little braver and went in with her whole hand but she didn't really put it in her mouth, she was just playing.
Steve helped her taste it and then she got a little more aggressive but not quite aggressive enough for Melissa. She kept telling Steve to shove her face in it. What a mean mom!! Just kidding I was all for it too but Steve was not about to do that to his sweet little girl, what a nice daddy!!
After about 10 minutes she was done and just wanted to be held...but she was a mess. Natalie (Steve's sister) couldn't just let her cry so she grabbed her and ended up with frosting in her hair and all over her clothes.
After she got cleaned up it was time to open presents but she wasn't really in the mood so all the kids helped her out. She hasn't been feeling too good for the last couple days and I think she was sick of all the attention!!
We all had a really fun time and stayed really late!!

Valentine's Day

What a FUN day!! I went to work but left early so I could go and help with Alex's Valentine's party in the afternoon. They frosted sugar cookies, played pictionary, played "minute-to-win-it" and made a cute valentine heart "ipod."
I forgot to take my camera in with me but I was in charge of helping the kids make these cute ipod's. Another mom put everything together so my job was easy. They turned out really cute. I like to go into Alex's class, it is great to be a part of the fun activities they have!
We got MAIL!! My mom sent us a package and the kids were so excited to open it up! There was a bag of treats for everyone and a card with $20 to go buy some dinner (which we did). Then there were 3 wrapped presents. One had Max's name and the other two didn't have names.
Alexa opened this shower massager (which I think was for me and Rich). She looks a bit confused, right??
Alex opened Glee for the Wii (nice rhyme) and that I am sure is for him and Alexa, they were both totally thrilled and couldn't wait to start playing!!
Max got a transformer and was totally excited!! He is pretty easy to please! Getting gifts in the mail is THE BEST!! Thanks Mom and Dad!!

Then we gave the kids and each other gifts.
I got Rich 2 shirts and some treats and a subscription to a new running magazine.
Rich got me my favorite flower...tulips, and a beautiful necklace.
My very favorite part of the gift was the card!! What a sweetheart!!!
Alexa got 2 shirts and some red sandals and treats. She was happy!
Alex got Epic Mickey for the Wii, he has been wanting it for a while and was really excited!!
Max got a Power Rangers Robot that "transforms" you can have 5 little animal guys to play with or put them all together to make one big guy!! He LOVED it and played with it all night long.

We went to dinner at The Pizza Factory (thanks again mom and dad), we were planning on going there anyway but it was nice to have most of it paid for!! The bread twists are "to die for" but the pasta was pretty yucky. We didn't have to wait very long so that was good. It's fun to go out with the whole family!


When we got back I made everyone pose for some photos!
Man, good thing I am pregnant and not just FAT, I look HUGE in this picture!!

 

Then the kids had a little photoshoot with the balloons, turned out pretty cute!!

I had a fabulous day and feel very loved!! I am thankful for all the people in my life who love me! We also got a visit from Jennifer and Creed (she gave me the coolest nail polish, don't worry I will blog about it once I use it) and the Pyne's came by to drop off some Valentine's. I never got around to delivering the rest of Max's Valentine's to his cousins...sorry guys, just know we love you all!!
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!

Max Picked...

His Daddy!!!

Rich was the first one to give Lenny and the last one to receive. Max got him some bananas and his favorite magazine Runners World.

It has been fun having Lenny in our house, I think we get caught up in buying things as a way of showing love (and I am not saying I don't like gifts because of course I do), but I think we have gotten away from just doing something nice for someone or giving compliments etc. I was hoping that Lenny would inspire us to just show love the old fashioned way. I guess that is just the way of the world these days, buying a gift for someone = love. I need to work on this myself as it is usually easier to just buy someone something, because doing something for someone takes more effort.

OK I am done rambling...just some thoughts I was having and needed to get them out. I am going to try harder to show love through simple acts of kindness!!!

Alex picked...

Max.

I think Max was getting worried that he was never going to get a turn to have Lenny! Alex drew him a picture of a Nintendo DS, because lately Max has been a tad obsessed with Mario on the DS.
(I helped with the rest).
Alex gave Max this cool Spongebob tool box with his favorite candy bars (Snickers and Twix), some sour spray and a cool Hot Wheels car. Max was really excited! When I tucked him in he said, "mom, I really love my brother Alex and I love life!" It was pretty funny!
Now Max gets to give Lenny to someone...I wonder who it will be (since Rich is the only one who hasn't had him yet)!!

Utah Flash

Tonight we went to the Utah Flash Basketball game. Parker called me and asked me if we would take them because his parents are too lazy (his words, not mine). So me, Rich, Max, Alex, Alex's friend Ethan, Parker Harrison and their 2 friends all piled in the van and we headed to Orem.
As soon as we sat down the boys disappeared (to play basketball behind the bleachers) and we didn't see much of them during the game. So, Rich, Max and I watched the game. I enjoy these games, they are very fast paced and the quarters are a little shorter so it's perfect! Max had fun with his balloon clapper things. I love getting out of the house and doing something different!!

Weekend Visitors

This weekend we got some visitors!! YAY!! No one has come to visit since Halloween and I love having house guests. Friday night the Harris's came and an hour or so later the Summer's and Amberly showed up too! It was late by the time they all got here so we just sat around and chatted and caught up on what's been going on. Rich put himself to bed early, but we stayed up til about 2am.

Saturday Alexa had to work from 10-2pm so Jason and Steve dropped her off and the went to a "guy store" in Payson. I made German pancakes for breakfast. We got an early start because Harper and Nixon both woke up pretty early! Me, Amy, Melissa, Steve and Alex went to visit Alexa at work for a bit and then got Taco Bell for lunch and ate it at our house! We were trying to think of something to do, we played Nertz and ate treats and then just sat around talking about what we could do. With two little ones the choices are more limited and we could not really come up with anything that everyone could do. Finally The Summer's just couldn't take it anymore and they decided to leave. Later, we all went to the food court at the mall for dinner and rented The Skulls. We didn't start it til 12:30am (and we had to rip Rich out of bed so he would watch it with us). The plan was to just fall asleep during it and finish it after church but NO ONE fell asleep (not even Amy, which is a shock)!!!

We had Stake Conference at 10am and we were a little late but not too bad. After church we all just snacked on pigs in a blanket and lil' smokies in BBQ sauce. We played Scattegories and Apples to Apples (while Rich took a nap). Then we cooked up the pizza's and watched the Super Bowl. The Harris's left after half time.

We didn't really do anything fun, but it is always great to have family around and I miss them already!! Thanks for coming...and come again SOON!!

My pick...

I picked Alex. He has been complaining about school lunch lately but says he never has time to make lunch so...
I did it for him!! I made his favorite, peanut butter, butter. Yes, I know that sounds so gross but it's my dad's favorite and he got Alex hooked too! I think he should eat 2 everyday just to get some fat on his bones!!

I also snuck a note inside his lunch saying that I was going to check him out of school a little early for a surprise!!
I told him we could go to Yogurt Bliss or Artic Circle for a quick treat. He picked Artic Circle for a shake (which surprised me because he always begs me to take him to Yogurt Bliss). I guess he saw the surprise in my eyes and changed his mind. I told him that it didn't matter to me where he chose!
He got french vanilla with oreos and I got lemon custard (YUMMY)!! We had to rush a little since we had to pick Alexa up from school!

Now Alex gets to spread the love to someone!!!

Alexa Chose...

ME!! YAY, I woke up and Lenny was on the floor by my bed!! I can't wait to get spoiled today!!!

I got a text from Alexa saying "come pick me up so I can take you to lunch." Well, a girl after my own heart (I love when you can do something special for someone and also benefit from it too!! Oh my, that sounded really selfish but I am not taking it back because it is true)!!

I picked her up and then we went to Subway, her treat!! It was yummy (minus her pizza supreme Doritos...she was way excited to eat them but they were NOT GOOD)! I took her back to school and went back to work.

She also made me this lovely picture...she claims that she can only draw pickles!! What a funny girl.


Now it is my turn to put Lenny in someones room!!! Who to Choose, who to choose???

Yummy Cookies!!

My friend Chelsey posted a recipe for sugar cookies the other day on Facebook and I really wanted to try it out. I made the dough after work and then after dinner started cooking them (man, I am glad I took her advice and only made 1/2 batch or I would still be baking them now)!!
They turned out really delicious...Alex helped me frost for a little bit but then gave up because he said mine looked "professional" and he just couldn't compete so he was in charge of the sprinkles.
When you have that many cookies the best thing to do is SHARE THEM. So I plated some up and will make some deliveries tomorrow (the plan was to doorbell ditch them around the neighborhood last night but of course it was too late by the time they were all frosted)!

Rich's Pick...

ALEXA was the lucky one!!!

Rich bought her favorite candy bar and gum and wrote her a note!!



Now Alexa gets to decide who gets Lenny next!!!


P.S. It was 1 degree when I took Alexa to school this morning @ 7:30am. It warmed up to 10 degrees by the time I went to work!!!

Lenny the LOVEBUG

Just as we were all getting ready for family prayer I heard something at the door. No one else heard it but Alex went to see who it was and there was a box sitting on our porch.

We opened it up and this is what we found...
There was a note enclosed and here is what it said...

Hello Family,

I am Lenny the LOVEBUG and I have chosen your home for my new experiment. There is something special about me that will make you want to be extra nice to everyone, especially your family members!!

Here is how it works:
I want the oldest person in the family (mom’s and dad’s included) to start the fun. They will pick a member of the family, and make their day “extra” special. The sky is the limit but I will give you some ideas about what you can do! Leave me in their room so they will know that it is “their” special day!!

*Make them breakfast
*Write them a note or draw them a picture
*Help them with their chores
*Play a game with them
*Help them clean their room
*Write them a poem
*Buy them a special gift

Like I said, the sky is the limit. I know you will think of the perfect ideas!! I will spend all day with whoever is chosen and then it is that persons turn to pass me along to the next person of their choosing.

There are some days when I might bring you all a special surprise and make you all feel very special. And watch out because Valentine’s Day is my Birthday and I like to spoil everyone on my special day!!!

I hope that you will give me a nice home for the next 2 weeks, one that is filled up with love and kindness!!!

Love,
Lenny

P.S. If you are all really nice to me and each other, I might come back and visit every year for my Birthday!!!



Since Rich is the oldest...he gets to go first!! He gets to choose whoever he wants, I kept asking him who he was going to choose and he wouldn't tell me!!
I made him pose with "Lenny" and of course he made it harder than it needed to be and I warned him that the picture was going up (even if it was terrible, which it's not)!!

I can't wait to see if Lenny really does have "magical" powers and if our home will be more loving for the next few weeks!! I will keep you posted!!!