My Sweet Valentines

Even though I didn't have a traditional Valentine's Day this year, we certainly enjoyed it! About a week and a half before, we all made Valentine cards for Daddy. Unfortunately, the cadre will literally stomp all over yummy care packages so that'll have to hold out until he gets home!

My Mom was sweet enough to do Valentines with the kids for me while I was at the temple the Thursday before.

Aren't they cute?!


On Valentine's Day, we made heart-shaped sugar cookies and were able to decorate them. Here's Will's creation!

Gabby's (With the full-on cheeser)

Lydia had a little help but there was pure joy on her face when she saw that she was allowed to just dig in!

Enjoying their handiwork

Look at that loveable, messy face!

Happy Valentine's Day! We hope yours was filled with love from those around you!

And as a fun side-note for this month, Lydia finally popped out that first tooth! Isn't she a doll?!

December...Finally

Warning! This post is long, due to my slacking off in posting.

December was so nice! We started off with Noni's Christmas Party. They have it at Costco where they have a cake walk (with the yummy bakery goods they have at Costco; we got Peppermint Bark, mmmm), snack bar, music, drawings, soda bar, a free ham (or turkey), and a bunch of sports booths where you can earn $5 gift cards each. To end it, you can get your picture taken as well! Benj was drilling the next morning so we only got to stay about 20 min. but we took full advantage!

One thing I love about the Ranches is that Santa comes around and they throw candy from the Fire Truck. It's like 3 of kids' true joys all mixed into one experience! Here are the kids waving, so cute!


It doesn't feel like Christmas unless we visit Temple Square!

This is where Benj and I were sealed so it's fun to have this picture each year with little, cute additions!

Christmas was....interesting. That weekend, Gabby and I had the flu so we missed out on a few fun parties. (Hence the lack of pictures) Benj took Will and Lydia to my parents' Christmas Party on the 23rd and we had to miss out on getting together with Benj's parents on Christmas Eve. That night, Benj got some Burger King and we watched Miracle on 34th Street. The kids still thought it was great! Gabby was miserable Christmas morning but we still managed to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus around the German Chocolate cake Benj made and open presents. Will got a Toy Story 3 tent, a Sesame Street Memory Game,

and Cowboy Boots just like Daddy!

You can barely see it but Lydia got that Baby Chick that makes noises and an Elmo book that has sounds with the story.

Gabby also got Cowboy boots,

Disney Princess barbies,

and a Cabbage Patch Doll with a stroller!

Benj was spoiled with this Vizio TV (he did the Black Friday sale at Walmart; oh yeah!), reciever, and Blu-ray Player. The family got some blu-ray movies as well.

I was also spoiled with this nice, warm coat and Fablehaven series!

As Lydia's shirt says it, Christmas Rocks!

Somewhere in all this, the kids got a hold of the washable markers and decided to color on each other's faces. Gotta love sibling plotting!

New Year's Eve was nice. The night before, my family got together with some of my cousins to have dinner and play games. We had some neighbors and friends over on New Year's Eve. We had yummy homemade Cafe Rio Salads and snacks and played games while the kids watched movie after movie. It was heaven for all of us!