Happy Valentine's Day!

We had a big week this week. Kirsten got her ears pierced! I have been telling her forever that she can get them pierced whenever she wants to, but up until last weekend she was too nervous to. Last weekend she got some little stickers that she was putting on her ears and they kept getting stuck in her hair and falling off so she said "these are driving me nuts, I guess I'll get my ears pierced tomorrow." So Monday during lunch we took her to the mall to do it. The one girl working there said that since she's so young they like to have 2 girls there to do the piercing at the same time so the little girls don't freak out and chicken out with only one ear pierced. So I said ok we'll come back later. After some drama with our town mall we decided to go to Odessa, 25 minutes away. Kirsten was super excited and a little nervous. She picked out some pink flower earrings (of course she wanted the craziest ones she could get) and sat on my lap to get ready. There was only one girl working there so we said just do one at a time and hope she doesnt' chicken out. So the girl said ok count to three. Kirsten did and they pierced it. She had to try really hard to hold her tears in. The girl went over to the other side and Kirsten said, "one, two, three" really fast, she wanted to get it over with. And then she was done. And she had two beautiful pink flowered ears to show for it. I could not stop smiling. I think I was more excited than she was.






And then the kids played at the mall.


We went to get bubblegum ice cream. While we waited the kids were cracking each other up.







I had preschool this week at my house which was awesome because we got to party all week. We made Valentine's boxes and decorated them with potato stamps, something I remember doing with my mom when I was a kid.




Last Wednesday Jonathan had the Young Men over at our house for dinner so I went over to Dannie's house, which is always fun. Colton actually fell asleep on the couch.


I was watching Colton eat his breakfast the other day and he looked so cute I just had to take a picture.


We had so much fun this weekend. Friday night we had a couple's party at our friends house and then last night we had a ward Sock-Hop. I wish I had a camera there because we all had so much fun. Colton danced with me for most of the night and was just loving it. Kirsten was running around with her friend and trying to hula hoop and Jonathan was too cool to hokey pokey, but he did bunny hop so overall we all had a great time. Oh and they had a daddy daughter dance it was so cute to see Kirsten and all the other girls dancing with their dads. Kirsten was standing on Jonathan's feet dancing around and loving her life, it was precious.

Last Week

So my birthday was this week. I had such a great day.
We started off by making some chili for Jonathan's work chili cook off. Jonathan got to stay home for longer in the morning to make it which was fun. He got this great recipe from our friend Cameron. Everyone said it was their favorite, even though he didn't win. They were allowed to bribe the judges so the one with the biggest bribe ended up winning.


That night I opened presents. And yes I am still in my pajamas. I decided to let myself stay in them all day and do nothing...actually that's not all that unusual. I just felt less guilty about it than usual.


Jonathan got me some black boots that I've been wanting and Kirsten wore them around all night. Well, until we went to take them back. That may sound really mean but Jonathan got me two pairs of boots so that I could go exchange them and get what I really wanted. We went out to eat while my great friend Danie watched the kids. Then we went back to her house for cake. I've been getting into yoga lately and she got me a mat and a block, which I've been in desperate need of and was such a great gift. She's such a wonderful friend! My family got me a great tent, which is just what I asked for and my mother in law got me a a beautiful Cristus statue.


I got so many great gifts but the very best gift of all was from Kirsten. She said, "close your eyes I have a present for you." When I opened them she did this.


She's such a sweetie. She was watching me get ready for Jonathan and my date. When I was ready she said, "you look so beautiful mom." Kirsten and I went on a date to Gigi's cupcakes this week. It was tons of fun to go out together, but I don't get the whole 2 cups of frosting for every cupcake. Anyway, that's not the point I guess. Here's a picture of Emily she did. Look at those lovely lips and eyes.


Jonathan's mom and grandma game out to see us this weekend. They were so good to read lots of books to Kirsten and play dollhouse with her.


On a side note, we're watching the super bowl right now. The Doritos commercials have been hilarious.

Jonathan went with the young men to the Harlem Globetrotters on Wednesday night.



We had some seriously crazy flooding on our streets last Thursday. Since we live out here in the desert even a couple inches of rain is more that we can handle. It was crazy. Our little car almost got stuck a couple of times, but it was an adventure.


Playing in the backyard last night.


Colton loves having his picture taken. He comes right up to the camera and says "cheese".






Colton found these fruit snacks yesterday in the pantry (he has learned to open doors, I swear Kirsten didn't learn until she was 2 1/2 probably, man what a pain) he went to me to ask me to open it and I said "no" so he went to daddy and he said "no". So he decided to take matters into his own hands. So this is what he found to open them with. Needless to say ultimately he was unsuccessful.

Kirsten got some awesome boots from Grammy that she wore to church. Colton does not like wearing ties.


Kirsten's monster drawings.


Kirsten really has a great imagination but sometimes it's a bit of a pain to clean up after.

Christmas Vacation in Pictures

We spent a couple of weeks in Oklahoma for Christmas. We had a really great time with our family and friends.
Before we left Colton woke up sad so Kirsten tried to comfort him by helping him watch the Backyardigans.


Kirsten and Colton had so much fun playing with their cousin Nicholas.






We got to spend lots of time with our friends. Carrie invited us over for Breakfast and we got together with Rachel and Seth a couple of times. It was just like old times and so much fun.


Christmas Eve was very eventful at our house. There was a huge blizzard. Gramps (Jonathan's grandpa) got to come home from the nursing home to spend Christmas Eve with us. We had just finished dinner when the doctor called saying that his blood work had come in and that he needed to go to the hospital. So we had to call the ambulance to come and get him. It took him 3 hours to get to the hospital. We are so grateful that we got to spend time with him on Christmas Eve.


We read the Christmas story together.


And opened lots of presents.






Grammy got all the kids these awesome scooters. We all had fun with them all week.



Then we headed out onto the roads to my parents house. Luckily they live less than 3 miles away. I still saw my life flash before my eyes a few times before attempting to pull int othe driveway. After about 30 minutes they finally made it.


We had a program at my parents house too. Geoff, Emily, Eric, and I all played a song on the piano.


Kirsten sung a song she had been practicing, the one from the Polar Express. She sang this song for both sides of the family and despite being a little nervous she did great.


Kirsten so excited for Santa to come.


Geoff and Eric think Kirsten is the crazziest girl ever, they might be right.


Getting ready for bed so Santa can come.


I went up to check on Kirsten after putting her in bed. I found her looking out the window with a flashlight to see if she could find Santa.


Christmas Morning


Santa brought Kristen just what she asked for, an easel.


We had to wake Colton up and he was not too happy about it.




After breakfast and opening presents we went outside to play in the snow. My parents have an awesome hill in their backyard so we spent lots of time sleding down it. We made Kirsten sled down it and she screamed bloody murder the whole way down. She says now she screamed becuase she was having fun.




Grandma and papa got Colton this sweet car.


Emily and I went on a walk in the snow.




Nicholas and Colton wrestling.


Visiting the aquarium.




Kirsten playing with the otters.


Colton got a little crazy feeding the turtles. He was flinging food and water everywhere but he had fun.