This Time It's Snow

So our snow days were mostly ice.  It snowed all day just after the kids were entering school, Keri was off to a sub job, and Neal to work.  We watched it from our respective windows all day.  After school let out, Keri picked up the kids, grabbed our best cold weather gear, and took off to one of our city's larger parks to enjoy the white stuff with a few others. 

A couple snow angels, watching kids attempting to sled our pathetic "hills", and a good snowball fight later, we were back in the car. Sophie was crying because of the cold, Keri had mascara down to her cheekbones from at least 3 snowballs to the face, and Rhys sat smugly for having pitched said snowballs.  It was over in 30 minutes but it was great to let loose.

Love is Neal getting back in his car after arriving home to go buy fast food tacos for our family's dinner because he knew how important it is for us to put family fun first today.  By the way, before we made that dinner arrangement he was quite pleased to have gotten away with shoving a fresh snowball down the front of Keri's sweater as she greeted him at he door, where it was nicely held against her skin by her bra.  Brrrr!

Snow Day!

First snow day of the year! Okay, it's really just a bunch of ice. Sophie said, after attempting, "You really can't make snow angels in it." Rhys liked picking up sheets of it and dropping them. Neal worked from home today.  Keri cleaned the house like a maniac.

And just got word that school is closed tomorrow as well. Well, house is clean. Time to watch some movies and play some games.  Did I hear someone say bake bread?

Approved!

Neal and I had a very special lunch date this week.  We met at the foot doctor. Neal was prescribed vitamin D, ankle strengthening exercises, new shoes, and orthopedics. Keri who went in for preventative care was prescribed vitamin D and ankle exercises as well.  She was also given the thumbs up to train for and run the Ragnar Trail Relay coming up in October!  Woohoo!

Next time you see us compliment us on our curiously strong ankles!

Valentine's Day

Valentine's got an early start when Neal gave me two microwavable warmers s week early.  This way I can warm my feet at night without using him.  The day before Valentine's the kids had their valentine cards and goodies ready to hand out and enjoyed their class parties while I ran between the two classrooms. I was already there because I presented Art to Go to Rhys' class just before party time.  Parents coming to the class party is a big thing where we live and for now, a big deal to the kids.

That night, Neal and I enjoyed an adult's Valentine Party at the church where we got to play some fun games, eat sweets, and get to know more people in or congregation.  It was a low key good time.

On Valentine's Day evening, we decorated the dining room and had our traditional "fancy" dinner.  This time nachos by candlelight. We exchanged cards and gave the kids their favorite candy bar.  Rhys had been excitedly hiding a card he made for his parents for a week.  He was so excited!  We loved the card but even more so watching him be so into it all. Then we had family movie night.

Thank you to all who kindly sent our family cards.  We love reading them over dinner and displaying them on our mantel.

The Tuesday after Valentine's a friend, Kelly, and I carried out an activity for the women of the church that we had planned for nearly a month--A Tenderhearted Party.  Women signed up to bring baked goodies and foil wrapped chocolates two weeks prior and then we all met to cut out and create decorated paper hearts with love notes on them.  Others divided the goodies on to plates and wrapped them, tied them with ribbon, and tagged them. Then we all ate sweets while another woman, Connie, shared what she had learned about personal prayer and how it can strengthen us and our sisterhood spiritually.  At the close of her remarks we had "love" to deliver to 25 women and did!  It was a lot of fun and very well attended.

Hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day thinking about why you love others and telling them.

Previous Quote of the Blog

Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend. Mosiah 4:9

New Beginning

We have been busy starting this new year by focusing on 3 areas, our personal spirituality (because that helps everything else), our finances, and our health.  This means Neal has spent more time at the computer with ebay, taxes, and managing finances and Keri has spent more time in the kitchen chopping, sauteing and baking, and meal planning. Keri is also running more often and a little further and faster to begin training for an event in Oct she is considering. We continue to hold family prayer, scripture study, and family home evenings to learn and discuss the gospel but we are helping each other remember to do the same things individually as we know our relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will help us have the most happiness here in life and after.

Sophie and Rhys are both doing well in school. There latest report cards show that Sophie is able to keep her grades up with small group math work and Rhys is performing as expected as well.  Recently, Sophie was recognized as Student of the Month for "her positive attitude, her kind actions, and outstanding citizenship." 

Neal also volunteered as Watch D.O.G. for the last time this school year and enjoyed his time with the kids on Pajama Day.

Keri has been busy helping a group of women from church plan activities for the first half of the year.  She also was happy to be able to throw a 40th birthday party for Cherri, her good friend and one of her running buddies.  It had a Hollywood theme and turn out great.