"I am grateful for routine - to have the strength and energy to go about my day, and to know my purpose." 2-16
In addition to Jr Jazz, I signed Grayson up for indoor soccer. I was certain he would love it even though he grumbled the whole way there. Afterwards he proved me right, "That was actually a lot of fun." But I guess the saying, "Don't have too much fun" applies here because after that first time he said he didn't like it. Sigh.
New Baby Solly February 7th, 2016
I got to go by myself to American Fork to greet Cade and Ashley's newest addition Solomon Randall Taylor. I wanted to bring something for baby but was ill prepared. I went into Rite-Aid and picked up some diapers and a gift bag. When I got the hospital and cracked open the door to Ashley's room I saw that she and baby were sound asleep. I couldn't do it, I couldn't wake them! I left my gift at the desk and decided to run some errands. I got a text from my girls that due to an accident, Provo Canyon was closed. I was at Michael's Craft Store and suddenly had all the time in the world. I browsed every isle and ended up with some random stuff in my cart. Treasures, lets call them. Ashley called me and said she was sorry to miss me but the diapers I had left for baby were a huge blessing! The hospital diapers were causing welds on Solly's skin and it was up to her to get some different diapers. She couldn't go anywhere obviously and Cade was at work, so my gift was, as she called it, a Tender Mercy. I told her that I was STILL in the area and could swing on by! I got to visit with both she and Cade...and Soll! What a doll. We visited and watched news coverage of possible Presidential Candidates. We watched Trump give a speech and we all agreed, "There's no way."
Stiffed
Matt went to quite a bit of trouble to prepare a home-cooked meal for the Sister Missionaries. They never showed! (Turns out they were at our correct house number, but on the wrong street). We dished up anyway and then booked it to a basketball game at BYU.
Booking it to BYU seemed to be our thing. The next week Matt and I were at an Alex Boye concert at WHS when we had to jet to see Raegan open her mission call at Heritage Halls.
Concepcion Chile! She will leave in May to the MTC,
in MEXICO!
Seriously, February brought some of the most glorious sunsets I have ever seen in this valley.
Provo City Center Temple Openhouse
You know what else was is glorious? The new Provo City Center Temple. WOW. Ava and Mallerie went with a group of friends so Matt and I got tickets to take the three youngest.
Afterwards we ate at Los Hermano's across the street. When the waiter brought the check and asked, "Is that everything?" Matt nodded, but I said, "Could we get a couple of fried ice-creams brought out?" The kids thought I was crazy ordering such a thing, a thing they didn't even know existed. Graham especially loooooooved it.
Valentines Day
Our stake was invited to take a special mother/daughter tour of the brides room on Valentines Day. I drove down with Mallerie and Ava that Sunday and got to see the beauty and feel the sacredness of the temple once again. I look forward to the day when I can be in a brides's room with these beauties.
After church we enjoyed our annual family candlelight dinner.
We were thrilled to have the Newlyweds join us. They definitely brought the LOVE aspect with them.
I wasn't going to put EVERY picture of them, but they photograph so darn cute I can't help myself.
In fact, I am having a hard time editing out ANY of our V-day pic's so here you go! Mal was the photographer so she unfortunately isn't in any of them. Oh wait, of course she found a way to show us her smile.
These cookies are going to be the death of me.
One day Ava and Callie were held up in Callie's room for quite a while. When they emerged, they had handcrafted Valentine's for all.
Taking care of his lady with fresh roses. Meaning of a white rose: Purity, Innocence, Sympathy, Spirituality. Okay, I guess since Valentines Day was on the sabbath.
Love Potion
After our dinner of Lasagna and Fired up Mac n' Cheese and a few rounds of the mystery doorbell ditcher, we cozied downstairs and watched Confession of a Shopaholic.
For the extended family members, we mailed them each something Heart Felt. (My day long excursion in Michael's provide me with the necessary supplies).
Mallerie left straight away for SIMPLOT in Idaho where she got to see her BFF, Aubs who moved there last year.
A year later, this Feline is still part of the family.
Oh man, I have CAT pictures on my phone.
Okay, but really, those sunsets....
Graham and Callie wanted to try out the new sled at the park. Graham can find something he wants no matter what store I take him into. February is still the winter but there are teases of spring. Matt charmed me for no reason in particular, with fresh flowers.
Graham earned his Wolf
"After a particularly long cold winter, today felt wonderful - it was in the 50's. Graham and I walked to scouts and waited outside."
2-17-16
2-17-16
with his buds, Logan and Camden.
Graham and Callie were part of the
Dual Immersion Community Cultural Celebration.
Us white folks sure are boring. It is fun to have the latino's there to make it feel like a party. Lots of whooping and hollering and cheering during the dances and songs makes for a festive atmosphere.
Lincoln Day Breakfast
Callie's first grade class memorized in FULL, the Gettysburg address to present at the Cultural Celebration. The GOP Chair was in the audience and invited them to recite it at the Annual Lincoln Day Breakfast at Soldier Hollow the following weekend. It was a packed house.
There is Callie on the top row. Mrs. I taught them hand motions, which made it easier to remember.
Afterwards, the Governor asked to shake hands with the students -so impressed was he. Their performance was the only one that got a standing ovation from all in attendance.
Since ALL of the first grade wouldn't fit, a select few were invited.
Proud Momma with my lil' C.
"Today was cold! As I bathed Callie before school we talked about how grateful we are for indoor plumbing! Hot water at our fingertips that drains away as soon as we are done. And then there is the hair dryer..."1-16-16
Amelia Bedelia bakes a lemon meringue pie.
After reading this delightful tale one evening to Callie, I got a hankering to try my hand at a lemon meringue pie. We had fresh lemons as well as all the other ingredients on hand. It turned out okay, I just don't know how to prevent little beads from forming on the top, though they were cool to look at.
Matt and I went to Graham's favorite store, BEST BUY, to shop for his upcoming birthday.
The problem was that I kept loosing Matt amongst all the other employees.
