Good Times...

For mutual last week we had an eternal marriage themed activity. We invited the girls' mothers and played games and made toilet paper wedding dresses - complete with runway show of course.

Janay was my "daughter" for the night and we created this beautiful number.

The winners won this beautiful mini-wedding cake!

Oh, did I mention that all the YW leaders dressed up in ugly bridesmaid dresses for the evening? Yeah, we go all out. Good times, good times.

Lately...

We've been a bit busier around here lately.

I've started watching 2 little boys who come over every weekday 3-6 hours a day.

It's been busy, but good! No tantrums yet and the only hole in the wall was put there by me. On accident, I swear.

Caroline teeters back and forth between feelings of gratitude that she has someone to play with and indignant resentment that other kids are playing with her things, eating at her table, and well, looking at her. What can I say, she's a girl.

I recently bought some playground sand and put it in a big under-bed storage box for a little sand box. Caroline absolutely loves it and could spend hours out there with it if I let her.

I bury little toys in it and they have to dig them up. It's a hit!

Honestly, I was pretty nervous about taking on two more kids (not to mention: boys!) but they are good kids and we hit it off pretty early. I'm still trying to figure some things out like how to do visiting teaching, go on outings, or get them all down for naps or quiet time. But I'm sure as soon as I do, something else will change!

A Dollar!

Caroline deemed this "the best day ever".
After going for a walk we stopped to check the mail and in it was a wonderful card from my parents and A Dollar for Caroline!

She was so excited, she started jumping up and down in the driveway! I don't think we've ever given her actual money to spend how she wanted, so this was an occasion.


We wasted no time and hopped in the car to the Dollar Tree where Caroline wasted no time turning her dollar into sugar-on-a-stick.

It was fun to watch her carry in her dollar and peruse the aisles thoughtfully. She looked at everything before she made her decision and handed the clerk her dollar all by herself!

We've been penny-pinching lately so a big thanks to mom and dad for giving us a reason for a fun purchase!

Temple Day

Caroline had a rough morning this week when a dumb bell landed on her finger. It turned purple instantly and the tears didn't stop for a long time. These pictures were taken the next day.

I hope it doesn't fall off! Her finger is fine, but it was a pretty sad morning.


Thankfully the next day we got to go to the temple to lift our spirits! Our Stake is awesome and has a Relief Society Temple Day every few months where they provide a nursery and a lunch afterward.

So Caroline had fun with her friends across the street at the Stake Center while I did a session and had lunch with friends! What's better?

Afterward we took some pictures around the temple. Unfortunately, considering the weather, the landscaping wasn't very pretty and with the small temples there isn't much as far as grounds in the first place. But the temple itself is always pretty!

Valentine's

We started preparing for Valentine's day rather early this year. We made valenine's for some family for FHE one night.

We also made some delicious sugar cookies that did not get pictured.
I found this craft idea in a library book and Caroline and I decided it would be a fun valentine's activity. (that didn't get finished until Feb 15th)

Our castle! We haven't decided exatly how to use it yet (a mailbox, a bank, lots of possibilites) But Caroline had a lot of fun making it. She picked out the colors and did most of the painting.

We also did some chocoalte dipping that week. And no, Caroline didn't sample along the way, why do you ask?

Valentine's day itself was great. We exchanged valentines and candy and Dave and Caroline made me breakfast AND dinner! Doesn't get much better than that!

Best Snow Ever

We woke up this morning to hearing happy squeels from Caroline. She burst in our room and said that it had snowed. I didn't remember hearing that it was supposed to snow overnight, but sure enough - about 4"!

It was a really great morning. Dave delayed work a few hours and we played and played! The weather was just perfect - no wind, no falling snow, not too cold - just a crisp, clear snow covered morning!

And the snow was perfect too. It was soft and powdery and packed nicely.

In fact, the snow was so nice that we were finally able to make a successful snowman! A family first for us! Before they always looked like little snow pyramids.

Caroline named him "Charlie"

Making snow angels

We noticed our snowballs stuck to whatever we threw them on, so we made snow wall art!

Dave created our snow dog in the front yard.

(DumDum eyes and Hershey kiss nose in case you were wondering)

After playing and hot chocolate, Dave had to go to work :( He was a little bummed, but he said he didn't have much work to do, so Caroline and I went with him! We went to two houses that he had to install some lights in. Caroline and I picked up trash and tested outlets and for our hard work, Dave took us out to lunch at Neely's BBQ - yum! Around lunch time the weather turned rainy and yucky so we've spent the rest of the afternoon at home making cookies. Great Day!