He gave me his heart!

After I published that last post I realized I was also going to post about what Russ gave me for Valentine's Day.  It must be the most unique V-day gift that any wife has received from any husband.   It is a hand-knit, anatomically-correct, stuffed-with-chocolates heart.  Isn't it the greatest Valentine ever?  He says the technicians at work were jealous. (He made it at work.)  It took some explaining to the lady at the chocolate shop though.  I love it.

A haircut on his face

Apparently Russell was feeling a bit old.   For the first time since 2000 when we were married and he was working at the MTC, he shaved all his facial hair, or as Sissy put it, "got a haircut on his face."  It does make him look very very young, despite having a bit less hair on top and a constant "5 o'clock shadow".  I think I prefer him with the facial hair.  But hey, if he'll put up with me having hair on my legs, I'll put up with him having none on his face (as if it really re quires any putting up with.)  

Little helper

Made it to the storage room!  Good job!
BJ loves to be a little helper these days.  I love this stage, when doing things with me or daddy gives the greatest satisfaction to such a little person.  He loves laundry, and stands eagerly by the dryer when I am ready to put a load in.  Last week he was helping Russ bring in firewood.  He was SO determined to get this little log in by himself, and he eventually made it!

Some Silly Children

Comfy?
 
Here are some recent pics of my goofy children.  Sissy fell asleep with a sticker (address label) on her mouth.  It was pretty funny when I woke her up and she tried to say "don't wake me up" with her mouth stuck shut.  

Sissy loves to wear clothing on her head.  I don't even ask.  

Ammon got a normal haircut... not! 

BJ loves his shape sorter, and we get a good celebratory hands-in-the-air with each one he gets in.  So cute!

A couple of short hair cuts and some sad news

Well, it's actually been a while since we had our haircuts, but here are some pics of me and BJ with our short hair! Okay, so they're not the best pictures, but I was taking them by myself!

Anyway, the last couple of weeks have been really busy. We got our new remodeling project started, our basement flooded, Ammon's been in Taekwondo,

and most unfortunately there has been a death in Russell's family. Bekah's dear Meredith was in a horrible car accident and passed away this past week. My heart goes out to Bekah. I know she is feeling a lot of pain right now. I will miss Meredith a lot-- she was someone who it was impossible not to love. I wish I could go to the memorial service, but it looks like it's going to be best for me to stay here with the kids and Russ will go to support his sister. We love you, Bek!

Ode to the Rain

Oh Rain, thou art wonderful,
bringing greenery wherever thou goest
Puddles wherewith to splash in
and flowers to smelleth with my nose
But rain why can't thou sleep
like the sun at night.
Why dost thou continue
until my basement filleth with water
and ruineth my lovely (not) carpet.
Oh Rain, GO AWAY!

Happy Christmas, Birthday, and New Year!

We had a fun and relaxing Christmas this year. We had some friends over for Christmas Eve dinner. Then we did our traditional opening of the pajamas and new ornaments for the tree.

This is a gift I made for Russ. It's a cover for his spinning wheel. Nothing fancy, but I was proud of myself for having made it.

BJ got a rocking horse. He wasn't feeling well on Christmas day, but he still managed to ride it a little.

Sissy loved her dress-up things, although when she first put on a pair of plastic princess shoes, she fell down and was very upset with the shoes. They are high heels, after all, and she must take after me in that she cannot walk in them. Russ made her a beautiful pine chest to put all her things in. She doesn't much appreciate it now, but I'm sure she will in the future.

Ammon got an art desk and a bunch of art supplies. He was a little dissappointed that he didn't get more "toys" but he sure has had fun with the art stuff. And his birthday presents more than made up for the toys he didn't get.

I took all day for BJ to open his few presents. I got him this play cell phone in hopes that it would curb his obsession with my cell phone. So far his is always lost, so he still wants mine.

The kids love their belated Christmas teddy bears from Nana. Ammon won't go to bed without his!

For Ammon's birthday this year, we went out to dinner as a family and then went to see Zoo Lights. It was still going since it had been cancelled the week before Christmas due to the weather. We let him bring a friend along. This is him and Nate in front of the model train.Some of the animal lights:Blowing out the candle on the lego birthday cake.
Presents presents presents! And there was definitely a theme in the presents that inspired the cake.

Mmmmmmm....


Happy New Year to everyone! I think this year has good things in store for us. And to start out we've plunged head first into a BIG remodeling project. We are adding a bathroom and mud room. Okay, not really adding a room, but converting a current room into them. Still, it is a huge project. Hopefully we'll be done by the end of this year....