Valentine's Day

(I noticed this was a draft and was never posted...  thought I should probably post it now since Easter is already over too.)

I have always loved Valentine's Day.  Even back in Junior High and High School when I didn't have a boyfriend, Valentine's Day was fun...because it's my birthday!!  I had a reason to celebrate despite the lack of "boys" in my life.  

Now Mark thinks it's the worst day of the whole year..... he has to make up for Valentine's & my birthday!!  :)  I personally think he's got it made.  He gets away with both of those in 1 day.  But he does a great job making me feel like it's a Special Day.  Since Valentine's was on a Sunday, Mark planned a little something on Saturday.  I woke up to the kids asking me to make them something for breakfast at 7:30 AM.  But I am such a mean mom because I fell back to sleep.  Then about 8:30, Mark said, "Go get dressed, we're going to breakfast at Crackers."  (That's my favorite breakfast place!) Braeden loves the french toast there.  So do I.... I inhaled breakfast.   

Mark got me a new pair of jeans, but he wanted me to look at the other ones they had, so we went to the mall.  In the car, the kids were just being silly.  I was asking them questions about each other and it ended up like this.... me asking Caleb were his nose was.  That's what he did to show me.

This is the 2nd year my parents have done this for the kids.  My mom makes sugar cookies for all her grandkids on Valentine's Day and leaves them on the doorstep and runs.  They love it.  Elli got too excited and dropped her cookie on the ground.  Sweet Braeden blew off the dirt for her.  But she didn't want to eat it.  So grandma let her decorate another one for her.  

Caleb was too busy eating his cookie to take a picture.

I've never been a cake lover, I'll still eat it, but it's not favorite.  So Mark made me Creme Brülée and stuck 3 candles in it for 30.  Oooooh, it was sooooo good!!  I tell ya, I have the best husband!!

Well, with the exception of this.....

 Mark looks good in a goatee.  He looks so handsome standing there.  I actually got him to smile normal.  Sometimes he'll make a funny face for pictures, but he looks good here.  

He was so kind to shave, but left the handlebars....... for my birthday.  What a great ending to my birthday. (Insert sarcasm)  He thinks it is so funny to do this.  This isn't his first time either.  I didn't get a picture, but he did shave the handlebars this morning and left just the mustache.  I think that's even uglier!

I had a great 30th birthday!!!  Feels weird turning 30.  Isn't that REALLY OLD????  Geez, time flies!  

Kara's Bridal Shower & Wedding

My sister Kara got married on March 5th to Ryan Gardner.  It was a fun day to be had by all!!

But first was her Bridal shower.  My sister Lisa had it at her house.  She did a fabulous job at making it a yummy lunch!!

Kara is a big fan of Ned's Krazy Subs so we had a big sub there.  Mmmmmmmmm!!

Typical Lisa at the sink with Melissa by her side..... talking!!

We weren't sure how this thing was to be worn but I'm sure Kara figured it out! :)

Little Blaykey Poo!! (She hates being called that)

And Blayke's Mom, Melissa.  This is a great picture of her because she looks more "curvy" than normal.  

Kara & Ryan

My mom with a long time friend, Colleen Brimley

Lisa with Colleen's daughter, Sarah.  

Pictures of the 2 crazy kids!!

This is Ryan making fun of Kara ALWAYS using her hands to talk.

Wooo there Ryan!!

And the sexy Kara!!  What a babe!!!

So glad they are happy!!  We love you guys!!

J Jewels

I am having my very first GIVEAWAY on my J Jewels Website.  There will be 3 winners and each will get credit towards whatever they want.  Check it out HERE!!!

Mario & Peach

Braeden has been grounded from video games (mainly New Super Mario Bros Wii) for 2 WEEKS.  So he has needed to find something else to do.  It is pretty funny the things he has come up with.  Him and Elli have been watching YouTube videos on how to draw Mario & Peach.  

Just this morning while I was getting Braeden ready for school, Elli was busy doing something.  She came up the stairs and showed me what she had done.  She watched some guy draw Peach on YouTube and this is the product.  Elli drew this all by herself in front of the computer.  I would have loved to watch her face as she drew this this.  She sticks her tongue out when she is concentrating.  I was shocked to see this.  She's only 5.  I can't even draw this good.

And this is what Braeden has been drawing with the help of YouTube videos.  He has some other ones that are amazing too, but I don't know what he did with them

He drew this one for Elli one day.

Mark said, "You take video games away from that kid.... and he dreams of video games."  He loves Mario Bros!!  (Hence, he was Mario for Halloween!!)

Another Cali trip

We love visiting California.  We went there the end of January for Mark's oldest brother and his wife's 25th anniversary party.

Mark took all 3 kids hiking while we were there.  Mark's mom lives on a hill and as a kid, Mark would hike to this cross that someone put up.  The kids had so much fun.

This is Braeden's photography skills.

Elli's photography skills.

This is the perfect picture for each of the kids' personalities.  Braeden not paying attention, Elli posing and being crazy, and Caleb wanting to get down and be on his own.

Posing..... again.

I guess there was someone else hiking and they took a picture of the whole gang.

It's so pretty there.

Mark's photography skills.

This was at the party in this beautiful house.

This was me, Stacy (who's anniversary it was) and Camille.

Me and Camille

Mark and his Mom.

The hot women of the party.  I was told this night that I look like Natalie Maines from the Dixie Chicks.  I have been told this MANY times from totally different people.  I'm not sure I see it, but whatever.

I tried to get a picture of Mark, Brigham and Matt.  Matt did a nice job smiling, but Mark and Brig were too worried about who was taller.  They kept getting on their tippy toes.

Brynn, Camille and I

Kirk & Stacy (their anniversary) and Mark & I.

This is Matt & Brynn's little girl McKenna.  She is a complete doll.  We just might arrange the marriage of these 2 kids.

Mark loves to pop our toes, don't ask me why.  But that's what he is doing to Braeden.

Braeden ws so lucky and got to spend the night with his cousin Austin for 2 nights.  We barely saw him, but those 2 have a lot of fun together.

Our ride home.  We, by no means, need a suburban, but we have one.  It is great having one with only 3 kids.  We put the middle seat down, stick the kids in the back row and make a bed for Mark and I if we want to go lay down.  It's great!  (And they are watching a movie, that's why they look brain dead.)

Start 'em young

Caleb isn't even 2 yet, but he still knows how to play on our phones and ipod touch.  He is kind of taking this very serious.  Don't mess with him.  I love how he is crossing his cute little legs.