Name this photo.

Jack's emotions, like his eye color, are something of a mystery to me. What in the world is that boy thinking/feeling here?

Primary Service Activity

Our ward Primary Activity Day fell close to Valentine's Day, so we decided to share some love.

Cookie prep:


Sandwich prep:


Card/poster prep:


After all our prep work at the church building, we divided into two groups and delivered the goods to two fire stations nearby. We got to ring the doorbell of the fire station, go inside and see their kitchen, dining room and living room, and then we went out into the bay where the firefighters explained their equipment, gave a demonstration, and let all the kids help operate the water hose.

Except for the part where Jack Jack wouldn't let go of me because the fire truck was very big and we were very close, it was awesome.

The Valentine's Day bags, explained

On the first Monday night in February we make Valentine's bags for Family Home Evening. Every day between then and Valentine's Day, we can add valentines, notes, treats, or anything else we want to the bags. I let the kids check their bags every day, or they can save everything until Valentine's Day if they want.

This is a family tradition that I'd like to continue because it has been so fun. As the kids get older and are able to think of their own ideas or make cards and notes on their own, I think it will get even better!

Birthday boy

Such a sweet little boy smile! (And check out how ridiculously long my hair is.)


The famous tongue helps with concentration.


Another awesome birthday gift.


And . . . as many lemon mini cupcakes as a birthday boy could want. He wanted a lot. And he picked out lemon himself. It was a surprising choice for him, but I love lemon !


Happy birthday, Jack Jack!

Birthday girls

First cupcake!


Oooh! She has one, too!


Yummy. Everyone should get to eat as many mini cupcakes as they want on their birthday.

Shhhhhh!

Ellen has taken to telling us secrets by whispering in our ears and loudly requesting that we not tell anyone else what she said. Things like, "Let's play a game after dinner, okay?" and "Do you want to see the picture I colored today?"

After Ellen told Daddy and Mommy secrets tonight at dinner, I noticed Rose was putting her face as close to me as she could and was . . . babbling very, very quietly. She was very pleased with her secret telling ability. So was I. Wow.

Go world!

Like probably many of you, we've been watching a lot of the Olympics lately. While we were visiting at a friend's house today, Ellen saw the skiing competition on their TV and said, "We have that movie at our house, too."

She may be confused two weeks from now when we can't watch the Olympics movie anymore. Can you tell we don't watch much TV around here?

Oh, somebody had a birthday!

Rose is 1!

She scrunches up her face because she sees the camera and thinks that's what she's supposed to do when I take her picture. Precious.

I almost forgot the Valentine's bags.

Every year we make Valentine's bags for the first Family Home Evening in February. That was today, and we were so busy having a lesson on "I will obey" that I forgot the bags. What kind of a lame mom am I, anyway?

So I'm up late getting the paper sacks out to put a treat in so the kids can decorate them tomorrow while we're waiting to go to the airport to pick up Daddy from his trip. So fun.