Mt. Timpanogos Temple

This week we have gone to 5 birthday parties! Calvin's Super Mario Bday 2/4, Matthew's (went to his house for Oreo ice cream cake and hanging out Thursday nite 2/9, got him a Jazz window cling and he put it in his bedroom window which faces the street), Kylie's Monster High party(Phoebe went on Friday 2/10), Emma's chocolate bday (Phoebe stayed in Herriman for this party Sat 2/11), and Riley's 4th (the boys went on Sat. 2/11).

We left the boys at the Smiths' for Riley's party and ran over to the Mt. Timpanogos Temple for a session.  Although Patrick packed a bag and his church clothes, he left them at home and had to borrow an outfit from Ben.  Luckily it fit well enough.  It was busy b/c it was a Saturday and the room was completely full, even an overflow row in the back.  This is the temple where Patrick received his own endowment and he reminisced about going there with his brothers (and in-laws) and sisters before his mission.  I love the blue in the stained glass.

"While Davin Was With Us"

I've been working on a Book of Remembrance for Davin.  I named it, "While Davin Was With Us."  I got a Mixbook.com coupon from Groupon, it was $50 worth of book for $15 and it had an expiration date of this week so I figured I would just get it done.  I made a hardback copy for us, and got paperback copies for each of the kids so they could have their own.  I like the way it came out; I didn't like feeling rushed, though.  And Patrick's not ready to read it yet....maybe on his due date (March 23) he will read it with me.

I swam laps this morning.  Tonight I walked into the pitch dark kitchen to put a dish away.  One of the kids had left a stool in the middle of the walkway and I walked right through it and over it, banging my knee incredibly hard.  It left an immediate welt and an immediate bruise and it was killer.

Angel Babies Sewing Day

I went to Heidi Vawdrey's house today to work on some sewing/crochet projects.  She has a whole army of volunteers that make stuff to give to grieving parents-like gowns and diapers, blankets, the bracelet sets she gave us, gift boxes, etc...

She puts some good patterns up on her blog, I also Googled a bunch myself.  I'm now working on this little gown for a 20 week old, the size of Davin.

Superbowl

SUPERBOWL PARTY!

@Indianapolis 

NY Giants vs. NE Patriots

Glad to see anyone beat Tom Brady and the Pats.  Eli and crew did that, 21-17.

                                            We had the Wrights, Smiths, and Driazas over.

                                     So hilarious- Xander dancing to Madonna's half time show!

Xander played with everybody.






We were having a good time and were shocked by the breaking news that came on after the game that Josh Powell had just blown up his house with him and his 2 boys inside.  I was so freaked out I got goosebumps.  It has been a huge story since Susan went missing from West Valley City in 2009 (about 20 minutes from us).  Josh presented a very suspicious story and the whole state has been involved in remembering her and helping to find out what happened to her. This was literally sickening.

Madden Bowl 2012

 Patrick had a Madden Bowl tourney this year with friends from work.  I know they were all scared because last year, I WON!

Patrick went to a lot of trouble to make sure it was set up nice and fun, including an official coin toss, brackets, and prizes.  Best Buy and I-tunes gift cards were at stake.

                                                                 Picking VS. assignments

                                               Patrick vs. Devin and Casey vs. Owen

                                              What happens when no one watches Xander.....

 Championship Game. (1st place was conceded to Patrick b/c it should have been double elimination but Casey didn't have time to play again.), Casey 2nd place, and me 3rd this time.

 Phoebe and Phoenix went 3 doors down to Calvin's 6th Mario Bday party.  Tiffany always goes way out to have AWESOME bday parties and the kids always have a blast.  She is very creative.  My favorite game was a coin block they punched to knock out actual coins!  And her cake pops are to die for!

Calvin's 6!

Phoebe's hat

Today I swam laps again.  Love that.

Phoebe was in a super silly mood and called Patrick, "Cow Barf!" She thought it was so funny, she laughed until she cried! Then she used the multi-purpose box for sleeping quarters.  The kids collected every pillow and blanket they could find and marched them down the stairs singing, "Pillows, Blankets, Ya, Ya, Ya!"

I have been working on an intermediate crochet pattern-an Amelia style hat for Phe.  She is too cute!

Jordan River Temple

I'm making sure to go to the temple every month this year, so here it is Jan.31st and we made it!

The kids went to Mirinda Losee's and we went to Jordan River instead of Oquirrh Mountain. It was so relieving to find out that they start sessions every 20 minutes! At Oquirrh Mt, it's every hour on the hour, so if you miss it or it's full, you have to wait another whole hour.  

 They asked us to be the witness couple.  Patrick had cut his hair this morning into this faux-hawk that goes all the way down the back, too.  I wondered what the people behind us thought!

We picked up the kids, grabbed a Pizza Hut pizza for dinner, and watched "Super 8" before bed.  I cannot believe that one month of this new year is gone!

Stake Conference/Blockbuster Sale

For Stake Conference, Patrick and I took shifts.  It has always proven a nightmare in the past to even get a seat at stake conference, let alone wrestle the 3 restless ones for 2 hours!  So he went to Sat. night's session and I went to Sun morning's.  One speaker said, "Everything works out in the end.  If it hasn't worked out yet....it's not the end!"  Another said, "We all know how awful this world is but we don't have to live of it."  Also, "We all know that Christ is coming, but we don't have to wait to find Him."  President Ollis announced the year's theme as "Anchor in Christ".

This Monday morning kicked off Blockbuster's "Going out of Business Sale".  We went to check it out but were really disappointed in the sale.  USED video games for $50? We had to laugh b/c that was so ridiculous.  We got a few cartoon shows of Mario and the Justice League, which the kids love.  We didn't really find any great deals...but at least we got some sweet ones around Cmas time....  Including a Toshiba Blu-ray player for our bedroom for $50 for renewing our monthly pass...which they canceled for us, no problem.

Sleepover

Last night the Phes went to the Driazas' for a sleepover.  This was Phoenix's first friend sleepover.  They were so excited, and even though Phoebe was at first jealous that Phoenix would be going too....she quickly warmed up to it and decided it was a good idea. They both had so much fun.  We considered going out but ended up staying in and just enjoying the quiet.  I had got Patrick P90X-2 for Valentine's Day and we opened it up early.  We did the Yoga DVD last night (it felt great!) and a core one this morning.  We met up at Chik-fil-A for lunch today and let the kids play a little while longer.

Last night we got a sad text from Kristine saying she was 13 weeks pregnant but just found out it was probably a molar pregnancy, which means there's no baby, just a clump of cells, and that she would be having a D&C on Wed.  She seems to have a good attitude about the situation, but I feel bad b/c I know it's so sad and disappointing to expect a baby and not get one.  We are thinking of and praying for them.

Errands

Today was a busy day.  After swimming for only 30 minutes today (20 laps), I ran to Home Depot to pick up a new garbage disposal (because there is always the perpetual 'something wrong/broken in/on the house')....and some light bulbs.



Then we went to get the car's safety and emissions tests, and renewal sticker at Tunex.  Unbelievably, they charge $170/year for the license plate sticker...(in FL we pay $30-80/car). Also here in UT, you have to pay $50 for the safety tests, and if anything doesn't pass you have to pay to fix it or not get your tag.  So our wipers failed, that was $40.  Oh, and they charge $10 for the On-the-Spot Renewal convenience. That grand totals $270 just for us to be able to drive our car for one year.  UGH!




Next we went to JC Penney's to get Phoenix's 4 year old pictures.  OK better a little late than never? And his kindergarten pic will be his 5 yr, that'll be in about 10 months.  He was super cute.

All of them were so good during all the day's errands so I took them to eat dinner at Panda Express and have Frogurt for dessert.

Back to Classic Skate

Took the kids back to Classic Fun Center today b/c I had a coupon they wouldn't let me use on the holiday.  This time they got the bounce house ticket.  Xander was going on all of them like some kind of big boy....he always amazes me how competent he is, and determined to do whatever Phoebe and Phoenix are doing.

Afterwards we had dinner at Ikea because kids eat free every Tuesday.

New Necklace

I got this necklace in the mail yesterday from my mom.  I wore it to church today and all the kids in nursery were amazed with it, reached for it and played with it.  As you can see it's a real eye-catcher.  I love it. Thanks, Mom!

Go, Bee Guy!

Found this GeoTrax airplane on KSL today, and upon picking it up....found out the sellers were our neighbors, the Haltermans! Xander LOVES it, as expected. (He doesn't love being filmed, though, so when he noticed, he got a little shy).

Crochet Owl Hat

Saw this hat on Tiana's blog and it was SO cute I became determined to figure out how to make it for her.  It's cuter on, pics of Landon modeling it to come....

Phoenix's 'Big Boy' Bed

Phoenix has been sleeping on his crib mattress for 5 years, so for his birthday he wanted a 'big boy bed'.   We found an awesome one at a yard sale this spring but it was a full size. I paid $50 for it, sold it for $250, and started keeping my eye out for the twin size version. Finally found one for $150 (including mattress) and the guy delivered it right to our house!

Before-Toddler Bed

Before-still phasing out the Noah's Ark nursery decor.

After-Dinosaurs! Bedding from Target.

After-Dinosaurs!

          Cubby in the footboard!

He was thrilled!