A Shameless Plug

So...historically Family Home Evening has gone something like this around our house...just another night OR...hey...yah we are all together tonight so that counts- yah for us! Recently I've realized I have just a few years with the kids before they leave home (hopefully, LOL...). Yikes. That means all the wonderful parental wisdom I have to impart needs to be done NOW. That led to my commitment to get a little more serious about FHE. The older the kids get- the more outside influences take hold, therefore the more we need to fortify our influence at home. You get the idea. SO- thank goodness for www.ldsliving.com. Seriously- go there and subscribe to their "online" magazine. It's free and they send simple weekly FHE ideas to my inbox. These are SIMPLE FHE ideas. No fancy pants crafts or complicated recipes. I print it out in 2-3 pages and any family member can conduct the night, Arielle led tonight's. We have done this for the past 2 Mondays and success! Good thoughts & good laughs (a simple, "no supplies needed" game is included in most lessons). So there it is- my shameless plug for lds.living- love that site!

Arielle Turns 11

Roller Skating Par-tee!

Opening new riding boots

Letter from Playboy

I know every parent says this...but it really is weird when your baby keeps getting older & older. Eleven?! It happens so fast. My little BD tradition is to decorate the house late at night with streamers/ balloons/ posters to surprise the kids when they wake up in the morning. Only it's not really a surprise because they are expecting it...LOL. However, there was one year I didn't decorate at night before Toby's BD and he's never forgotten....Anyway, then Arielle chose where she wanted to go to dinner. It has become a joke between Jim & me because the kids usually choose Golden Corral (which is NOT a fav of ours). We just keep telling ourselves "serve with the left, eat with the right" remember that tip next time you're at a greasy buffet. After Golden Corral we opened presents. Arielle had 2 gifts: first, new riding boots because hers were too small and second, a letter from the horse she loves (Playboy...I know, I know) telling her that she can come ride him whenever she wants! We were able to negociate a part time lease with a horse that is rarely ridden at the barn & just happens to be her fav. horse, so she is in horse heaven now as she will get to ride more each week. With friends we had a roller skating party and then let her have 3 friends sleepover. We focused alot on the party & celebration of her birthday, now I need to spend the next year focusing on trying to raise a preteen girl and teach her the things that are most important (which is not always the party... :)

Surprise!

Me with Roxy & Skyler
Roxy

Scott & Taylor

Roxy, me, Ash, Jules, Skyler, Scotty

Roxy, Skyler, Dad

The Birthday Boys getting surprised at Chicago Fire (we were celebrating Scotty's BD too, but he didn't make it in this frame)

Yummy Chicago Fire

The whole gang- Scotty, Jules, me,Skyler, Taylor, Dad, Mom, Ash, Roxy (minus Scott Wag who was busy fulfilling his Little League Daddy responsibilities :)

My two navigators w/ their smart phones

Designated Driver

We were stoked on the hot made to order breakfast at Hilton Garden Inn

Touring around Folsom (Jules & Grizzy Adams...aka Scott)

We enjoyed a very special weekend Feb. 25-27th :) Ashley (my youngest sis) just had her 3rd baby, a boy Skyler, the beginning of Feb. Julie & I conceived a fun plan to show up on her doorstep. Just what every postpartum mom needs, unannounced company- right?! We invited our bro Scott to come along and we were so happy that it worked out that we could all three get away. It got better as we realized my parents were also going to be in Folsom for a day at the same time. Sooo....we pulled up to Ash's house and Julie called her from the parking lot. They made chit chat and Julie told Ash she would like to come visit her soon...ha ha. Then she rang the doorbell while she had Ash on the phone. Ash was shocked of course and then I waited a few minutes and rang the doorbell, then last Scott came a few minutes later. We had her in some good tears by this time :) We proceeded to have an awesome weekend:

1.catching up with my adorable niece & nephew that I just haven't seen enough of since I live so far way and holding that sweet new 3 week old baby

2. eating at Chicago Fire Pizza, Dos Coyotes, Big Spoon & Jack's Urban Eats- yummo

3. shopping! I was in heaven at the Folsom outlets....

4. walking on some great trails- Folsom has some GREAT walk/bike trails w/ trees, lakes, etc

It was a very special weekend to get to surprise Ash & spend some really quality time with family