Valentine's Day

Yes, I am crazy. I am certain of it. I had big plans for Valentine's Day: sugar cookies to decorate, pistashio and lime curd strawberries for Mel, and homemade heart-shaped pizza for dinner. By the time I got to the end of this cooking list, I was worn out and, I'll just say it: ornery. But we did it all. Fortunately I had the where-with-all to do the chocolate fountain and "fancy" dinner the day before on Sunday. However, it was all sort of thrown to the wind when Sophie woke up with a fever and, after a trip to the doctor on Sunday night, an ear infection that still hadn't cleared up after 10 days of medicine. The fancy dinner was eaten in shifts on plastic plates while someone held Sophie, and we rushed the chocolate fountain in before the trip to the doctor. It seemed to cheer Sophie up a bit--who doesn't feel better after ibuprofen and chocolate? Next year I think I'll remember that less is more. But I do LOVE my family!

Sophie's 2nd Birthday

It's hard to believe how quickly a year goes by. Our little baby is not a baby anymore. She is a little girl who wants to be big like her brother and sister. She wants to dress herself, wear "unners" (unders), ride a big bike, go everywhere they go. . . . You got the picture. Soph is very strong-willed and knows what she wants. She has discovered Elmo and the Little Einsteins and enjoys laying in our bed watching "Elmo's World" while I get ready in the mornings. She loves to give kisses, read in bed, and play with T and Anna. She is still a little shy and quiet in public, but at home she is all personality. She is warming up, however, to friends and family, and they are beginning to see the real Soph--and cute she is!! Mel took the day off for her birthday, so while the rest of us were off at school, Mel and Soph ran some errands and went to the aquarium together. She had a good day!!!

Opening presents



The oh, so lovely cake. I took Soph to the store to pick out plates, and she wanted the "bug," so I decided I could manage a bug cake as well. It was a good effort at least.
We had no idea what to get this 3rd child for her birthday--we have too many toys already. Mel decided she should have a Build-a-Bear, so we gave her an empty animal and an outfit, but you can be sure when we got to the store she chose her own dog and outfit--and Papa let her have whatever she picked up!! She was a little scared of the stuffing machine, but once her dog was in her hands, she was as pleased as she could be!

Of course, the brother and sister got to join in on the party and show Sophie how it is done.

Blowing out candles.
Eating cake.

The New Year

We usually spend New Year's Eve with two friend families. This year one of the families had pink eye, so it was just the two families, but we made up for it later and repeated the party with the third family at the end of January. We usually order Chinese food from the Mandarin in Bountiful and the kids play while the adults hang out. It's lots of fun! We love our friends.

The kids NOT eating the Chinese food--of course.

Sophie loves to paint--especially with the other kids. Here she is "finger" painting, but if you look closely, you can see what else she was painting. Never leave a 2-year-old unsupervised!Now you can tell!
T's art
This kid is a crack-up. He is a mini-Mel. He makes us laugh a lot.


Pops helped T build a really big, really cool track for his train!Soph loves to do EVERYTHING that Thys and Anna do: costume like Thys, guitar like Anna.

Jungle Jim's

While my sis was here after Christmas (yes, I am that far behind), we went to play at Jungle Jim's. The kids had a blast riding rides together--even Sophie loved the rides.

Anna on the spinning ride
Cousin and Thys on the spinning ride
T on the Space ship
Soph and cousin in the jeeps
Soph a little giddy from spinning

A New Suit

I will have to post a picture after T wears his new suit on Sunday, but he is thrilled with his "new" suit that his bigger cousins have outgrown. We had to go immediately to get a tie to go with it today. On the way home T asks, "Mom, how do we call Jesus?" "Well, Jesus doesn't really have a phone. We can just pray to him," I explain. Then T says, "Well, where do I send Jesus a picture of me in my new suit?" Good question T. What do I say? "Well, T, I think Jesus can see you in your new suit. I don't think he needs a picture. I think he will be very happy with you in your new suit." I LOVE KIDS!

Sophie's Anna

I want to post this because it is so cute. I want to remember it. Soph has been a stinker at going to bed lately. We spoiled her when she was sick with her 10 + day ear infections. I would hold her on my lap, and we would watch Elmo or I would lay her on my belly in my bed until she went to sleep. Well, I'm pretty sure she feels fine now, but she still wants to be spoiled. Tuesday night I didn't put her down until 10:00 after we watched something on TV. I don't even remember what. Wednesday night, I put her down about 9:00 after we rocked and watched "Momma's TV" (American Idol). She screamed for 1 1/2 hours--and I mean screamed! I was ready to do the same thing. I can't believe Anna slept through it. I finally ended up on the floor next to her bed while she screamed, "Momma's TV" and "Elmo" and "poopy" (which she wasn't)for 1/2 hour. She finally gave in. Last night Mel started before 8:00. I put Anna to bed hoping she would calm down with Anna, but she just kept crying. Annie came down around 9:00 and said, "Mom, she is still screaming. I can't sleep." So I told Anna to go get in my bed with Pops. She came down a few minutes later crying. She said, "Mom, I feel so bad for Sophie. I can't leave her alone in there. She is so sad. Can you do something?" I told her no, of course, because getting Soph out of bed was not going to help cure the problem. So Annie went back up to be with really mad and sad Sophie. Then I felt guilty, so I went up and took Soph out so Anna could go to sleep. We sat on the stairs in the dark until she calmed down, and then I put her back to bed, and she finally fell asleep around 9:30. Good news--tonight she only cried for 1/2 hour! We're getting there! But what a cute big sister who wanted to take care of Soph! Love that Annie!

A Little Out of Order, But New Official Photos

So, we took the plunge and made the yearly trip to the photo studio--it is getting easier. It was actually a pleasant experience, and I didn't even break out in a sweat. The purpose was for Sophie's two-year-old shots, but since we could take pics of anyone for all the same price, we threw the rest of us in for a few. As you can see, Sophie's pics are the best, and she has the most, but T and Annie look pretty cute. You've got to love the over-jetting, big-people teeth that Annie has acquired over the last few months! The serious family ones are my least favorite. When did Mel and I get so old and. . .how do I say it nicely. . . sturdy? The funny family ones I actually like. Go ahead and weigh in. The great thing about Fotofly (the studio) is that we got the CD with all the decent pics they took, so if anyone wants 25 copies, just let me know!
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6 Only Mel would bring ugly fake teeth for pictures--and Thysie willingly wore them!! Two-of-a-kind.
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