Valentines '16

As we were addressing Valentines for Sara's classmates, she asked me if she gets to wear a costume for this holiday. I love that she is still figuring out holidays. Candy = Halloween = Costume in her mind. Right? I had to explain that this is another candy holiday but this time without the costumes :)

Sara and I helped in the kids' classrooms for their Valentine's parties.

 Costume or not, she loves Valentines Day!

 The Bishop was heart attacked by the Activity Days girls.

 Todd and I were invited to "prom" by some friends. We tried to have Michael take a picture of us before we left, but the kids had too much fun photo bombing.

 Our 'official' prom pictures. We didn't dress according to the 50's theme but we still had a blast. 

(Next year is an 80's theme. Now that I can do! I was the big hair queen! I'll show you a picture sometime.)

Basketball, scouts & Bishop's office

Benjamin just finished his Jr. Jazz season. He had a great time!

 Getting some half-time pointers from dad.

 It was fun to have his friends Kyle and Tyson on his team.

 Straight from basketball to a merit badge pow wow.

 Michael completed and turned in his Eagle papers. Hooray!

I just have to give a shout out for his amazing 13 year old. He set a goal to get all the merit badges. Every. one. And he is determined. He told me yesterday that he was staying after school because the art teacher was going to show him how to make a pinch pot for the pottery merit badge. He doesn't take art. He didn't know the art teacher. But he is determined to accomplish his goal. So he introduced himself to the art teacher and told her what he is working on, and she was happy to help. Amazing! The funny thing is, he loved it. If the school would let him take 12 classes a day he would do it. He already WANTS to take 2 summer school classes so he can free up room in his schedule for more electives. Seriously? This kid rocks!

My sweet honey getting organized in his new Bishop's office.

 Saturday evening before his first Sunday as Bishop. Office all ready to go and cuddling with his 4 year old. Precious!

 After church on his first Sunday as Bishop. The yawn is classic!

 Our family met in the Bishop's office to break our fast together and then the kids raided his candy jar :)

Aunt Linda

Todd's sweet Aunt Linda recently passed away. I will always remember her kind embrace. From the moment Todd introduced me to the Stepan family, I always felt like Linda loved me and was my friend.

 Even though Uncle Keith was grieving, he took time to give Todd some tender council about being a Bishop.  He told us about when he was called as Bishop around age 33. He and Linda were living in an apartment at the time. The Stake President told him it would be nice if the Bishop had a house, and they had found one for his young family. He and Linda bought that house and have continued to live in it for nearly 50 years. I am grateful for Keith and Linda's example of dedication to the gospel.

 Linda's funeral was inspiring and uplifting. I left that day wanting to be a better person because of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It was also a wonderful day because all of Todd's siblings and his parents were together. I am so grateful for this good family and their devotion to each other and the Lord.

 Todd's maternal grandparents are buried at the cemetery near Aunt Linda. Todd cleared the snow off their gravestone in his suit with his bare hands so that his mom could see it. Brrr... it made me cold just watching from the car. He is such a good son. He truly honors his father and mother.

January in review

We started our January by taking the python back to school. It was fun for a while but we won't be getting our own any time soon :)

While Michael and Sara returned to school at the beginning of January, the middle three kids were off track and enjoyed some more time off. 

Here are some of the fun things we did together; We went on the Ferris wheel at Scheel's...

 We shopped at the Lego store and the American Girl doll store...

We had some fun at Toys 'r' us...

 We shoveled lots of snow...

And we also baked delicious morsels like these muffins...

Todd and I enjoyed a few date nights together in January. I love being with this guy. Even if it's just a trip to Wal-Mart where I make him smell lotions so that my lotion scent doesn't make him gag. (Funny thing is... there was another couple there doing the same thing! Nice to know we're not the only ones who struggle to find a scent both can agree on.)

We took a couple of trips to the Museum of Curiosity

While the big kids were doing the high ropes course...

Sara was playing on the play ground. She climbed down from the top of the playground and said, "Mom, I can't go down that dark slide up there. There's a sign that says you should wait for your brothers."

And that's exactly what she did. It melts my heart that her brothers take such good care of her.

We had such a good time at the Curiosity Museum that we went back the next afternoon after Michael got out of school. The boys loved doing the high ropes course again together.

I love to watch our kids work together...

We worked up an appetite at the museum. Dad was working late, so we enjoyed In-n-out together.

Lunch at Kneaders with Great-grandpa and grandma.

Benjamin got everyone involved in his science fair project.

 Besides, what could be more fun than making soda pop explode?!

 We're happy to report that his class presentation went well and he got an 'A'.

Our special family dinner to celebrate mom and dad's anniversary...

I curled my hair for my special anniversary date with Todd. Sara wanted her hair curled too. Then she wanted to take selfies. She is her mothers daughter :)

Michael left on the Klondike camp out on our anniversary. Sleeping in tents in the freezing cold snow is not my idea of fun but Michael couldn't wait! Technically he didn't need to go. He already had enough camping nights for his Camping Merit Badge, but he WANTED to go. He said they had a blast.

Our anniversary dinner this year was at an amazing restaurant called Tiburon. We highly recommend it. In between courses, they served a fantastic cucumber sorbet. I'd go back just for that!

My sweetie did a woodworking project for me for our anniversary. It's the beginning of redecorating our bedroom. I'll keep you posted as it progresses...

My mom brought us a cake for our anniversary. The kids were thrilled to help us eat it.

Our boys studying the scriptures before church.

 Michael and Benjamin built an igloo. It's pretty impressive. 

And finally, Todd's parents arrived for Todd's sustaining and setting apart as Bishop.  They took us to Texas Roadhouse on Saturday night. It was a special treat to have them here with us.