What a Week

This is my brother, Chris or "Uncle Chip" and sons Jax and Brigg.

Ash was making her debut coming down the stairs in her princess nightgown for her pajama and pancakes Valentine Party at school. I was so lucky I got to help out with her Valentine Party!

Cousin Jax! What a cutie. Now Jodi and Chris are spending time in San Diego. Very jealous.

Austin lost his 6th tooth this week! It was a scary moment when I'd forgotten to put the money underneath his pillow until about 6:30am. He woke up only 15 minutes later and gave me the money and said, "What's the point?" He'd seen me. So I thought! I told him I was in his room checking out how much money he'd gotten because I was so excited too. He was upset it was only $2. Phew. First the toothfairy. That's a precursor to knowing Santa's not real. I dodged this one, but for how much longer? Sniff sniff.

Also this week, I sold the van! My beast. I was sick of making 2 car payments while Jonathan is away. So I sold it to a wonderful family and am very happy. The accord is smaller, but much more economical with the 2 kiddos and one driver. I will have to change my plates from FRITZ to GOOSE again.

This week Austin for the first time decided he didn't want me to tell him what to wear. I always laid out clothes for him or told him what to wear, etc. He always gave in, didn't care, could care less about clothing. But when I told him to put jeans on with his plaid shirt, he said, "No. I want to wear my Red shirt." I told him I had his plaid shirt out and not to argue, just do what I ask him to do. "When are you ever going to stop telling me what to wear?" Wow. I guess now. I never knew he was just going with the motion but now he wants to take a stand! He proudly went to his room when I told him to pick out what he wants to wear to church today. He came out looking like a million bucks and I know he felt that way too.

Another first this week....Ashley's ear drum ruptured. She has had 2 sets of tubes in her ears. This last set, the L tube is still in place but her R tube was out just hanging in her ear canal. On Friday, it ruptured and we went to the Dr Edy Spaghetti to get antibiotics. Later that day, her other ear was draining (the one with the tube). Then last night (WARNING: GROSS content) in the middle of the night she was coughing and sneezing and I went to blow her nose and when she blew, it blew snot (infection) out her EAR!!!! Literally the pressure from blowing made the draining SPRAY out her ear. She screamed as it hurt her and I sat there for a second and didn't know whether to be completely disgusted or think it was cool that I saw such a sight.

Today while I went to church, Grandma stayed home with Ashley and they had a Princes party. Complete with finger painting, reading princess stories and even making princess cupcakes with her princess oven and a tea party. That made us forget about our painful ears for awhile.

My Mom has been here since January 28th. My parents came to visit for a weekend and my dad had to go back to Florida because he teaches marketing at University of Florida. But Mom stayed around another week. And another week (due to the snow storm). And another week (till Valentines Day) and another 3 weeks till Dad comes back up again the second week of March for UF's spring break! It's been WONDERFUL having mom here. Someone to talk to, we have slumber parties EVERY night, a buddy to play cards with, help with the kiddos, we're going to the temple together, lunch dates, BUNKO buddy, shopping, and Relief Society Enrichment together. I'm so thankful she's here spending this wonderful time together with us. I know Florida is a lot nicer than this nasty winter we've had here so far in DC, so I'm very grateful for our relationship and bond we have. Moms are the best!

Valentines Festivities

I have LOVED substitute teaching at Ashley's preschool Haymarket Baptist Church Preschool. We did pink pancakes, cheese, grapes, pretzels and exchanged Valentine. I love love love being a part of the kids' festivities!

On Valentines Evening, we went over to our buddy's house the Johnsons and had our monthly "Break the Fast" dinner. It was so wonderful and special this time especially because we had steak and everything was Valentine themed! Heart ice cubes, Valentines table cloths, and the kids had a Valentines Card exchange. I think I have way more fun and get so much more giddy when I can anticipate these fun festivities!!

She put on "fancy" lipgloss and did her own hair for this Valentines party. :)

Who are you calling sweetheart!?@??

Some of my dearest friends. Nothing like spending time with the people you love on hearts day! I miss you honey. Jonathan of course hoooked us up with Valentines and treats galore. Even all the way from Baghdad. We love you!!!

Happy Valentines Sunday!

So EVERYONE knows that I'm a holiday NUT! I had Valentines decorations out only a few days after we'd put the Christmas decorations away. I just love the feel the holidays bring! We am up and have something else to look forward to. The plates, the holiday candies, wall decos, plate mats and napkins. So there has been decorations in our home that just sprays, "LOVE IS IN THE AIR" all over!

Ashley and Austin had been patiently waiting to opent he special Valentines that Daddy sent them. We waited till Valentines Day to do so! This was their big chance!

Grandma made her famous Valentines Day cake like she did for us when we were little. Devils food cake mix, marshmallow fluff, and tons of sprinkes.

The Valentines...ready to go to church

Sharing the LOVe

There had to be some choloate nibbled at 8:30am. They candy kisses and heart boxes were dug into first.

Thanks Dad for the sweet Valentines!!!

Austin's more into eating chocolate than for posing for luvy duvy pictures

This one loved the holiday. The hearts, pink, red, chocolate, flowers, this is something that Ash could get used to.

MY HERSHY KISS!

Happy Valentines Day to all of you! Even without your spouse around it's still a beautiful, lovely Day! JD did hook me up though. Of course.

Think of all the people you love...and all the chocolate you can eat.

We even did a little activity the next night for Family Home Evening which was on "Loveing One Another" We cut out our own hearts and wrote down something that we loved about another member in our family. We've kept the little hearts on the table and they're so special. Austin said on Daddy's heart, "HE's the best Dad in the whole universe. He protects us and loves us" Ashley had on my heart, "when mommy sings its beautiful." There were so many things that came out in this "loving" session when we were all paying on another compliments that really made all of us feel great. Love love love!

Blizzard of 2010

Wegmans was packed. Food missing from shelves. Was it because of the blizzard ready to hit or because of Super Bowl Sunday? Probably both. This snow storm brought us 28 inches of snow in about a day and a half. If it snows one more inch this winter, (more than 46 inches) we'll beat a record in Washington DC since 1872 of the most snowfall!

I dug out the heavy wet snow for about 4hours yesterday. Nothing a little heat, stretching and Nyquil couldn't take care of.

Mom's Here!

Mom came to visit at the beginning of February. Then she realized the storm was going to hit and wanted to stay longer so I wouldn't be braving the snow alone! What a great Mom. While here, she does wonderful things moms do. She helps out, we chat at night, sleep in the same bed, she's helped me with all my recipe books, she just gets stuff done! It's wonderful having her here.

Fish lips! The kids love Grandma so much. In all of Ashley's prayers, she says, 'please don't let Grandma go back to Florida.' Although I think Pop is fending by himself okay. Pop has said the dog is now sleeping on the bed and he's been eating chicken wings and pizza.

So Grandma just might stay another couple of weeks. Mom and Dad were going to come out and visit the beginning of March anyways, so I told her to stick around a few more weeks! I love my new 'roomie'!!

Uncle Rocco

Uncle Rocco. We love him! It's actually Uncle Aaron. He now lives in New York. He got a job at JP Morgan bank in Manhattan and lives right there in the big apple. Reghan will move there in May after her teaching contract ends. They are wonderful.

Aaron loves to play with the kids. They are so lucky they have such great Uncles and Aunts. Aaron living so close hops on the bolt bus now and visits all the time. It's wonderful having our entire family on the east coast! Congrats Aaron on the new promotion and we love having you here. See you next month!

Cabin Fever

Uncle Cheeto (Uncle Grant) gave the kids this super cool Frito Lay chair! Thanks Cheeto.

So we've had sooo many snow days this winter. We've made cookies, watched TV, hid in closets, played wii and the best thing is that we've been together and had family visit! Pop and Grandma from Florida have come to hang out in this cold. And yes, it makes them love Florida so much more. It's been wonderful having them!