February 14, 2013

Happy Valentine's Day!

 Helium balloons can make even Taco Bell for dinner seem festive.

Cute kids in cute Valentine shirts from Grandma and Grandpa Larson.  It's a fun tradition that my kids look forward to every year.

February 13, 2013

    I really can't figure out what went wrong with these cupcakes.  They came out of the oven looking like this.  I specifically remember measuring and adding all of the ingredients correctly.  Maybe it was a bad cake mix?  Once I slapped some frosting and sprinkles on them, no one was the wiser.

 Aren't these cool cupcakes holders?  Once when Jeff's mom was visiting I had to take some cupcakes into Sydney's class for her birthday and couldn't figure out an easy way to transport them.  The next time she visited, she brought these to me.  Very  handy!

February 12, 2013

I love today.

  It was the kind of day that I could have taken a picture of nearly everything that took place because things were just right.  I sat by this window all morning, reading a good book and occasionally looking up to see the snow fall.  Bailey rediscovered the kitchen cupboard that holds all the water bottles and plastic pitchers.  She had some silly scenario going on in her mind all morning, toting different bottles and pitchers from room to room, babbling and giggling.  The laundry got done and the banana bread got baked. Thank you, today, for being lovely. 

February 11, 2013

  You know what I love about Valentine's Day?  It's a rare holiday that hasn't changed much since I was a kid in elementary school.  The kids still have class parties and decorate shoeboxes to exchange themed Valentines with cheesy sayings ("May the Force be with you on Valentine's Day!") I suppose I feel nostalgic about it.  Here's a Valentine's Day from seven years ago.

February 10, 2013

Love is in the air.

  Our evening was spent constructing Valentine's boxes for school parties and writing Valentines cards.  Ryan took his "Balance times" cards especially seriously.  I told him he could give one to his friends in Primary and he was thrilled.  He carefully chose which Star Wars card was appropriate for each of his friends and then meticulously copied their names from the cheat sheet I had written for him.  Again, Ryan please be four years old forever.

February 9, 2013

Cruisin' Historic Route 66 on a Saturday night.
(Trust me, there is nothing historic about it.)

February 8, 2013

 

Tonight the elementary school held a Sock Hop.  The kids were excited to dress up and dance the routines they've been learning in Gym and Music.  Their enjoyment lasted about fifteen minutes.  Sydney danced, Shelbi found some friends to help with at the tattoo booth, and the boys and Bailey complained and wandered and cried. 

  But the two highlights of the night for me were Ryan's Twist dancing and Erik dancing with *Leia.   Leia is in Erik's class.  As soon as she saw him come in tonight, she dragged him on to the dance floor and they twisted together.  Erik was blushing like crazy.  He told me tonight that she's his Valentine.

*Name changed