~Mckell's Valentine's Box~

The kids usually all have to make a valentine's box here at home.  This year we lucked out, and Mckell was the only one who had to make one.  Hunter and Lexi made their's at school.  Mckell and I searched the internet for some fun ideas and decided to do the Frog Princess.  It turned out darling!

~The Thomas S Monson Award~

For scouts Hunter had the opportunity to earn the Thomas S Monson award.  I was only offered for a short time, so it is pretty cool that Hunter got to earn it.  He had to do some things with genealogy and family history to earn this award.  So cool!

~Lexi's Fieldtrip to Lee's Marketplace~

I have been on fieldtrips to grocery stores before, and to be honest, they were not my favorite thing.  So I wasn't upset that I couldn't go on Lexi's fieldtrip to the local grocery store.  However after hearing how much fun she had, I really wished I could have made it.
We have the best grocery store by us.  They are constantly doing cool things for the community.  I remember when the store had first opened up, Dave and I were living in our previous home.  One evening we came home to find a bag full of groceries on our front porch.  It was from Lee's Marketplace, letting us know they were new to the neighborhood.  The groceries they gave us were good things too. Bags of chips, a coupon for free creamies, apples, cereal, rolls, stuff like that.  I have shopped there ever since.  They are always doing nice little things, like having the Easter bunny come and passing out treats (which has become an Easter tradition for our family).  They have given me free donuts, 12 packs of soda, etc for coming in.  One time we went to pick up birthday treats for Mckell's 5th birthday.  The manager must have overheard us talking, and got on the intercom and sang happy birthday to Mckell and had a balloon ready for her when we went through the checkout.  Sweet things like that is why I love going there.
On Lexi's fieldtrip they did all kinds of fun things with the kids.  Like letting the kids go back behind the milk and say hi to customers who were grabbing the milk to put into their shopping carts.  Lexi's favorite thing they got to do was they got to scan a box of crackers at the checkout, then the manager put the child with the box of crackers up on the conveyer belt for a short ride.  So much fun!  It has been almost a month since this fieldtrip to the grocery store, and Lexi still talks about it.

Lexi and her little buddy Andrew, getting ready to head out on the fieldtrip.

~Lexi has Found a New Bed~

Lexi has been having nightmares lately.  Well at least that is what she says.  She has spent the last several weeks, sleeping on the floor in someone's bedroom.  She starts off in her own bed, but in the morning we always find her in a new spot.  Whether it be on my bedroom floor, Mckell's floor, or Hunters.  You never know where you are going to find her.  What I love is in the morning, when Garrett gets up, he goes looking for Lexi.  And when he finds her he doesn't try to wake her, he just lays down with her for a minute.  So Cute!  He LOVES his big sister!

Garrett LOVES all his brothers and sisters.  Hunter was watching a movie, sitting on a beanbag.  Garrett grabbed his blanket and snuggled right up to Hunter to watch the show. I love that Hunter let him :)

~Bowling Fieldtrip~

I know I have said this before, but I honestly LOVE that I am able to go into the kids school and help in their classrooms.  From helping with reading groups, to going with them on fieldtrips.  I'm so lucky that I get to spend time with each of them and their peers.  Mckell's class went on a fieldtrip to the local bowling alley.  It was fun bowling with Mckell and her classmates.

Mckell's bowling group.  Mckell, Jenny, and Maggie.

Mckell was a pretty good little bowler.  She had several Strikes (but that could have been because the bumper pads were up on all the lanes, lol).  It was a fun fieldtrip!

~My Husband is Falling Apart~

You know the old saying "When It Rains, It Pours". Well that is how we feel our life has been lately.  Since Dave was put into the bishopric in September, it seems that things with him have been falling apart.  Starting with hacks and problems at work causing mega stress for him, to health issues (which I'm pretty sure were caused by the stress)  We have been in and out of the dr's office for all kinds of things, from anxiety, high blood pressure, to kidney stones.  It has seemed to be never ending.  At the end of the year Dave had passed a kidney, and he was still dealing with other health issues, so when he came to me at the first of the year and said that he had another kidney stone, I was like "Are you kidding me?".  He went in for a scan and they found 2 more kidney stones.  One was too big to pass, so Dave was in for surgery that day.  I was a little surprised the doctor didn't take out both stones, since Dave was already under anesthesia.  But the doctor said that the other stone was passable, so maybe that is why he didn't take it.  I teased Dave before surgery that we needed to trade him in cause he is falling apart, lol.  He has said either the Lord is trying to humble him for his calling as bishop, or Satan is working against him to keep him from doing his calling to his full ability.  Since he has been put in as bishop, it seems to have been one thing after another.  On the plus side, things are starting to look better with his health.  Knock on wood!

Dave before surgery.

I know things will get better.  I tease Dave that I'm going to trade him in, but I love him to death, and would NEVER do that.  He is an awesome husband, father, and bishop. :)