HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAKE

We are so privileged to have Jacob in our family. I love how each of my children have their own special and unique personalities. Jacob's personality is tender. He wants more than anything to choose the right, and whatever "choosing the right" entails. For Valentine's Day, I wrote a list of things that I love most about Jacob. Jacob's list seems to illustrate just his tender personalityHere are those things now:

1. Your happy self! I love that you sing and laugh all of the time!

2. Your desire to do what's right!

3. I love that you work on learning the scriptures. (We memorize our favorite scriptures, and Jacob works hard to have them memorized too.)

4. I love that you listen to me about reading...even when its hard--you still keep trying.

5. I love that you love CARS. 

6. I love that you desire to be good.

I am truly grateful for Jacob! He teaches me a lot about generosity and kindness.

Breakfast in Bed

SCIENCE CENTER:

Science Center with the Tobler's

FUDDRUCKER'S:

FAMILY PARTY:

Jacob was so grateful to Amber for her gift to him that he squeezed her to death!

Happy 6th Birthday!

Valentine Heart Hunt
Every year we have a countdown leading up to Valentine's Day. I enjoy celebrating holiday's. I like finding ways to teach my kids while celebrating. Valentine's Day is one of those holiday's that doesn't have a lot of meaning behind it; however, it's a perfect opportunity for me to teach my kids about being kind, and generous. Every day we read a scripture centered on LOVE, KINDNESS, GENEROSITY, GRATITUDE...and then we do an activity that relates to that scriptures. Some of the activities are simply for fun, and some of the activities are all about service--we do a variety. The best part of the countdown is that it is "planned" family time, and "planned" spiritual discussion--I couldn't ask for more!

Heart Hunt

Scriptures and Activities are as follows:
1 John 3:23
Decorate the home
with love!

1 Corinthians 13:4
Seek out a family member that may need a little extra help today, and do a kind deed for them.

John 15:13
Heart  attack a
loving family.

Matthew 22:37
Watch a Valentine Movie
as a family.

Matthew 5:44
Give away as many
hugs as you can
today.

1 John 2:10
“Gratitude creates the most wonderful feeling. It can resolve disputes. It can strengthen friendships. And it makes us better men & women (and children).” Make an effort to say “thank you” today.
~President Hinckley

D&C 88:23
Cherish family time
and play a game
together!

Ephesians 4:32
Heart Hunt

Mosiah 18:21
“Charity never faileth!” Choose your secret valentine!

Romans 12:10
Hershey kiss
scavenger hunt.

Mosiah 4:15
Deliver a “Love Bucket”
to a special family!

1 Peter 3:10
Write and mail a letter to someone you love!

1 Peter 1:22
Write 5 compliments
to a family member
and secretly deliver it to them!

John 13:34-35
Make, decorate, &
deliver Valentine
cookies to a neighbor.

Happy Birthday, Bryan!
I wish there was a way to put into words how I feel about my husband. Every time I try to write what is in my heart, it just doesn't seem to describe exactly how I feel. I think back on our courtship, and I am grateful that he became mine and I became his. There were moments when I wasn't so sure that we would be together--moments I am sure that he wasn't so sure either. In fact, at one point in time, I was so confused that my mother (without my knowledge) called Bryan and asked him to be patient with me. She told him that she knew that I was in love with him, but that I wasn't aware of my own feelings yet. Bryan is patient. He is patient with our kids, and he is patient with me. There are things that I do that if the roles were reversed--I'm not sure if I would be as gracious with Bryan as he is with me. In those moments, when I know he is being an example of patience, I am even more grateful to my dear, sweet Bryan. I love him with all of my heart, and I am so blessed that he is mine! 

Bryan loves to ride his bike to work. I surprised him with a bike bag.

Balloon Messages

Grandma and Grandpa and the rest of Bryan's family came into town on Bryan's birthday. We spent the afternoon having Nerf Gun Wars with Grandpa!

Amber's Collection of Bullets Hidden in Her Cap

Can you tell there are bullets in her cap?

Bryan chose Primo's Cookie Dough Pizza for his cake...I love that Amber is helping Bryan blow out the candles in the background! This is my favorite photo bombing picture ever!

 

For the past few years, I have been doing the "12 Days of Bryan" leading up to Bryan's birthday. Here is what I did this year:

On the first day of Bryan, your “true loves” gave to you:
ONE Bag of Jerky

On the second day of Bryan, your “true loves” gave to you:
TWO Chocolate KISSES

On the third day of Bryan, your “true loves” gave to you:
THREE cans of PRINGLES

On the fourth day of Bryan, your “true loves” gave to you:
FOUR Love LETTERS

On the fifth day of Bryan, your “true loves” gave to you:
FIVE Apples DIPPING

On the sixth day of Bryan, your “true loves” gave to you:
SIX Yummy ROOTBEERS

On the seventh day of Bryan, your “true loves” gave to you:
SEVEN “You’ve Got Mails”

On the Eighth day of Bryan, your wifey gave to you:
1 Babysitter+ 1 Romantic Dinner+1 Game of Bowling+2 Movie Tickets+2 Boxes of Candy+1 Night of Hand Holding

On the Ninth day of Bryan, your “true loves” gave to you:
NINE Heart TREASURES

On the Tenth day of Bryan, your “true loves” gave to you:
TEN Loving BALLOONS

On the Eleventh day of Bryan, your “true loves” gave to you:
ELEVEN Peanut Butter BLOSSOMS

On the twelfth day of Bryan, your “true loves” gave to you:
TWELVE NUTTER BUTTERS…There’s Nuttin’ Better Than YOU!!!!

Happy Birthday, Amber!
Amber requested "Cheesy Chicken" for her birthday dinner. Afterwards, we opened presents, played Wii as a family, and popped balloons. (Every year there are balloons with messages. One balloon for every year of her life.)
I am so grateful to have Amber as my daughter! She is full of sunshine and personality. I really should nickname her "smiley", because she constantly has a huge grin plastered across her face. I love her excitement for life, her constant joy, and the joy she shares with others. I am truly grateful for Amber.

Cheesy Chicken Birthday Dinner

American Girl Doll--Samantha

Popping Messages within the Balloons