Valentine's Day!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Oh, I just love holidays. They are fun and exciting. For some reason though I wasn't so psyched about Valentine's Day this year. I think it may have been because I knew it was the first day Justin would be back in the hospitals after his 3 weeks off and that he wouldn't be home until really late. Darn. He was on cardiac surgery though. Pretty cool place to be on Valentine's Day! Healing hearts...

Here's my Valentine. I think he is pretty cute, and yes I made him take this picture because he looked so good in his new sweater vest I bought him in Calgary. I love sweater vests. They just look manly and cozy and huggable. Too bad it doesn't match his suit. Grey vest with a blue suit? Whoops...I don't know men's fashion.

Justin planned ahead and bought me flowers the Wednesday before Valentine's Day! He went out to pick up some groceries since his family was coming up for Dallin's basketball tourney and came home with these beauties. I love them. Aren't they beautiful?!
Growing up we had several rose bushes right in my back yard that always seemed to be blooming. They smelled SO good. Mom would often cut and arrange them in vases on the table. I loved them. There is something amazing about fresh flowers. When we first got married I told him not to buy my flowers, that it was a waste of money. Well, I lied. I love them. Don't get rip off flowers is what I should have said I guess, but Costco always has beautiful flowers for beautiful prices. Good work hon! Keep it up.

On Valentine's Eve before we went to bed Justin said he had to go down stairs quickly and make me a card. Nice gesture I guess, but it was hilarious to have him tell me exactly what he was going to do. I sneakily started making him a valentine while he made mine downstairs and finished while he was sitting on the other couch talking to me. He thought I was writing in my journal which was open on my lap too, but really I was writing him the card he got the next morning. Gotcha!

The amazing card. I love his drawing on the front! And the contents were even better! 2 (fake) tickets to Hawaii!! Was I surprised? Nope. This actually really made me laugh. We've been talking about going to Hawaii since we got married and always thought we'd do it when he graduated from med school. I want to take him back to my old stomping grounds at BYU Hawaii and enjoy the sunshine and trade winds. Ahhh.... Anyway, the last year or so we've been deciding on a time to go and thought May would work for us. And then he gives me this card with fake tickets in it that say "P.S. This is not a real ticket. You have to go online and book one." HA! What an awesome gift hon. Tickets for a trip we've already been planning together and then the permission to go online and book them?? You make me laugh. And that is why I love you.

(I sound like a horrible ungrateful wife! I don't mean too! I am SOOOOO excited to go, ECSTATIC! I just thought it was hilarious that he would "give" me this trip that was already in the works and then go tell me to go book it online!)

One more funny Valentine's Day story...

Amelia: "Hey hon, 6 years ago today I had my last first kiss."

Justin: "You never know."

WHAT?! What kind of answer is that!! Here I am trying to be sappy and romantic and he says that?!

So here's what I gave to Justin for Valentine's Day. My sister Carrie heard on the radio that the best thing to give a man on Valentine's Day is a delicious sandwich. Weird eh? I thought so until I heard the explanation; you don't have to/can't really share a sandwich! If you get them chocolates or pizza or something they feel like they have to share with coworkers and such. But how often do you hear someone unrelated to you say "Wanna bite of my sandwich?" Yuck! We had some leftover roast beef so I made him a man sandwich with avocados and everything. Delish. I also woke up early and made him breakfast. I am sure something was pink or in a heart shape. I can't remember. It was too early. Now that is love.


Valentine's morning Papa and Bama were at our place so we made them heart shaped pancakes with strawberry sauce.

MY VALENTINIES!

I have no clue what she's eating, but she's still pretty cute, right?

Ignore the boogers...if you can.

Oh boy. :)

So the kids and I just basically hung out all day. I wanted to make Valentine cookies, but we had SOOO MUCH delicious junk here at the house from the weekend of fun with Papa and Bama I couldn't. SO MUCH...ferrero rochers, lindors, chocolate chip cookies, strawberry cheesecake, DQ ice cream cake, DQ buster bars, DQ ice cream sandwiches, valentine gummy candies, chocolate almonds...that's all I remember. Hence no cookies. :)

Zach took this shot of me in my awesome heart shirt while I was making our fancy dinner... of leftovers. :) And contrary to what this picture depicts...I'm not pregnant. MAYBE next Valentine's Day?
Justin wasn't home yet, so we ate our candle lit dinner without him! He didn't get home until 7:30. Lame, but pretty cool that he was watching heart surgeries all day.

The kids just tried to blow out the candles all throughout dinner. I had to relight all of them!

Happy Valentine's Day!! Hope yours was as "SWEET" as ours!!

Interviews...a.k.a 3 Weeks Off!!

Yay for residency interviews!!! The school gives the students 3 weeks off for them to fly around the country to all of their interviews, but Justin only applied to 2 residencies, Edmonton Urban Family and Lethbridge Rural Family. The interviews were Friday and Saturday, one in Edmonton and one in Calgary. Thanks to Richard and Leslie we were able to go to Calgary overnight for his interview. After HORRIBLE roads, we made it. I HATE WINTER ROADS. Ug. Anyway, we enjoyed the rest of the time getting work done around the house, playing, going to Galaxyland in the West Edmonton Mall, and going to Calgary to stay in a hotel (with a water slide!) as a family and to watch Dallin's basketball tournament. It was busy and fun. I loved having Justin home to help out. I am sure he needs a vacation from his vacation. :) Not so sure he is going to get that in his surgery rotation. Whoops. What a worker.

GALAXYLAND!!

The train.

It was great going to Galaxyland with Justin. I love how he loves to play with his kids. It is so fun to watch.

Yes, this is an action shot. The first picture I took of Zach in the ball pit he pelted me with a ball. Nice shot son.

Ha ha. I think this is funny.

She is so awesome.

Cute boy.

He played and played and played. See his rosy cheek and sweaty hair?? Hard work.

Where Kara hung out most of the time.

We met Cohen, one of Zach's buddies, at Galaxyland. Zach went on the bumper cars by himself. It was hilarious.

The boys on the roller coaster. Zach's first. He loved it.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

CALGARY!!!

We met Justin's parents in Calgary and stayed 2 nights in a hotel that had a pool and water slide. Just for fun. And to watch Dallin's basketball tourney of course! It was SO FUN! We had a conjoined room with Justin's parents. Every one had a blast.

I loved the pre-swimming relaxing on the bed watching T.V.

Swimming!

Papa in the pool with the kids. It was so fun to swim with him. Thanks for being so involved and helpful!! We had 1 adult to each kid. :)

Action shot.

Kara's turn.

Go Justin! Too bad it wasn't centered.

Water slide!!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Fun hair Kate.

My tele-hot-tubbies. Kara got in the hot tub after each time she went down the water slide.

See, I WAS there. Nice on Just.

I love how relaxed Zach is. Legs crossed and everything.

More cartoons!

I got to go shopping and FINALLY got a warm coat and high leather boots. I am now prepared to live in Canada, 4 years later. I guess I am finally realizing that I really might be here for the long haul.

AROUND THE HOUSE

Right before bedtime...They rock in the chair together. Love it.

Family Home Evening!!

The kids always grab their chairs and sit for songs and lesson time. Justin, FHE #1 of our marriage has always done this awesome welcome/introduction to family home evening. The kids love it. Kate's clapping for Zach I am pretty sure.

Smoothies!!! I went downstairs to get something and came up to this. She was eating my smoothie!!

Panty Princess...still working on the whole potty training thing, but they are getting it!

Does Anything Sink In???

Ug! Parenting an almost 4 yr old and two 2 yr olds is NOT EASY right now!!! I feel like I am running in circles cleaning up after whatever one gets into and then while I am dealing with that situation another is making more of a mess for me to deal with later! And time outs etc. don't seem to be making a difference.

Anyway, the story prompting this post helped me see a tiny light at the end of the tunnel. I went downstairs to get Kara's once-barfed-on-but-now-clean sheets out of the dryer just in time for nap time. While I was down there I heard the tell-tale footsteps running across the floor to the kitchen headed for the refrigerator. We used to have a strap on it...but Zach broke the snap right off about a year ago...beside the point. They had JUST eaten lunch, were finishing their "Dragon Movie" (How to train your Dragon...the new favorite), so I thought he would just watch it and let me have a minute. Anyway, I knew if he was going for the fridge he was going to get the red valentine's jello...MY jello (sugar free stuff...you know, the detox after the holidays). So I go up there and he is no where to be seen. "Zach, come out from hiding and bring the jello with you." He did come out, but he had the bowl of cantaloupe, as good as candy to him. He loves that stuff. And you are thinking I was wrong about the Jello? No. I know my kid. I opened the fridge and it was almost gone too. Literally caught RED handed. After a scolding, hand washing, and a slightly raised voice to get my point across, he was in his room for and eternal time out. I JUST talked to him about this earlier this morning!! WHY DOESN'T HE LISTEN!! Ug, ug, ug.

A few minutes after I put him in his room I went in and asked, "Do you have anything you want to say to me?" He replied, "I wasn't talking to you, I was talking to Jesus." "What were you saying to Jesus?" I said slightly taken back. His little face got kind of sad and his voice trembled..."I was saying I'm sorry for taking the cantaloupe and the jello from the refrigerator." I could tell he felt really sorry for doing it. It melted my heart.

My boy may be kind of crazy at times, but he knows that Jesus is real and he knows he can talk to him when he is sad and he can ask forgiveness. That is important. So yeah, I still need to work on the listening and obeying thing, but at least something of what we say sunk in. A really important something. Jesus loves me and is there for me when I need him. Thanks for reminding me Zachy boy.

--Now to go clean Kate's poo/potty/toilet water/plunger mess that occurred while I was having this tender moment...It's a can't-get-off-the-hamster-wheel kind of day.

Crafty Decorations!!

So I found out winter is a great time to get some crafts done...you are stuck inside anyway! Justin has been home too, so I have had more time to finish things off. Woo hoo! Through some blog surfing I found a few fun things to do and here's how my versions turned out!

PROJECT #1 LIMA BEANS!!

They spray painted theirs other colors, but I liked it au natural.

PROJECT #2

I really like how this wreath turned out. Brings some COLOR to my brown walls...Color is awesome. Especially in this very white and brown world we are living in at this moment...

Made of crepe paper streamers!! See how here...

PROJECT #3

And these fun beauties to bring in even more color! It was SO fun being able to finish projects I have been thinking about doing for months. Yay for Justin being home!! He goes back Monday. Dang.

Dollar store frames. The only square ones they had were an okay size and the perfect color! Woo hoo!

Here is the site. I LOVE LOVE LOVE hers. The pattern and color are great...I might just do them in my room too with my new bedding I just found!