Love Love Love Love Love

Love is...

I love when these two are getting along and playing together...so cute to hear Cade making his little sister giggle. And then the next minute they are fighting and Brecken is tattling on Cade, sometimes she's telling the truth, sometimes she's not. Cade probably gets blamed for a little more than he should and Brecken probably puts up with a little more than she should. And when Cade wants to give her good night hugs and kisses, she will often refuse...she does know how to push his buttons. But I know deep down the love is there. When they wake up in the morning, they always want to know where the other is and then they are so excited to see each other (for about 5 minutes). And when they are with other kids, Cade is always watching out for his sister.

We've been celebrating Valentine's Day for awhile now since Cade has his party at school last Thursday. We made Grandma Roberta's cupcakes to take to school. I still have not perfected the process but they turned out not only edible, but good!

Cade showing off the "surprise" inside.

They waited at least two weeks to open this package from Grandpa Steve & Nanna Celeste...they were so excited when the day finally arrived!

We spent today just hanging out at home...eating on our Valentine plates all day long!

Brecken is celebrating Valentine's Day tomorrow with her friends at Sue's and these are the Valentines she will be taking. She is very excited!

Cade took Toy Story valentines and chocolate to his friends at preschool. I chose Toy Story for him because I knew if I would have taken him the choice would have just been too overwhelming! And because every time we go in a store lately, he thinks he needs a new toy, so keeping him out of stores is just best right now! ; ) The teachers didn't want us to address the cards to the kids, just who they were from. Cade and I worked on it together and he probably would have wrote his name on all 32, but it was getting late so I helped (of course we procrastinated until the night before). He even sealed them with the sticker and taped the candy to them. It was fun to see him being so grown up, putting them all together. He actually made his own box at school, but this one came with his cards. When we were putting the cards together, he was bummed that he didn't get to keep one of his for himself. I said, "you don't give a Valentine to yourself silly!" Then when I picked him up, we had sent one extra and he was quick to tell me that he got to give himself a Valentine!

What else have we been up to during February?

*went to cousin Lauren's 5th birthday party last Sunday at Jumpin' Jacks...the kids had soooo much fun! It has bounce houses and arcade games. Tears from Brecken when we had to leave and I think they were asleep before we got home.

*went shopping with my mom last Friday and then met up with the Cases, Jim, and the kids @ Joe's Crab Shack. That is such a great place to take kids. 1. It's loud. 2. There's a lot to look at. 3. There's entertainment - the wait staff dances every hour or so. 4. They have the cutest dessert ever...a crab-shaped rice krispies treat that comes in an artist's tray with a brush and 3 "paints" strawberry, caramel, and chocolate. 5. During warmer times, there's a playground outside.

*Took the kids swimming at the new YMCA for the first time last Saturday. We had a blast until they found poo in the pool and we had to get out for 20 minutes. This was a half hour before they closed. We moved over to the other pool but it was freezing cold.

*watching American Idol, a little of Biggest Loser, Survivor, the Office, the Vancouver Winter Olympics, and starting today the Amazing Race. I think maybe we are watching a little too much reality tv. Brecken knows Russel on Survivor and often asks to watch him, Cade asked me if Biggest Loser was the exercise show, and tonight Brecken said, "I'm going to Hollywood! And sing for Simon!" I've never met them, but my friend Jodi's cousins, the cowboys Jet and Cord McCoy, are on The Amazing Race so that is fun to watch.

*went to church last Sunday and have been going more often...we're hoping the kids improve each time! ; ) Do we get much out of it? No, we're too worried about making the kids behave, but hopefully by just going we are setting a good example for the kids?!

*had our own little Super Bowl party at home. I actually didn't see much of the game or the commercials because I was working on photos, but I was happy to see the Saints win and Drew Brees with his son...so precious!

*attended the funeral of a co-worker's son who was only 27 and lost his battle with cancer. I did not know him personally, but he and his wife's faith through everything will always be an inspiration to me and I think every person that was in attendance will look at their life and faith differently.

*as I write this, it's snowing again.

That's all for now!

XOXO