LOVE...LOVE...LOVE

I love Valentines...I had all these grand ideas for how we were going to celebrate this year.  Then I was asked to plan New Beginnings for our YW group, which was the night before, and Mark ended up being in Lander.  So.....I am learning to accept that things can't always be perfect and just do my best:} We put out our little mailboxes the first of February and all month we have been leaving LOVE notes for each other.

 I let the girls pick which Valentine they wanted to put together for their classmates, but I had one condition.....NO CANDY/TREAT!!  

Karsyn chose the Bouncy Ball idea and Emmrey the Glow Stick.  Both turned out really cute {and after seeing their bags/boxes I was so glad we stuck to our plan:}

Every year it seems that the Valentines kids exchange at school get bigger and bigger...by bigger I mean include more and more candy.  When the girls came home and dumped their bags/boxes...It was a little bit reminiscent of Halloween:}  

What happened to good old fashioned Valentine cards??

 The Kindergarteners decorated simple bags in class.  The 5th grade had a box contest.  The requirement was that it be Valentine colors.  Kars made this cute little monster and won 2nd place:}

 We had swimming and a parent meeting at the Middle School that night, so the girls and I just went for pizza for our Valentines.  We saved our traditional V-Day dinner for Friday when Mark was home.

I wanted to keep the gifts simple...and lasting.  I made each of the girls a photo book with pictures of them from 2012. 

 Initially I thought they might be disappointed that they didn't receive the "goody bag" they typically get, but when I saw this during dinner, I knew I had done good!!  {Besides ...Grampa Wayne & Gramma Cheryl always make them happy with their special package}

 Later we doorbell ditched a cookie delivery for the girls {and Mark}.  They know the cookies are from us {because they see me making a huge mess when I do my baking} but it's still a fun sursprise.. .. ..and yummy too.

 Happy HEART DAY to everyone!!

Showalter 2013

We spent last Saturday out at NWC  for the Showalter Music Festival.  This year Bay was in a Trio as well as an Ensemble group.  They did so well on both numbers and received a 1 from the adjudicator, which is about the best you can get {it's backwards}. For the trio they sang Kyrie Eleison, which is a Latin song.  I loved this because with just 3 members, you can hear each of the 3 parts.  {Bailee sang soprano}.  

{Elisha, Bailee, Dani}

Then the ensemble group sang "For Good" from Wicked.   I was already fighting the sting of tears from listening to my little girl sing so beautifully, and then this song caused those tears to run.  I am an emotional gal anyway...but with the changes coming, I find myself on the verge of tears with many things these days.  As I watched these sweet girls, who have sang together for the past 3 years, I could not help but be touched by the words that seemed so perfect:}

{Mary, Bailee, Sara, Dani, Elisha, Sarina, Madeline}

I will miss these wonderful opportunities that my girls have got to experience and pray that there are many more like it to come:}

"For Good"

from Wicked

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...

Superbowl

When we lived near family...it was tradition to have a big Super Bowl party at my sister Lori's.  Now that we are far away, I am not nearly as excited about it {actually I don't think I ever was that excited about the game itself....I think I really just liked getting together with my family}.  We do usually watch the game together and have some snacks.  Karsyn is always into it a little more than the rest of us:}  3 of us were cheering for the Ravens and 2 for the 49ers {that's what you get when you have a party of 5}  We had our little neighbor friend Sage join us ..... she and Karsyn were pretty dedicated spectators.

 Bailee stayed semi interested for almost all the game

 And Emmrey wasn't really interested in anything but the snacks and setting up her kids to watch in the "car"

I did some scrapbooking and perked up when a good commercial came on:}  That was one looong game and by the end I'd had it!!  Mark and Kars are the only 2 who watched to the end.

3 in 1 School Spirit

Kars and Emm showed some school spirit recently.  They had 3 ...Crazy Hair, Jersey and PJ day all in one day.  Kars is very particular about what she will and wont let me do with her hair and therefore, most days result in whatever her signature hair style is at the time:}  So I was a little surprised that she was not only willing, but the brains behind her crazy hair this year.  We did the "bun hawk"...which turned out really cute.  I should have got a side shot....it was pretty neat looking.  Emmrey went for the cupcake look....with two little treats on the sides of her head.  They both looked so cute all dressed up in school spirit......Kars was not so thrilled that I wanted to snap a photo before school started:}

Student of the week

A couple of weeks ago Emmrey was Student of the Week in her Kindergarten class.  She got to take in something each day to share with the kids. We made a little poster with information about Emmrey and some of her favorite things.  

It was cute to see some of the things she chose to take in each day.  We put together a book with pictures of her and she took her little pink Yellowstone journal {which she has been writing in regularly}. She really wanted to share all about her many "kids", which lets face it...is a huge part of who she is:}, but it was causing her distress to have to choose just one.  I mean really...how can a mother pick a "favorite".  I helped her decide to take her new little CPK that Gramma & Grampa gave her for Christmas, because her name is Alise ...just like Emmrey's middle name.  

Speaking of Alise....she also chose to take in some clip on earrings that she got from Gramma Alice....she wore them so proudly:}

Another part of being student of the week, is that the class makes you a special book, with a page from each classmate.  This page was done by Hermione, a special little girl in Emm's class that she is such a good friend to.

 

On Friday, she wanted to take in a favorite treat...she decided on pink marshmallow pops....she LOVES marshmallows!!

Celebrating 100

Wednesday was the 100th day of school for our kiddos.  In Kindergarten this is a HUGE deal.  In 5th or 8th grade.....not so much!!  I love how excited these little ones get about these things:}  The "Kinders" were encouraged to make a 100th Day project at home to share on the special day.  Emmrey made a shirt with 100 dots forming the number 100.  It turned out pretty darn cute!!  She also came home sporting some new glasses and a funky hat with 100 streamers.

{Overnighter}

One of the gifts Mark got for his birthday was two tickets to the 

Fly Fishing Film Tour in Billings.  

Believe it or not...he invited me to go along.  

We made an overnight date of it.  We dropped the girls off at the next best thing to Grandparents ... ..AKA....The Fentons:} and hit the road.  Our date began with a simple 1.5 hour drive ...just the two of us.  We arrived in time to grab some dinner.  Although there were many other options, we decided on the Olive Garden, because it had been soooo long since we dined there.  It was almost as tasty as we remembered, and so filling. Yes, I know...I am one of "those" people who take pictures of their meal...but just look at how scrumptious that looks.  My mouth is watering as I write:}

Potato Crusted Chicken {Mark}

Ravioli di Portobello {mine}

 We then headed downtown to the Babcock.  This theater is located in the historic part of town and has a real artsy feel to it.  I was kicking myself for not getting a photo before we went in because after it pretty much looked like this......

It was late when it ended so we were glad we had decided to stay over.  We stayed at the Crowne Plaza, just a few blocks from the theater....so we could walk to our hotel:}

 The next morning we got up and grabbed a quick bite at the Bagel Shop and headed for Cody.  Mark had to leave for Cheyenne around noon.  It was a quick little trip...but such a fun date night!!  The girls had such a great time with Bruce and Janet, it made it that much easier to get away for the night.

{View of downtown from our hotel window}