Dancing Diva...

Jaedyn has been wanting to take dance lessons, so today I took her to her first dance class at Hi-Def Dance Academy. When we got there she met her dance teacher, Miss Kim, and another girl named Sara whom she quickly became friends with. Since this was her very first time in a dance class, and I didn't know how she'd like it, I didn't buy her any fancy dance clothes. She picked her outfit out of clothes she already had, and she looked cute in it! 

Miss Kim took Jaedyn and Sara in the dance studio to start learning while I stayed outside, looking through the window. I tried to get pictures, but I didn't want to use the flash because I knew that would be a huge distraction, so this is the best I got from a distance... 

       Jaedyn looked like she'd been doing dance for a while, she was really good at it! I love how she would get right up on her tippy toes...she's going to have some awesome calves after this!     Miss Kim taught the girls a lot of dance moves and did some playing with them too. They all seemed to be having a blast!      I think Jaedyn's favorite part was when they got to roll around and do somersaults on the mat...      My little dancing diva had to pose a little for me when class was all over...      ...and blow me some kisses...      Jaedyn had so much fun in dance today, so I think we'll let her continue coming. She's a natural when it comes to dance and I can tell that she really enjoys it. She's so stinkin' cute while she's dancing too!

Reading Week Fun!

This week is Nevada Reading Week and Jantzen's school does a lot of celebrating for it. One of the things the kids got to enjoy was story time with Ronald McDonald. The kids were so excited to see him, except for Jaedyn. This was as close as she wanted to get to him...

   She eventually warmed up and by the time he was done reading all of his books, she decided to be brave and go up to say "hi" to him...      Jantzen's class was lucky because they were one of only three classes that Ronald went to visit personally before he left. Ronald read the class a few more stories before heading off to the next class.      I think Jaedyn had had enough of story time with Ronald because all she wanted to do was paint. Jantzen's teacher, Ms. Myers, is really good about letting Jaedyn paint, color, and play with puzzles while she's there.      Before Ronald had to leave, I got some fun pictures of him with Jantzen's class...          ...and one of Ronald with just Jantzen and his best friend JoseAlfredo...      The kids really had a good time hanging out with Ronald McDonald.    Jantzen's class also got into the reading week spirit and decided to decorate their classroom door. They chose the book "Green Eggs and Ham" as their theme...      Jantzen painted both of these "Cat in the Hats"...       ...and he was asked to draw the train from the book...       He did an awesome job on all of it, especially the train!

Funny Girl!

This little lady really knows how to make me laugh! She has this new thing she does with her hands. She holds all her fingers together tightly, then continually pushes her fingertips on both hands together and makes weird faces the whole time she's doing it. I don't know where or how she came up with it, but it makes me laugh every time she does it. 

       Today she sported this hat and glasses and it made it even funnier!    I LOVE THIS GIRL!!!

"HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY"

Our 14th day of Valentine's finally arrived! 

We had a lot going on today. First, Jaedyn and I went to Jantzen's school for his class Valentine's day party. Last night I put together a bag of goodies and stamped a bag for all the kids in Jantzen's class that had their names on them to hold all of their treats. After Jantzen passed them all out, he got to enjoy some yummy Valentine's treats and watch a movie. Jaedyn was happy that she got to enjoy the fun along with her big brother...

       Before the kids got home from school, I set out their Valentine's gifts. When they got home they were so excited to see what they got.      Here's what I got Jaron (I couldn't find the book he wanted, so I gave him a rain check on it)...      This is what I gave Jantzen...      And here is what I gave Jaedyn...      Notice how they all got new hot chocolate mugs??? It's because they all love to drink hot chocolate all year round, even when it's 120 degrees outside...crazy kids!!!    This is all the goodies that I got for Valentine's Day, I was spoiled!      Josh gave me some new boots, an iPod Touch, and a lovely card (I have a collection of these funny cards tucked away), I got a box of yummy chocolates from Jantzen's teacher, and Josh had Nena make me some yummy chocolate covered strawberries. I, of course, shared the strawberries with my family except Jaron because he hates them...he's weird, I know!    Jantzen made me this cute Valentine at school, I loved it!!       For Valentine's this year I gave Josh an LCD screen for his GoPro camera and some of his favorite Girl Scout cookies...      It's safe to say that this little lady LOVES her new bear...      I think the boys also love their new Lego's...just a little bit.      For dinner, the kids wanted to make heart shaped pizzas again, so we did. This year I didn't make homemade dough, instead we used a garlic flat bread which was so much easier and it tasted really good. I did still cut the pepperoni slices into hearts because the kids like that. This year I also decided to let the kids all make their own pizza, just the way they like it. I think they all had fun...              Here's the finished products (Jaedyn didn't want hers cut into a heart shape)...      They did taste really good!      It was a fun day celebrating our love for one another, I'm happy that I can do fun things like this for my family.     HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Preschool Valentine's Party

Today Jaedyn had a Valentine's Day party at her preschool. I didn't stay for it this time, but she said she had a lot of fun and she got some fun Valentine's from her friends. She gave all of her friends one of the felt Valentine's bags that had a lot of fun goodies inside, including the stylish sunglasses she's sporting...

       ...she was so excited to get the purple ones.    Jaedyn's absolutely loving preschool this year!

"14 Days of Valentine's"...Day 13

Here's what I gave my family for day 13... 

 I gave Josh some Brachs "Sweetheart" candies...they are his favorite Valentine's Day treat.

   I gave each one of the kids a little light that can clip on their books to read in the dark...       ...they all loved them! Jaedyn's using hers as a flashlight.

"14 Days of Valentine's"...Day 12

For the 12th day of Valentine's, I got my family each a box of "Reese's Pieces"...

   ...because I love them all to "pieces"!!!

"14 Days of Valentine's"...Day 11

For day 11's gifts, I gave all of my kids a bag of donut holes... 

   And, I found this awesome chocolate remote control at Target and I just had to get it for Josh...       He loved it!!!

"14 Days of Valentine's"...Day 10

On day 10 of the Valentine's gifts, my whole family got the same thing. They each got a bag of Hershey's Bliss mint covered chocolates... 

   This is a favorite family treat and they were so good!

"Sweetheart Ball"

Last night Josh and I went on a date to our stakes "Sweetheart Ball". It was a Valentine's dance for married couples. Josh was a little hesitant to go because he doesn't like to dance, but I do, so I convinced him to take me. Luckily for us, we have a live in babysitter, so it was a free date.

When we got there, they had a little area where you could take pictures with your "sweetheart". We took full advantage of that. Here we are before the dance... 

   ...and after with the group of couples that came from our ward...      The dance was actually a lot more fun than I thought it would be. Josh danced all the slow songs with me and one of the fast songs. The rest of the time he stood next to me or the wall while I danced with some of my friends. It kind of felt like I was back in high school having fun, except this time I could dance as close to my date as I wanted and no one told me I couldn't!    Josh and I did a little playing around for the camera before we went home...it was fun!!      I had a fun date night with Josh, maybe next time I'll be able to get him to dance more...and maybe not!

"14 Days of Valentine's"...Day 9

On day 9 I got Jantzen and Jaedyn some gummy bears... 

   ...Jaron a king size Twix candy bar...      ...and I gave Josh some of his favorite drink...a Diet Coke!...      Jaron was nice and shared his Twix bar with me because they are my favorite!! He's such a nice boy.

"14 Days of Valentine's"...Day 8

On the 8th day of Valentine's, I gave Josh some "Honey Comb" cereal (we really did go on a date)...

   The kids each got some "Silly Putty"...      Later, after playing with it for a while, Jaedyn lost her Silly Putty and when I asked her where it was she said, "the Holy Ghost took it!". I said, "I don't think He did", and she said, "yes He did!". Okay!!!

"14 Days of Valentine's"...Day 7

Here's day 7's gifts for my family.

 Each one of the kids got a sweet treat (Jaron got Skittles, Jantzen and Jaedyn got Lifesavers Gummies)... 

   Josh got some Oatmeal Cream Pies...      Some sweet treats for the sweet loves in my life!!