Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is similar every year.  We hang out together as a family that night and then Karl and I go out on the weekend for our date.  Valentine's fell on a Friday this year so we got to go out the next night....didn't have to wait long at all for a night out with my honey.

The usual for our family celebration.  Heart shaped pizza and chocolate fountain.....

Last year we opted for homemade pizza, but when I asked the kids what they wanted for dinner they said..."Heart shaped pizza, Duh!"  so back to tradition we went.  Last year also we didn't do the fountain because we were so stuffed from the pizza.  We did it for Sunday dinner a few days later.  So we really did shake it up last year, but we are back on track now.

Daddy got the girls roses and I made up a goodie box with candy, gum, treats, gift card, and a video.  It is never anything big and I try to mix it up each year.

I got Karl a big bottle of pop and tied a tie onto it.  He got me gorgeous tulips and a huge chocolate covered strawberry.  A shiny new bracelet and some Milk Duds rounded it out.

I sent Tyler a box of snacks and things for him and his companion too.  He should have gotten it right on Valentine's Day.  I hope he liked it....it is food, so I am sure it was a hit.

The next night, Karl and I went to PF Changs for dinner...love those lettuce wraps.  Then went to the movies to see "Monuments Men".  It was a good movie and we even had enough room for popcorn.

It was a good Valentine's Day.....even though this was the first year that I didn't get to attend a school party.  Never again.....boo! Although the kids did come home with valentines from their friends.  Kayla got a few notes from teachers and a rose from her BFF Cora.  While Cora was at the school dance, we went over to her house and heart attacked her room.  Kayla came up with it all....i just helped put it up.  She was so pleased with herself and it turned out great.

Jenna came home with the most.  Little things from several friends, but the biggest was 12 orange "Crush" sodas from a boy.  They purchase them at school and have them delivered to their classroom.  He just happened to be in that class and so friends took this picture of them on their phone.  Yea, he likes her and she doesn't know what to do about it.  I thought it was sweet of him to give her a "dozen roses".

We can't forget the full moon that night.....so big and pretty.

Happy Valentine's Day

SmArTiEs!

We continue to have smarties in our family.  Last night was the Academic Lettering Ceremony for the high school.  They award the kids that have a 3.5 GPA or higher, have taken all 4 core classes and so on.  They get awarded every semester for their grades.  The program is held during the semester following the one they are awarded for.  So the semester they are in now, they will have the ceremony next school year in the fall.  There is a total of 7 levels since the last semester of your senior year is not counted since you will be graduated by then.  Tyler made it every semester except his last one...senioritus hit rather hard for him so he made it only to Level 6. Level 1 and 2 get certificates, Level 3 gets an actual Letter for their jacket and then Level 4-7 get gold bars to add to their letter. 

Last night.....Jenna got her Level 1 award.  AWESOME JOB JENNA!  Of course most of them are Freshman, but even seniors can get this level if they meet the requirements.  This Level 1 is the biggest one ever in the history of this ceremony with 82 kids reaching it.  There has never been that many by a long shot.  There is usually the most in this group than any other group however.  But this was a record!

A record was reached for Megan's level too.  Level 7.....yea, she made it every semester!  WAY TO GO MEG!  Level 7 had the highest number of students ever in the history too......36 students.  They of course are all seniors and were awarded a sweatshirt as well with their last names on it.  They also went down the line and had each one tell where they were attending college and what their major was going to be.  They are all smart so of course they are all heading to college.  Megan said BYU!  Go Cougars! 

We are so proud of our kids and their accomplishments! 

Besties

I love these 2 girls.  OK, so one of them is mine, but I feel like the other one is too.  Jenna has been friends with Kara for so many years that she is just another member of our family.  We just love her! They had a sleepover recently and come to find out they took my camera and had some fun in the basement.  I couldn't delete any of them cuz they were all so funny....so them!  I will only post a few but there were at lest 25 they took.  They have so much fun together....they are gonna be friends forever!

OK.....so I posted more than I intended to, but they are so darn cute!

Snow!

It seems that most winters here in Colorado are not too severe.  We tend to get a few snowstorms and then the snow is gone by the next day or two.  But every few years or so we get a winter that seems to be never ending.  This year it seems to always be cold....and I am talking in the single digits with wind chill in the negatives. 

Just recently it was -7 on the thermometer with wind chills at -23.  I'm talking frigid!  So much so that we had 2 snow days in a row.  It wasn't necessarily the snow that closed the school, but the dangerous temperatures for the children walking to school.  With the 2 days off and the teacher work day also that week, the kids went to school for 2 days only and ended up with a 5 day weekend.  So of course, that meant sleeping in, having sleepovers, watching movies, playing the WII, reading and playing in the snow.

The girls tried to build snowmen one day but the snow really wasn't very good packing snow and so the struggled to get it to stay together.  But Duke had a great time playing ball in the snow.

And Kayla got with her best friend and went sledding.  They had such a blast.  By that time, the sun was out and the temps were not too bad to be outside.  They actually went out twice after coming home for lunch and a rest....then back out for another round.

 I love this next picture....she was coming right for me and was worried I wouldn't move.  Love her face.  Love that girl!

I love the snow for these fun times, but I am tired of shoveling and shoveling and all the ice that has formed and won't melt.....and being cold!  This week it is suppose to be in the 50's so we are all looking forward to the break in winter....if not for only a week.

SPACE!

So believe it or not, it was actually clear enough one night to get the scope out.  It wasn't warm by any means, but it was clear and we had a good time looking at some stars and galaxies.  We love space and all its wonder.  Can't get enough!