Last week, when Brandon came home I had music playing through out the house. As soon as Brandon walked in, Emmy grabbed her blanket and wanted Brandon to hold her. 
He soon realized that as Emmy was trying to move his hands and trying to communicate with him that she wanted to dance with him. I think she remembered the Valentine's Dance. It was so cute! 
Brandon said that she was the one moving the hands up and down while they were dancing. Even though her blanket is hiding her face in the pictures you can tell that she is having a great time and that a smile is hidden beneath the folds.
I am so grateful for a husband who took the time, when he was exhausted, to spend time with our little princess. Also, not only did he take time, but he was so pleased that Emmy wanted to dance with him and enjoyed every minute dancing with her.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Dancing With Dad
Pirate Ship!
Today in the grocery store, our cart soon became a pirate ship full of pirates. Hyrum came up with the idea. Once again we played along. I told him to go hoist the masts, ( I sure hope that is right) and other pirate jumbo that I could remember. We sang the pirate song from Peter Pan; A pirates life for me.
Once again, I am grateful for his creativity. If a certain game like that makes him happy and Ben and Emmy entertained for a quick trip in the grocery store then it is totally worth it.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
True Love!
Since Valentine's Day was only a little over a week ago I thought I would post about a true love story of a married couple....us!
At the beginning of the school year, Brandon and I were so fortunate to have a second car basically given to us by another student and his wife. We have been so grateful for the car and the extra freedom it has given me. It was seriously a much needed blessing from a loving Heavenly Father. The car is a 1997 Honda Civic and it is green; although Brandon would defend that it is blue. It has a few quirks, but it get Brandon from point A to point B.
The only down side of this car was the fact that I didn't know how to drive a clutch. This problem was solved when we used our precious date nights for Brandon to teach me how to drive a clutch. For the most part he was pretty patient with me and now I can drive the other car when I am by myself. I am not promising anyone a smooth ride since I haven't perfected the art of driving a clutch.
If that isn't true love, I don't know what is.
Also, Brandon is studying to be an optometrist and has asked me a few times to let him take a peek at my eyes. One of the times he dilated my eyes to be able to study them. Brandon was so thoughtful that afterwords he jimmy rigged a contraption with his tools to help me see so I could still read my book. Brandon thought it was hilarious how I looked that he thought he would take a picture.
If that isn't true love, I don't know what is. The joy of married life!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Airplane Driver
I have mentioned recently that Hyrum's creativity and pretend play have suddenly taken off . On the way home from the gym the other day, Hyrum decided to pretend that he was on an airplane. He started calling me airplane driver. I decided to play along and made comments that the pilot usually says when you are flying (arrival time, weather, buckle seatbelts, etc.).
Hyrum went on to request popcorn, which I helped him remember that you get peanuts on an airplane which he then requested peanuts and asked for apple juice. Ben and Emily soon caught onto the game and were yelling out their request. Emmy requested juice to drink and Ben asked for "apple" apple juice.
Hyrum continued to call me airplane driver and make comments about flying. Ben and Emmy also enjoyed playing along.
Hyrum decided that we were flying to Utah to see my parents.
It was too cute and lots of fun. Playing airplane driver in the car was an excellent way to make the drive home fun and exciting.
I am loving Hyrum's creativity and hope never to dampen it. It is amazing where a child's mind can take you.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Valentine's Pictures!
These pictures did not turn out as well as I would have liked. Surprisingly our family was ready for church a few extra minutes this past Sunday so I decided to snap some pictures of my crazy children. These outfits are technically the ones I got them for Christmas, but the kids look so cute in them. I am trying to get as much wear out of the clothes as possible!
It is fitting that my kids are holding books in the pictures. All of them are in heaven when it is time to read stories and will want to be read to for minutes on end.
Here is the silly picture!
I love my monkeys!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Our Valentine's Day!
On Valentine's Day, I woke up to rose petals on the bed. I also found a rose petal trail leading me to the kitchen where I found my wonderful husband adding the finishing touches to breakfast.
He made yummy crepes and had the luxury toppings to go with them. Luxury toppings include the expensive fruit syrup, whipping cream, fresh fruit etc. He went all out and even got some chocolate milk as a special treat for my little milk lovers. The breakfast was so delicious.
On the table I found my Valentine's Day presents. He got me some beautiful flowers that I am still enjoying, a box of chocolates and a picture of a MP3 player that was delayed in coming.
I am so excited! I have been working out like crazy and have been using Brandon's MP3 player to keep me occupied, but I am thrilled to have one of my own.
The kids woke up to paper hearts all over the house. Emmy was so excited when she saw them and called them nummies. I think she thought they were super sized conversation hearts.
The kids also found their Valentine's Day presents. Emmy found a pack of farm animals and some beautiful flowers that Brandon picked out for her. One of my favorite traditions growing up was receiving a flowers from my dad on Valentine's Day.
Ben received a pack of Safari Animals and a yellow race car. I think yellow is his favorite color. In a pile of colors, it is always the one that he picks out.
Hyrum found a blue car, an airplane and a pack of gum. He thinks gum is pretty hot stuff right now. I am hoping to use the gum to reward him when he makes good choices.
Valentine's Day night we had a wild party at our house. We are in a babysitting group and it was our turn to babysit that night. It was crazy with eleven kids who were five and under, but in return we get three date nights; totally worth it!
I am so grateful for my husband for all the little things that he does that shows me that he loves me. He is always putting me and my needs first. He is such a great person who I love so much!
I am also grateful for my three kids; my very thoughtful Handsome Hyrum, my little Miss Emmy who smiles brighten my day and for my Mr. Ben Boo who has such a zest for life.
Life can not get any better then this!
Valentine's Crafts
This month I was feeling a little adventurous in the craft department. Normally, I don't do crafts, they stress me out. I want everything to be just perfect and most of the time I can't get it to be so I get frustrated and quit.
However, this month I felt a little inspiration from my crafty friends (you know who you are) and decided to take the plunge.
I found instructions for the topiary on a blog and thought, I can do that. I talked to some friends about the craft to get a little motivation and self-confidence and made one (they ended up making one too). I think mine turned out pretty cute!
The next craft I did was a wreath. My friend Starla found this idea on a blog and talked myself and a group of ladies into making it. Let me tell you, looks can be deceiving, this bad boy took a long time. From ten in the morning to five in the evening I painted and glued. Thank goodness I had wonderful people to keep me company. I can't take credit for the beautiful bow; I talked Whitney into tying it for me. I think the wreath turned out pretty cute. The only sad part of the story is that during a heavy wind storm a few days later, Whitney's wreath fell off her door and broke. I felt her pain. We labored together over these crazy masterpieces. I am not sure exactly how I am going to store it for next year, any suggestions?
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Valentine's Dance
On the 13th our ward had a family Valentine's Dance. The Activities Committee in our ward did a great job planning the activity. The gym looked awesome. They had white lights up on the ceiling with white tulle draped over them. There were yummy nummies and also a place to get your pictures taken.
Emmy's favorite part was the nummies. She could have cared less about her Valogram.
Hyrum was so excited to see all of his friends and ran, danced, played all night long with them. 
Below is a picture of him dancing to one of his favorite songs, "I Like to Move It, Move It!" 
The other picture is of him dancing with his friend Lexi. We would only see him when he would sneak up to the refreshment table to grab a treat before he would run off again.
Jenna, Lexi, Hyrum and Billie
Emmy and Ben had a difficult time at first. They were very clingy and wanted to be held. I think it was because they were nervous for how many people were there and didn't feel comfortable at the start of the dance. However, after awhile they really got their grove on.Emmy and especially Ben like the older kids in the ward (9, 10 etc.) those older kids tried to break dance in the middle of the gym and Ben and Emmy were trying to mimic their moves. It was so cute, Ben really got into it.
Below is a picture of Emmy when she was running, dancing around in a circle. So happy and so adorable. 
Emmy also got a chance to do a little dancing with a cute little boy named Tucker (Lexi's brother). They were so cute dancing together. She ran up to him and wanted to dance with him.
Trying out a turn with a little help from Tucker's Dad.
Each kid had a chance to dance with Mom and dad more then once. It was lots of fun! 
Below is a picture of Emmy bringing my shoes, while I was dancing with Ben, since I took them off when my feet started to hurt. 
Anyone want to guess what her mouth is full of?...Nummies!
Brandon and I also enjoyed dancing together. We were a little rusty in our skills, technique and memory of dance steps, but we still had a great time. I would love to take dance lessons again.Monday, February 09, 2009
I know that today isn't Friday, but I wanted to do the flashback that I wanted to last Friday. The video and pictures are from four years ago, during February 2005. Hyrum was only three months old.
The pictures are from a birthday party Brandon's family had for his Grandpa who was turning 90 years old at the time. Hyrum was content to have grandma (Brandon's mom), hold him most of the time. It was fun for me to meet everyone. That is really the first time I met people from his extended family.
I love this video. I love Hyrum's sweet little laugh. He is still very ticklish.
