Valentine's Day Fun!! February 13-14, 2009

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!


Koda and I started the day out on Friday going in to Jaden's class to help with his Valentine's Day class party. We got there just in time to hear Jaden and a few of the kids in his class put on a skit for the rest of the class. It was all about the food pyramid, and I am glad we were able to see it! The kids in his class are so cute, and J is REALLY interested in the food groups now! Every night at dinner he informs us of which food groups we are eating.
All of the kids had a great time at the party decorating cookies, making cards, playing CANDY bingo, and throwing hearts at the bean bag toss. Cooper LOVED decorating the cookie, and wanted it to be perfect. Jaden and Kenna had their cookies frosted, decorated, and eaten, by the time I walked from one side of the classroom to the other! So that is why they don't have pictures with their cookies.

Coop gets SO excited every time we stay at school to eat lunch with the kids. He loves handing the lunch lady the "golden ticket" (the receipt) when we go through the lunch line! Since we finished Jdog's party at noon and we had to be in Bailia's class at 12:30 we ate with Jaden and his friends. I have NO idea why all three of the kids looked at Koda with the first picture I took, but I thought that it turned out to be such a cute picture!
Then it we rushed to Bailia's class to set up for her party. I didn't plan Jaden's party (another mom did) I was just there to help out. But found it funny that we did almost the same things in both classes. I made a CUPID bingo for Bailia's class, we decorated cookies, had pink soda floats, and we had a marshmallow relay. It was a quick party, but I think the kids had a great time!

When we finally made it home after a party filled day, we had a knock on the door. FLOWERS!! Adam had sent us flowers and balloons! He has sent the kid(s) and I flowers since I was pregnant with Jaden. The first year of this tradition he sent me 11 red roses and one white with a red tip-for the baby. Ten years later this has become a tradtion that I look forward to, and LOVE so much about my hubby!
Later that afternoon, Kenna came over to watch a movie. I had to take pictures (odd I know) when I pulled the camera out all of the kids said at once-MORE pictures?? What can I say, I love having more pictures than I need! Anyway, the camera had to come out for the fact that EVERY single time the kids watch a movie together they ALL pile on the chair together! We have a love seat, and a couch on either side of the chair-you would think they would choose one of the other options. But without fail they all pile together~good memories, good friends! They finally (somewhat) separated when I told them that three food trays (cookie sheets-high class I know) would not all fit on the chair. Bailia finally moved, while Jaden and Kenna stayed on the chair and shared a tray. They enjoyed a grilled cheese sandwich, popcorn, and ice cream. It was a great, surprisingly quiet way to end a VERY hectic day!

St George Meet 1/24/2009

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Tonight I received a CD that had pictures from the meet held in St George, on January 24. I love the facial expressions that these photos captured! It explains Jdog perfectly. He is a very determined, focused, calm little man. From singing in front of a large group, giving a talk in church, a gym meet, or a golf tournament, Jdog has been blessed to be able to turn his nervousness into calming strength. He is a great example to me and I wish I could be more like him. He NEVER ceases to amaze me...

Winner!! 2/5/2009

 I bought fruit snacks to make Valentines treats for the kids classes. Koda and I were dumping them out of the boxes into a bag.  In one box I noticed a credit card, I took it out and inside the box it said, "Try Again",  I set it aside, not thinking anything of it, for the kids to play with. We continued to dump the boxes out, and none of the others had a credit card in them.  So, I took another look at the card and it said to go to their website. I did and entered the number on the back. CONGRATULATIONS-it flashed-your $5.00 Discover card has been activated!! Now although not a huge win-it is still WIN! So Koda and I headed to Target (one of my favorite stores) with the Discover card in hand. I told him he could spend it on anything he wanted!  His choices were very thoughtful~3 foam swords (one for each of the kids), a toy truck, and a bag of gummy bears.  To top it off he still has $.26 left on the card! It is funny how even the smallest win makes your whole day!

If the shirt fits...2/4/2009

The other day while at Old Navy I saw the Valentine's Day T's there for $5-I grabbed one for each of the boys.  Koda wore his to school today and we found out that the shirt fits him well, since it reads "Heart Breaker"!  

He received 2 letters today at school-the first was from Ella who is in his class (the heart) that is decorated on the outside and on the inside it says "I love you " along with $.80 to win his heart? (she must know how much he likes money!)  

The next letter was from Brinley-from another class-that is a picture of Koda and her picking a flower together! 

Cooper is in total distress! He said first I wanted to marry Brinley, then I wanted to marry Ella. Now I guess if Brinley gets married first I will marry Ella, and if Ella gets married first I will marry Brinley!  Ah, young love~so sweet and innocent! I just wish it would stay that way until they are 30! 

This is not a test, this IS an actual emergency!

Ok so it's not an actual emergency, but it is pretty depressing. I never posted about my hair catastrophe that happened a couple of months ago, but I will try to make a VERY long story short.  I am having a VERY hard time finding a decent hair stylist-since I stopped going to my guy in Salt Lake & since the last girl I tried only works two days a week and they happen to fall on the busiest days of my week I had to find someone else.  So without saying where this new person works I will say her name is Michelle-so if you ever want to try someone new with the name Michelle-BE CAREFUL...you have been warned! 

So the short story goes like this.  I went in (after hearing great things about Michelle) to get my hair darkened. I came out with platinum blonde hair with orange HORIZONTAL stripes throughout my entire head of hair.  It turns out she mixed the product wrong-and FRIED my hair. When I talked to her about it a few days later (after my sister in law saved the color) she told me she did exactly what I wanted her to do.  Hmm, do people come in asking for ORANGE stripes throughout their hair often, or was I the first? 

Now as I try to nurse my hair back to normal (cutting 4" off and needing another 5) I love to look through to see how many splits I can find on one strand of hair.  The photo of this strand of hair might take the cake!  Just for the fact that this wasn't on the end of the strand, it was about halfway up the strand! 

So, if anyone has a GREAT stylist that they would like to recommend PLEASE feel free! 

Go Steelers!

My dad can finally rest peacefully! After a great season and an AWESOME nail bitting Super Bowl game-my dad's team WON!  I am sure he is floating above cloud nine today (probably wearing the SAME shirt he wore Saturday and Sunday!) Congratulations Big Lar for a rockin' end to a wonderful season!  Go STEELERS!

Bountiful Meet 1/31/2009

We made another trip for Jaden's gymnastics meet-this time it was held in Bountiful. We took the kids out of school a little early on Friday, and headed up the road. The first stop~ Grandma Jaclyn's! We stopped by to say hello and to help Jed load up some work out equipment.

Next stop ~ Uncle Jed's house to unload the equipment - Nikki had to work so we were only able to see Jed this trip (maybe next trip) ~but the kids LOVED their cats!
Then we checked into the hotel, which turned out to be a STEAL! We stayed at the Country Inn and Suites in Bountiful (our winning bid on priceline $50!) While checking in the kids were able to snack on cookies and fruit! 

They had a 24 hour pool that the kids had a BLAST in! We had free internet and to top it all off the breakfast of blueberry waffles, biscuits and gravy, sausage, bagels, toast, eggs, cereal, fruit (you name it they had it) was included in our $50 rate, and was delicious! 


That night we went to Cannoli's (I think that is the name) for dinner in Salt Lake- it is a family owned Italian restaurant that is DELISH!

Jaden did an awesome job this meet! He placed 4th All Around (his best so far) and improved his score in every event this week!  It made his day to see Grandma Jaclyn and Lee, Grandma and Grandpa Williams, Kolby, Ashley, and their baby all there to support him! After his meet we all (thirteen of us!) went to the Red Rock for lunch-YUMMY!
After a quick stop at Grandam and Grandpa Williams house we decided to come home (we weren't going to come home until Sunday).  It was a VERY quick, eventful day and a half~we all had a great time and I am totally exhausted!

Thanks again to all of the family that came to support J-dog, and to Kolb for the chocolate covered strawberries-they were the BEST I have ever had! I should have taken you up on the offer to take some home with me!

2nd Meet ~ Sis & Koda's Gym Review 1/24/2009

Bailia and Koda had their Gymnastics year end review on Tuesday.  They both did great loved being able to show off what they have learned! 

Jaden had his 2nd meet today and did GREAT! He wanted to do better than last week, and he did! He scored 5th and 6th places in the seven different events. He is SO proud wearing his medals around!  He said he REALLY wants to take first place...maybe next weekends meet?!? Either way I am glad he is improving and reaching his goals! Way to go Dog! Thanks Jen, Shandon, and Jack for coming to watch big dog-he LOVED having you there!

J's first Meet & Hoover Dam!! 1/17/2009

Since we were already in Vegas we decided to take the kids to see the Hoover Dam~ Jaden is learning about it in school right now and thought it was "sweet" that he could walk across what he is learning about! He also informed us that the amount of concrete used to build the Hoover Dam is enough to make a sidewalk around the entire EARTH!


Our Hotel story is a bit of a joke-I booked the Suite (since I found a special rate for $25 more than a regular room) and we show up to check in and they do not have our room ready. That is ok we wanted to go car shopping anyway. But were also informed that the Suite only has one bed~excuse me~ but the intelligent gentleman that I spoke with on the phone before booking the room through the HOTEL website said that there were two queen beds OR one king bed!?! We were told that we were misinformed and we would have to stay in a regular room. Umm first of all a room that is 700 square feet BIGGER than a regular room has only ONE bed and we were only allowed one itty bitty roll away? Ok fine we will take the smaller room-but I don't want to pay for a suite when I am getting a regular room. WRONG-O To make a long story short~ we were put in the cheapest room and because the room rates were now double the price that I paid, we were not refunded any of the money! Then to top it off the "rollaway" they brought for Koda was a little small, don't you think? Ahhh, the memories!!



Jaden had his first official Gymnastics Meet this weekend down in Vegas. We had a lot of fun watching him compete!  I had NO IDEA what the meet would be like, or who we would be competing against. It turns out there were teams there from other COUNTRIES! I can't believe how serious some of the coaches were-one kid stumbled on his landing and his coach blew up! I am SO thankful for Barney, and the other coaches that are so patient and kind to my kids!  The kids we competed against were AMAZING, and although J didn't place he was satisfied just getting a medal! 

Today Bailia's class performed their Christmas Program for the people at the care center's. They were supposed to do it before Christmas break-then it happened to SNOW hard enough to cancel school-which canceled the program!  So, they did the program today-and it was a big hit! 

During the second show-at the Red Cliffs care center- I see Bailia's face turn white as a ghost and her eyes well up with tears (she had complained that her stomach had hurt the night before, and it still did this morning but she said she thought it was because she was nervous about the program) I made a mad DASH to the front to grab her and rush her down the hall to the bathroom! Luckily she didn't throw up there!!  She has thrown up once since being home-hopefully it stays that way...oh no...twice now!  It is going to be a long night!!

On a side note I must give Koda credit for the pictures! He took the majority of the pictures for me today! Sandra wanted me to take pictures with her camera-so I was trying to do that with my left hand while filming with my right, and since I forgot my third hand (that mothers are supposed to have at ALL times) I told Coop to grab my camera and shoot away. I think that he did an AWESOME job! Thanks Koda Bear!

Happy Birthday Koda Bear!! 1/5/2009

WOW! I can hardly believe that my BABY has turned FIVE!  Why do the years seem to go by faster and faster? I really couldn't think of anything great (and warm) to do for a party for Coop and asked him if he would be OK about not having a party.  His response was quick and simple- "Will you take me shopping and let me pick out whatever I want?" Honestly that's it? YOU BET I WILL!!  So, for a surprise I had his primary teacher (Heidi) make him the most AMAZING cake imaginable-she created Optimus Prime for him!  When I asked her to make his cake I knew it would be great-but honestly this cake (masterpiece) is incredible! Tonight while putting Coop to bed I asked him what his favorite part of today had been, without hesitation he said MY CAKE!  Everyone LOVED it and we can't thank you enough! 

His shopping trip was simple and he actually picked out great presents for himself. The first is a little Cars race track, then a Batman laptop, and a Transformer puzzle! So for $40 this kid walked out of Target a VERY happy camper!

We went to Samuri 21 for his B-day dinner (his choice) he loves to watch them cook (FYI the Winter Roll is a really tasty new Sushi roll they are offering right now) then back home to enjoy cake and ice cream with the family! 

Happy Birthday Koda!