Valentine's Day

I saw this online and LOVE it!!! I made these for my beehives, so they'd realize it doesn't matter if a boy doesn't like them on Valentine's Day, because they are loved! So Cute! I wish I could take the credit for this idea :)

Buzzzzzz....

Last night was the Young Women annual New Beginnings. The theme was "Enjoy the Journey" and I had sooooo much fun coming up with a skit and cheer with my beehives. It was also fun to walk into to the program dressed like a bee. We got a lot of laughs! I love my calling and for the opportunity to be there with the youngest young women as they start their journey through their youth. What amazing girls I have!

We have four beehives, but two aren't pictured here. The girl next to me is another AWESOME leader.

And tonight we got to celebrate FOUR girls moving up! By the end of the year, we will have a big class. YAY!

One way to clean the floor...

Question: What happens when you give into your five year old who's begging to help vacuum?

The answer: Your rug melts.

What?! Grayson was using the hose to clean up little crumbs around the rug (taking his time and playing with the hose) and Barry asked him to turn it off because he smelled burning. But it wasn't the vacuum engine overheating... it was our living room rug, melting. 

Well, at least now the burnt rug matches our couch that's falling apart.  

How does that even happen?!?



Snow day

Barry had a rare few hours of free time, so we decided to make the most of it by playing out in the snow. They recently plowed our parking lot so we had a good 8 ft. tall sledding hill, right outside the building.

Grayson just loved sledding.

                                          Jaye just like ruling the top of the mountain.

                             Laycee was completely content to sit and eat her snowball.
                                                           ...The whole time.

I love this picture. The kids versus Daddy, snowball fight.

Grayson found a new spot he thought was perfect to have a snowball fight, and he kept begging everyone to come play with him. And naturally, his five seconds of patience ended and he started pouting because "no one wanted to play with him."  I told Barry Grayson would freak out if he ran over with a snowball in hand. So Barry ran over... and our son sure did freak out. Grayson moved just in time to get pelted in the face with the snow weapon, and cut his lip. Barry felt so bad.

Despite the bloody battle... it was nice to spend some time as a family.

Phone Home!

Isn't this the most Alien-looking critter you've ever seen?

       The sonogram technician assured my those two huge black pits were NOT my baby's eyes. Phew!

But, it was exciting to see the little heartbeat on my little E.T. It finally feels like I'm not just pointlessly sick! There is purpose in the puke!

Barf.

    This past week at my house... no fun. Laycee got a stomach bug (just like the ENTIRE town of Rexburg seems to be getting at the moment). Laycee only wanted to be held for the entire day, so Mommy got to ignore the other children by pumping them full of movies, and sweat all day, cuddling a burning-fever. I'm glad I can stay home with my children and take care of them, but seriously. NOT a fun week at the Ricks house.

    Here is a summary of the two days of Laycee's extreme sickness. And I promise, each of these photos was taken at a different time. I didn't move for two days.

 Now on this last one, she actually fell asleep on the floor. What a nice break for Mommy! 

She got up once, and disappeared. I went to go look for her, and found her curled up on the bathroom rug, whimpering. So sad!

Turning it off

      Our family has been trying something new. No t.v. on Sundays. For about three months we have fought with the children, and explained over and over and over and over again why we are trying to keep the boob tube off for the day.

    And every Sunday, I see my kids weep, and wail, and gnash their teeth... and tell me they don't like Sundays. But then we spend the day coloring as a family, reading books, playing games, and having the best quality time out of the whole week. And it makes the arguing and the tears sooooooo worth it in my book!