08/52

This week...a gymnastics meet and a surprise birthday party!

One of these days I'm going to invest in a zoom lens.  I really need to now so I can get some decent pictures at Abby's gymnastics meets, Madison's swim meets and Max's baseball games.

It was a blast helping to surprise Alvar for his 40th!! :) Great night with amazing friends!!!

07/52

This week I had the blessing of helping to organize a group of women from our church to participate in a simulcast called the IF:Gathering. It is a women's vision conference and it was truly an amazing time of being encouraged to walk together with obedient hearts wherever God leads...daily!! Such an amazing time and amazing group of women!!

And this was Valentine's Day week.

* Grandma and Grandpa sent us this dangerous box of chocolates...VERY DANGEROUS!!

* I am so, so proud of Max. He did this solar system project completely on his own!! I am amazed at that kids love for learning about things and retention of facts!! He made some of the planets out of legos...he's 8, of course he did!!!

* my love knows the way to my heart on Valentine's Day

* Max created a cobra Valentine's Day box. I love the body made out of hearts!!

* I can't tell you how much I adore our Valentine's Day candlelight dinner. We write love notes to each other and put them in our mailboxes and read them at dinner. This year we added the pink milk in the milk bottle with fun straws!! Oh, how I love my family!!

06/52

I told y'all my creativity and I are on a break.  These are the kids Valentine's Day cards this year.  I didn't have the kids get dressed cute, I didn't fix Sam's hair, I didn't even edit the pictures.  I think I need an intervention!!  Maybe my creativity will be back in time for Easter???

We also got a tiny bit of snow! But, still, it's snow and we must celebrate it! :)

05/52

My camera and I have made up and are getting reacquainted.  A few more pictures this week.
Although my creativity seems to be wanting to break up with me now.  HA!  I guess these things happen in cycles!

* This is a group of 4th grade girls that I have the privilege of leading in small group time a couple times a month at church! It makes me miss teaching! Love them!

* love these people!

* Oh my sweet-hearted Max. Madison was babysitting and Max disobeyed or said something ugly (I can't remember) so she did what I told her and took away his dessert. We've been working on saying things we're thankful for when we are grouchy, angry or sad. So awesome to see that he is realizing that really does put things into perspective! Love his precious heart!

* Madison swam in her first ever district meet. She did so good! She didn't move on to regionals, but I am so proud of her effort. She was second in her heat for the 200IM, but it was the first heat so other heats were faster. She did get to swim in the fastest heat for 100 breast stroke (her best stroke). She was the slowest in that heat, but just being in that heat as a freshman was great!!! Matt even made her an award because she was the fastest freshman break stroker in the district. Go Madison!!

* just look at those guns!!!

04/52

Yep...the camera and I are still on a break.  This is a picture from my iphone (don't tell my D800).
Happy 42nd birthday to me.  Yes, the candles say 33...I like that number much better!!!

My favorite part of my birthday every year are the sweet cards from my husband and kids!!  I am one blessed lady!!

03/52

My camera and I are on a bit of a break.  Don't worry...it won't be long before we fall in love again.

For now let's just pretend I took this picture of our amazing HG during the third week of January...shhhh!!!

02/52

This year we celebrated Madison's birthday with a trip to Great Wolf Lodge.  We got to go last year with Christmas money and it was such a fun family time, we went again!  Madison brought her sweet friend, Bailey, so we had an extra daughter for the weekend!

* we love to eat at Fudrucker's during our Great Wolf stays...yum!

* during the indoor snowfall

* getting our next assignment for MagiQuest

* in the "hidden stairwell" that has a clearly marked sign! HA!

01/52...

Here we go again!  Another year to begin!  Praying that it is a year we follow God with fully obedient hearts!!

We celebrated birthdays for Madison and I at Trail Dust Steak House.  I hadn't been there in years!!  LOTS of fun!!

* the two brightest sparks in our family jumped out on the dance floor together...imagine that! :)

* and the two most gentle members of the family discussing the "cute panda bears" :)

* LOVE this!!

* Absolutely in awe of the amazing family God has blessed my life with!!!

And, of course, the yearly birthday questionnaire...