February 2015

We started February on Cassie's birthday while they were visiting us! I am so happy to have them just a few hours away. We never thought this would happen and it is great to finally have them here! Now to get them only a few minutes away! I sure love this wonderful person here. She has been with me since day one and I think of her has my sister. Happy Birthday Cass, love you! And sweet baby Michael!

Happy Valentine's Day! Grandma and Grandpa brought over a cake for each of us! They have never been so happy! They dug in and ate them all week!

Eric and I got to go to Phoenix for the National Pool Plasterers Conference for 3 days. Eric was working so I got to go and visit Julie! She came to the hotel one day and we just enjoyed Beckham's cuteness and ate!

Funny little guy! He was so happy and you couldn't look at him and not smile! So sweet!

Julie had this picture of our grandparents on her fridge and I just love it. 

Pretty nice view. I haven't been to Phoenix before so I didn't know what to expect but the sunset on the mountains was pretty beautiful!

One picture of us! I am getting so bad at remembering to take pictures. Thanks for bringing me along, love you!

Colt's Valentine's love note! I won't worry about the order of this list, just that I made it!

Colt's school had a "Q & U wedding" to help the kids learn that they go together most of the time and finish their unit on fairy tales. Colt was chosen to be the groom, he was the Q. He was so excited about it and kept talking about it all month. Except he couldn't remember it was called the groom and keep saying he was the "broom man!" He sure looked handsome and cute! He did a great job, I was so proud of him!

Yes, it was a big production! Sweet kids!

Colt finishes all his sentences lately with "right Mom?" I'm going to miss all these cute things little kids say and do!
"Livy said if I do something bad I go to kid jail!"
"Jesus says listen to the rules your mommy says!"
"He is the so annoying kid in the whole wide west!"

Rachel and Livy are almost 8 so it is time to get ready for their big day! We went to the temple in their baptism dresses and got some great photos of these two beautiful girls. I am so proud of these two and the righteous, sweet, smart, beautiful girls they are.

These two had a day off of school and they chose to sit in the laundry room with me, watch me iron, and sing Annie. My two cuties. I love when they are home with me. I love when they are at school too, the combo gives us better together time. 

These four get to hang out all the time now and it's so fun to watch them grow up and play together. It was the best having cousins as best friends growing up and I'm so glad these four are loving being best buddies!

There is a little dragon perched on Livy's bed there. She has a special love for dragons. This one she made in art class and taped it to her shoulder for the rest of the day. Interesting character this one!

Old ladies coming through! It was the 100th day of school so the kids can dress up as 100 year olds. They powdered their hair to look a little gray and Rachel used her version of an older persons voice. 

Banana boy. This boy eats a few bananas a day. And wears most of his shirts backwards too for some reason!

Rachel's rock pet, a goldfish :) A fun class project, it wasn't due for three weeks but they came right home and did it that night. I love projects they love and that they can do themselves!

No surprise Livy made her rock pet......Toothless! (the dragon from how to train your dragon movies) She is Toothless obsessed and draws and paints him everywhere. she has him all over her room. She was painting a toolbox a few months ago and turned it into toothless-black, green eyes, half red tail. She said "well you put black paint near me, what did you think was going to happen!" At least she has recognized her obsession!

Hard at work on their rock pets! 2nd grade projects are fun.

 Science experiments. I think these were their favorite gifts from Christmas. A simple kit that came with fun test tubes, color tabs, crystals and droppers. Hours of fun for them :)

Poor Rachel's lemonade stand since I wouldn't let her do it in the front yard. She had plenty of loyal customers.

We missed an awesome Psillos family trip to Hawaii. Mom, Dad and Hannah went to visit Rich and Erin and the kids. They met Josh, Katie and Cora there so us, Charlie and Michelle, and Dan didn't make it. I guess that is half of us but still felt like we missed a family reunion! With more than half of the Rathgebers there too Cass and I were sad not to be there.

Hannah the surfer girl

Blonde beach babies

Little Esther!

Baths :) 

Second grade pictures for these two. We weren't planning on doing them that day so that is why she had on the Minecraft tshirt, but the school takes them anyway. It worked out just right though because they couldn't have captured their differences any better, the mine craft shirt is just right for her!

Go Texan day! Every year the kids have a day when they break out their western wear and square dance at the school hoe down!

Trying to get him to pose with arms around each other, didn't work, separate corners will do!

Pretty cool watching all the dances they learn in PE and fun watching them teach their favorites to Colt and Ellie at home. 

As sad as it is to have not more tiny babies, a nice perk is sleeping in on the weekends while your kids eat goldfish and dry cereal for breakfast and create performances for you to attend when you awake! I'm sure Colt will not love this later but he loves it now!