We LOVE Valentines

Did you get what you wanted for Valentines day?  I got a extra special surprise...a bejeweled stapler!  Mike bought it as a joke, but I love it and have been needing a new stapler for some time.  So I decided to stage it for your viewing pleasure...

isn't is just gorgeous, don't you wish this is what you got for Valentines day?

  The kids got their traditional shirts and candy.  I didn't get to snap a photo of all their shirts, because I had to be to the school early, but the boys each say they love video games, and Caleigh's shirt was a monkey with heart glasses.  Elliot's is pictured below.  They got way too much candy, and Mike made them his cute homemade Valentines day cards.

And thanks to Mary, Mike and I were able to spend the whole day together.  We headed down to Newburyport, MA. It's very similar to Portsmouth, NH (which we love).  We found a great restaurant, Not your average Joes, and then walked around downtown.  

Then Mike drove us to Plum island that sits a few miles from Newburyport.  It is mostly residential (could you image living there?) but they do have some public parking and the beach is all public.  It was the most romantic beach we've been to.  Maybe it was the lack of a crowd, or the long grass, the perfect blue sky, or maybe even the long boardwalk, but it was breathtaking.  Mike and I walked around for just a little bit (long walk on the beach anyone?) and enjoyed talking and taking pictures.  I love our time here in New England, I love my Husband, and I love my life.  Happy Valentines.

Mike's Homemade Valentine's Cards

Every year, Mike makes the kids homemade Valentine's Day cards. He just finds funny pictures and prints them out, but the kids love them. 

February is Caleigh's Month

Caleigh is a local Celebrity!  She won 3rd place in a essay contest about her school "Henry Wilson" and it's history (she must get it from her Daddy who just got another essay published).  Her picture was taken and will be in the newspaper,  and her essay will be posted at the historical society.  I haven't read the essay yet, this is something she did in class, but we are so proud of her.

Caleigh's teacher Mrs. Thorp has an annual potluck around Valentines day.  The students set it up and greet their guest at the door.  ONe thing I think is neat, her teacher requires every student to have a guest.  So if a family member is unavailable then a staff member is asked to be the students guest.  Caleigh was so wonderful, I got to see her silliness around her friends, and she was so polite.  She would ask me every few minutes if I needed anything.  I appreciate so much a teacher that cares not only about academics but, helping her students develop into respectful people.  

Thank you Caleigh and Mrs. Thorp

A family super bowl party

We chose to have a family party this year for the super bowl, since it started a little later for us, and Mike was really excited for this game.  So were the boys.  We ALL got our pats shirts on, and chowed down on some yummy superbowl food.  Sadly, Tom Brady couldn't pull us through, but, we still enjoyed watching the game together and having some football bonding time.

Sledding With Dad

When a Griffin turned 9

We had so much fun celebrating Griffin's 9th Birthday with him.  He wanted to skip school and have a long birthday day.  So that's just what we did.

Griffin is our future paleontologist.  He LOVES all things dinosaur, so we had a dino cake made especially for him.  

Griffin loves to go bowling for his birthday.  We are all expert bowlers, really, we are awesome!  Actually we did pretty good, We had so much fun watching Elliot name her two bowling balls, "MR. and Mrs. Pickles" Caleigh was put in charge of taking photos, she did a great job.

Griffin is such a fun kid.  He's pretty easy going (like his daddy) and he has an awesome sense of humor.  He loves learning new things, which means he likes watching documentaries with Mike and going to the library with me.  Griff loves to dance, and has some unique moves (pictured below in the video).  He is definitely the peace maker around here, except when he's in a teasing mood, then he's the troublemaker.  Griffin has been working hard on his reading skills this year.  We started reading the scriptures as a family, and at first Griffin was really frustrated.  He hated being corrected because he didn't realize how many words he was mispronouncing.  We decided as a family that we would fast for him, so that he would feel better, and that reading would come easier for him.  Since our praying and fasting, he has started reading so much better.  He isn't afraid to tackle the big words on his own, and he doesn't mind being corrected.  Everyone is so proud of him, I love hearing the other children encouraging him and telling him what a good job he's doing.  

WE love you Griff.