This weekend...

Cousins were here again (different cousins). While we were at Tom's basketball game with the boys, Rachel and her two girl cousins dressed up Megan and Jessica, did their hair, make-up and nails.
and then did a photo shoot. I came home to find all these pictures on my camera.

I think they did a great job!

Last night we played the "penny on the flour" game.

Rachel lost....she had to get the penny out with her teeth.
Everyone was jealous, they wanted to stuff their faces in the flour. And that's when the madness started!





Tommy went a little overboard. He LOVED covering his face in the flour. He said it felt good. A flour facial, I guess.
And then we were all cracking up as he posed for us.
But getting it off wasn't as easy as he thought it would be.
Next time we will try a game that is less messy!

Cougars (in Vegas)

I know, it seems like I'm always posting basketball pictures. But, it's the only sport the boys are wanting to play right now so they play in different leagues almost all year. Each season I fall in love with the team and don't want to forget them. Well, it's almost the end of the season on the Cougar's team. And I REALLY love this team!

His coach has been amazing! He has helped every boy progress so much this season. He builds them up, but he expects A LOT! He is exactly what the back of his shirt says, a COMPETITOR! He wants to win!

He has really turned Tommy into a COMPETITOR! Tommy has become so much more aggressive this year! He REALLY wants the ball!



I think he got his dad's speed


and especially his jumps
One more game and then the Tournament.... Good luck Cougars!

Mating Socks...

one of the things I dislike most. I don't have a problem with them in the summertime because Mark is the only one who wears socks the rest of us wear flip-flops. But in the winter, there's just too many socks. A few months ago, the socks started piling up (I threw them in a basket after they came out of the dryer) and I gave up. When anyone wanted a pair of socks they had to dig through the basket. (I know, such a terrible wife/mom!) Last week Mark got tired of it and took it upon himself to mate the socks.
I don't think he had any idea of what he got himself into when he started. I can't even tell you how many socks there were! But it wasn't all bad....he got to watch the BYU game while doing it!
It must have taken him the whole game to go through that basket.
But, I do have to report that I have tried to be better. I have kept the basket empty since that time (and that has been about 3 or four laundry days). Now, if I could just keep up on the ironing I would make my mom so proud! I don't know how she did it with 10 kids!

Cousins and Valentines Day

Last weekend, my two nieces and two nephews stayed with us for a few days. It was so fun! These cousins get along so well with each other! It helped that the weather was so beautiful all weekend. The first night they played an intense game of basketball. Boys against girls.

The girls had their first facials with a homemade avocado recipe...

and did crazy make-up and hair...

We went to the park....


and played a lot more basketball!

These two were the most competitive. It was friendly competition, but they were in it to win!

And after fighting over the little trike, these three came up with a great solution. It was a bike/stroller train. They were all able to ride at the same time. They rode this way for hours around the house!
And then, one of my most favorite holidays! VALENTINES DAY!!! We did the usual traditions...of course decorating and eating sugar cookies!
and decorating the house like crazy for Dad (this year it was for Dad/Uncle Mark)
There are a lot of reasons that we love him!
and the traditional Valentines dinner with make-your-own heart shaped pizza. Not very fancy, but the kids love it!


It was such a fun time but as you can see, since it took me a week to post this, it took me a while to recover! HaHa!

Eight years old and baptized!

It was an exciting day for Sam. He had been counting down this day since Thanksgiving! We heard the countdown number almost every morning! Then, on the day of his birthday, he was so excited that he couldn't sleep in. He was up by six. All other other kids were fast asleep so he helped me make his "8" cookies. I LOVE this guy! It was so fun to spend my favorite ours of the day (morning) just with him!

When everyone woke up, we opened presents and ate breakfast.

He was sooo excited to get baptized on his birthday! Here he is with his dad.

and here's the family (who cares if we are not all looking at the camera!)

Then lunch at our house.

I don't know why I don't have any pictures of Mark's side of the family! I guess I wasn't doing a very good job at taking pictures. But they were there, and I do love them!!

Then it was cake time...

Congrats Sam!!!!
We sure love you!

Sweet Megan

I have to record this priceless moment that happened last night...

The kids and I were on our way to the church to help with a cleaning assignment (Mark was already there.) Jessica and Megan were fighting over a water bottle. It was the end of the day and I really didn't know if I could handle the screaming over something SOO little. Just as I was ready to get involved in this quarrel, Megan sweetly said, "OK Jessie, you can have it," and she passed her the water bottle. With a lot of enthusiasm, I said, "Oh Megan, you are so sweet! Thank you so much for sharing!" She quickly responded, "Mom, I didn't do it for you, I did it for Jesus!" Oh man, talk about melting my heart! So, I took this opportunity to talk to the kids about how Megan is so right....when we serve and help others, we are making Jesus so happy. Then I asked if they knew how Jesus says thank you. They came up with many ideas which were good and then I added, "yes, it's the feeling you feel inside that feels so good and makes you so happy." I asked Megan if she felt that and she said yes. I said, that is Jesus saying thank you.

When we got to the church, Jessica started fighting with Megan again about opening the door. Megan quickly let Jessica do it without arguing. I didn't say anything but as we walked away from the car, Megan said, "Mom, Jesus just said thank you again!"

Tubing at Brianhead

Ok, so this was about a month ago, but I still need to document it because it was fun!
Oh, did I say fun?? I meant FREEZING!!! (9 degrees with a light wind to be exact)
But it just didn't phase anyone (except for me!) The cousins had a blast!





So did Jessie...


and Megs...

and Sam...

and Tommy...

and Rach...
(how sad that the number of pictures decreases as each child gets older! Sorry Rachel, you got jipped! I only have one picture of you!)

I mostly hung out in the "warm-up van."
We tried to defrost frozen toes and entertain the little ones.
Then we headed back to Michelle's in Parowan to eat and drink hot cocoa! The cousins played more.
And me and my sisters (minus one) got to hang out with our oldest brother who was visiting. We rarely get to see him so it was a ton of fun!