Ahhh...the day of love. Valentines day.

Today we were alone at church since Pops had meetings and then he attended the ward he's over. Boss was a punk during sacrament meeting. We've haven't brought snacks to church for over a year and he must have said 50 times "I'm hungry, I want a snack." Why do we have to go through this every Sunday? Not to mention Crate would only be quiet if I was standing up holding him so I spent most of sacrament meeting in the back bouncing Crate and keeping an eye on the boys until a friend to Crate and then I went and sat back down with the boys. She was a life saver.

I fixed the most delicious dinner for the males in the house tonight. I bought some high-end steaks yesterday and seasoned them to perfection then grilled them on the barbie. I also made some mean mashed potatoes with a recipe I found on all recipes dot com along with some asparagus grilled with Cajun seasoning. Yummm. And to top it off I made the Oreo ice cream cake for desert. That was tasty.

Then tonight we invited the youth over for ping pong and games. They were loud and crazy but we all had lots of fun. They are good kids.

No school tomorrow due to presidents day. Yeah, I'm excited!

Saturday is a special day...

Soccer games and cousins play,

to the park, luckily it's not hot like May.

Marmie came over and to us treats she gave,

easy dinner, baths and boys in bed to lay.

Now to bed I must go so I don't feel like I'm a slave.

A few weeks ago I bought the CD of the new primary songs for this year. We listen to it every time we're in the car. It's precious to hear a 4 & 6 year old sing:

"A Long time ago in a beautiful place, children were gathered around Jesus, he blessed and taught as they felt of His love. Each saw the tears on His face. The love that He felt for his little ones I know he feels for me. I did not touch or sit on His knee, yet Jesus is real to me. I know he lives! I will follow faithfully. My heart I give to him. I know that My Savior loves me."

I absolutely love listening to them sing this song and the others on the CD.

Laundry, cleaned kitchen, polished stainless steel appliances, emptied all garbage's around the house, cleaned bathrooms, vacuumed tile, more laundry, fed baby, fed baby again and again and again and again and again. fed Boss again and again and again, practiced riding bike with no training wheels (not me, Boss) dusted, folded laundry, cleaned towels, hung up laundry, played army men with Boss, finished homework with Buster, thought about taking a nap, put together 30 valentines for his party tomorrow, fixed beans and rice for dinner...family favorite...NOT, but everyone was full nonetheless, did a dreaded thing...cut the boys hair, said goodbye to Pops as he headed out to a meeting, baths for everyone, read scriptures with boys, bedtime for boys, shower for me at 7pm, blow dried hair, fed baby again, took care of PTA stuff, answered emails, read scriptures, wrote on blog. This was my day today.

ahhh...Wednesday.

Today Pops asked if I wanted to go on a brisk walk instead of getting on the treadmill. It's always a treat to go on a walk with him. Probably more for me cause I think he hates going. There is something that is just so energizing about waking up and spending the first 45 minutes outside enjoying the fresh brisk air. We each pushed a stroller with a kid in it. Luckily I got the lighter kid.

I had my day planned out in my mind but then life happened.

Buster had a half day so Boss was more than thrilled to hear that. I went to the post office and mailed out a package of valentines cookies the boys and I made yesterday. They wanted to give some to all their cousins...ALL of them. Plus to Aunt Katie on her mission and Uncle Trent in the army so I sent off seven packages today. Each family would have received more cookies if I hadn't burnt the last pan yesterday. Oh well.

I headed off to the ultimate worst store ~ wal-mart ~ with four kids to get Buster valentine treats for his class. That place is a joke, I never know why I bother to go. We came home and made a mess of the kitchen doing the valentines stuff and not cleaning it up because I had to race out of here to go to the school and help out with the uniform exchange. Pops took the two oldest boys with him to run work errands while I was at the school and then I had a PTA meeting followed by mutual.

The kitchen is still a mess but I'm tired and I still have to read my scriptures.

I wonder if I'll ever watch a family member experience a trial like her or her. I hope not. These people are in my prayers. Once again, I'm reminded of my many small and large blessings.

Today Trisha had her baby. I'm excited to meet her this new baby. Babies are a piece of heaven. Tonight Crate fell asleep on my arms and I must have kissed him 117 times before I laid him in his crib. I'm sure Trisha will be a great mom. Becoming a mother is speechless.

I hoped to post about the past weekend today but time slipped by. Dinner didn't cook like it was supposed to while we were at the soccer practice that was actually canceled but I didn't know that so it was a cereal night. The boys were in heaven. Crate still doesn't like sleeping. He didn't get that from me, I love sleeping. Sometimes it's not very fun or convenient to post every day but it's my goal so I'll stick with it.

Today Boss, Crate and I hung out while Buster was at school. We played trains, did preschool work, picked up, Boss helped with the dishes and helped fold the clothes (he's really in this helping stage right now) and just enjoyed being home together. After Buster got home I took the boys on a bike ride and fixed all different leftovers for dinner. It was a simple & enjoyable day with no extra kids.

Crate is in this stage of not sleeping longer than 30 minutes at a time and waking up more at night. Hopefully he'll get back into his sleeping 8 solid hours in the night routine.

Happy birthday to Julie and Saige!