Valentine's Day is quickly moving up my favorite holiday list!

I LOVE Valentine's Day more this year for some reason! I think it's because I have more people in my life that I will LOVE forever.
Yes, "I freaking love" them! And being a mom changes your heart in a way I can't describe!And I say, the best place for love is... the LDS Temple. Why you ask? Because it is where families are forever and love can go on for all eternity. It brings my heart comfort to know that because of our savior's love (there's that valentine L word again), no matter what happens to our families in this life, we will see them again.

There is a purpose to life... and that is to love one another and find true happiness. The Plan of Happiness/Plan of Salvation and Christ's atonement for us is really a Valentine's message of love too! Not just Christmas. Who'd a thunk it? Happy Valentine's Day!

Gracie Joy is my Crazy Joy!!

I said, "Show me Gracie..." and she actually lifted her shirt up and put her arms out like this to show off her artwork all on her own! CRAZY! Guess I have to hide the markers.So proud!
This time Gracie gave her self a smile - Joker style, with MASCARA, not marker. Eeek! I was really mad at first cause she broke the wand and that she knew how to open it, but then she just looked up at me from the bathroom floor and smiled innocently. I couldn't help laughing and smiling.
My Gracie Joy. She is very "willful" as a good friend of mine said the other day. I say stubborn and independent (she won't just take a few crackers, she has to have the whole bag) and she is too smart for her own good. She won't go to bed without her baby. It was her sippy cup for a while. Some nights, however, I get her to put the baby to bed in it's crib and then she will go to her own crib after that.
Last night, we spent much longer than expected in Best Buy and finally at Staples buying an affordable computer. Gracie did pretty well with all the TV's and music and spinning chairs availabe. But then it got crazy. At 8:45, she was pulling candy off the shelf and when I pulled her away, she wouldn't stop balling, so for our sanity, I let her buy a .50 cent lollipop that she was crying over. I should have taken her to the car but I was trying to help Luke with the computer decisions. Well it did the trick but about 10 minutes later, she dropped the sucker on the bathroom floor, shattering it to pieces. That was the craziest, quickest .50 cents I have ever spent.
And now, I know it is pretty early, (she's 18 mos) but Gracie really wants to use the potty. This is her potty chair I have to find a bowl for. She always tells me stinky or poo poo right as she is doing it or right after and so we run to the bathroom and sit on the toilet. And then I clean her up. But now she has learned to say, "POO POO!" really adamently so that she gets my attention where ever when ever, or as an escape rout from her high chair or bed, etcd. Yep, I finally realized what she was doing. Crazy Gracie!

Jan 25 - My heart is permanently melted!

So Gracie and I were in my bedroom this morning getting her pants on and all of the sudden her face lit up and she said, "OOOO! MOM!" She was looking up at the wall a little ways away and said, "MOM" and squealed. I realized she was looking at our wedding picture so I picked her up and let her get closer. She was so excited that it was a picture of me. I tried to show her dad and get her to say dad, but she just kept saying, "MOM!" She just melted my heart permanently.

Jan 16 - 25 Years is now a favorite birthday... Swimming in January!

We got a bunch of couples together and invited them to go to a natural hot springs called Warm Springs about an hour away from Vegas. My friend Cassidy's birthday is this month too, so we shared the birthday wishes and bought meat for the BBQ. It was the best place to go to get out of Vegas. It was so cute with palm trees and grass and a natural river, picnic tables and playground. It was a little cold for our heads and noses cause it is still January but our bodies were warm in the water. We all want to go again and camp too but wait a few months so it is just right. If anyone is looking for a good family outing, this is definitely the place. The pools were fun and perfect for the boys to play some b-ball but all of us ladies really wanted some little HOT pools. I am going to be on the look out for some more like that.
My friends decorated my door the night before. (I thought it was the wind but then I got really scared when I heard more than just wind could do. They even drove an "undercover" car so I wouldn't catch them when I went outside.)
Kara is the best and such a sweet friend. Thanks for making my birthday so special.
Some of the girls, some had already left. Cassidy and James in the pool. Nice suit James... he forgot his! Gracie only came for the food... ;)
Me tying balloon swords for all the kids. Good thing I am experimenting with other shapes!
All the dads gotta whoop on each other...
And then Luke and I went to Mimi's cause of their birthday deal and free dessert. Can you tell Luke is happy about his inside out creamcheese blueberry stuffed french toast. They are to die for.
And then we went to see AVATAR in 3-D. The best movie in a long time!! I loved it. 3-D messed with my head but very cool cause it was like you could reach out and touch it. Well worth it. And I got a new color of fingernail polish for my b-day that I have named AVATAR!

Happy Holidays in Pictures

Aahh... Back home in our own beds!
Gracie loves oranges and her baby!
Are we there yet? Gracie wouldn't let go of her baby so I strapped it in too. :)
Mom, Bill, Kevin laughing hard on New Year's Eve!
Dad sleeping...
Heidi and Robert got a babysitter and enjoyed the night with each other. So cute!
Here is some of us. Balderdash was everyone's favorite game.
Gracie in Franklin, ID finally liking the snow! Look at that smile and the snot...
We spent a fun night and day with Bri and Bill at their new home in my favorite state of Idaho.
Their street was perfect for going super fast.
Quickyn and Gracie sure enjoyed each others' company. We had to make them stop spinning around in this chair.
We loved snowboarding!
Tino did too.
What does Nancy's face say about skiing while a few month pregnant?
BJ said he would definitely go skiing again. Look at his face now.
Ready to hit the slopes...
BJ has never been skiing and he is from Logan. He was a pretty skeptical about all the clothing you have to wear to stay warm. But he did it because he loves Nancy. It was fun to teach him.
Gracie and Dad, perfect friends.
Anjelica and Mom watched Gracie for us while we went snowboarding.
I love Grandma!
Gracie loves Baby Jesus!
The Baby Clothes Quilt that I made for my neice Sofia. Gracie has worn all her clothes and so to say Thank you, we made a keepsake blanket out of all her favorite outfits.
Grammy Lenna warming Gracie up after sledding.
Sofia is such a fun loving tough girl. She can whoop any boy but still is cute!
Gracie banged her nose up while trying to pull the sled. I love this even though it is sad.
We love sledding.
Gracie's favorite Christmas Present from Santa...
She carries her baby everywhere, and pushes the stroller constantly. Now we have to dress the baby, change the baby, feed the baby, and everything else Gracie does too.
I love this face. She was excited about the presents.
We all slept hard after playing hard. What a good time!!