I want to go to the temple

Cole said he wanted to go to the temple tonight. So we got a drink at Fiiz Drinks and drove around the temple for a few minutes. We even saw some "temple" deer crossing the street. 

The perfect Family Home Evening. Short, sweet, treats, and of course kids whining.

Sunday Best

We were at Costco a few weeks back and of course the kids have to browse at all the cool stuff. 

But the cool stuff isn't what you might think.

Both kids stopped dead in their tracks when we walked past the fancy dresses and pant suits. 

They begged and pleaded and cried and promised they would wear them every single week to church.

Luckily for them, they actually did both need some new church clothes. Pearl because she keeps getting taller. And Fern because, well, the kid has never once had a white shirt or church slacks.... at some point you have to graduate from shorts and Polo shirts, right?

I can't tell you how excited they were! The second they got home, they had to try on their new clothes. Jeff was less than amused, thinking what I was thinking, yeah, we'll see how excited they are come Sunday.

Well, Sunday has come and gone and at least one those pipsqueaks is still ecstatic to wear his new church clothes, complete with "me first bow tie!" He loves that little bow tie and vest! And I must admit he looks pretty dang cute all dressed up in his Sunday best. Even with the Spiderman rain boots, gum sticking out of his mouth, and shark umbrella. {He has since decided it's more fun to wear his black cowboy boots as church shoes}

Pearl? Well, she's into trying on at least four different outfits everyday while crying and screaming at me that she hates all of her clothes. Sigh. I thought we had a few years before that battle started. 

Goofy kids. I wouldn't trade this picture full of pipsqueak personality for anything.

Stripes match, right?

There is a fine line between honesty and not damaging your child for life.... "Does this match Mom?"

{Did you notice even her flip flops were striped?}

Traditional President's Day

As per tradition, the kids and I made sugar cookies for President's Day.

And maybe Valentine's Day. And St. Patrick's Day.

We're a little behind and a little ahead on some of the holidays. A little holiday confused if you will.

Eh. Doesn't matter. The cookies were delicious no matter what shape they were in and what sprinkles they had on them.

I have learned over the years of cookie decorating that it works better to give the kids their own cookies in their own cookie sheets to catch all the sprinkles that don't make it on the frosting.

It works like a charm.

But my favorite President's Day tradition? Getting flowers from Jeff. As a former flower delivery boy, he knows those expensive roses stores try to guilt men into buying for their wives look just as nice and cost $2 {yep, $2} a few days later. 

People might give him a hard time about not being all romantic on February 14th with chocolates and flowers but I love my President's Day flowers tradition.

Pinterest made my kid cry

There is a lot - I mean a lot - of pressure on the perfect everything for every holiday thanks to Pinterest. 

Now, don't get me wrong, I admire those women I really do. They are mighty creative and come up with some pretty impressive stuff. But the problem comes when I send my daughter to school for her first Valentine's Day party.

Pearl was so excited about Valentine's Day. {So was Fern boy... although he didn't fully understand the whole giving his Valentine's away idea} I took the kids to pick out their Valentine's at Walmart. Pinterest fail #1. Writing names on those Valentine's darn near sent me to the nut house. Cole was such a moody little turd! Thankfully Pearl can read and write so she was able to write her classmates' names on all of her Valentine's by herself.

They also decorated their own Valentine's Day boxes. Cole decorated his at school so there was little pressure to have some fancy decorated box. Plus, the kid's three so just the fact that he was able to glue some paper on the actual box... I'm happy. 

I found a box for Pearl {I knew if I saved that box long enough it would be put to good use} and asked her what she wanted it to look like. She said she wanted it white and to decorate it herself. So I found some white spray paint to cover it and let her get all her art stuff out to decorate to her heart's content. 

I thought her box looked perfect. She was so happy with it and very proud of her work.

Until she got to school and saw all the other kids' boxes. 

I remember those days.... my boxes were never that creative either. I guess I was hoping things had changed and Pearl wouldn't feel the pressure to bring a box that looked like a toilet {we saw a kid walking into school with a toilet box... it was pretty funny} or whale or whatever the Pinterest rage was. But she came home and said she liked her box until she got to school. She said her Valentine's box was the ugliest box in class.

It broke my heart. I didn't know what to tell her. I kept thinking, please not yet! Don't let her face this yet. We tried explaining that her box was special because she did everything herself but she just hung her head down and cried. I hate Pinterest. 

Luckily, we were able to cheer her up a little with a Valentine's Day surprise. I bought these mailboxes at Target last year and have started a tradition of filling them with a very small treat for the kids. They seem to love it. This year, Jeff and I decided to really surprise them though by taking the entire family to Pickleville Playhouse's Juanito Bandito Rides Again in Downtown Salt Lake. That perked Pearl right up! She loves Juanito Bandito! And... she knew she could probably talk me into a new mustache scarf. Especially after the stupid Pinterest tears earlier in the day. 

Poor Jeff though. He had been so sick the days before. With a fever and aches and sinus crap. He was miserable. I even made him stay home from work. But after getting turned down THREE TIMES by different alternative "dates" he took pity on me, put some clothes on, popped a few pain pills, and came to the show with us. He's a good man. {Plus, he likes Juanito Bandito}

I laughed so hard I nearly peed my pants. There were definitely tears from crying so hard. Pearl laughed and smiled and got that new mustache scarf she wanted. It was a perfect Valentine's Day date! 

And that's coming from a woman who doesn't expect {maybe hopes for a little} anything on Valentine's Day... my flowers come Presidents' Day.

Puddle jumping

For some reason these two think it's summer. I didn't have the heart to tell them that jumping in puddles in the middle of February might not be the wisest of moves. Even if I knew it would mean I'd end up carrying one of them home soaking wet in the freezing cold.

The 12th Man

My brother Jesse has been a Seattle Seahawks fan for as long as I can remember. He's cheered for them long before they became a contender for the Super Bowl. He even made sure his girls were in appropriate attire for the big game. So to say he was a little excited and a little nervous {he said he was calling in sick on Monday if the Seahawks lost} for the big game would be an understatement.

I'm a Seahawks fan because #1 their uniforms are good looking. I know, I know. It sounds totally girly but it's true! The blue, bright green, and gray looks sharp. #2 They have former Aggie greats on their Freshman team. Duh. Gotta cheer for Turbin and B-wagz. And #3 I like Seattle. It's a cool town and one I'd love to go visit again, so this gives me a perfect excuse to someday take Jeff there to see a game.

Oh, and #4 they slaughtered the Denver Broncos and are Super Bowl Champions! Just because we live close to Colorado, and every other Utahn loves them, doesn't mean we cheer for the Broncos. Winning Team!

A little pre-game activity. Making my Dad some birthday {and 12th man} treats. Decorated of course in the winning team's colors and our favorite player's numbers. Or in the case of the losing team, blood. Jeff predicted the slaughter even before the game started!

And a bear to celebrate my Dad's birthday. You can guess if he turned 75 or 57.

I love my helpers! Seriously. Love that husband of mine for always helping with the treats. He does a great job "accessorizing" the teddy bears. 

Fern and Pearl were very proud of their bears. So proud in fact that when we left some at my parent's house for my Dad to enjoy, that they cried. 

We had so much food set out for pre-half time snacking that we didn't actually eat any of the main course {traditional chili and clam chowder} my mom missed church to cook! I'm blaming Emily and her baked nachos. Sorry Mom.

{This adorable cheese cutter was part of my Grandpa's Nabiso collection... I'm claiming it. "When you want a cracker, you want a Ritz!"}

The kids loved my Dad's traditional Super Bowl Bingo and game trivia. After all, there is a giant basket of prizes at stake for the winners.

I love Super Bowl Sunday weekends!