PINEWOOD DERBY WINNER

Last year Jaxson's car did not do so hot in the pinewood derby race, so he was really hoping for a good showing this year. Time got away from Dan and they started building his car the night before the derby. Last year they bought a kit and worked on it for weeks, this year Jaxson wanted to make his own, so Dan went to Hobby Lobby multiple times and purchased paint, decals, weights, tools, etc. We remembered that the winning cars last year had the majority of the weight in the back of the car, so they focused on installing the weights in the back.

When the car was complete, it looked like a winning car, we just didn't know how well it would do on the track. Lucky for Jaxson - it was a winning car! The look on his face as he raced past his competitors was priceless. He was so proud and so happy. The only person he couldn't beat was his good friend Kaden Pierce. Kaden took first place last year and repeated his victory this year. Jaxson came in second and took home a trophy to prove it.

I guess waiting until the last possible minute wasn't just a bad idea after all. (Madi had given her Dad a hard time the night before, but I guess he showed her.)

A BIRTHDAY SURPRISE

We decided to do a surprise party for my Mom's 60th and my Dad's 16th birthday this year. Jared and Erin came into town and we had the family over for dinner. Little did my parents know that the basement was decked out for the party and everyone had made food for the party. After dinner was over the doorbell rang and our first guests arrived. Ralph and Bettyann Baer from our neighborhood on Sharron Drive. It was a fun evening to celebrate with my parents. Lots of friends, family and neighbors stopped by to wish them a happy birthday. Friends that couldn't make it, sent notes for their memory book. I was glad to be a part of the evening and do something nice for my parents. Below is the invitation we sent out to everyone.

Marlene’s now sixty – Steve’s turning sixteen,

could you imagine a crazier scene?

It’s probably illegal in all fifty states,

so were running out of time to celebrate!

A surprise get-together from six to eight,

on Sunday the 19th, there’s no time to wait!

Soon Marlene will be in a holding cell,

while poor young Steve tries to post her bail.

Never been kissed, NO – this isn’t the case,

Marlene’s been a cougar on the chase!

Not so sweet after all, is this birthday pair,

so stop by, say hello, offer up your prayers.

SOLIDER HOLLOW TUBING

Jared and Erin came into town for Presidents Day weekend and we all went up to Midway to go tubing. We found a great deal on Groupon for half the cost, so Dan and I took the kids out of school to spend a family day together.

As always my kids were in heaven going up and down the mountain. This is my kind of sledding as well,when they pull you up the mountain and there is no work involved. The best thing about the day was that it was sunny and beautiful, we were shedding layers throughout the afternoon because it was so warm.

Kaitlyn wasn't quite as happy as the rest of us and was a little frightened going down the hill (quite the contract to Reagan, who had the biggest grin on her face), so Jared and Erin took turns staying back with her, while the rest of us would go up the hill and hook up our tubes to go down the mountain together. The more weight you have the faster you go down the hill. I had to get mad at Dan one time because he put he feet in the snow to slow us down at the bottom of the hill and all the snow kicked up and went down my shirt - it was so COLD!

At the end of the day, we stopped in a little bakery for some pastries when Dan realized he was missing his phone. We looked everywhere for it in the car and even tried his find your phone app, but nothing worked. We called the Solider Hollow and check with the front office and they didn't have it either, so we decided to drive back to the tubing hill, so see if we could find it on the mountain or in a tube. We spoke with a couple of workers and no one had it. Dan left his name and number at the front desk, but no luck. When we arrived home, there was a message from Solider Hollow stating that they had his phone. One of the workers had it and turned it in during a shift change. Tho following morning he had to drive all the way back to Midway to get his phone (So I made him get more pastries, while he was there!)

VALENTINES DAY

We started off Valentines day a little early this year by having a Valentines Day dinner with Grammie and Papa on Sunday. I made chicken cordon bleu with pink mashed potatoes and pink gravy. I prepared some red jello parfaits, and made heart shaped rolls. We ate in the dining room and enjoyed some Valentine's Day Trifle after dinner that Grammie brought over.

On Monday night Dan and I took Madi and Jaxson to the Desert Star Playhouse to see CSI Provo. We laughed and laughed, this was one of the best shows they have done. The kids loved going out on a date with us. Gratefully Grammie and Papa watched Reagan so we could attend the show together.

I had a fantastic time preparing the kids Valentines this year. Using pinterest is awesome and gives me lots of ideas! I made them dynamite out of Rolo's and told them they were the BOMB! I gave them love potion, and Zots for I love you Zotz and Zotz! They also got Valentine socks and crazy/silly string.

Dan got a six pack of Mountain Dew, with a tag "I love you - I DEW, I DEW, I DEW!"

On Valentine's Day I made heart shaped cinnamon rolls for breakfast with strawberry smoothies and sent them all to school so I could work.

Later that day I sent Reagan to playgroup with her "Cereal"-sly think your sweet valentines (cereal boxes with conversation heart) and then I arrived at Jaxson's class to head up the Valentines party. We made butterfly pencils, decorated doughnuts, had Valentines sodas and played a few games including, stack the hearts and darts!

That evening Dan and I went out to dinner with some of our closest friends. I had made reservations at Ruth's Chris steakhouse and then we went off to see the movie This Means War. It was an incredible night - great food, fantastic conversation, lots of laughter at dinner and the movie. It was a great way to spend the day (or days) with all the people I love!