February

February always brings more snow but a little warm temps that turn into low temps later at night. I was so proud of all my boys when they saw a neighbor chipping away at the ice and rushed out to help her! What a great way to show love during the month of LOVE!

My girl! She makes my heart happy with her ability to find the happy in almost anything!

Valentines Day was filled with parties, candy, and sweet cards! Anthony and I gave each of the kids a cup with hearts on it along with these heart shaped bubble wands and balloons with hearts all over them! I think I even threw in a box of conversation hearts! 

This was the Peter and Andrew's gift to their teachers!

And this is what they gave to all their classmates!

I miss the days that you could just send a card with a few conversation hearts in the envelope! Now it seems like it has to be bigger and better! My kids came home from school with treat bags filled with candy from their classmates! CRAZY!

President's Day was spent playing with hot wheels and waiting for Daddy to come home so that we could go sledding. An old tradition! One that might have to change to the Saturday before! 

Daddy finally made it home and we headed for the snow hill! Julia loved sledding...this being the first year that she could really enjoy it!

Matthew wasn't brave enough to go alone but thankfully he has a brave daddy!

Andrew loving the speed!

Climbing up the hill was a feat in of itself! Matthew did pretty well but would get frustrated because it was so slippery that he would slide two steps for every one he took!

Julia took the easy way out and never got out of her sled. She would slide down and then wait for someone to pull her back up! 

The hot cocoa is the best part of any sledding trip!

On the last ride down the hill, Peter and Andrew slide into Matthew who was struggling up the hill and he biffed it hard on the ice! Poor kid! A family movie night filled with air popped popcorn made it feel so much better!

My birthday was the beginning of the February and I was in a foul mood because Anthony and two of my kids got sick canceling all celebrations. My sweet visiting teachers and friends brought me a bouquet of my favorite flowers, which totally made me feel better! 

Family Bowling Day was a hit one lazy February Saturday!

Anthony has headband that goes over his ears that he uses when he snow blows. He usually has another hat on but this time he didn't! He ended up with this!

The boys enjoying days snow piling from the snow blower!

Peter had to write a report in school on his hero and he picked...

his DAD! I thought it pretty awesome and made Anthony feel special!

January

January started out freezing and cold! It was below zero New Years Day! Julia willing agreed to pose for me before I had to leave for a photo shoot! She's getting so big!

We later went out to Tiff and John's for some sledding and hot chocolate! 

Julia is proving to be quite capable of taking care of herself when it comes to her three brothers! All three of them are under her here!

We found Peter like this one night after we had sent him to bed! I think he was doing a little sneaky reading!

My sister, Rachal, left for her mission to the Tempe Arizona Mission at the end of January! This was her farewell hugs to everyone!

We arrived home to find that we were snowed in! We couldn't even get into our driveway! This is Anthony's car!

Satruday before her farewell, Awesome Aunt Rachal made one last snowman with her boys!

Julia and Kaylie have become best friends! This is them having a pillow fight after Rachal's farewell!

My farewell hug! It was so hard to say goodbye!

Matthew being what he is...a complete HAM!!

New Years Eve we had Rob and Susan's family over to ring (or pop) in the new year! We had about 50 feet of bubble wrap that the kids pop when midnight hit!

Matthew became a Sunbeam the beginning of January and has loved it! 

This is my first real paycheck for doing Santa photos at Anthony's Christmas office party!

Story time! Such a good big brother!

DECEMBER

It's pretty frighting that I'm just starting to blog December and its already August! Yikes!! I better hurry up I'm going to be so far behind I'll be ahead! 

My amazing sister in law Andrae graduated with her Bachelors in December! I think she is awesome for doing all that she did in order to graduate!

Their daughter Naomi is super cute!

One of the only photos to be taken on Christmas morning! I'm always so busy playing and opening the gifts to spend time behind my lens! Oh well! We still have tons of video thanks to Anthony!

This was taken later on Christmas when we went down to my families for a party and to hang out! All the older cousins squished in the sled! What fun! Julia really did have fun even though she isn't showing it!

Poor Jacob wanted out so bad but had to wait for Daddy to make rounds before he could head out!

We were lucky enough to run into Santa three different times! This was the first at Broulims! He goes to the strangest places!

Matthew showed no fear and climbed right on up! Julia on the other hand refused to be seated on Santa's lap!

Peter's class put on a Christmas program where they sang a whole bunch of really cool songs! It was a lot of fun!

Andrew decided a few days before Christmas that all he wanted was his two front teeth!

Our lopside Christmas Tree! Note to self... straight tree next year!

Rachal went through the temple for the first time! It was amazing to have almost all of us in the temple! I can't wait till we can all be together!

So old neighbors braved the weather and came up to support Rachal!

Julia found it exhausting to have so much Christmas and fun!

Valerie and I got matching water jugs! I love mine! I have used it several times already!