Happy ♥ Day!

The kids really look forward to their Valentine parties at school.  They also really like 'making' their Valentines.  I think it is so much more fun for the kids to make something or create their own cards.  I hope I can cultivate the creativity in them while they are growing up so they do the same when they have kids.  (Thanks, Mom!) 

Payton really got into it this year and loved being my helper!  She kept asking me what she could do, or what's next?  So we got busy last night finishing up the class valentines. 

Filling her cups for classmates...



Handwriting her name on her cards... (notice the lefty, not my Firehouse sub?!)

RJ's completed Valentine card... (he was at practice, but helped when he got home.)



Payton's completed Valentine card

Night Out!

We celebrated our Valentine's Day date night a little early this year with great friends... first, we headed to our local japanese steakhouse for a great dinner. They were even taking volunteers for the 'egg roll' trick.

Next, we headed to the local painting place "Community Canvas" for a couples night Valentine painting. This seems to be an annual event with us, since we have gone 3 out of the last 4 years.  And, the best part is you get to leave with a unique painting created by you!  We have all of our paintings all over our house.  You would be surprised how much the guys get into it and how worried us girls get at what they are doing... (we sit facing each other so you can't see the other half of the painting until the end when they are put together!)

The boys getting ready to paint... our artist "Quiche" in the yellow jacket - she's great!

Roby always has fun and turns out is a really good painter!



 My half of the painting...

The big reveal....



 

FINISHED!

Party Pictures

So here are the much anticipated party pictures from the big rockin' 4 year celebration!

Happy Birthday Payton!

 

 She was so looking forward to her cake and candles!

Lalaloopsy inspired cake made by Too Nice To Slice

She loved being the center of attention... 

Pinterest inspired birthday banner made from burlap

The big surprise... the Lalaloopsy playhouse!

The Big 4!

It's official! We now have a 4 year old in the house! We celebrated from first thing in the morning till late afternoon for this little girl's birthday.  She had a great day and said she enjoyed opening the presents the most.  GO figure.  The lalaloopsy party was fun and mama is so glad all that party stressing is behind us for another year.

  Morning of with her new lalaloopsy mermaid doll

Day after... on the way to school with another lalaloopsy doll

Looks like fun!

The Color Run

So I just found this race that looks like it would be so much fun! It’s called “The Color Run”! Have you heard of it? It is coming to a city near me! Go to the website and see if one is coming near you. It looks crazy, exciting, fun, a mess… everything you can think of. I hope I can rally up a group to come with me. Running with friends is the best!

So mark it down... Atlanta, GA, March 31, I'm there! 

Pinkeye

We are being hit by the yucky infection pinkeye this week.  Just really hoping it is all better and not passed along to others by the big birthday party this weekend! But, she did get to spend some quality time with daddy! Comments I heard from the day:  she is very talkative and she asked a hundred times "when is mommy coming home?"

Nothing like going to the doctor in our ballet clothes...  

The next morning... still really pink

Day 2: better but still pink... and no spreading to other eye (yet?)

(keeping fingers crossed about that one)

Secret trip

It's that time of year again... circus time!  We took the kids this year, decided the night before, bought the tickets, and kept it a secret until we got there.  They were so curious where we were going! (You can imagine the questions we heard!)

We met a clown!

In our seats ready for the show to start...

The clowns were very funny and kept everyone laughing (especially RJ)...

The motorcycle riders were a great part of the show

Payton loved this girl was wearing pink...

Of course, the elephants were unbelievable! They even had a baby elephant!

Closing of the show... 

The ride home....