Valentine Dance

My mother- in- law is a Cox and her side of the family are great about holding family gatherings and keeping traditions. 

They have been holding a Valentine Dance at least as long as Tom has been alive (40 years).  

My kids look forward to it every year.  They teach everyone all kinds of dances and it is a lot of fun. 

I know it looks like a ward party, right?

Of course Isaac just hates these kinds of things

The balloon waltz

Papa taking it all in with a grin

My mother in law and her siblings....all but one brother were there tonight
Good people with big hearts

Kathy, Pam, Dottie, Annamarie, Camille, Bruce, Anita, Carolyn

Valentines Day is a great time to put in writing the things that you love and appreciate about one another.

We don't do anything elaborate.....heart shaped pancakes for breakfast and love notes.   

There is really nothing I like better than getting a heart felt note from my kids or husband.

I really do.

Isaac gets embarrassed that he can't spell everything correctly, but that is what makes it all the better.....

Yesteryear

Meg's class participated in yesteryear today.  The day is dedicated to living like the pioneers did.

They pan for gold

 Take a shave

do some wash

 Grind wheat

Enjoy some dutch oven biscuits and buffalo stew.

This was taken right before one kid had a huge snot rope blow out of his nose which then made another kid start to throw up the buffalo stew.......and I am no help in situations involving those two things colliding.  I begin dry heaving and have to take a walk to get in under control.

Square Dancing was my favorite to watch with no buffalo stew, snot and throw-up

I loved watching these two do the Virginia Reel

Covered Wagon ride and boy did he make it authentic by taking us off road and running the horses.

I got a serious attack of the giggles.

I admire a wagon driver with a seat like that!

Pioneer games

 This race started a brawl between the boys in the right hand side of the photo.

Overall.....a great school activity

Sunday

If Tom is left unattended watching television on Saturday afternoon.....I am sure to receive a nice present in the mail from an infomercial.  The latest purchase is the Nuwave oven.  
Yes, we have a crock pot and double ovens, but somehow we needed this too.
Tom convinced the kids that this would revolutionize the way we cooked dinner and they couldn't wait to see my face when I was told of this great gift. 
They were all disappointed in my lack of enthusiasm and the rolling of the eyes. 
Tom and his loyal supporters couldn't wait to "show me" at Sunday dinner.

I have to admit that the maiden voyage of the oven was not disappointing.  

The steaks were cooked really well and my kitchen was not smokey.  

Tom will try out a roast next time and we'll see if it lives us to its promise of cooking it so much faster.

And on another note,

 Summer and her cousins have been taking turns singing in each other's ward sacrament meetings.

 It's a good thing that my mother- in- law is willing to accompany them.  

I am pretty self-destructive on the piano and take the singers down with me.

Sunday afternoons are perfect for bumping the volleyball and riding bikes.

Riding a tandem bike is easier said than done.  
It takes some bravery and trust to sit on the back seat.  

Let's just say that some sibling pairs get along a little better than others. 
Notice I don't have a picture of my girlies.

The Run- Down

Cole
Volleyball in hand
Party Commissioner
Loving his first year of Seminary
Has started to beg for a phone
Piano playing
Answers the phone a couple of octaves lower
Mostly sweet all the time


Summer
Singing
Piano is coming along great
Loves to spend time with her cousin Molly and baby Griff
Social
Plays club volleyball
Powertapping
Goal-Setting
Learned to curl her own hair


Meg
Has become a farm girl
Horseback rider
Volleyball playing
Working on her back tuck....so close to landing it
Very helpful and respectful always
Reading reading reading
Learning to control her stress level


Isaac
Always creating
Drawing
Writing books and in his journal
Constantly Eating
Michael Jackson.....still
Reformed member of the "Bad Boys Club"
Wants to be more "useful around the house"
Never has to be told to go to bed
Ran a mile
Basketball

January

We started out the year....freezing

but Tom's sister put together a great Bonco game and we kept warm
 enough to have a great time ringing in 2011

Ruth is such a great party planner...she even made a Bonco sign.

We even enjoyed a sled run, thanks to Amy ordering snow.
I guess you can pretty much order anything these days.

 Tom brought his hot air balloon kit and we had successful launches

We had to say goodbye to the Blakes (my youngest sis) ...
3 weeks wasn't long enough.

Visit the new baby goats and watch Meg in her element

 Mmmm... Mother Goat wasn't really loving us

 I wouldn't want anyone bugging my new babies either

 These babies sounded like human babies when they cried....so stinkin cute.

Oh the chicken coop brings back a lot of memories

Lots and lots of Ping Pong

And with Teenage boys the game turns into "Sting-Pong"
Loser gets pelted with a ping pong ball on the bare back....such a teenage boy thing to do.

 Saying goodbye to one of Summer's best friends, Lauren. 

We hope she has a great new life in Utah!