Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's "week": It was a good Valentine's Day this year, full of loving family, good food, and lots of treats! I worked on the 13th and missed Molly's offer to watch the kiddos for a date night, so we went to lunch at Se Llama Peru in Provo and Theron was nice enough to watch all our kiddos.



Valentine's Date - Love Love Love this guy!!

  On actual valentine's day I set out little valentine's for my family on the table after I got home so they could wake up to a little valentine surprise. Then after church we took a family picture in front of the fireplace, probably one of the better ones we've gotten. The trick was letting them push the timer button on the camera then run back to their spot. It kept them all happy and giggly because we would yell "Hurry! Fast! Smile!! Cheese!" each time.

 My 4 sweet babies

Chloe and I with the Valentine she made me - she even gave me one of the blow pops which she bought after doing ten extra "pay" chores. What a sweetie!

My family came in around 9 to wake me up to have a yummy breakfast of heart shaped pancakes, breakfast sausage, eggs, juice and milk. It was really yummy and they all helped make it which made it extra special. I also had some nice valentine cards waiting for me on the table :)

 The Thursday before Valentine's Day we took a trip down to Em's for some Valentine fun. She let them decorate cupcakes, make valentines, and pass out valentines to each other

Family History Conference: Aunt Teresa came to Utah for a Genealology Fair and invited us to come for the kids activities. They did a treasure hunt, played family history twister, and Nate got a print out of his family history tree. It was so nice to spend time with Aunt Teresa and we had fun filling up our bag with goodies from all the booths!

 Chloe with her map during the treasure hunt

 Blain completing one of the tasks along the way to earn his treasure

 Family Time: I'm only working one day per week this month so I feel like I have tons of time and energy to spend with these babies. We've been having a blast dressing up, making toys from old food containers, playing in the toy room, and of course they love their daddy time right when he gets home and I'm making dinner!

 Blain the Ninja



Blain has now made 3 robots out of a hot chocolate can, an empty soda bottle, and a milk carton. He uses his left over shiny tape from his Halloween costume to cover the bottles then colors them with my sharpies that he only gets to use when making those toys. It is the quietest I've ever seen him when he works on those robots. He likes "battling them" or giving his toys rides when they magically transform into space ships.

 Zeyta is so good down in the playroom. I've been able to get lots of chores done while they all play down there, and I love hearing them through the vents as they play and laugh

 Buzz Lightyear - flying videos go along with this picture :)

Avenlea's turn to be Buzz - Blain was so sweet to help Avenlea get in her costume

 Cutie Zeyta and Mommy

 Lining up for the tickle test and flying baby Zeyta game

Watching the fire burn through our junk mail and newspaper :)

On the Farm: During our date Nate and I also stopped by a nursery to get seeds for starting indoors. On the 16th we planted tomatoes, peppers, and broccoli. Chloe and Blain were such good helpers and have been great about spraying the little seeds to keep the soil moist so they can germinate.

Blain and Chloe taking turns pushing down the seeds after I set out 1 seed per hole

 



Guess who keeps trying to sleep with the chickens? Yep, the little kitten (we should probably name her) has been found in the coop at night before we close the chickens in. That little cat is so funny. I think she ends up sleeping in the straw storage stall but she sure tries to sneak in the heated coop! We have to look in the nesting boxes first to scare her out then go and close the door to the coop. 

 Bella and Prince Ali hanging out on a rainy day - I know, RAIN?? Looks like spring may be headed our way!

 Bella's udder continues to grow and I keep thinking she could calve any day, but really I have no idea. This is a picture from this morning (18th). She is still acting normal so I don't think it's gonna be today or anything, but it still makes me want to check on her about every hour! I usually just peek out the window over the stairs and if I can see her standing by the gate then I know she's ok

 Chickens in the "poo path" as I call it. Bella and Prince Ali have made a nice path to the stalls but it is DISGUSTING because they poop all along the little trail and now that the snow is melting it's soupy and just gross to walk through. But I guess if it gets the chicken out of their coop and exploring it's a good thing :/

We've been having plumbing issues so we finally called a plumber and he told us that our septic needed to be pumped. Nate took Tuesday off work to dig up the access door to the septic, which turns out didn't need to get pumped after all. So hundreds of dollars later we have a freshly pumped septic and clear pipes. Another guy came back the next day and fixed the clog in our pipes in about 20 minutes. Not happy to put it mildly. At least we aren't using a bucket and the baby potty for our bathroom needs anymore and we can run water in the sinks...