Blessings

I am sick for like the fifth or sixth time in two months.  Ugh.  But this dog.  THIS DOG.  He is usually not allowed on our bed.  He knows that.  I know he knows that because he doesn't ever try to jump on our bed.  But when I have been sick, he comes to the side of the bed and dances around trying to decide something and then in one graceful leap he lands next to me and places his head on me.  This sweet gesture sometimes brings me to tears.  I had given him to another family once.  I thought I would never get to see him again.  I sobbed for months afterward--I couldn't bring myself to get another dog when my pelvis healed enough to allow me to go on walks again.  And yet, I have him back.  How does that happen?  Why am I so fortunate?  I don't have answers to those questions.  But when I am lying in bed, frustrated that my body is fighting to stay well, he lands next to me.  Always there.  His warmth is so terribly comforting.  I. LOVE. HIM.  I am humbled by him.  HE. IS. THE. BEST.

Valentine's Day 2015

Michaela said this morning, "Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday!" Me, "Why's that?" Her response, "'Cause it's the day everyone tells each other how much they love each other."  I agree.  I loved thinking of fun things to do for the kids and for Mike to celebrate this day.  I felt such warmth and happiness as I sat down to write out what I loved about each of them.  

This is how we celebrated our love for each other:  Our celebrations began Friday the 13th since Mike had to work most of Valentine's Day.  Friday morning,  Mike left out an empty vase for me in the kitchen with a sweet note that, in summary, said, "I've hidden things throughout the house that tell you why I love you."  I found 12 roses in every part of the house, each with a note that began with, "I love...."  

Mike and I made a lunch date since we had made plans for Mike to take the girls to the Pinkalicious Musical playing at the SCERA theater Friday night. Our lunch date took place at Texas Roadhouse with Squirt tagging along.  I LOVE their steak.  We had heart pizzas for dinner.  Mike took the girls to the musical and the boys decided to go swimming with me at the Lehi Legacy Center.  They probably spent 90% of the time going down the swirly slide.  I loved watching their smiling faces run up the stairs, swish down the slide and come up sputtering in the pool.  I joined them every other slide down.  (I find myself still getting a little winded because of the pneumonia I battled this winter.)

After the kids fell asleep, Mike and I cut out little hearts, wrote various things about what we loved about each child and stuck them to the corresponding child's door.  I think the kids were tickled to see them when they woke up.  For breakfast we had velvet pancakes with cream cheese frosting and chocolate covered strawberries.  

I love making holidays special.  I'm not sure why.  I just know that it makes me happy.  I'm ever so grateful for my five beautiful Valentines: a romantic husband and four sweet children.  

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Here are some evidentiary photographs of our special 2015 Valentine's Day as a family:

Can you see the heart shape on the piggy tail?  If so, then I succeeded!

Daddy's beautiful dates for the Pinkalicious Musical.  The girls loved going with their prince.

I think Chewy had had enough of all the lovey talk.  He slept next to me and Mike like this as we sat cross legged on the floor writing on our hearts for the kids' doors.

When you tease your 5th grader about the girl he likes, he smiles like this:

I found this idea on the Internet somewhere.  I left this for Mike this morning:

Chewy's Valentine.  Awww...(actually I had put a little dot of cream cheese frosting on Missy's cheek.):

Michaela and Emily left this note for Cupid.  And Michaela helped Emily make some special Valentine's for us:

Our yummy breakfast:

How to Save Your Marriage

http://www.richardpaulevans.com/saved-marriage/ 

Someone shared this link on Facebook today.

I LOVED it. My favorite part: . Real love is not to desire a person, but to truly desire their happiness–

Caleb asked me the other day, "When did you first tell Daddy, 'I love you?'" 

I told him, "We were baby-sitting one of my cousins together, and I sat him down, gently held his face and said, 'There is something I must tell you.  It can't wait another day because I am afraid I will blurt it out on the phone and this is something I have to tell you in person....I love you and it's fine if you don't feel the same, but I just have to have you know.'"  Caleb was smiling and said, "So, what did Daddy say?"  I started to giggle and said, "He said, 'Thank you.'" Caleb's eyes shot wide open, "What?!  Weren't you embarassed that you had just told him that? You mean, he didn't say it right back?"  I had to really think for a moment to make sure I remembered correctly.  After a long pause, I shook my head and said, "No, I don't believe he said it back to me right away.  But you see, Caleb, I didn't care.  That's the funny thing about love.  Real love.  You just want the other person to be happy and if he didn't love me like I loved him, it was okay."  

I loved this article, because I believe every last word of it.  Marriage is VERY hard, but he points out that most things in life worth having require great effort.  And when I feel slighted by my husband or frustrated by something I have PERCEIVED he has done that makes me angry, when I pause and ask myself, "What can I do to change this situation or what is my part in all this?"  that is when I feel the anger leave and the love return.  

Emily Turns Four!

Ah, our little squirt!  Emily Kathryn Kessel turned four years old on Tuesday, February 3, 2015.  She is growing up to be such a smart, funny little girl.  She is a daily joy and my little companion while the older three are at school.  Her older siblings love her bunches and take pretty good care of her.  On her birthday morning, they were up early and anxious to sing to her before they left for school.  Ten minutes before they had to leave, she came down the stairs and they burst into a "Happy Birthday" serenade as she smiled during her descent.  Per her request, we had crepes and strawberries with whip cream for breakfast. She chose Arctic Circle for lunch and hot dogs and mac n'cheese for dinner.  

As I was cleaning up breakfast Emily said, "Um, Mom, when are my friends coming over for my party?"  Uh oh.  We hadn't planned a party for her this year because I was planning on doing a huge party when she turned five.  We were just going to do the family thing this year.  "Well, Emily, we aren't having a friend party this year.  We are going to have your yummy cake tonight and open your presents and then we are going to Farm Country on Saturday.  Remember, that's what you picked as your activity to celebrate?"

Her face screwed up and she started breathing fast.  Through trembling lips, "You mean I don't get to invite Ava and Cash over to see me open my presents and blow out my candles????!!!"  I didn't realize that she didn't realize that she was not going to have friends over.

Luckily, after a quick text message exchange, I was able to arrange to have her little friends over to watch her open her gifts and blow out her candles.  She loved her new bike and helmet.  In fact, she spends a lot of time out on the RV pad cruising around on it.

For her birthday she wanted a chocolate heart cake.  A funny note about the cake: I decided to make the cake from scratch because Jake has been put on a dairy free diet per doctor orders.  I am not sure exactly why the cake stuck to the pan when I tried to take it out, maybe it was that I used coconut milk instead of regular milk?  I was able to salvage it, mostly, and thankfully, the cake was really really good.  Of course Em didn't notice how sloppy the cake looked and gobbled it up.  I stressed, isn't that always the case?  I had tried so hard on the darn cake and it just wasn't cooperating.

Here are two pictures from her actual birthday:

I just want to hug her to bits!  Love the smile.

And today, with a record 63 degrees!, we went to Farm Country.  The kids were all smiles as they petted and fed all the animals, rode in a wagon and had pony rides. 

Emily properly thanked her pony at the end.

Jake was pretty confident (not surprisingly) riding the horse.  At times he would lift his hands, "Look, Mom, no hands!"  I didn't mention to him his horse wasn't going anywhere tied to the pole on the horse walker, but hey, what harm is there in letting him believe what a talented horseman he is?

This was Caleb's favorite horse.  We found out his name was, "Cosmo."

As always, her big strong daddy lifting her up to pet the animals and to keep her safe.  Love this man!

Love our beautiful girly girl!

Sure love our little brood.

Happy Birthday, Emily!  We are so glad you came to join our family four years ago!