February~ Sweetheart Ball

We had our third annual sweetheart ball the weekend before Valentine's Day.

Everyone was looking their best.

A little bit of food to enjoy while dancing


This year the Nelsons also joined us for the special occasion. :)

Daddy and Mackayla dancing


Mommy and Jacob

Mackayla and Jacob

Bradley dipping Mackayla

Jacob and Lexi

Another dip for Mackayla

Jacob giving Reese a kiss

Bradley enjoying a cupcake

Chillin under the table for a bit

More Dancing

Mackayla's doll was also dressed up for the ball so she needed to be in a picture too...

She even got in a dance.

All the cousins dressed for the ball

We all had a great time and Mackayla is already trying to think of a reason to have another ball soon.

On Valentine's Day we made our traditional heart shaped pizza.

And then we exchanged valentines.

The kids each got a little gift from Mom and Dad and they received a package from both sets of Grandparents. It was a very successful night for them!

Just a picture of my men.

One night for Family Home Evening we had a pajama reading party. Mackayla's school was having a read-a-thon and she had to get in as much time reading as she could so we thought we'd turn it into a party that night.

We also ended up having a pillow fight...

and playing some tug-o-war.

With this crazy mild winter that we've had, we've only been able to play in the snow a couple of times. There was barely enough snow to play in this night but we took what we could get and had a great time! This was at the beginning of the month.

Guitar practise with Dad

This is a picture of Bradley playing at his itty bitty basketball class in January. Somehow this picture didn't make it in before. He loved the class and is going to be doing a itty bitty ball class again this month, practising a bunch of different sports.

Taking the horse out for a ride.

February flew by! Now we've got a long to-do list for this month as we're getting ready for the baby to come in April!

Mackayla turns 6

Our baby is 6! We got home from our Christmas trip on the evening of January 2, and had a nice family birthday party for her on her birthday, the 3rd. We had another little birthday party for her with her cousins on Friday the 6th. That gave me a few more days to get the pinata done and the house back in order after our trip.

She wanted cinnamon rolls for her birthday breakfast. Then she got to take treats to kindergarten and had a good time at school.

That afternoon she got to go to dance class. Another great way to spend her birthday.

After dance, we met Daddy over at Texas Roadhouse, which is where she wanted to go for her birthday dinner. They sang to her at the restaurant, but she didn't really appreciate the extra attention from strangers. She did enjoy the ice cream though!

At home, ready for presents.

She got some new clothes and couldn't wait to try them on!

Mackayla wanted a mermaid themed birthday, and gave me specific instructions on how to make her cake. She wanted her mermaid barbie sitting on a rock in the ocean with a little of the cake being a beach. She is wearing the crown she got from school that day.

On Friday she had mermaid cupcakes. She asked for a fish pinata. She wanted it to look like Flounder, but pink and purple.

The Nelsons joined us for that party along with the Henry girls, Brooke and Michelle.

Mackayla picked out the games she wanted to play. They played pin the mermaid on the rock, had a cake walk, and had mermaid races with their legs tied together like one fin.

Mackayla was pretty sad when it was actually time to destroy her beautiful fish, and wanted one last picture with it.

Hitting the pinata.

Cake time! The party kids.

She got a few more gifts at this party, and had a wonderful night!

Mackayla at six:

Mackayla is a wonderful, lively little girl. She thoroughly enjoys kindergarten, dance, and playing with her brothers. She plans on being a professional ballerina when she grows up. Both Bradley and Jacob can't wait for her to get home from school, and love to play with her all afternoon. She loves to teach them both how to do everything from reading, writing, and talking properly. Also, she is SO excited for her new sister to join the family in April. She likes to play with dolls and barbies, playing on the computer, and LOVES to draw and do crafts. She is a great help around the house, and a great sister and daughter. We love you Mackayla!

In between her two parties we received our Christmas package from Papa and Nini, and had another little Christmas party.

The boys in their new camp chairs from Great Grandma Jones

Let the fun begin!

January was a busy month. Bradley did Itty Bitty Basketball a few mornings a week and loved it. It really sparked his interest in the game, and he loved playing defense and making baskets. Jared took him over to the church gym in Yakima to practice before his class began, and within a few minutes of trying to dribble he jammed his finger. It was black and blue, and hurt. So, he decided he wasn't going to dribble anymore, and never did during his basketball class. He is going to have to overcome that before he can make it to the pros. :)

Jacob started potty training right after we got back from our trip as well. The first week went so well, but he has regressed a little since then and is still having occasional accidents. Its such a frustrating and exhausting process, but we are so excited to not be buying diapers right now! I had not had a single day of not changing diapers in over 6 years, and now we are diaper free!!! Of course, we have less than three months until we have a baby and start all over again. :)

We've had a stomach bug run through a couple of the kids, and the rest of us had a cold, but we are feeling good again now. The first couple weeks of January were also rough because I had cracked (or something) ribs and was in a lot of pain. My doctor said they see that more often in 3rd and 4th pregnancy as things in the body are expanding. It kept getting worse and worse and I wasn't sure I was going to survive, but then it did finally start getting better. It's so nice not having to dread a sneeze or a cough, and not having to get mad at people for making me laugh and bringing me more pain! Our baby is still looking really healthy though, and my fluid levels have gone up, so all the hardships of pregnancy are really just a small sacrifice! We're getting so excited for April to come and to have our new baby!

I think that about sums up the month of January!

Finishing 2011

We spent the week between Christmas and New Years just playing and having a great time. We left on the afternoon of New Years Day to head back home.

Here are the kids playing with the stamps they got for Christmas

Bradley playing a game

We went over to the church gym one afternoon to play, and try out Mitchell's new car he got for Christmas. Everyone played a very dangerous game of soccer, while Jacob and Eden drove around in circles the whole time.

Jared playing some pool

Dad and Mom trying to blow their ball in during a couples game.

Mackayla reading the new books Jacob gave her to Grandma.

We went bowling one afternoon. It was the kids' first time to bowl. They loved it, but poor Jared had to help all three of them throw the ball everytime. I'm sure his back was pretty sore by the end of the game.

Jared and Jacob in their matching "pirate shirts." Jacob helped me pick out this shirt for Jared at the store. He helped me wrap it, and was so excited to give to him for Christmas. On Christmas morning when Jared opened it, Jacob yelled, "Yay! Your pirate shirt!!" Apparently, the whole time he thought he was giving his dad a pirate shirt for Christmas. It was pretty funny. Then a few days later we were at a store, and I saw a little shirt just like it on sale so I got Jacob one that matched. He loves having a matching pirate shirt.

When in Yakima, we always get to spend our lunches at Taco Bell with Grandma Davenport.

Since we were leaving on New Year's Day, my mom made a nice dinner on New Year's Eve. Then we Spent the rest of the night playing and hanging out.

Scott and Jaden happen to already own some "pirate shrirts" so they decided to join in on the fun.

Using a spatula as a sword

Ha Ha

Playing twister

We rang in the new year with the East coast at 9pm our time, for the kids. Heather had lots of the noise makers for the kids.

Mackayla got to open a few early birthday presents from Heather and the Aprils that night also.

I did it! I was so tired, but I stayed awake (mostly) until midnight.

Celebrating with some sparkling cider.

Happy New Year!