Daddy Daughter Dance

On Saturday Dallin took Savannah to the Daddy Daughter Valentine Dance at the rec center. She was beyond excited all day long. To make it extra special I told her we'd go find a new dress to wear. We found this one at the second hand store for super cheap. (She actually did not like the dress at first and threw a huge fit about not getting to pick it out herself, but that's another story in itself. By the end of the day she loved it and was happy.) We did her nails and fixed her hair extra special and she was giddy with excitement. When they got home Savannah told me every little detail of the whole night. They had face painting and treats and she brought home a little bag full of stuff. I know she will remember it forever and I'm so thankful to Dallin for making her feel so special. I remember many of the Daddy Daughter activities I went to with my dad and hope she'll have the same good memories. I asked her what her favorite part of the night was and she said "Dancing with Daddy. And especially when he pulled me through his legs. That was SO FUN!"

Life

Life has been so busy lately. It just never seems to slow down. But I can't complain, because we've got five great kids and that's a good reason to be busy.

Jacob entered the science fair at the end of January. He didn't win anything, but enjoyed doing his experiment on hand washing. He got to submerge his hands in a bowl full of glitter over and over again...what kid wouldn't like that?We had a nasty sore throat (I think bronchitis) that went through all seven of us over about 3 weeks time. It started with Landon the day after my mom arrived and we're just now all getting over it. Jacob had a small fever one day and had to stay home from school, but was still feeling pretty fine. He invited Connor into his room to play legos and watch a movie with him on the portable DVD player. Connor was in HEAVEN all day. He is never invited to play in there and was so thrilled by the attention that Jacob gave him.

This little man is still into everything, and now loves to sit in everything.

I had to document this part of Savannah's life. She loves to set up little groups of toys all over her room. I have learned not to touch or move them, because they are all special and have a purpose. I saw this one on her bed the other day and took a picture. She made a throne for her puppy dog, that is wearing a huge ring "bracelet." The bottle of yellow stuff is a science concoction they made at school. It has glitter and dish soap to make bubbles. It's fun having a little girl.

LeSueur Visit

Grandma LeSueur came to visit on Friday, Jan. 20. She had been helping with my brother's new baby in Odessa and came here after. We love it when she comes! Dallin and I were able to go on a long date on Saturday to the temple in San Antonio and out to lunch. Otherwise we mostly just hung out at home and enjoyed having her here.

Sometimes the kids get a little silly too, to show off for Grandma.

Connor loved reading books to Grandma and have her listen all about snakes.

Grandpa flew to Austin on the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 24. Landon has been a little warier around strangers the past few weeks, and was even a little bit with my mom. But he warmed up to Grandpa in about 2 seconds and was with him the entire rest of his stay.

It probably helped that Grandpa has a pocket full of all kinds of cool things, like a comb.

We forgot to take a picture with Grandma & Grandpa until the night before they left. So we got a pajama picture this time.

All of us got sick during the week, except Zach. And we still are. I was so relieved that we didn't pass it on to them before they went back to Odessa and the new baby. Thanks for the visit Grandma & Grandpa!!!

Fire Station Field Trip

Connor's preschool had a field trip to the fire station on Tuesday. Since Grandma was in town and Landon wasn't feeling well I got to take Connor by myself. We went to the fire station in Hutto, the next town over. Connor got a fireman hat and badge at a birthday party he went to the week before. He was so excited to wear them to the fire station. When we got there his best friend saw that his badge was crooked and straightened it for him. How cute is that picture?

This was pretty funny. The fireman brought out the bucket of stuff they pour on oil and grease fires, kind of like kitty litter. The kids were totally amazed and all had to touch it.

They were able to touch many of the tools on the fire truck. Connor thought the "jaws of life" were pretty cool. We called them "car scissors."

Have you ever wondered how they get their ladders down from the top of the truck?

Connor was pretty wary of the fireman after he put on the mask, but still managed to give him a quick "high five."

Then came the highlight of the day...getting inside of the fire truck!

18 months

Landon as 18 months old on Saturday! He is such a sweet little boy and we love having him around. He loves Savannah and does a little happy dance every day when she gets home from school.

He's also into EVERYTHING. This time it was the kleenex box on the counter that I didn't think he could reach. He's getting too tall for his own good.

Good thing he's willing to clean up his messes.

Landon loves to "go, go, go." Anytime he sees someone getting on their shoes he gets very excited, and is very disappointed if he's not going with them.
He loves to be outside. His favorites at the park are the swing and the slide.
In just the last couple of weeks he's started learning new words every day, and using them consistently. My favorites are "Mommy" (finally!), "Uh...oh," "doggy," "eeeeeeee" (eat).
He has not been sleeping very well at night, but we know that comes and goes.
He loves prayer time every morning and night and will come running and sit down right in the middle of our circle. He also loves to race to the treat cabinet after evening prayer, but never wants a treat. He just wants to do what the other kids are doing.
He has a special blanket that he sleeps with, that amazingly has lasted through all 5 kids.
He likes to read books to himself, dance, build towers of blocks, and play with cars.

Now I'm curious to see how much he weighs. We go to the doctor next week.

Airplane Field Trip

Yesterday Connor, Landon, and I went on a field trip with some friends to the Georgetown Airport. We got to go in a bunch of the hangars and see the private airplanes and helicopters.

As we were walking around the tail of this plane Connor said "Look! I can limbo under the airplane!!!" It was really cold inside the hangars, but a little better out in the sun. And typical of Texas weather, today it is 80 degrees outside.

Connor's favorites were the two helicopters that we got to see up close.

They showed them where the gasoline goes inside the wing. I never knew that the gasoline is in the wings, so I learned something too.

They let the kids go inside a couple of the planes.

Then we went over to the small terminal. They have a room full of antique plane radios.

We got to go out and stand right by "airplane parking lot" next to the runway. The kids liked seeing the airplane "gas station."

I love this picture of Connor. The yellow plane behind him had just landed and turned towards us.

We watched quite a few planes take off and land. Landon liked that part the best.

Thanks for the fun morning friends!

Pop Star

On Saturday Savannah got to go to a fun birthday party for a friend from school. It was a "Pop Star Party" and she had a blast.

They had training from the "Pop Star" ladies about how to treat the microphones and equipment.

Then they started practicing their song.

Next came makeup and accessorizing...

Savannah and another good friend from school, all ready for their "dress rehearsal."

After they were done some of the girls wanted to do more karaoke. Savannah and friends decided jumping on the bed was much more fun...something she's not allowed to do at home.

She loved decorating her own cupcakes to eat. She said it was the "funnest party EVER!"