Time for dinner

Sydney is often the star of our pictures. But this night she was our family photographer... certain she needed a picture of us before we were allowed to eat dinner.

Mom's album

My sister had one of my mom's albums. She gave it back to dad recently. It was one we hadn't seen in forever. And there were so many pictures that made my day! I love Momma's scrap books!!

I love this picture of my beautiful mother. Best woman in the world! She had to be close to my age here. We went to Disney Land when I was four. So she would have been maybe a year younger than me.

Dad after a day of work.

I think I've told all my friends about this shirt of Mom's. I want one!!! The shirt I made for Jeff (I'd rather be 40 than coaching two college teams) was inspired by this shirt!

I love these pictures, because even though I don't remember Grandma Bentley, these pictures, the way that we're snuggled up, I can see how much we loved each other.

Pretty Grandma Bessie.

 

Both my grandma's together. Dad said they'd all gone to the zoo and my grandma's were snippy with each other all day. haha.

Uncle Howard & Aunt Sharon
Uncle Blaine

I always thought this picture was fun--I'm up front but my sister in law Kristi was sitting in the back!

Valentine's Day

The day of love.
It was a Sunday.
So, the kids had parties on Thursday. (No school Friday).
Sydney made her valentines. We cut out hearts, she put stickers on them and wrote her name on them. It's exactly what she wanted. She got a great lout from school.

These kids have the greatest Grandma. She is so thoughtful. She always does something fun for them. She sent them each a package with socks and candy, as well as money and instructions for Cupid floats. :)

Maybe a bit cheesy--but my boys LOVE LOVE LOVE meatloaf. My meatloaf. They call it mom's meatloaf and they request it much more often than I make it. So, I made meatloaf hearts. :)

Eighteen years ago I bought Jeff this exact game of Battleship for Jeff for Valentines Day. It was kind of a silly inside joke. But I thought it was fitting it's what Seth wanted to play with me on Valentines Day.

Cupid Floats!

That Sydney, she seriously is the sweetest thing ever. She made this Valentine for Henry and found a few baby toys in her room she wants to send to him. --If only her momma was a little better at sending off packages. :/

On Valentine's Day we also spoke in church as a family. It was pretty monumental for our family, even our Sydney Belle spoke. Six months ago she could say around seven words and on Valentine's Day she gave a talk. She and Seth bore their testimonies, Landon talked about gratitude and Jeff, Tim and I spoke about Joshua from the Old Testament.

When I told Sydney she was going to bear her testimony, I asked what she wanted to say. She started a prayer. So, I stopped her and explained that a testimony is what you know and what you love. Then I asked her what she loved. She told me, I wrote it down in a way that she could read it. She read it until she had it memorized.

She said:

I love Mom.

I love Dad.

I love brothers.

I love Jesus.

I love Toby.

She was very prepared. But when she stood up at the pulpit, there were so many people, she got pretty nervous. She looked at me and she wouldn't read her paper. So, I reminded her what to say and she very quietly said it.

I was so proud.

It was a very good day. My boys did a beautiful job as well.

I love my sweet kiddos like crazy.

Some treasures I found at Dad's

I am a dork but I often take pictures as I am driving to Evanston. I always find a view way too irresistible.

After the dentist I had lunch with Beck and then went to dad's where Sydney and I searched through photo albums for my old Barbie house. We never found it but we did find these gems.

Beaver Meadows: The Family