Valentine's Day 2013

We hand-made the girl's valentine's cards this year---and it took about a month to get it all together.  When I found the (totally cute) idea on Pinterest I had noooo idea just how long it would take to cut out all the hearts and attach them all together to make (70!)  googly-eyed monster-valentines!  Good thing we started the weekend we spent in the mountains....

 

 

Perfect carrying bags for their valentines!

 

 

 

I cracked up when the girls came home from school and Quincy showed me the bag that she made in school to carry all her valentines home in. 

 

 

This is what the girls do....

...while I am folding laundy in the bedroom. 
I think I made out better than Tim!

 

The girl's first service project

Our church, St. Thomas Aquinas, partners with one of the homeless shelters downtown to provide meals for the men at least once a month.  This month I took the girls for the first time.  They did a great job and, more importantly, were able to see that not everyone in the world lives cushy lives.  I think they came home with a new sense of what service actually means.
 

Uncle Dave :) 

 

 

 

 

 

Ellie's 1st grade play

Ellie's 1st grade play was called Lemonade, The Musical.  Everyone in Ellie's class played the role of the chefs.  Ellie had a speaking part and the whole thing was adorable.  The photo above is of her teacher this year, Mrs. Millan.  We loooooovveeeee her and are sooo happy Ellie is in her class....

 

 

 

 

Weekend in the Mountains

 

 The girls discovered hammocks---and now want one.

 

  

 

 

   

It was a totally relaxing weekend.  Lots of games, reading, walking, and eating.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We did a little hiking and climbed a waterfall.... 

 

 

...which wiped one member of the group out.

 

 

 

  

  We saw some interesting chickens that looked like their father was a Llama and we saw some interesting signs in front of some of the cabins that made us feel welcome.

 

 

 

And played A LOT with the Perplexus balls.  And I mean a LOT.