Valentine's Day

We had a fun day planned for our Valentine's day with Grandma and Grandpa. It was really our only day all together so we had to take advantage of every moment. We started with breakfast at Cracker Barrel. Aidan loves this place. We aren't sure if it is for the food, the game at the table, or the big sucker that he got there one time. We all had good food and enjoyed someone else cooking a big breakfast for us. It was great!

After breakfast the boys went to the Bass Pro Shop while the girls went to Old Time Pottery. I love that they are right next door to each other. Smart planning. Mom and I had a great time picking out things that would go well in my house. I always love shopping with my mom.

After our little shopping event we went across the street to the $1 movie theater and watched Bolt. It was a pretty cute show. I laughed a lot. Of course we grubbed on popcorn, treats and soda. The kids were in heaven.

We took a little rest and then went swimming at the YMCA. We ended the night with some dinner at home. It was really a great Valentine's day. I was happy to be able to spend it with my parents, Ryan and my kids.

Ryan and I went out for the dinner the night before to avoid the Valentine craziness. We went to a great bar and grill called Bristol. We had great steaks and a yumMEE dessert. We also were boring and went to a very UNromantic movie, Taken. It was a crazy wacked out movie that had everyone dying or being severely injured by Liam Neeson. Romantic or not, I was happy to be alone with Ryan with free babysitting. Now that is a GOOD valentine's day!

Lunch with Grandma and Grandpa

My parents came to visit for a couple of days and the top thing Aidan wanted to do with them is have them eat lunch and school with him. He was so excited to have them come. We packed some food and enjoyed having lunch with Aidan. I love seeing him at school. You can tell he is so proud of his school. We were able to show Grandma and Grandpa his classroom, where he sits, and who his teacher is. We all had a great time.


Later that day Grandma and I came back to the school for Aidan's Valentine Party. I was doing the games for the party. It was fun for me to see Aidan in his class with his friends. They played games, ate snacks and opened their valentines from each other. Each child was so nice to each other. They would open a valentine and then ask the person, did you give this to me. They would say yes and then the other would say thank you. It was just really sweet to watch. The biggest hit was all the tattoos that came with the Valentine cards. Each kid had at least 3 on each arm. We had a good time.

First Birthday!

Facing Forward

Cassidy received a new car seat for her birthday. We turned her around now that she is one. She loves it and so do we. I love when I turn around to back up or to check my blindspot and see her cute little face. It still surprises me to see her just looking back at me. She is all smiles.

My new favorite appliance

Still can't believe it!

About a week before Christmas Ryan went shopping at Macy's with Lacey and Cassidy for Christmas presents for me. I had some money still left on a gift card there so I sent him to use it. While he was there he called me and said he found some money on the ground. How much I asked. FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS. He found five 100 dollar bills just laying on the ground. He could barely believe it when he saw it laying on the ground. I think he rubbed his eyes a couple of times. I'm sure it looked kind of strange seeing five $100 bills just laying there. He called for moral support to do the right thing. So, he walked it over to the HR department to turn it in. It was an easy choice for him to turn it in but still not everyday do you find $500. The girl he gave it to said, "Wow, you are an honest person." Ryan said, "I know!" She told him that if no one claimed the money in 30 days, he was entitled to the money.

Ryan couldn't stop thinking about his find. He mentally spent the $500 like a million different ways. Today Ryan called Macy's to see what had happened. The money was still there. So he sent me in to pick it up. I had to sign for it and show my ID. I couldn't believe I was walking out of there with that money. I didn't know if I felt blessed or if I felt like I just swindled someone.

So what do we do with $500?

Birthday Take two

Tonight we continued with the second half of Cassidy's birthday....the cake. We went to Kroger just to pick out a small cake. We put a pink one in front of Cassidy and a purple one to let her choose. Lacey wanted the pink one, Aidan wanted a yellow one. So this was the easiest way to let her choose. She quickly slapped her hand on the purple one. Purple it is.


We were all so excited to sing to her and see her dig into the cake. One of our favorite first birthday traditions. Cassidy didn't disappoint either. We all laughed and loved it.







Doesn't that make you want to eat some cake?