Valentines Day

With all the valentine making, card mailing, and school party prep the first 2 weeks of the month, by the time Valentine's Day rolled around I was all Valentined out! Elle had her school party on Wednesday the 12th (cause her teacher was going to be out the 13th and didn't want to miss the party). It was a good one! I loved that Madi, Cal, and I got to be there for it!

Madi had her class party at the end of the day on Thursday the 13th because there wasn't school on Friday (bummed I never got a picture of her with her treat box after school).

It was nice to have the actual Valentine's Day off of school and get to stay home and relax. I let the kids open valentine cards after breakfast (mail had come from the Rudd cousins and Gram Rox that I'd saved) which they absolutely loved. 

Then we took off at 11am to spend the afternoon at the beach with friends!

Madi found a heart shaped rock that she thought was pretty cool with it being Valentines Day and all. Then I put the rock in a "safe place" but forgot all about it once it was time to head home - so glad we got the picture for documentation.

 So happy for my iphone to help document all the sweet memories I never want to forget!

 Little better of a picture when I let someone else take it, instead of trying to do it myself! :)

 Why Madi wasn't in the picture with us - she was too busy making herself into a mermaid!

Calvin was one happy little boy all afternoon (amazing for only getting a 20 minute nap on the drive over). He's finally grown to love the beach!

Such a fun afternoon!!

After picking up a pizza and dropping off Cassidy (who we'd brought along with us), it was 5pm by the time we got home. The kids all got into the tub to rinse off while I got dinner ready. I kinda felt like a lame mom for not doing something cute and clever for Valentine's Day dinner, but I was seriously exhausted (from a week of being a single mom, Valentines stuff everyday, and then a full afternoon of sun) and not in the mood to create more work for myself.  Spencer got home at 6pm, was able to eat, talk to us for a few minutes, and then had to get right back to work documenting the witness's testimonies from that day in court (Spencer's in the middle of a big trial right now and we haven't seen much of him).

Kids were in bed by 7pm and I was in bed by 8:30. Luckily Spencer was able to take a little break and join me before I fell asleep. Laying in bed at the end of the day and just talking about everything is my favorite. It was a great end to our 'not really celebrated' Valentines' Day! 

Jenkins Family Love Tree

The girls and I whipped out this beauty Saturday afternoon while Cal napped. I just couldn't stand looking at the bare wall where our Thankful Tree once hung. 

It sure was fun listening to the girls tell me things they love about me (most of which haven't gone up on hearts yet, but I had to write down the ones I really liked). . . .

Madi:
-"I love when you hug me and protect me when I get a shot." (Not sure where that was coming from since they haven't gotten shots since Sept).
-"I love when you dress pretty." (Another one I wasn't away of.)
- "I love when you pick me up from school and ask me my 'high' and 'low' of the day"
- "I love when you take us to the church with you to set up for Primary" (they love playing in the nursery)

Elle:
-"I love when you give me hugs and kisses"
-"I love when you say a prayer so I won't have bad dreams" (I've been having to run into her room in the middle of the night - after a bad dream- to say a prayer with her, even when we always say at least one before she goes to bed).
- "I love when you say a prayer before school so that I won't miss you." (Elle's so sweet and always has to say a prayer before I drop her off at school).

I'm obviously crazy in love with these beautiful kids and awesome husband of mine, but there's a few certain things they do that just make me fall in love all over again, like:
 - Calvin telling all of us, one by one, that he loves us. His cute little voice saying, "I love you mommy" "I love you Elle" "I love you Madi" "I love you daddy" is the sweetest thing ever.
- Elle's hugs at night before going to sleep are the best. She pulls me in tight, squeezes my neck, gives me a big kiss and tells me she loves me. I love it!
- Madi's creative mind blows me away. I love watching her in her element, totally focused, creating the most amazing projects.
- I've always loved Spencer's talent with surprises, but it only seems to get better and better the longer we're married. When we were dating he'd make me lunch in the morning (and not just a weak sauce PB&J like I make him everyday, but the real deal sandwiches- with all the fixings, along with a favorite fruit and a little treat), drive to my house, and leave it on my front porch - all by 6:45am when I would leave for work. I love that these surprises didn't end at the dating stage. Spencer is one to put a lot of time, thought, and research into the gifts he gives me. He loves shopping for me and wants what he gets to be perfect. I love that he loves spoiling me!

- He also writes the best love letters! They're never the sappy, cheesy, embarrassed to read aloud love notes, but rather the honest, straight from the heart, eloquently written, genuine reasons of why he loves me. It's nice to be reminded of my strengths, talents, abilities, and how much I'm loved.

- Calvin's obedient nature is so refreshing. I love how he'll pretty much do whatever you ask him to do (aside from when he'd tired, hungry, or throwing a massive tantrum :)! The other night he'd pulled himself up onto a kitchen chair, gotten all situated with his blanket and monkey, when Spencer asks him to bring him the twistable crayon he's holding. Totally didn't think Calvin would do it, but the next thing I know, Cal's pushing himself off the chair, arms totally weighed down with everything he's holding, walks over to Spencer and hands him the crayon! Awesome!
-Watching my kids play together happily is definitely up there at the top of my "things I love" list! I constantly have to remind the kids of how important this is to me, becasue when it happens, everything just seems to be right in the world!

I could go on and on, but it's late and I'm totally falling asleep as I sit here typing (didn't get my 10 minute "power nap" today - another "thing I love"). I'll have to include more from our "love tree" later on in the month.

Just a couple more pics from our week of Valentine's Day prep . . .

We've been doing some serious Valentine making over here - between Valentines for school, teachers, grandparents, cousins, friends, and family - it's been a busy few days! It sure was fun crafting with the kids (even Cal made a couple). I love seeing what they come up with all on their own. 

Our table looked a lot like this most of the week:

It's good to have it finally feeling like February!

Happy month of LOVE!!

Decorations

Today is February 5th, a week or so away from Valentines Day, and I finally forced myself to take down our beloved thankful tree. I was so sad to do it. I honestly thought about leaving it up all year. Those leaves sure took a lot of time to cut out and I've just loved looking at it everyday - a constant reminder of all that we should be grateful for. But I guess I'll just be that much more excited about making another one come fall!

Some of the things we were thankful for in 2013 . . .  

Spencer: For Elle who always takes such good care of her little brother Calvin. My beautiful wife (and a bunch of other sappy stuff I'm sure he wouldn't want published on here). "Talking pillow" with Elle (something they do at night). For a "beach family"! Listening to Madi sing. Watching train movies with Calvin in the morning. Summer trips to Huntsville. Pancakes hot off the griddle. Morning snuggles from my kids. Picking pole beans in the summertime. BYU cougars! Huge red strawberries. Giant hugs from the kids when I come home from work!

Anie: Great teachers, productive Saturdays, a working car, internet, technology, my phone, 3 kids who love to read, a clean house, showers, good friends who keep me sane when Spencer's away, prayer, the scriptures, church magazines (we love "The Friend")! The temple and being able to go with my husband! A husband who works hard so I can stay home with the kids. For music, paper, an oven, toilet paper, cleaning wipes, windex, and my vacumn (got a new one back in the fall)! For 3 beautiful, healthy kids! Family Home Evening! For electricity (power outage on 11/14 wasn't fun), running water, warm sunshine, Spencer's good job, a strong, healthy body (getting sick on 11/14 made me extra thankful), sisters, and amazing friends who motivate me to be a better mom!

Madi: Boppi and Grandpa Al, my Primary teacher, the gospel, Heavenly Father, Elle, Calvin, and my family. I love Jesus. I love me. 

Elle: Jesus, our family, Gram & Papa, Madi, Calvin (wrote this one a couple times), mom and dad, our house, a high chair for Calvin, the park, and beautiful beaches close by. I am thankful for me!

Cal: I'm thankful for my family. For choo choo trains! I love me (girls wrote that one). 

Last picture with our thankful tree- taken this morning when Cal walks in and says, "Look Mom! I a King!"

Thinking of filling that now empty spot with a "love tree" of some sort - maybe lots of hearts with things we love about each other. 

Not only did I still have our thankful tree up until now, but I still have 3 pumpkins out on the front porch (we didn't carve them this year - the kids painted with friends instead, so there didn't seem a need to throw them out:)!

Oh, and can't forget Madi's "Leaf man" that's been hanging since October! 

And the beautiful holly she made in December to help adorn our front door!

(If you look closely, you can see one of our pumpkins on the porch.)

Then there's the lovely snow globe , snow flake, snow man, and Flip & Flop to try in the winter months (recycled the snow globe this afternoon and replaced it with a beautiful flowers and vase that Elle made at joy school this morning)! 

Oh, and can't forget our Christmas cards - which I'll probably leave up for another month. It's just too hard to part with all these beautiful people that we love and care for. 

So basically, I've got decorations from October through February displayed in my house at the current moment! Awesome! 

Sure love all these decorations! No need to invest lots of money into decorations for our house, when the kids can make stuff I like even better! But I probably ought to update things a bit!

I'll have to post a pic of the gorgeous flowers Spencer surprised me with on Monday! It made for a perfect decoration for February! What a sweet, thoughtful husband I have! 

January

Hasn't felt much like January here this year. Probably because the majority of the month I wore shorts, t-shirts, and flip flops. And on the weekends we've been able to hang out in swim suits at the beach! Sure love living in Southern California!

Ya, this was taken after school one afternoon. Out in swimsuits, playing in the water at 3:30pm in January - crazy!! 

But as much as I like the sun and warmth, it's been so darn dry here and actually this coming Sunday we've been asked by our Area Authority, President Garns, to dedicate our fast to the relief of the drought situation in California. On Sunday I was reminding the primary kids about our special fast coming up. I was telling them how much our Heavenly Father loves us and that if we go to him in fasting and prayer, with faith, he will help us and give us the rain that we need. Then the coolest thing happened - we walked out the doors of the church building and it started to sprinkle (rain was not in the forecast either)! I forgot how much I love the smell of rain! It was awesome!! The girls were so excited that they set up camp outside in the backyard. We didn't get much - just a little sprinkle, but in my mind it was a sign - a sign from Heavenly Father letting us know that we will be blessed from our fast.

Our area has been asked to pray for drought relief before. It was about 10 or 15 years ago when the result was what they called "Miracle March". Record breaking amounts of rain fell - it rained almost everyday for a month! I'm so excited!!

A few other little things to document from this month . . . 

Madi and Elle's Martin Luther King weekend sleep-over! There's just something extra exciting about sleeping on the floor of your bedroom rather than in the bunk beds! 

We love our Camarillo Library and go at least once a week! It's been fun discovering new favorite authors that we all love and can't get enough of, like - Robert Munsch, Keiko Kasza, Wiliam Steig, and our new favorites - Mo Willems and Bill Peet.

Not even dinner can stop the dress up and constant acting out of "Frozen" - Elsa (Madi) and Anna (Elle):

New consequences were implemented this month for those who choose not to listen and obey the first time. I have a feeling we're going to have a really clean floor this year!

I taught Elle's joy school group on the 22nd. We made Q shaped soft pretzals, painted with Q tips. made a rhyming Quilt, wrote Questions, read Q books, and had Quite a grand time!! 

We had an early birthday celebration for Grandpa Al this past Sunday! Wish I would have taken pictures of the cards the girls made him - they did some pretty awesome drawings! And Spencer cooked some pretty amazing Pad Thai. Happy Birthday Dad!

Elle had a "cooking class" with Boppi back in November that never got documented (so why not throw it into January right?! :). It's so nice when grandparents are able to take the time to do things that I always seem to loose patience doing with my kids. Elle was beaming from ear to ear when I picked her up from her class with Boppi!!

I sure am grateful that Boppi's willing to share her cooking skills with my kids. A couple weeks ago the girls were able to help Boppi do a little baking after church. Not much beats watching my kids enjoying time with their grandparents. 

Grandpa Al is always great about keeping Cal entertained!

And just to tie it all back to the warm weather we've been having this month, here's a homework assignment that Madi had. She chose to write to her cousin Ani in North Carolina:

22 months

At 22 months Cal's become quite unpredictable! I never know what I'm gonna get. At parts of the day Calvin's a complete angel - so sweet - full of snuggles, hugs, kisses, and laughs. I love how he's quick to ask "please" and good about saying "thank you". I love how he's the first to fold his arms for prayers and now joins us for family prayer - on knees, arms folded and head bowed (never lasts through the entire prayer, but it's a start)! He's fun to play with and loves just sitting on my lap, reading story after story. But he's definitely growing out of his sweet little boy stage and becoming a kid - a rough and tough BOY! He requests the "park" anytime he sees one, runs around the house getting into all the drawers, climbs on the table, and is my first kid to help himself to the fridge, freezer, and pantry. Today he pulled open the freezer, got out a bowl of ice cream with plastic wrap on it, takes the plastic wrap off, throws it into the garbage, then goes back to get his ice cream. Luckily I'd been watching the whole thing and was able to intervene. I grabbed the ice cream, gave him a couple small bites, then distracted him to another activity. But then an hour later, he pulls the can of peanuts out of the pantry and brings them to the couch where I was reading stories with the girls. For some reason it's just so funny to me, probably since my girls would never just help themselves. They know they have to ask first and I usually don't allow snacks so close to dinner. But I kinda like how Calvin takes care of himself.

Just a little obsessed with hats and helmets!

Cal's definitely becoming more opinionated and puts up a royal fit when things don't go his way (I really have to crack down and discipline him when he screams). He's thrown some pretty intense tantrums this month and has shown an especially angry side which I don't like seeing. I have to remain super calm with him and I've found it better to laugh when he gets angry - sometimes he'll start laughing too. But boy is it hard to keep my cool when he flips out. He's started a new thing of waking up cranky form naps (Madi used to do this and it drove me absolutely crazy- I don't like moodiness and wondering what I'm going to have to deal with when they get up).  

Cal and Elle play really well together. But once Madi comes home it's a different story. Three's a crowd and Cal usually becomes the odd man out. Oh how I want a little brother for him. He's finally starting to make friends though. It's fun to see him getting along well with other kids - even happily sharing his toys! It's a miracle!

Cal with his buddy Violet. Took them both to Costco while Madi and Elle were at school and was amazed at how well they did together.

Visitors

Had to document some fun memories we got to make with Aunt Joci, Uncle Michael, baby Collin, Aunt Corrine, Uncle Morgan, and cousin Bailey while they were visiting over the holiday break! I sure love when aunts and uncles take the time to play with and adore my children. I especially love hearing my kids talk about how much they love their aunts and uncles. Makes me want to be an extra good aunt and try to make special time for my nieces and nephews. If only we all lived a little bit closer. . .

Uncle Michael is always so much fun! I love how he just jumped right in (literally:) and had a great time with the kids! When we went home that night, the girls couldn't stop talking about about how much they love Uncle Michael.

Since everyone stays at Spencer's parents when they come to visit, we usually go over there to hang out with everybody. But its always fun when they come over to our place to hang out!! We sure loved having Jocelyn and Michael join us for pizza and game night! And we all loved spending time with new baby Collin! He sure is one handsome baby boy!

We didn't get to spend as much time with Morgan and Corinne as we would have liked (mostly just Sunday dinners and one afternoon when Corinne watched Calvin and Elle while I had a doctor's appointment), but we did get to keep Bailey for an afternoon/evening. Sure loved getting to know that sweet spunky girl a little bit better! She and Calvin were super cute together (they're just a little over 5 months apart). We were bummed that Bailey's sleep-over didn't work out. But we loved every minute that we did get with her!

Wrestling with Grandpa Al . . .