Elaine's first Valentine's Day

Above is our newest little Valentine with a sweet Love Bear she got from Grandma and Grandpa.

Here is the crew on Valentine's Day in their pink and red.

On Wednesday, February 13 we had a little pre-Valentine's party because on the actual Valentine's Day we had Life Group and we always have to rush out of the house those evenings.  For a pre- party we got a special Papa Murphy's Heartbreak Pizza.  Evie was helping me get everything ready for the dinner.  Here is the pizza before...

And after!  Heartlicious!!!

On Valentine's Day the day started out with super fun festivities at Evan's Preschool.  Evie, Mommy and Elaine got to help at the very end of class with the party.  Here are some pictures I captured of the fun.  The class enjoying cupcakes made by Mile's family.

Here are the kids waiting to collect and pass out their Valentine's.  Evie was very excited to be able to participate too.

Here is Evan passing out his Valentine's to his friends.  He had Spiderman Valentine's to give everyone that included pencils.  This year was super special because he was able to write his name in the "From" space.  My big boy!

Evie got to pass out Valentine's too.  Here is Ms. Netty helping her.  She had Cinderella Valentines.

We also made little candy baskets for all the friends too.

Elaine amusing herself during the Preschool Valentine festivities.

 

Here's all the loot they got from the party.  They were so excited and couldn't wait to eat it!!

My three favorite little Valentine's pictured by their Valentine goodies from Daddy and me.  I love both the pictures below.  I couldn't decide on my favorite so you get both of them. :)

That evening Jim and I were able to get in on the Valentine's fun too as we lead our Life Group in a special game: The Not So Newlywed Game.  We all had a blast.  Here we are with our game board and some goodies we made for everyone.

Finally, I leave you with an adorable pic of Elaine as she enjoys her first Valentine's Day!  Hope you all had a great Love Day too! 

Snow Trip

On the weekend of January 19 to 21 we got to go on an amazing snow trip with our fabulous friends the Wisners at their families cabin in Donner.  Here we are all together minus Natalie who took the picture.

Here she is looking fabulous with Jayne.

This trip was so much fun.  We couldn't have asked for a better time.  The weather was perfect the whole weekend and their was tons of snow to play in.  This was basically our families first time in the snow.  Evan actually came on a trip with us when he was a baby similar to Elaine's age with the Wisners, but doesn't remember.  So the kids were thrilled and loved every minute of the weekend (okay there were a few meltdowns, but when doesn't that happen when dealing with children 4 1/2 year's old and younger).

We got to go sledding.

and more sledding.

Evan had the best time going down the sled run they had made on the side of the cabin.

Here he is with Tyler having a blast!


Look at this super cool boy!

The beautiful cabin all dressed up in white.

Twins?!?  No, just two of the cutest girls ever! :)

Elaine in Evan's old snow outfit.  Adorable!

I love this picture of my precious little Elaine as we smile at each other.  She is my sunshine and joy and this picture says it all!

Here is another cute one of her during the weekend.

Here is Jayne with Elaine.  She just loves babies and enjoyed playing with her friend.  Elaine was having a great time too.

This was a delicious dinner we enjoyed out on the town at Burger Me in Truckee.  Here are the boys enjoying milkshakes.

Daddy with his darling.

One of Evie's favorite pastimes, eating the ice.  This was fun, except for the fact that here hands would always get cold and wet and then she was ready to go inside within minutes of us all bundling up and coming out.  Note for next year...we are buying some really good gloves.  Warm, dry hands make all the difference.

Lastly, I leave you with a super silly pic of the boys.

Thank you Wisners for an amazing weekend!  So blessed by your friendship and God's beautiful creation of snow! :)

Evie turns 3!

Our little princess Evie Joy turned three years old on Wednesday, January 9.

To capture our daughter at 3 year's old we gave her a Birthday Interview.  The questions and her answers are below.  Evie's answers sum up her world just a bit.  Sure do love this girl and blessed by her everyday.  She is our beautiful, girly, passionate, princess.  She feels you with love as she gives you her priceless smile and the sweetest compliments; making you feel absolutely stunning as she naturally points out how nice you look or how she hopes that something will make you happy.  She also is full of emotion and lately can be found saying, "I just can't stop crying!" during her 3 year old fits.  But most of all this girl is pure fun and makes each day better than the last.  Happy Birthday Evie darling!

1. Who is your favorite person in the whole world?  My Family :) (naming off each member proudly...Mommy, Daddy, Evan and Elaine)
2. What is your favorite color?  pink, purple, brown and blue (all colors she admitted later)
3. What's your favorite television show?  Peppa Pig
4.  What's your favorite outfit?  Minne and Dora outfits
5.  What sport do you like best?  basketball
6.  What song do you love?  Dora songs, and the Peppa Pig theme song
7.  What's your favorite cereal?  Pink Cheerios (a.k.a. Yogurt Cheerios)
8.  Who is your best friend?  Ariel Pray
9.  What do you want to be when you grow up?  Dora
10.  What is your favorite book?  Dora books
11.  What are you really good at?  getting backpacks full of babies
12.  Where do you wish you could go on vacation?  the Zoo, then she remembered we vacationed at Grandma Knights when we went to the Zoo, and Disneyland (after Mommy reminded her that this was a pretty fun place too)
13.  What is your best memory?  riding bikes and her Dora Birthday Party
14.  What would you buy if you had a lot of money?  a toy...probably a new toy...then she thought and said a princess toy
15.  What vegetable do you love the most?  white broccoli (what we call cauliflower)
16.  What fruit do you like the most?  watermelon, apples with no peel
17.  What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?  chocolate
18.  What do you like to do best with your friends?  have a birthday party for her
19.  What do you hope you'll get to do before your next birthday?  have ice cream
20.  What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?  blueberries, peanut-butter sandwich
21.  What is your favorite game?  Playing tag and babies
22.  What is your favorite snack?  cheese puffs (a.k.a. Pirates Booty)
23.  What is your favorite animal?  pigs and sheep
24.  What is your favorite toy?  my Peppa toys
25.  What is your favorite drink?  mike and water
26.  What is your favorite holiday?  Easter
27.  What do you like to take to bed with you at night?  Black Bear, Triangle, Comfy Babies and Taggie Blanket
28.  What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?  waffles and pancakes (she loves making pancakes with Daddy)
29.  What is your favorite thing for dinner?  spaghetti with long noodles
30.  What is your favorite movie?  Dora Princess and Dora Star Catcher
31.  Who is your favorite Disney princess?  Sophia
32.  Where is your favorite place to go?  Disneyland and then she thought about it and quickly said, no Target, then Crazy Climbers and she said she loves handles on train
33.  What is your favorite Bible Story?  Little Angels Bible and she loves all the one's about God
34.  What is your favorite letter? E
35.  What is your favorite number? 3 and 2

Riverside Trip

Elaine's first trip to Southern California happened right after Christmas, December 27-30.  Here is the family pictured with Grandma Knight and Aunt Alison at a super cool park we got to visit during our stay, Fairmount Park, it had a circus theme and the kids loved it.

During our drive to Southern California we were joined by the Oregon Duck he even got out and ate at the same restaurant we did, Carl's Jr. in full costume.  It was pretty cool!

 Here are the kids with Grandma Knight

and a super cute picture of Elaine with Aunt Alison too

During our visit, Elaine got to meet Aunt Kathy and Uncle Herb and several of her cousins on Sunday, December 29.  We all had a great time catching up and reintroducing the big kids to everyone too.  At the end of the evening it was like they never missed a beat.  They were all having so much fun playing together.

  
Here are all the 2nd cousins together from left to right, Robert, Evie, Andrew, Evan, Emma and Elaine.

Here are some other fun pictures of just the boy cousins and just the girl cousins.

 
Here are other great pictures from the evening.

Bob and Elaine.

This picture is pretty cool because it features one cousin from all three families, Robert, Elaine and Emma.

Jim with his sister, Alison and Elaine.

Bob Sr., Aunt Kathy and Elaine, Debbie and me. 

We had a wonderful night visiting with everyone.  Thank you for the super hospitality as always.  It included delicious food and gifts for the kids.  Such a treat!  Here is a great picture of the kids eating together.

Lastly, here are Evan, Evie and Elaine fast asleep on the way back home.  They slept for several hours, a sure sign of a great vacation.

Jim and I got to enjoy the snow on the Grapevine during the drive too.

Thanks for a wonderful visit Riverside Family!  We love you all and look forward to seeing you again real soon.