Valentine's day!

My parents, the kids and I drove up to Myrtle Beach February 13th. Jeff was coming later that evening. We ran a couple errands (including getting mom and dad ready for the marathon!) and went to the beach. Jacob was sooooo grumpy until we got to the beach. He found his happy place dumping sand on his toy car and we did not want to disturb him so he was not included in the photo of my parents with Hannah. Here is Hannah with Aunt Stephanie. It was such a fun trip. I was a little bummed not to be running but I was so proud of mom and dad that I couldn't help but get over it.

Hard-core zoo fans

I don't know if I have mentioned it before but my mom is a hard-core zoo fan. We have been to the zoo in the rain, in the blazing middle of summer with 99% humidity (seriously, and the only way to make it through is to relish how incredibly miserable you feel) and now (in the photos here) in the snow. Now I know that it looks like a beautiful day in the pics but there were little white flakes drifting down when we first got there that morning. The thing about going to the zoo when other people wouldn't is that you then have the zoo pretty much to yourself. That makes it totally worth it. Here is Jacob finally being brave enough to feed a goat.

The power of the fish cup

Hannah and Jacob had begun to grab some of the play cups from the play room and use them to get water from the bathroom when they were upstairs and thirsty. Yuck. I have no idea how many kids have rubbed their little fingers all over those cups (I should probably throw them in the washer) and it really grossed me out. I bought a box of the dixie bathroom cups the next time we were at the store and the kids were thrilled. I don't know if it is the fish design, the incredibly cute 3 0z size, or the fact that they know they are just for them ( and they can help themselves) that made these cups so irresistable. Jacob and Hannah are very cooperative when they know that after teeth brushing or getting in to jammies they can get a drink from the little cups. Ahhh win-win.

Fun pictures

Starting out let me just say: HAPPY BIRTHDAY CATHERINE! Tell Tauni to get what I need taken care of pronto and then I will send you your surprise. : ) I hope that you have a wonderful day. I am so glad to have such a selfless and good person in our family. Love ya.

Here is a photo of Natalie in profile. I was able to feel her little boy move Sunday which was so exciting. Hannah is getting tickled by Baba.

Hannah grinding wheat

Here is a really fun picture that was taken at my parent's house. My mom has a wheat grinder that she uses to make flour and it is very noisy. Here is Hannah with her ear protection. What a cautious girl. He he he.

Hannah gave a talk in primary!

Here is another picture from when Hannah turned three but I thought it was appropriate as I thought about how much she has grown in the last (almost) year. Today at church Hannah gave a tiny talk in front of all the kids in the primary (around 30)! We were sooo proud of her! The first two sundays she was very scared to go to primary, I sat with her for most of the first time, a little less the second time, and then today Jeff was able to leave after he got her seated. When the primary secretary called me to ask if Hannah would give a talk this Sunday I wanted to laugh out loud. Prior Sundays if they called on her she turned mute, and would only help with holding a picture if I went up with her. I said yes fully expecting to say the talk myself with Hannah holding pictures. Surprise surprise she went right up to the microphone and gave her little talk, sometimes with no prompting from me. Way to go Hannah!

An unexpected train

I love the happiness on his face in this picture. We were looking at library books and while reading a book about shapes, there was suddenly a picture of a train. Life is good.