60 years YOUNG

60 is definitely not as old as I USED to think it was! This year my dad turned 60! He is still young and fun and active and I'm so glad! All the kids (except Tony) met in Pocatello at Jordan's place for a surprise party! I'm sure dad suspected it, especially with how many things mom packed in the car for a simple over night trip! All the grandkids ran and gave him a big hug when he got up the stairs!

 We arrived early to hang up a few decorations and here is Rylee holding one of the 60 sucks suckers.

 Here's the man of the hour! (or weekend)

 We took some group pictures....

And then it was off to play!!!! Grandma splurged and paid for everyone to go to an arcade place with laser tag and mini golf. 

 Bri LOVED her little fan she got to buy with her tickets. It lasted a whole 5 minutes before it ripped.

 I had planned to sit out for laser tag but at the last minute I hopped in place for Brittney. I was glad I did! It was so fun getting to play with my kiddos!

 When we were all tired and had spent all (grandmas) money, we were starving and headed off to a nice dinner at Texas Roadhouse! Here's grandpa with his oldest grandsons.

 Rylee missed her nap and slept clear up until we were able to get a table and order food. I was glad she got that because a late night was on its way!

 A fun tradition at TR is you get to ride the saddle if its your birthday! Dad was a good sport, saddled up and wove his napkin like a true cowboy.

 Dinner was deeeeelish!

After dinner, it was back to the Cove for some good fun! Grandma had a surprise for the kids. A penny candy store! They all got a turn to go buy a bag of candy with some money she gave them. This is something mom and dad looked forward to as kids. 

Me and Jus were the store owners. 

 After this, we got to all take turns asking grandpa some questions about his life. It really was a neat time and I hope its something the grandkids will remember. We then put the kids to bed and the party continued!

 I made a jepoardy game for the adults to play and then we sat around talking and continuing to learn about dad. There's so much of his life I don't know about and I was glad for the opportunity to celebrate him and have the focus be on him for a change. He seemed to enjoy it as well. :)

The next morning we rolled our bums out of bed to make it to 9am church with Adam. We came home to a yummy turkey and potatoes meal that mom prepared and then before it was time to finally do cupcakes! Sure love my dad and the big role he has played in my life. I've always felt his quiet love for me and have never felt judged my him. He is such a fun grandpa and I think he is happiest when he gets to spend time with them. Happy 60th Dad! Hope you have many many more surprise parties to come!

Best/Worst 11th Anniversary

As I mentioned in a previous post sickness will not leave us alone! But I THOUGHT everyone was doing ok so I got a babysitter so we could atleast go to dinner on our anniversary. I also tried to stop at a candy store and get some chocolate strawberries for me and Chad. IT WAS CLOSED! About 30 min before we had to leave, Rylee puked. So I canceled our plans and we decided we better stay home. 

We decided we would just get take out and stay home.  Carter could sense our disappointment and wanted to make this day special for us. He asked if he could make us chicken and potatoes and we said yes. So he went right to work setting the table and lighting candles and making dinner.

 He made us potatoes in the insta pot and baked chicken bacon and cheese with a little help. all the kids were extra sweet. We played a game after dinner and just enjoyed a happy evening wi

 Once the kids were in bed though, we splurged and went to coldstone for dessert! We watched a movie and tried to go to bed. The wind was blowing like you wouldn't believe. Our window has a broken seal and so the wind comes through it and whistles REALLY loudly. I couldn't sleep so we grabbed our pillows and headed for the couch. Yes, we slept on the couch for our 11 year anniversary. So romantic!

 We were determined to not let this ruin our weekend though (we actually quite enjoyed it!) But we wanted to have some fun. So the next day we surprised our kids with pulling them out of school and heading into Sandy for some fun! We first hit Classic Fun Center which was SO fun! We loved rollerskating and scootering around. There were bounce houses, laser tag, and arcade games to keep the kids busy. There was something for everyone!

 Bri did awesome with skates and her little trainer. She loved it!

 The big kids loved being able to just roam around and go where they please. We have entered a different era where I can trust them to go do whatever they want and know they will be responsible.

 We broke for lunch and headed to Chuck A Rama. A family favorite! The kids were hungry after all that running around and ate SO well.

 After that we hit up Scheels to ride the Ferris wheel! I was probably the most scared of everyone!

 The kids loved posing with the bear

 and Abe Lincoln in the front of the store. They were all so WELL behaved too! We all had a lot of fun.

 After that we found a fun rec center to go swimming at! My kids are not like me at all and love the water! Again, it was nice to let the big kids go,knowing they are ok in the water. They went down the slide almost constantly.

 I only have pictures of B&R here because the other 2 were off playing.

We hit Sonic on the way home and we all enjoyed this day so much! This may become a new anniversary tradition! We've traded the Bed and Breakfasts for memories with our kids and I really think it was worth it. Not one single original plan went through for our anniversary, but because of it we got so many sweet memories and experiences that we maybe would have otherwise missed. After all, when we were sealed in the temple, we were told that it was the day our family was started. So in fact, it is the anniversary of our family. A day we should ALL celebrate together. I love my tribe!!

S-N-O-W and TOFW

So we had no snow up until about the middle of Feb. Then of course just before the weekend I had plans to leave town, the BIG one hit!

 Roads were nasty. Snow was wet and heavy. Carter, Chad, and I (and even mollie) got in on lots of snow shoveling.

 This is about an hour after I shoveled our walks! You couldn't even tell I had shoveled!

When I dropped Bri off for Preschool the walks were clear! 2.5 hours later they were filled with about 6 inches of snow! I knew those kids would be walking in snow up to their knees so I hopped out and shoveled a path as quick as I could go!

 Then I hopped in my car to go to Time Out for Women in Idaho Falls with Jenna! Her husband had bought 2 tickets and a hotel room for her and she invited me to go with her! It was such a wonderful weekend of catching up and being lifted.

I sure love this friend and I hope we will always stay close!

 The roads on the way home were not fun driving in! Or the way there! But I took the truck and I made it! I was a little aLOT nervous!

AND I got a cute dress out of it!! Love Love LOVE it!