February

February was quite the eventful month. Madi started saying her own prayers which are very cute to listen to. We also worked some more on getting her potty trained and finally after some tears (from both of us) and complete frustration, we gave up once again. We had dentist appointments and found out Parker had 4 cavities (just one more thing to make me feel guilty about), but we only needed to get 2 filled and the dentist said we will just watch the other two for now since they are baby teeth. This was a much better diagnosis considering we also had an estimate from a pediatric dentist who claimed we needed 4 caps and at least one filling and it would cost over $1,100. Parker is still busy with preshool and started learning how to read.

Probably the biggest news would be that on the Sunday, Feb. 10th, I actually got released from the Primary presidency. For those of you who don't know, I was the first counselor in the Primary presidency in our ward in Wellsville for 2 years. Then we moved into Logan and after being in our current ward for about 3 months, I got a calling to be the first counselor in the Primary presidency again. It was really funny to Lynn and I becuase we were both called into the exact same callings we had in Wellsville. Apparantly we hadn't learned enough while we were there. Anyway, after being in this calling in the Woodruff ward for 2 1/2 years, we got released. It was kind of a surprise, but a nice relief as well. However, after being in that calling for almost a total of 5 years I was finally getting the hang of it and able to plan sharing times without too much stress, I guess that is why I was finally released. One can't ever get too comfortable with his/her calling in the church. Right now (whisper) I am still calling free.

In all of my adult life, I think I have pretty much always had a calling in the Primary so it is really weird to actually attend Sunday School and Relief Society on a regular basis. I really enjoy being in the Primary because of the simple gospel lessons (I feel like I will never have all of the standards figured out) and mostly becuase of the sweet innocence of the kids. Don't get me wrong, there were definately days I was ready to wring a neck or two, but there is nothing that invites the spirit into the room quicker than the primary children singing their hearts out to any of the great primary songs. I never thought I would say this, but believe it or not I do miss it at times.

Considering Lynn and I aren't very romantic people, we really didn't do much for Valentine's Day. In fact we bought seasons 1, 2, and 3 of The Office as our present to each other. I love that show! Our Stake also had a Sweethearts dance that we went to, but considering neither one of us really know how to dance (ok mostly me) we mostly just sat there and socialized with people. It was a fun date and always nice to get out.

We also went sledding with our good friends, the Christensen's, over at the school by our house. The kids had a blast and Parker even got up the nerve to go off the jump a few times. Val, Lannis, Caleb and Annie Christensen are some good friends of ours that we seem to do a lot with. Our kids are almost exactly the same age and get along really well and Val AND Lannis both golf so in the summer we spend quite a few Saturdays going golfing with them. Here are some pictures of our sledding adventure.

Caleb, Parker, Lynn, Madi, Nicole and Dallin all checking out the hill before the first run. I forgot to mention that Lynn's sister Lisa was also in town and those are her kids, Nicole and Dallin, at the right.


Parker all smiles after a good ride!


Madi never dared go on her own so Lynn or I had to ride with her everytime.


By the end Madi and Annie decided that eating snow was a lot more fun.


Parker and Caleb ready for a ride.


Parker going off the jump

Another funny that happened after sledding was that Parker actually dried to deceive us for the first time that we can think of. We had the Christensen's over for hot chocolate after and Parker said he wanted some noodles that were in the fridge. I said we would get them in a minute. Next thing we knew, he had his hands behind his back and he was trying to sneak out of the kitchen. I asked him what he was hiding behind his back and he said "nothing, my back just itches and I'm scratching it." Well, come to find out he had the bowl of noodles behind his back and was trying to go to his room with them which he knows is off limits becuase we only eat in the kitchen. Little stinker.

One other eventful thing we had happen in February is that one Friday I went down to Ogden to do a little shopping and met my friend Carley and her two kids for lunch. After lunch we went to The Treehouse Museum and let the kids have some fun. My other good friend, Julie met us at the museum with her three kids as well.

Here is the clan sitting in the Oval Office - Lexi, Carson, Madi, Alivia, Parker, Garrett and Porter.

Alivia, Carson, Parker and Madi. Maybe Madi should be our next president.

Parker and Garrett dressed as cowboys ready to cross the wild frontier.

Parker and Madi with their tissue paper flowers we made.

Madi, Alivia and Parker - firemen to the rescue!

Parker and Garrett now dressed as Peter Pan, wouldn't their dad's be proud!