Valentine's!

Abby and Karlee headed off to school in their colorful Valentine's shirts

Kayci and Jake had to pose in their shirts, too.  Okay, so Jake's isn't totally Valentine's but we figured the red worked and he loved it.

Andersen and Kinghorn kids.  What a crew!  When we first met it was just their Abbey and our Abby.  My how time flies.

Me and Caroline.  She really is an amazing woman!

My whole life Valentine's Day has never seemed to be one of my favorite.  However, having kids around who constantly love you and having a husband who constantly goes out of his way to make life better for you makes Valentine's much sweeter.  Layne always get the kids a little treat and of course surpises me with flowers which I love.  We even went out to dinner while Abby babysat for an hour or two.  She is getting really good!  We also got to go to Jerome to see our friends the Andersen's.  This was actually supposed to be our Christmas trip, but although it ended up a little late we still had a great time.  We really miss seeing them more often.  It was fun to see the kids together and to realize how they are growing up so fast.  On Valentine's Day we got to have dinner with Mom and Dad Kinghorn which we always look forward to.  The kids didn't have school the next day either, so all in all it was a great Valentine's weekend.

Science Fair

Karlee with her principal at the science fair

Abby and Karlee's school just had their annual science fair.  Both of the girls decided they wanted to do projects.  They both did a great job and really learned a lot from the experience.  Almost everyone in the third grade did a project so the competition was a bit steeper for Abby.  Not nearly as many Kindergartener's did projects which helped Karlee's chances of winning.  She was able to get second place which really made her day.  So now she's off to the district science fair.  We're really proud of both of them!

Monster Concert

Karlee and Abby on stage after the concert

 

Karlee and her partner Bret Bagley playing Skip to My Lou and Shoo Fly!

This is a horrible picture of Abby and me getting ready to play (but it's the only one).  We played In the Hall of the Mountain King and Skeleton's Ball.  They were a ton of fun.

After the concert, Abby and Karlee with cousin Andy, who came to watch, and the Bagley kids, Bret, Hallie, and Briar.

My piano students had the opportunity to participate in Monster Concert again this year.  It is a duet concert that features 12 pianos playing the same duet at the same time.  So there are 24 kids playing at once, hence the name "Monster" concert.  There were 12 levels with two of each level from 1 to 6.  So there were a lot of kids that got to play.  I had 8 students playing this year and I got to play with Abby and another student of mine playing jazz songs.  It was so much fun.  The kids learn a lot when they have to learn to play with someone else.  This was Karlee's first year and she did a great job.  Abby played level 6 this year, which I thought was going to be too much for her, but she really rose to the occasion and did an amazing job.  I am really proud of both of them!

A Saturday in the Snow!

Kayci, and her pink goggles, headed out to get on the tube

Abby, Andy, Karlee, and yes that little black and green blob is Jake.  He loved being pulled behind the snowmobiles

The kids would go forever as long as they had their goggles on

The boys (Jared and Layne) and their much beloved toys!

Holly and Jared called one Saturday and invited us to come over to play in the snow.  We had enough to get the snowmobiles out and they have a big yard and hay field to pull the kids around on.  They really had the kids flying a few times and Karlee even flipped her tube and kept right on going.  For not being fearless children, they sure didn't mind the jumps and bumps Layne and Jared kept taking them over.  We really love being so close to them.  Thanks, guys!

Finally, Snow!

We finally got enough snow to play in!  Jake just found a comfortable spot to sit and eat the snow - even if he couldn't see while doing it!

Karlee's always so happy to be outside.  She was in heaven playing in the snow.

There wasn't a big enough hill to really sled down in our yard, so the girls got out the shovels and built one up.  They can't wait to hit the big hill.

Kayci cheesin' it, Karlee in the background taking a nap apparently, and Abby???

A New Year

Kayci and cousin Annabelle getting ready for their ride on the tube.

Abby pulling Andy around on the skiff of snow and rocks

Kayci and Karlee all bundled up and waiting for their turn

Not enough snow to snowmobile, but Uncle Greg has his four wheeler all hooked up

The kids loved being pulled around Grandma's yard and pasture

Well, it is the middle of February now, and I am finally getting around to posting our New Year's pictures.  We had a great New Year's as always!  We spent New Year's Eve with Holly and Jared and Brittany and Matt (and all the kids) playing games, eating, playing the Wii, and ringing in the New Year.  We finally called it quits about 2:30 a.m.  Yes, all the kids were still awake!  It was a ton of fun.  The next day we headed to Grandma and Grandpa Reed's for our annual New Year's Day tubing party.  We thought it wasn't going to happen this year because we didin't have any snow, but luckily the day before we were blessed with enough to pull the kids behind the four wheelers.  We had lots of yummy food and just enjoyed being together.  Corey and Greg and their families were able to come up so it was good to spend time with them.  We look forward to it next year.