Snow Day

The front yard

I had already shoveled nearly a foot of snow off of our driveway and sidewalk

The backyard
Jilly - all snuggled up

Mallory - love the shorts with the knee socks

Today was the first EVER snow day for the girls, and they loved it!

I am not a big fan of the snow. I love living in Colorado - the four seasons, the beautiful mountains, the dry climate and a little bit of snow right around Christmas. But then, I'm good with the snow, and I'm ready for the warm sunshine. I am definitely a warm weather girl, and by the way it IS March and wasn't it almost 80 degrees on Sunday.

All that being said, today was an awesome day with the girls. Peter is on a trip to Dallas and couldn't get out (hopefully he'll be home tomorrow about lunchtime), so it was just us girls at home.

Here are some of the things we did:

*slept in and spent ALL day in our jammies

*I cooked breakfast (that's a big deal since I am not a morning or a breakfast person)

*Mallory worked on a school project & was especially thankful for the extra time (she definitely inherited her study habits from Peter)

*Jilly baked a chocolate cake - yum!

*shoveled - the hubby "missed" out on that again

*watched movies that we had on our DVR

*ordered Chinese food & had it delivered

The best part is we just found out that there's no school tomorrow. Spring Break has arrived early thanks to the snow. . . how strange is that!

Happy Birthday Courtney

The Birthday Girl
Courtney & Carrie
Courtney & Adam
Jeff

Karla

Tomorrow is my niece, Courtney's, 25th birthday, and in spite of the events of the past two weeks, it is a cause for celebration to honor her life. She is an amazing woman. and I am truly humbled by her faith and strength. Courtney's mom, Karla (my brother's wife), passed away very unexpectantly on March 7th, and Courtney, her sister Carrie and Jeff''s lives have been forever changed. While most of us are still struggling with undertanding God's purpose in all of this, Courtney has written some profound things about her mom and God's hand in ALL of it - even to the tiniest detail.

"There was a plan for my mom's life, and I believe that it's still in the works (it'll be a legacy). There's not been a single mistake in any of this. I am so blessed to see first hand God's grace, comfort, peace, and most of all, organization. He is good, and his fruits endure, even in the midst of tragedy."

Happy Birthday Courtney! YOU are your mom's legacy! I love you!

Haley is 7!!!

Haley's Party

Yesterday was my niece Haley's birthday, and we got to spend it with her. (I love that part about being back in Colorado.) She had 8 little 7 yr olds over for a party and most stayed for the sleepover. There was lots of shrieking, giggling, running and even crying, and at 8:30, we got to go back home to a quiet house.

At times like this I think back to when Mallory and Jillian were that age and remember how much fun it was. I also think about how much fun right now is. I use to worry that as they got older I wouldn't have as much input in their lives and wouldn't get to spend as much time with them. It's really not like that at all. They may not need us in the same way as they did when they were 7, and we may not get to spend the same amount of time together. However, if I look closely, I see some amazing small moments with them.

Here's a list of a few of the ones that I value:

1. Praying with them each night before they go to bed and knowing that they expect that

2. Driving in the car with them - especially if it's just one of them

3. Crowding in the bathroom when we're all trying to get ready to go somewhere

4. Doing their hair for school or special occassions

5. Shopping (I LOVE having girls!)

6. Celebrating their achievements with coffee and dessert

7. Watching movies on the couch

The Wizard of Oz

The Girls
Love them!

Awww

Lisa, Jilly & Desi

Lisa (the Wicked Witch) & Jilly
Desi & Jilly - in the Emerald City

Lisa (the Wicked Witch) & Alex (Dorothy)

The guards in the Emerald City

Alex, Jilly & Lisa

Every year the 6th graders at Westridge Elementary perform a musical directed by the music teacher (Bruce Cole), and this year's performance was The Wizard of Oz. They auditioned before Christmas break, started working on it when they returned in January and six weeks later, the show is on. I got a "sneak peak" (and took pics) this afternoon when they did the dress rehearsal for the school. They were awesome!

40 + 1

Mallory & Haley
Lexie & Jilly

Grammie, Mallory & Haley

Mike & Jenny

Matt & Jana

My birthday is the day after Valentine's Day and in the US is usually around President's Day, so I feel like it's one big holiday wrapped up in one. Last year since it was a "big" one, Peter and I went to Napa Valley for the weekend with 8 other friends. We had an amazing time, and realized during that trip that everyone (except for 1 person) had visited us in Australia - some of them more than one time.

This year the celebration was not such a big event but no less special - dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, New Saigon, with the people I love the most - my family.

Spring Soccer

They got to pick their numbers, and Jilly's birthday is on the 15th.

Mallory (with Haley in her lap)

You wouldn't know it from the picture, but she does watch the game and cheer for her sister.

We just got the email from Jillian's soccer coach signalling the start of the new spring season. Soccer is not her first love - that would be field hockey, but it's something she's grown to love. She is on a team with awesome girls both in ability and attitude, fun parents who keep the game in perspective, and a great coach who is developing skills in the girls individually and as a team. GO FIREBALLS!!!

Sol Vista Weekend

Peter, Mallory (the tall one), Joy & Jillian (Bean as her friends call her)
The Papay Family
Bree, Heather, Scott, Mason, Amelia & Gage
The Ezman Family
Tracee, Logahn, Terry, Austin & Aaron
The Wilkin Family
well...really only Brian & Sharolyn
More of the Wilkin Family
Anna & Sharolyn
(apparently we could not find all of them at once to actually take a family picture)
Scotch & Cigars - "apres skiing"
Logahn, Jilly & Anna

Mallory & her friend Sara

Mallory & Jilly

Don't ask!

Spending time with our LifeGroup is one of the things we love best to do as a family. Last weekend we went to Sol Vista with the Wilkins, Papays and Ezmans. The weather was beautiful; the skiing was fun; the food was yummy; the kids (all 13 of them) were great; the ladies were victorious (in Taboo); and the most important part, the company, was amazing.