For Valentine's this year Robyn made a Harry Potter box.  The two girls and I spent Superbowl Sunday making cute little valentine's for everyone.  I am glad they enjoy it as when I asked Spencer if he needed any he just scoffed, "as if".  But he is happy to help eat all the candy and cookies!

I had parent teacher conferences for Robyn.  They say she is doing great and is good about being friends to everyone.  I hope so, because the stories she brings back about the recess drama makes it sound like a soap opera every day!  I laughed when I saw her New Year's Resolutions up on the board.  Glad to hear the words we say sink in!  "Not bleating and wait for them to come to me.  Exercise more.  Don't layoff on stuff and let them pile up and do them at the last moment.  Eat less junk."


My birthday was a little full so the next Saturday the girls and I took Jasper for an afternoon of girl errands.  They helped me pick out a new quilt for our bed which I love for my birthday present from my parents.  My old quilt is gorgeous and has been well loved for 11 years.  My mom sadly informed me that the rips and tears are beyond repair.  Although once we got back, they all pointed out that it doesn't match my room at all.  So I need to work on that next!  (The girls thought it was awesome that the quilt shop asked us to bring Jasper inside so they could play with him)   Combine the day with a trip to the Humane Society for shots for Jasper and to look at all the cute animals and a stock up trip to Trader Joe's and it was a great girls day.


We had a big snowstorm last week, the day of Mom's and Muffins at Robyn's school.  When we got there at 7 the snow plows hadn't arrived yet and I slid into a ditch.  Robyn and I enjoyed our muffin and Jeremy drove over and got me out of the ditch.  He did that after shoveling out the whole driveway and taking care of kids!

Taylor's special needs mutual did a road show performance that I got to go to.  They did an amazing job.   My favorite was some of the lines delivered in dead pan voices.  "I need more romance" "girl's you don't need any of that...You don't know you're beautiful" followed by the kid singing and dancing to the song with lots of enthusiasm.


Spencer continues with his police academy for teens event.  This week he got to be interviewed on the 10p.m news about it which he thought was very cool.  KSL Video  And they did paint ball live action scenarios of take downs which he thought was very cool.

Yesterday I got to take Spencer, Robyn and Taylor to the archery range.  They had a great time shooting arrows and trying out different bows.  Robyn got a bow for her birthday and has been anxious to try it out.


Allison's life seems to be pretty busy lately but happy.  She had her "We the people" competition up in SLC with her history class this week, which she has been preparing for.  They came in second, by one point.  She was a little ticked off about it!  She got to go snow shoeing as a peer tutor for a special needs student.  And we started planning out her schedule for next year as we meet with the counselor this week...for her freshman year!  She was debating whether to take drivers ed during next school year or wait for the summer.  We are not ready for that yet!  She has been doing lots of activities with her friends and just enjoying life.



Robyn has been fighting off a tickle in her throat.  I picked her up from a birthday party Friday night and she sounded terrible.  I am sure the mom was delighted I let her come to her daughter's birthday party!  So she has been staying in bed hoping to get better quickly.

Best part of last week is that my dad came to visit for Roots Tech.  We only were able to see each other at night as we were all gone during the day but had a great time just hanging out.  And he took the kids for milk shakes at JCWs which is always a favorite.

Jeremy has been busy working on getting stuff for the upcoming expo for work.  He did teach a cool photo class with ballet dancers and long exposures which he enjoyed.  He tries to fit in as much photo stuff as he can with everything else going on.

School is going well for me and I seem to have the routine down.  The person in this area who is in the program with me dropped out this week so now my 5 1/2 hours on Wednesday night is just me alone in a room with a video screen without someone to talk to.  Feels a little lonely!  I had my first observation of me teaching in my practicum.  It went well although I have to work on doing specific and academic praise, I am too general in how I praise.  I met my observer though for the first time who ends up being a teacher of Taylor's from when he was 7!  Small world.

We haven't had any good storms for the last week and our inversion has built up to the worst I have seen it.  I am hoping it clears out soon.  Right now kids aren't allowed to go outside at recess and it looks like everything is draped in fog.  Good thing I have a book, chocolate and a fire!