Enough Waiting for Valentine's Day

I was going to post this on February 1st to usher in the Season of Love, but I'm getting antsy.  Here are some pictures to make your heart swell with love....for chocolate, that is.

I found a funny little thing about chocolate a while ago and planned on posting it around Valentine's Day.  This is written to all those "weird" people who prefer vanilla over chocolate.  Confession:  I'm one of those people.  Most chocolate gives me the worst taste in my mouth.  However, I know that most people, (especially girls) LOVE it.  So, are you ready?  Here it is:

For those whose preference is vanilla over chocolate (yes, there are "vanilla" people out there), let's give those who aren't in the know a little primer on chocolate. A few rules that will help them cope with the chocoholic in their lives.

1. To err is human, but if you mess with my chocolate, you're history.

2. Chocolate "flavored" anything is an abomination. Only real chocolate will suffice.

3. If it's imported, in a gold box and costs a week's salary, we'll follow you anywhere.

4. National Chocolate Day. Used to be once a month, now anything goes. Be prepared.

5. Hershey kisses, human kisses—if you're sensitive, don't ask which ones we want.

Poll Closed!

Here's some pictures to get you into the Valentine's Day spirit and to get you through the long and dreadful month of January. By the way, Patrick make these for me one day during lunch. Talented? Yes. Loved? Even more so.

This post is a little late, but December's poll has officially been closed for some time now. Here are the final results:

I usually begin during the after-Christmas sales	1 (11%)
I do a little bit at a time all year long	4 (44%)
I wait until Fall	3 (33%)
I'm up at 2:00 am the day after Thanksgiving	0 (0%)
I relish the hustle and bustle of December shopping	0 (0%)
Christmas Eve last minute!	1 (11%)
I'm supposed to buy presents?	0 (0%)

Note: Only 9 people voted, and I know that we have more friends and family than that (at least I hope we do). So I'd love to get a little bit more participation on this next poll. If you scroll down past our family pictures which are on the right-hand panel of our blog, you will come to the poll. It's one for Valentine's Day, and while some of you may think it's a little bit early to start thinking about Valentine's Day, I say that if we are prepared we shall not fear. And there's nothing worse than being handed a Valentine's present from our lovely sweetheart and realizing that amid the deadlines, the due dates, the work, the callings, and the child care, we have somehow managed to forget to buy, make, or borrow one in return!

And as an added bonus, if thinking up clever Valentine's gifts isn't your thing, you might just get some good ideas from the poll. Also, if there is a gift that should be listed that isn't, feel free to leave a comment--I'm always in for some fresh ideas!

Don't forget to VoTe!

Visit.

Thank heavens for sweet visitors.  Grandma, Grandpa, Megan and Sadie came just in time to whisk away our winter stir craziness...be-laden with a beautiful quilt for Tater tot.

Bringing in the New Year

I've discovered that the Christmas season is so busy with visiting family, holding four different Christmas celebrations, and celebrating Tate's birthday three different times. New Years, thus, was a little neglected I regret to say. However, I did put my new cookie cutters to good use with our 2010 Peanut Butter Specials, and we had a drink of sparkling cider to welcome in the New Year. We also read an article about not making New Year's Resolutions, which I highly recommend despite my initial thoughts that I could NEVER give them up.

The best thing we did this New Year's Eve, and I want to make it a tradition for every year, was to watch all of our home videos from the past year. It was so fun to go back in time and see the boys as babies. We watched them grow up before our eyes. It brought tears to my eyes to think of how fast they grow up. Before I know it, they'll be getting ready for their missions. It scares me! Anyway, I loved watching our videos; it was a poignant experience that lasted all afternoon and evening.

Tate was all right for a little while...during our peanut butter special 2010 sandwiches and the barrell rolling event which he took first place in. :)

East won the wrestling match...Wow!  We sure have talented boys!

But here is another little picture of Tater being sick.

After the boys went to bed, Patrick and I brought in the new year together:

Happy New Year!

Snowmen and Snowflakes

Now here's a great story.  My sweet, sweet, sweet, sweetheart wanted to give me a special surprise Christmas present.  I knew it was jewelry (which I love love love) but he wouldn't tell me what.  When I opened the present on Christmas morn, it was a beautiful ring...but NOT the one pictured above.  I started chuckling...it was almost identical to one I already had.  Patrick felt so bad and I felt so bad for him.  But we returned it and were able to buy the one I have on my hand there.  It is gorgeous and I absolutely feel like a princess when I wear it. {P.S. They are cubic zirconias in a sterling silver setting...not real diamonds but just as meaningful to me!}

Easton wanted to look at his "milk mustache" (actually a yogurt mustache) in the mirror

Look at those big, blue eyes.