a night at the museum.

we hit up the children's museum a few weekends ago.  we like to wait until the first friday of the month to go because from 5-9pm it's free.  and i don't know about you but i like free.  i really love our children's museum and so do our kids.  for me, it's kinda one of the only unique places in the valley that exists.

we try to expose the children to all the activities and different themed rooms that the museum has to offer, but the grocery store is the crowd favorite.  they would spend hours in there if we'd let them.  they can't get enough of pretend grocery shopping, being the cashier, restocking the shelves and working in the back room.  it's kind of amazing how these young kids assume roles and keep this make believe grocery store running without the parents help!  i like to just sit back and watch all the action.

for eden and jonah, the mail room came in a close second to the grocery store.  some other favorites were the car wash and the music room and many more fun little exhibits that intrigued their little minds. such a great place i tell ya.  and even better when it's free ;)

making valentines.

yes, we made valentines this year.  just wanted to document that this happened even if valentines day was like 2 months ago.  they were made on a sunday afternoon while still dressed in church clothes. on a side note,  my kids stay in their church clothes almost the whole sunday. not because i make them but because they want to. ohkayy.  when i was a kid, i couldn't wait to get home and rip my dress off and put on my boxer shorts and t-shirt.  it's funny how opposite they are from me.  anyway, i just have to say that i am liking how my children are becoming more independent.  valentines aren't as near painstaking as they used be.  jack can pretty much do the whole process himself and ava is on her way there.  eden is the only one who needs some help but she is so "let-me-do-everything-myself" that i have to kinda step back and let her do her thing even if it's not what i think is perfect.  jonah stood by for moral support and to sneak a piece of candy here and there when no one was looking.  what he didn't know was i was looking ;)  but then he had to come ask me for help to get the wrapper open.  so i guess that makes me a co-conspirator.

gilbert temple open house.

oh gosh, these pictures make me so happy.  back on a cool february morning, we as a family got to tour the gilbert, arizona temple.  this is the most beautiful building i have ever been in.  it's literally like a palace inside. and it's all ours, gilbert :).... and of course, anyone else who wants to visit.

we have watched this temple be built from the ground up and to finally get the opportunity to tour it and to share this experience with my children and husband, has to be remembered as one of the greatest days.  we were also able to go with our favorite neighbors, dennis and mia.  we were so grateful they could come with us and see a piece of something that means so much to our family and our beliefs. i am so thankful to know that families are forever and so thankful that this temple is right here in our backyard.  what a blessing it is to have a temple so close (like two miles away, close!).  can't wait for all the memories that will be made here.

new year's day in the snow.

we had a pretty awesome new year's day.  it was spent sledding, laughing, making snow angels, and being launched cannon ball style into the snow.  we also got an unexpected workout.  hiking back up our sled trails was no easy task.  by the time we reached the top, we were huffing and puffing.  but it didn't stop us from sledding back down again.  and again.  and again.  sledding is fun people but i'm still glad i don't live in the the snow.  it's not fun when you're baby's hands are so frozen because he won't keep his gloves on.  i remember him crying when we were back in the car as they were coming back to feeling.  i felt so bad.  other than that, there were lots of smiles and some good memories made.