Absolutely Awesome Eight: Feeling the Love...

Dressing up like a 100-year old man is harder than dressing up like a granny...but Quinn managed to put an outfit together to celebrate 100 days of school.

Quinn and Kai

He proudly wore his "wrinkles" all day long.

Even when they turned into black smudges all over his face.

Elsie, Quinn and I did a little impromptu ice-skating mid-week.

Michelle - standing by rows of skates they have acquired

Our friends, Michelle and Robert W. (Anna's good friend Lillian's parents) are crazy in a good kind of way. They have been creating and running their own ice-skating rink in their backyard for the past 10 years. They have quite the set-up for college groups to come skate, have hot cocoa & homemade fries, etc. Sounds like a whole lot of work to me! And it's all service...

Until their final evening group of the season arrived, Elsie and Quinn and I enjoyed the small rink all to ourselves. The weather is warming up (slightly) so it's going to get slushy soon.

After holding my hand for a few minutes, Quinn was off on his own. He picked it up in no time. Elsie decided she preferred sliding around on the ice to actual skating.

Love the lights they put up prior to the water freezing.

Yeah, did I mention this project is a real labor of love?

Quinn rushes home from school and is often in a hurry to get right back outside. He loves to be outside and is content to play by himself out in the cold. Aaron snapped this shot from the window recently. Deep thoughts in his snow chair....

Jantzen and Anna participated in ski school each Friday afternoon/evening during the month of January. Because we have had so much snowfall, the program was extended for an optional two weeks in February for an additional fee. Jantzen and Anna decided to use their own money to fit in extra ski/snowboard time. They both really enjoy hitting the slopes.

It was a hassle/expense to rent Anna's equipment each week but it sure put a smile on her face. I think Santa already has ideas for next Christmas....

Our last visit to the dental office - for 6 months anyway!

Elsie is a funny girl and insisted I take this picture. She's wearing sunglasses because the lights were too bright and the pink nose thing is for 'funny gas' to relax her. Dentistry has sure come a long way since I was a kid.

Nobody will ever accuse me of doing my kids school projects for them.

Nope. Not ever.

Elsie is the proud owner of this Valentine's box.

The younger kids enjoyed exchanging Valentine's cards with classmates on Friday. The 'mystery cards' are always so exciting! Anna was busy with student council responsibilities during the week, selling candy-grams and doing 'heart-attacks' around the school. She also finished her weekly babysitting responsibilities for her piano teachers, the Love's (yep, that's their last name), who are welcoming new baby this week. Aaron and I enjoyed a day of "dates" by going to the temple in the morning after everybody left for school.

Brinley and Madison - making donuts at our place on Friday night.

Feelin' the love around here!

Dinner date night for Aaron and Heather

Our local Thai restaurant has recently done a little renovating. No more duct tape picture frames. And notice the hanging lantern lights behind me?

The ambiance is nothing special but the food is tasty.

Bottom: Greta, Elsie, Quinn

After basketball games, Elsie and Quinn had fun celebrating Greta's (cousin) 6th birthday by going sledding, drinking cocoa and eating donuts off hanging strings.

center - Tanner & Haylee

Tanner was asked by Haylee P. to the "Sweetheart Ball" that took place on Saturday. I have never hiked around then played games in underground caves before. Tanner can now say that he has.

These group pics were taken at Haylee's house where fancy meals were being served upstairs and downstairs (Haylee's sophomore sister's group also ate at the P.'s house) by younger siblings/cousins.