Alice in Wonderland

This year, I enrolled Hannah in a little acting group called "Up With Kids". It is not a big deal, just a little, low-key group that is meant for fun and self-esteem. The group happens to be putting on Alice in Wonderland this year! I put Hannah in because she brought the flyer home from school and could not stop talking about how she wanted to be in Alice in Wonderland. I told her she probably wouldn't be Alice, but she didn't care. This little acting group has classes for each age range, and everyone gets a speaking part in the play. As we looked through the parts that she could choose, we noticed there was "Small Alice". Oooh, she really wanted to be Small Alice. The script combines Alice in Wonderland with Toy Story (sounds weird, but it really is cute!). To "try out", she had to memorize and give a little part.

"I don't know if an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but I do know an apple a day makes a great snack. Especially if it has peanut butter on it. Hey, do you think peanut butter keeps the doctor away too?"

We practiced, practiced, and practiced! She loved saying it over and over. We worked on her expression, hand actions, etc. Anyway, Hannah did not end up getting the part of Small Alice, but instead ended up with the part of Bo Peep from Toy Story. She was sooo excited. We got home, looked through the script, and found the part. It's a short little part, so I knew she could memorize it easily. Then I noticed that right after her part, she sings a SOLO! Hannah is such a little actress-singer-dancer, but just around the house! I guess we'll see if she can pull it off and sing a solo in front of a bunch of people! She's sure excited to try!

West, Valentines Day, etc.

I've been seeing a lot of this lately from West...

We've never had a thumb-sucking baby before! Sure, it's kinda cute now, but what happens when he's in fifth grade doing the same thing? Hopefully the novelty will wear off. He only does it when he's really tired.

We blessed West on Sunday the 13th. We waited awhile to bless him so Shawn's grandma and grandpa could be there for it. Shawn gave such a nice blessing. I noticed how loud the congregation was during the beginning of the meeting, and how super quiet it was when the blessing was given. I really think the Spirit was there during his blessing. I should have written down everything Shawn said, it was such a beautiful blessing, but I remember he blessed West that he would stay as happy as he was now. He is seriously the happiest baby. Especially when he sees Shawn, Chance and Hannah - he gets the BIGGEST smiles! He is so sweet. Shawn also mentioned the he would look to his mother as his best friend. That was so touching to me because my patriarchal blessing actually says that I should be my childrens' best friends. So far, I am not doing so well!! Hopefully that blessing will help West, at least... After the blessing we went to Shawn's parents for dinner. Shawn whipped up a batch of his famous meatballs and there were appetizers and salads galore. Shawn's grandma made her chocolate cake that I'm obsessed with. It was so nice of Shawn's parents to let us have the "after party" over there. I feel bad for even asking, but our house is small and I turn into a basket case when I have to have people over. It was so much less stress to have it over there because April enjoys entertaining and doesn't stress out about it. They are very generous that way. West slept the majority of the day, but Shawn said he woke up in the middle of his blessing. I can just picture his big, blue eyes looking at all of those faces encircling him! He probably smiled at all of them, too.

Grammy, Grandpa Ted, and the guest of honor

West loving to look at all of his cousins!!

We had a not-so-eventful Valentine's Day. The Saturday before, Shawn and I went to dinner ALONE (that was a first in a long time!) at Sonora Grill. I love that place! On Valentine's Day we just had steaks on the grill (that were EXCELLENT, I must say!) and hung out at home with the kiddos.

This is a picture of Chance's Valentine's Day box he had to make. I've never had to help make a Valentine Box before. I got the idea off of the internet, then sort of improvised to make it. The kids were supposed to put their Valentines through the hoop - Chance thought it was pretty awesome. But I guess I got a little carried away and ended up gluing Chance's name on the front by myself. He got mad at me. I guess I must've forgotten whose project it was...oops!

Then, our little Hannah, who I have worried about spiritually because she has refused to say a prayer for years, made this Valentine:

What is cuter than a Valentine for Heavenly Father and Jesus? I loved it. And here's her Valentine for me.

Three Months

smiling at sister

West is the sweetest boy. He has a mellow, laid back personality right now. Hopefully he'll stay that way! He is growing so much! He is getting taller/longer by the day, I swear! He will coo and talk when he is in a good mood, especially right before bed. We just love him to death. He is getting blessed tomorrow, so I took a few, quick pictures of him in his little blessing outfit. I had to try it on him today, hoping it wasn't too small since he is getting so big!! But it's a perfect fit. I think West was born with that red birthmark on his forehead so I would be able to tell which baby is which when his baby pictures and Chance's baby pictures are together. They look SOOO much alike. I'll post them together soon.