The other weekend we snuck off to do a little camping and it was beautiful! The weather was just perfect (yes, in Southern Nevada, we go camping in February! In July we’ll move farther north, but right now the weather feels perfect for camping in Valley of Fire). Apparently we were not the only people who felt that camping weather was here because we were surrounded by three Boyscout groups. Of course, they also camp in the snow and ice, so I guess their opinion is a little skewed.

Now, Valley of Fire is traditionally a very unlucky place for us to camp. We seem to have the worst sort of luck: head wounds, dead car battery (it’s kind of scary to have your car not start when you’re in the middle of the desert, miles and miles from the closest bit of civilization), forgotten tents on VERY windy nights (and trying to sleep an entire family in on van is not very comfortable).

This camping trip lived up to unlucky traditions. Our car battery died AND Katie tripped and got a nice gash on her forehead. However, we persevered and actually had quite a nice time. Luckily when our car decided to die there was one car left in the campground so we were able to get it jumped. And Katie’s head patched up nicely; I don’t think we even got any pictures to scare the grandmas.

(in this picture they finished hiking and found a fun hiding place and pulled out their bags of toys they’d been carrying)

The hiking necessities

But, we did get to relax and play with our kids. We hiked and played in the sand. There was this one sandy hill where our kids hopped, jumped, rolled, and dived for more than an hour (till the sun started to go down actually). Chris got to go take pretty pictures of a cool arch and I finished my book, Alcatraz Vs. the Evil Librarians (hilarious by the way!).

More hiking, looking for the next perfect spot for a toy break

Toy break!

We cooked fajitas over the fire (definitely one of my favorite camping foods), and roasted quesadillas and sausages on roasting forks over the fire (I’ll admit the quesadillas were a little tricky…). Of course there were s’mores (and we tried something new. Instead of a Hershey’s bar we put a Reese’s peanut butter cup. the peanut butter adds a new dimension to the traditional treat) and we made campfire cones. We took an ice cream cone (the pointy kind) and filled it with marshmallows and chocolate and such things, rolled it in tinfoil and threw it in the fire. It was quite the gooey and yummy treat.

One of our favorite arches

Random rock Chris found

the wildlife deciding if he wants to come and play

Big news: We’ve planted grass! Hooray! I love having a yard, and I’m very excited to have grass in that yard soon. Last fall we tried growing seed in the back and it came in thick and green and soft. It takes less water than regular grass so it’s water efficient and it grows slower so we don’t need to mow it as often. Since it’s worked so well we finished seeding our yard yesterday (I have to say it was pretty ironic to plant seed in our yard while two of our neighbors worked on pulling their grass out. Sigh. I guess we do live in the desert).

I think the funniest part of the day was just as we’d finished seeding, covering the seeds in compost (steer manure), and watering, when a lady and her little Pomeranian dog walked by. The dog, delighted by the smell, just started rolling in it, covering itself from head to toe. We tried to warn her what her dog was rolling in, but the lady just apologized and laughed at her silly puppy continued to roll in the muck. I hope she thoroughly washed that dog when she got home…

Speaking of animals, we now have a Guinea Pig named Gus. My neighbor found him hiding in her backyard (she thinks someone in the apartments threw him over the wall). After a few calls, she found someone willing to donate a large cage, bedding, food, toenail clippers, and even a Guinea Pig leash, but no one willing to take him in. So we’ve given him a home for the last week. I have a lot of mixed feelings about having a pet. (Aww, he’s cute. Ugh, he’s a lot of work…What, he might have lice?!)  But I guess the next logical step is to take him to a vet and make sure he’s as healthy as he seems. I’ll say this, he sure is cuter than the tarantulas my husband has started raising.

Once upon a Valentine’s Day…many, many years ago I was a little 7th grader. At that school, it was tradition to buy carnations that would be sent to your special someone during the last class of the day. And so, sitting in girls PE I watched as a girl entered the gym carrying an armful of pink, red, and white carnations; each one with a name and note attached. Everyone got a flower in that class (some even got 10), except for me. I felt extremely conspicuous, and a little miserable walking home that day.

Why do I tell you that story? Well, because it always pops into mind on February the 14, and it always makes me laugh because I’ve learned the great secret. Valentine’s day is what you make of it! You don’t need flowers or cards or even chocolates, because sometimes the greatest tokens of love come from small acts of service. And really, since I’ve married my best friend, it seems like every day is Valentine’s Day for us! What did Chris give me for Valentine’s Day? He stayed up late and cleaned the kitchen for me! And that was the most perfect gift he could have given me.

So how did we celebrate? Valentine’s is so much more fun with kids. We started off with heart shaped pancakes and later had heart shaped cheese (cookie cutters are awesome!) on crackers with pink love potions (smoothies). We took a picnic lunch to share with Chris at work with some special cookies. Later that night Chris did temple baptisms with the youth in our ward and I hosted a Valentine party so that some of my friends could have a romantic evening.

During the party we played lots of games (their favorite was to line up my couch cushions and take turns running/rolling/skipping/hopping/somersaulting across them. Seriously entertained them for 45 minutes!). Then we sat around the table and made cards for their parents/Sunday teachers (turns out all you need is a lot of sparkly stickers and glitter glue to make some awesome cards). And then! Oh, and then we had a Valentine treasure hunt. The kids were bursting with excitement and dancing on their tip toes! The trail of hearts led them all over the house and ended at my dryer which was filled with balloons filled with surprises. They had to pop their treasures out! (You’d be amazed at what you can get in a balloon, but do yourself a favor and get the larger sized balloons. Especially if you’re trying to stick a pencil in there). I think the Valentine’s treasure hunt is our new favorite tradition.

Anyway, I love my kids. I love my husband. I love my family and friends. I love life. And I love Christ, who gave us the greatest example of love and makes it possible for us to live forever with those we love most.

Happy Birthday to you!  In honor of your birthday, the kids and I have put together a list of things we love about you!

• I like it when you throw me in the air (Andrea)
• I like it when you let me play with your Ipod (Zach)
• I also like it when you let me ride on your back when you’re chasing us all around the room! (Andrea, and Zach says “Yeah!)
• I like to sit on you (Katie)
• I like it when you’re working in the yard and I get to drive my trucks in the dirt (Josh)
• I like it when you help me take baths (Katie)
• I like it when you help me dance around the room like a princess! (Andrea)
• I like it when you feed me yummy food when mom’s not looking! (Katie)
• I love it when you tell us stories after you put us to bed and you say you’re not going to tell us any, but then you really do ‘cuz you love us that much (Zach)
• I like it when you make popcorn on the kitchen floor so that we can all see (Josh)
• I like it when you pick me up from school and we go eat donuts, just me and you (Zach)
• I like it when you hold me in your arms and carry me all over the house (Katie-and let me just say she’s pretty excited sitting on my lap and looking at your picture)
• I like it when you let me take pictures with your camera (Zach)
• Daddy! (Josh-he also likes looking at your picture!)
• I like going shopping with you and having you buy special treats! (Andrea)
• I like it when you make up silly songs with silly words (Zach)
• I like to blow on your tummy (Josh)
• I like looking at your pet crickets with you (Josh)
• I like having pizza movie night and sometimes you surprise us with a new movie like the Dragon movie or the Car movie when Mater has engines that go really fast (Zach)
• I love how you love inspiring others to reach their goals (like my music, or my writing, or healthy habits, or anything and everything)
• I love how you write me a love letter every week
• I love watching you play with our kids, watching them laugh till they almost cry and also how excited they are when you walk in the door
• I love how you always show gratitude for the little things that I do
• I love that you get up at night to help the kids so I don’t have to get up
• I love that you wanted my popovers for your birthday meal!
• I love being outside and hiking with you
• I love your example
• I LOVE YOU!!