Presidents Day

After spending most of the day working in the yard and running errands we were so happy that our friends- the Riggs, called us and invited us to go hang out with them!

We went to a park and fed ducks! They are really well fed ducks!

D & G

Dakota {Ella's future husband}

She almost got them to eat out of her hand!

He's such a stinker!!!!!!!

After some yummy Mexican dinner we went home to roast some marshmallows!

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That's what I got Ryan for Valentines day. He got me a beautiful real pear necklace, ear rings and bracelet!

They are lovely, I've been wearing them everyday!

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It was so funny to me, Ryan and I were talking, he told me that he got my necklace for SUPER cheap. After much research and looking online he found it for a steal of a deal! The funny thing was that he thought that would make me like the gift less. Like he needed to pay full price, like it would mean more. I feel the exact opposite! It means more to me that he didn't just walk into a store and grab the first thing that he saw and overpaid. Instead he researched and got the best deal and to me, that makes the gift even better! I told him not to sweat, I did the same thing for his gift, plus coupons!

It made me so happy to know that not only did we get something wonderful for each other, but both of us were SUPER frugal! Some people might think that we're cheap, we're smart!

Gunnar

He's so into weird poses right now!

D.

You can see the smoke in a lot of the pictures. So weird. Also Ryan's face. So weird.

Some of bestest friends!!!

This was Jacks first time roasting marshmallows.

He LOVED it!

He was pretty careful and good about doing what we told him... for once.

My Mom and Dad always have BBQ's with fun things like fire pits, although theirs is just a little bit larger ;) I'm happy that we are carrying on the traditions!

We had such a fun day...

Thanks Riggs!

Valentines Day

Ryan and I were so happy to be able to go out for Valentines Day!

{On Saturday night} We got a sitter for the children, went out, had some good food and enjoyed being together!

We actually got each other gifts this year too! Something that hasn't ever happen before! More on those later....

Tonight we were talking about our courtship and the events leading up to our marriage.

There were times that I prayed, PRAYED to marry Ryan. I loved him so much!

And I've very happy to say, nothing has changed. I love him even more now and I know that he loves me.

We're a good team. We're doing pretty good :)
We have spent 9 Valentines together now.

Of course on Sunday morning the Valentines Fairy had come and left many treats and goodies for the children.

{I think it's funny that somehow they were both wearing their CHRISTMAS jammies!}

I wouldn't let them eat any candy until they had eaten breakfast first, but that was ok since I made heart shaped pancakes!

Ella helped me make the all of the heart garland!

I think it turned out pretty darn cute. Especially since we've never really had any Valentines decorations before.

After church the children pained the birdhouses they got from the Valentines Fairy.

It was a HUGE hit!

Ella's and Jack's

After family home evening {we have it on Sunday's in our house} the kids decorated some sugar cookies!

Jack made a huge mess! He even dumped out a huge thing of sprinkles all over the carpet. Ryan spent hours making sure it was all vacuumed up!

Jack doesn't have a very good track record with sprinkles. When am I going to learn my lesson!?

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I hope everyone had a lovely Valentines Day

Thank you for all of the many wonderful cards and packages! {you know who of you are! :) }

Happy Valentines Day!

Warm Weather

Yep.... we wore shorts.

It was almost 80 degrees today!

One of the fun things about it getting warmer is that the ice cream man comes around. Ok, or the shaved ice guy anyways.

The kids were so excited... until he drove right past our street and we had to chase him down!

So many flavors to choose from!

Summer is already on it's way!

{I think that I might have a little sun burn from working out in the yard today!

The pool is only 40, but I'm sure that we're going to be swimming soon!}

Late Night Fun

A couple of nights ago the kids were playing around with Ryan, they are so silly!

Happy Valentines Day

I took some pictures of the kids a while ago for our Valentines card

I thought they turned out pretty cute!

Here is the Valentine that Ella handed out to all of her friends

We used a hole punch at the top and bottom so we could slide a Valentine pencil through

She thought that was a lot of fun

And here is the Valentine card we sent out this year!

Happy Valentines Day everyone!

{We have some fun plans, more to come!}

Happy Birthday Mary!

Happy Birthday Mary!!!

I remember my 18th birthday so well! {It feels like it was yesterday!}

Mary you're so beautiful and sweet!

I'm so happy that you were able to come and visit us here, we miss and love you so much!

Have fun at school this fall! Don't let someone snatch you up and marry you!

I hope you have a wonderful day!

{also happy birthday to Uncle Jared and dear family friend Kelli!}

Editors note

Valentine Card

I took some pictures of the kids for Valentines Day

At first Ella didn't like my direction

Isn't she still so pretty, even when she's mad!?

We made the cutest Valenties to send to all of her friends!

If you would like a card, e-mail me at ryanwithballard@hotmail.com

After School

After school the other day we were all outside playing in the front yard

Ella was looking so cute, I had to take some shots of her!

Happy Birthday Jacob

{That's me, in the red shirt. Can you say AWKWARD! It gets worse, but I wont be posting any of "those" pictures}

Jacob is the tiny baby in this picture

He's number 8 in our family and

the baby the I remember the most out of all of them

I was there when he was born

He was so chubby and so cute with all of his blondie hair!

He was SO smart and loved sports or anything to do with a ball

and we would always dress him up in baby girl clothes!

He was a good baby

Who has now........

grown into such a wonderful young man

He's the best young guy that I know

He turned 16 today

He's allowed to drive and date now

So everybody, Watch Out!!!

Happy Birthday Jacob!

Pretty Ellie Belly

The other morning Ella was just sitting eating her breakfast

I was just looking at her

She's so grown up

This is going by way to fast

I want to make her promise to stop growing up

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I've also been thinking

I am so lucky to be her Mommy

She truly is the best daughter

She's so sweet, kind and loving

Smart, funny and goofy

She's such a joy and a blessing to me

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I hope that I can be half the mother to her as she is a daughter to me

Park Day

Last weekend I took the kids to the park

The weather was perfect!

My sweet babies!