Happy Valentine's Day!!

Valentine's Preschool Party

Today we had our preschool Valentine's Party.

I'm into the 3rd trimester with this baby, and have a lot less energy these days.

So, we kept the party simple.

We started out with "Don't Eat Pete" and reviewed all the letters we've learned so far in preschool.

(I found a $0.99 box of heart shaped cheerios that worked out great!)

Then I gave the kids some art supplies and let them go to town making unique valentines.

Then we decorated some cookies.

Last we read, "Have You Filled A Bucket Today?" And "Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch."

It was a super simple party, but it was fun.

Hodgkinson Valentine Party

My mom had a little Valentine’s Family Home Evening for our family.  We had a yummy fajita dinner, then mom read “Have you filled a bucket today?” and she gave each family their own copy of the book, and each grandchild their own bucket with hearts to fill it with.  After the lesson, the kids decorated sugar cookies and the adults had cake.  It was a really fun night, and a really great lesson.  Matt has been extra helpful trying especially hard to be a “bucket filler!”  Thanks mom and dad!

And here is the cake I made for dessert.

Happy Chinese New Year!!

After church on Sunday we had a little Chinese New Year celebration.

We had some egg drop soup, sweet and sour chicken, rice, dumplings, pot stickers, and Darin made the BEST green beans!  They were SO yummy!

Cute Matt bringing down our dumplings. 

(We had spinach dumplings and leek dumplings and I liked the leek dumplings a lot more!)

My cute little Chinese family!

We had good luck oranges for dessert.

We gave the kids red envelopes with ”money” inside 

(I thought they’d like chocolate money rather than real money).

We played a couple games—chinese proverb mad gab, filling up bowls using chopsticks, and Chinese zodiac cranium.  Then we ended the night by watching Mulan.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Snow-Cream!

 We got a fresh new batch of snow today!

And with that snow we decided to make some snow ice-cream!

First, we went outside to collect our fresh clean snow...

(minus the fact that I didn't think about the yucky air).

Then we added the other ingredients, and topped it off with a "few" sprinkles.

My sister-in-law, Jadi, shared this recipe on her blog, HERE.  Thanks Jadi!

Here is the recipe:

1 c. milk

1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. sugar
4-6 cups clean snow, unpacked

Mix all ingredients together and add more snow as needed. (We used used less milk and more snow).
Top with chocolate chips, sprinkles or any other ice cream topping you desire.

After our ice-cream we headed back out to "paint" the snow, using food coloring and water.

Happy Groundhog Day!

Did you hear that Phil didn’t see his shadow?
I LOVE the idea of an early spring!

(Although according to my SIL Olivia, an early Utah spring means no more snow by June ha ha).

I made these goofy looking groundhog sandwiches for the kids.

They weren’t that excited about them (Lindsay's expression is sincere, Matt's is fake).

The kids also helped me make these silly looking groundhog pudding cups.

Here’s hoping for an early spring!

Sick.

The kids and I have been sick this week.  

It has made for a long week.

Darin took a day off of work to take care of the kids and me.

When I woke up from my nap, I came downstairs to find this:

LOVE that man!

Darin, you REALLY are the BEST!!

Lindsay Update

Lindsay went in for a CT on Monday.  I wasn’t at all nervous or worried about the appointment until my dad asked what the plan would be if it wasn’t a good cat scan.  It kind of made my stomach turn.  Not only because there was a possibility that the scan would yield unpleasant results, but also because I realized I hadn’t been praying as earnestly about Lindsay’s condition as I once had..

The week before the scan my prayers were refocused on Lindsay, and I was thankful that they were once again answered.  We were hoping for her cyst to shrink, which it hasn’t, but it hasn’t grown at all either.  When we met with our neurosurgeon following the CT, he said that if she was going to need another surgery/a shunt, they would have known by now and that we could switch our appointments to YEARLY!!  And we’d only need to do it until she turns 5!  WHAT!!?  That means only 3 more appointments!  Yay Lindsay!

I took a couple of really poor quality pictures while we were there.

This first picture makes me sad because with the 10+ CTs she’s had, this was the first time that she’s ever cried.  I was especially sad because this was the first time that I couldn’t stay with her (since I am pregnant).

Luckily for me and Lindsay, my mom was able to come with us.  Thanks mom!!

Happy 32nd Darin

We had a little belated birthday celebration for Darin.
When I asked him what he wanted for dinner he said something Greek or lamb with mint sauce.
So, I did Greek lamb with yogurt mint sauce, Greek olive bread, aspargas, Greek potatoes, and ice-cream cake!  I thought the lamb was especially good.  (I used THIS recipe).

After dinner, we opened some presents!

Then had some cake!

Happy Birthday Darin!  We love you so much!!