FAMILY PARTY!

Chel and I were getting ready for the rest of the family to come. She taught me how to make "lumpia". It is Phillipino spring rolls. They are so dang good! Everyone loved them. They were the first to go. It's so fun getting to know Chel more and more. She is so sweet. Loren just loves being around her. She is a nice addition to our family!

We love having everyone over. I think that it's neat that my girls can see their cousins. Family is so important! Thanks to everyone who came!

Kelly & Chel (Brennan's brother) came to town from Las Vegas. He wanted to have all his family over so he could see them. We had so much fun. FAMILY IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT!

With me, it all centers around good food!

I w i l l a l w a y s

l o v e y o u

Brennan has always been really close to his brothers. They have a good time together. It's too bad they can't spend more time.

Lots of cousins!

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

We played FARKLE. It was fun. We need to do this more often! Yes, I won!

CREME BRULEE!

Oh man! It was worth the 10 lbs I gained eating it! It is the best!

Last night the VanKomen's came over and taught us how to make creme brulee. It is my very favorite. Bob has brought us some over several times and then at Christmas he bought us the ramekins for a present. We loved it too much that he just couldn't keep up. So he came to teach us to make our own!

STILL WINTER!

It has been snowing for the past 2 days. It is beautiful! I love it when I'm inside with the fireplace going, cookies in the oven (I'm a dreamer) and looking out the window with the snow coming down. I love it!

This snow is perfect! Fluffy and WET! Lyssi said it is the best snow she ever tasted!

BRENNAN & LYSSI

Brennan and Lyssi played in church a few weeks ago. It was so beautiful. They are going to play in my moms ward and also in another one. I love hearing them play. I am so proud of both of them. I'm glad they are mine!

Having four girls and 3 of them teenagers, I don't know if Brennan is going to make it. He worries so much about them. Haley has 7 other girls and 4 boys that are all best friends. They hang out almost every weekend. Brennan is tense about it but it's happening. Brennan said it is different when they are at our house with us there, it's fine. But, if they go somewhere where there isn't supervision~he doesn't think that is right. Well, tonight Haley's friends all wanted to go to the movie and Brennan heard what was going on and told them absolutely not. He said it was too much like a date. Lyssi tried to tell him and the whole thing just embarrassed Haley. They boys left shortly after that. Okay, so I feel like they are a big bunch of friends and they like to do stuff. Brennan said it would be too easy for them to go to the show and one of the boys sit by Haley and try to hold her hand or something. I agree that I don't think our girls should date until 16 also. I hung out with a big group of friends when I was in high school (about a trillion years ago) and we all just had fun. Brennan is just freaking out that Haley will be 16 in October. And, Lyssi is so boy crazy~ aaaaaugh! I want to know what you all think.

LOREN'S 9!

We have loved Loren for 9 years. Hard to believe that it was that long ago. She has been so much fun. We are so blessed to have her in our family. I remember when we went to find out if she were a boy or a girl. We got the girls out of school to come with us. We all thought she was a boy except Ems. She absolutely knew! The lady told Brennan, I hope you have a boy dog. Brennan said ~no, her name is Lady. Loren was a perfect baby girl. She was weighed 6 lbs 6 oz and 19 1/2 " long. Loren is such a sweet heart. She loves painting her fingernails, reading, playing with friends, playing all sports and hanging out with her sisters. Lorens "birthday week" is finally over. She did a lot of fun things and got lots of presents.

Good morning birthday girl! Lornie's not a morning person, but when it's a school day, it breakfast starts early! She wanted danish pancakes with a pink "9" on it with strawberries and whip cream. That is what she got! Yum!

I'm so glad that she's my girl! She is such a joy! Today she got an added bonus, she got to change her earrings for the first time. Yay! We just love our Lorabelle!

Loren loves having a birthday because that means Gramma checks her out of school and takes her to lunch and shopping. Gramma asked her where she wants to go and Loren says Wendy's. Gramma said, Don't you want to go somewhere and sit down? She thought for a minute and then said~Oh, I know, Paces! So Pace's it was! Grampa met them there. They went to the mall and she got a cute outfit and a Webkins. She had a fun time and so did Gramma!

No birthday cake for Taysen, she just gets celery! (notice her headband, Loren made it and is very proud)

Loren loves Todd. She is always on his shoulders or pulling on him.












Gramma & Grampa

Bateman


It's time for cake. Mindy always makes the cutest cakes!














Lots of family to love! It's fun having birthdays!

Loren had a spa birthday party. Lyssi and her friend Sara did the girls hair. Ems and some of my young women did nails (press on), make up, and toe nails. They had a lot of fun and looked so cute! Girls! Girls! Girls!

SHE PASSED!

It was a big day! Haley got her Learners permit. She was so scared to take the test. On the way to pick up her friend Jessi, I asked her a few questions. I asked her which way to turn your wheel when parking up hill. She had no idea. I asked her the speed limit in a residential area. She thought for a minute and then said~What is residential? I knew she was in trouble! As soon as Jessi got in the car, I said~please help her study! They studied like crazy. She asked the lady how many times she could take the test. She said twice and then you can come back and take it one more time w/out paying again. Haley said~mom, I will pay next time if we have to. She said can we go get ice cream if I pass? Then she said~can we go get ice cream if we don't pass because I will be so sad? She took the test 1st time and passed! Happy Day! She is still afraid to drive! This will pass I'm sure!

LOREN LOVES GRAMMA "SINK"

Loren was so excited to go to St. George with Gramma and Grampa. My mom said to have Loren over there at 10:30 and at 8:30 she was ready to go. We waited until she couldn't wait anymore. When we got there Gramma was still getting ready. I'm going to miss my baby girl!

Sis took Loren and Kasey to feed the ducks. We love Sis. She always does fun things. Sis has always been one more Gramma for Loren!

Ever since Loren was tiny, Gramma Sink has been her favorite! She said that when Lyssi gets old, she will looks like Gramma Jo but "when I get old, I will look like Gramma Sink!" She has always been really close with Gramma. Grams always has a way of making you feel loved completely. (just like my mom does) It's a good feeling! Gramma Sink taught Loren how to play war (cards), jacks, even how to climb a tree! About 4 years ago Loren comes in the house and says "Mom, Gramma needs help getting out of the tree." I go out and sure enough, Gramma is up in the tree. I said ~what are you doing? She said that she was just showing Loren how to get up in. Man oh Man!, She is an 18 year old in an 88 year olds body! She has always been my favorite too! We love her so much! Loren was very excited to go see Gramma Sink and Sis!

A DAY OFF AND HAVING FUN!

We had a blast today. (one of the words that shows my age) We woke up and the fun began. Lyssi needed to go dress shopping for the Valentine's Dance. We went to the mall and a small miracle happened. We walked into the mall, 1st store, 1st dress she tried on~she loved. It happened to also be on sale. Haley paid 1/2 (because she loved it too and is thinking ahead and said that she would wear it if she got asked to a dance one day.) They bought a 2nd dress also. (to use in the future~they are both beautiful.)

Found shoes the same day! Haley asked her if she could buy them a little big so she could wear them too. Haley is on her own on the shoes!

Okay, next...CAFE RIO~the best place to eat on earth! OOOH, so good! We crave it, it's that good!

Oops! Forgot to remind them to act like ladies!

Brennan met us for lunch. We couldn't talk him into going to the movie with us.

FULL PLATES...

Completely EMPTY plates!

We went to see Bride Wars. It was so funny! (I did have to have them close their eyes for a few seconds) Brennan wouldn't have liked it much. The theater just had girls in there. I was a girl movie.

At the end of the movie, it said there is always someone you go through good and bad times with whether it is your husband, or a friend...and I look over and my 3 girls are hugging each other. It made me get all teary. I love that my girls love each other and they will always have each other.

G O O D T I M E S ! ! !