Valentines Party

Gracie's class had a Valentines party and exchanged cards and had lots of treats. Marley loved sitting with all the other kids at the tables and at rug time. Gracie loved making valentines for her friends and she was so happy to show her love during this season. She was even a little sad this week when I told her that Valentines Day had allready passed. She wanted to keep celebrating!

Lots of yummy treats! Even Hannah Montana cupcakes!

Marley got to sit with all the big kids!

Excited for rug time.

Being silly as usual

They all wore hearts home with a note explaining that they were a special valentine just for us.

Valentines Daddy-Daughter Date

The week before Valentines, Gracie's school had a Daddy-Daughter date. They had a dance, DJ and treats. We kept it a surprise from Gracie until the day of and she was SO excited to find out the surprise. She picked out her dress, jacket, shoes and head band. She even let me paint her nails and curl her hair. She looked so precious and was so happy to go out with Papi all by herself. They had a great time and Gracie danced like crazy! She loved playing with her friends, Savannah and Melinda and collecting rose petals with them. Douglas requested some Elvis and they played "Teddy Bear" which made her night. For days after she was mentioning it in her prayers and telling us all the details. I'm sure it will be special memory for both of them.

Gracie was so excited to go on a real date with Papi!

All dressed up

Ready for the ball

I just love this picture because her hair is so pretty curled and there are no bald spots. It's so sweet!

Gracie was excited about her cookie

Gracie knows how to boogie!

She looks just like Douglas!

Gracie, Savannah and Melinda

Awww, they're so cute dancing together!

Black Hawk Down

A few weekends ago, Douglas played the Black Hawk Down paintball game in Austin. He went with his friend, Brandon and met up his friend, Joseph from D-Day. They played a full day of paintball in the freezing cold and were happy to warm up afterwards at their hotel room. Nothing like sacrificing your comfort to play an adrenaline filled game of paintball. They had a great time and it fueled their love of their hobby a little bit more.

Brandon and Douglas freezing their butts off!

A little blood never hurt anybody, right?

Douglas in action

Joseph and Douglas stained with paint and pumped up after their win.

Douglas turns 32 -part 2

Douglas had his birthday off of school because it was Martin Luther King Day. So we celebrated all day and enjoyed leaving normal life on the back burner. Gracie was very excited to celebrate and she made invitations, party hats, cards and pictures for her Papi. Marley and Gracie both loved helping Douglas open presents and they were very excited about all the balloons. Birthday's are just magical when you're a kid! Douglas was like a kid using his birthday money and gift certificates to order all sorts of paintball gear and clothes. He was so giddy!

After our relaxing day we had dinner with our friends, the Skidmore's, the Lescarbeau's and Stratton's. Our friend Amy and Douglas have the exact same birthday and so it was fun to celebrate together. We had yummy fajita's, quacamole, cowboy caviar and some amazing brazilian limeade. Then we sang to Amy and Douglas and had cake, hazelnut brownies and blue bell ice cream. You just can't beat that! It was a great day and we loved spoiling our amazing Papi and husband. He's the best!

Gracie made us birthday hats.(They kind of look like Pope hats:)

She's very thoughtful.

The kids and I had fun decorating the house!

Gracie loves her Papi!

Marley loves his Papi too!

Balloons are such a great toy!

He looks upset, but don't let him fool you. I think he just didn't wan't his picture taken.

He's really excited about the hazelnut brownies and ice cream.

Douglas turns 32!

To celebrate Douglas's birthday we had a Saturday afternoon of paintball. Several friends from church came along with friends from Wingstop and Douglas's brother, Leroy. We had so much fun trying to outrun and outsmart each other. We played until the light was gone and we each had a few battle wounds to show off.

Most of the group

3..2..1..Go! Go! Go!

Nice shot!

Brandon & Joseph searching for Douglas

Dumpy

Leroy, Joseph, Douglas and Brandon

The couple that shoots each other stays together

No! Of course this wasn't posed!!

Run!

All tired out!

New Year's 2010

For New Year's Eve we headed to Odessa to celebrate Grandma Darlene's (Douglas's Mom) birthday. We opened presents and then had dinner at Ajuua's, a great mexican restaurant in Odessa. The kids loved sitting next to the huge fish tank and spending time with the grandparents. Then we headed to the great grandparents house for cake. Darlene's favorite is Italian Cream cake and it turned out yummy!

That night it was so cold and several of us were sick, so we bypassed the fireworks. sniff..sniff

It was the responsible thing to do, but it was painful to celebrate New Years with no fireworks. There's always next year.

We hope this year is a great one!

Gracie helping Grandma open her presents

Gracie helped me with the cake and the candles

So cute! Happy Birthday!

Eating cake always brings smiles

Being goofy at the restaurant

Getaway in Dallas

Our Christmas gift to ourselves was a 2 day getaway to Dallas. The Williams Grandparents were sweet enough to take the kids overnight and let us have some time together. The 4 hour drive was so peaceful and we carefully planned all the fun things we could do in 2 days. We checked into the hotel and then did some shopping and driving around town. Then we ate at Kaze, the best sushi place ever! Each time we go it just keeps getting better. Seriously amazing sushi!

That night we slept so well with no interuptions and we got to sleep in the next morning. Heaven!

Douglas was anxious to find an army surplus store so we checked out a few and found some pretty sweet camo and gear. Then we headed to the temple for a refreshing session in the temple. When we came out it was snowing and it was so beautiful to watch the snow fall with the nativity scene and the temple in the background.

For lunch we headed to Fogo de Chao, a brazilian restaurant where they bring meat to your table and carve it for you. It was as good as we remembered. The salad bar was fantastic with several different cheeses, veggies, fruit salad, potato salad, green salad and chimi churri. Mmmmm. Then we had some amazing chicken, lamb, pork roast and filet mignon. Then to top off our full bellies they brought fried bananas, polenta and yorkshire pudding type rolls filled with melted parmesan cheese to our table. We were stuffed, but happy. Walking to the car was actually painfull because it was so cold and we were so full! The snow was still coming down and we decided we better get home before the roads got too bad. Sweet Douglas drove home in the blizzard and let me take a nap for part of the time.

We had such a great two days and it feels good to reconnect and feel like a couple again. We're grateful to out sweet kids and parents who let us get away.

Dallas Temple

Fogo de Chao