Happy Valentines Day!

We wish you a Valentine's Day filled with love!

My darling husband went a little crazy at FTD.com. We have a friend staying with us from Boston, so he had four bouquets sent - one for Anne, one for Ashlee, one for Becky and one for me - which actually turned out to be two for me as FTD made an error and two got delivered! How sweet is this - a girl's first valentine from her best guy!

The Lucky Mommy club met on Friday for a Valentine Party at Chuck E Cheese on Friday - we should probably try to take group shots at the beginning of our dates instead of at the end! By this time, it's too close to nap time, and everybody is really wound up! This was the best on of my bunch - maybe one of them has a better one!

Gracie liked it better when she got scored on! She has such a delightful personality that I suspect she doesn't mind losing if she's having a good time!

Sweet Ryan and his beautiful lucky mommy Michelle

Lunchtime - it's not as chaotic as you might think!

Becky's a cheap date at Chuck E Cheese - she wasn't interested in any of the token rides - just wanted to play on the climber

Odds & Ends from this week

We've had a pretty busy week (and Destiney has been on my computer a lot!! teehee) - so here are some odds & ends from the week.

Destiney works, while the little girls wake up - they really aren't morning kids!

Becky is busy studying.....or something!

Vincent loves Doug's massage chair!

Had the princess not been up for the day at 4 am, she wouldn't have been this tired!This is another new trick - when I am working at my desk, Becky will pull a chair over and then climb over the back of the chair I am sitting in...she thinks she's pretty clever!

Notice Becky's purse over her arm.....She puts it on her arm, then gets her shopping cart out and goes shopping

Aaron and his parents came over to see John & Destiney and the kids; this is the first time Becky has tolerated me holding another child ~ and she is just tolerating it

Just Another Disneyland Day

This time - with our great friends!!! On Tuesday we went to Disnelyand with John, Destiney, Paloma & Vincent (a big thanks to our friend Kris!!!). We had a blast. No matter how many times I go to Disneyland, it's easy to have fun at the happiest place on earth!

Vincent, Paloma & Becky
Double Trouble - Destiney & Karen
Vincent got selected to be a Jedi in training - this is a very cool audience participation show that if you have kids between 3& 7 who are Stars Wars fans is a must do!
Becky's favorite ride is still the stroller - but at least now she has a variation on the theme!
Lollipop kid - the Lucky Mommy's started a very bad habit.......

New Tricks - Part II

Here are the latest & greatest tricks by the princess Becky...both are signs od improved developmental skills -

Becky got this truck for Christmas. Until recently, she would just sit on it, maybe go a few feet forward. Recently, I discovered her doing laps around the house - turning, one handed - going backwards! Momma is very proud of her big girl and her newly found driving skills! Her other skill...well, I was working on the computer on Monday morning, and she was sitting in front of the couch which is in front of the table I work at - so I couldn't see her. When I got up to check on her - this is what I found! Momma is not so proud of her ability to totally undress herself out of her one piece footies pajamas!!

Two extremes

Last night, Doug took John, Destiney & Matt to a Scott Weiland concert. For those three of you in the entire world who don't know who Scott Weiland is, he is the lead singer for Stone Temple Pilots. I stayed home & babysat all the rest of the family. The concert was at the Henry Fonda Music Box, which is a small venue that seats only about 2000.Then today after church, Doug & John took the kids to Chuckee Cheese - from one end of craziness to the other! Destiney and I (and Becky) met them there after a spin (or two) around the mall!

A Family Visit

One of the most precious families in our lives has blessed us with an unexpected visit. My friends Destiney (you might remember her from the China posts!!), her husband John & their kids Paloma and Vincent arrived on Thursday after a very long trip from Germany. It was unexpected - and they are home on emergency leave for a sad reason - but we are so happy to have them here for a couple of weeks!

This is the second time they have come home from Germany - and we've begun a tradition of getting El Pollo Loco on the way home....apparently they can't get that in Germany! Becky & Paloma are becoming fast friends. It was pre-destined as they share the same birthday!!
The hair boys.....Vincent is six and his goal is to grow his hair long enough to have dread locks.....We were a big, rowdy group at Lomelis last night - but it was the day after the flight and Vincent fell asleep in the booth - and Paloma would have had it not been for the ice cream dessert!

My husband is happy to have the kids here - they will still play board games with him. No one in our immediate or extended Yingling family will play with him. He cheats. Unashamed and unabashedly. Blatantly. With no respect for the age or vulnerability of his opponents. He has been known to take advantage of his own unsuspecting innocent son (that's when I stopped playing with him).

Birthday Lunch

There are several of us who used to work out together and have remained friends even after the gym went defunct. We get together and celebrate birthdays - and then try to see each other for lunch on occasion. Wednesday, we celebrated two birthdays at "Tea & Teacups " - Becky got to go to her first tea room!not very ladylike yet....but feeding herself her soup!