Happy Love Day!

A card from Malea (*heart melting*)

We just completed one of the busiest weeks of the year at our house!  The week of Valentine's Day is really busy at our house, with Malea's birthday on the 12th, Keith's birthday on the 14th, and all the Valentine's festivities.  I have so much sugar in my house right now it is ridiculous! This post will be on Valentine's Day and then I will do another one on the birthdays :)

As I was researching ideas for Malea's Frozen party on Pinterest I saw this cute idea for Valentine's Day that I decided to do, I put marshmallows, pretzel sticks, chocolate chips and a candy corn in the bag with a little card that said, "Valentine, do you want to build a snowman?  Love, Malea".  They turned out cute! 

I don't know why I didn't take a picture of Isaac's stuff but he chose to do "Planes" Valentine's so we put stickers, a pencil and some candy in little treat bags for his classmates :)

Cookies!

(Best idea ever: Those kits at Walmart with pre-made cookies that you can frost, best thing for a busy mom like me!)

Malea's turned out pretty cute I think! 

Isaac likes to put LOTS of sprinkles on his! :)

Cookies for my parents and the kids' teachers :)

Valentine's for my loves! 

Malea opening her card

Isaac's face in the picture makes me laugh, he was upset because I put a little thing of Frozen stickers in her V-day gift.....? #threeyearoldproblems

But I cheered him up with kisses :)

Flowers, treats and a card from Keith :)

Keith opening his V-day/Birthday stuff from us

Both kids got lots of fun things at the class parties!  Malea got her face painted too :)

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Malea turns 6!

I can't believe I have a 6 year-old!  Malea had a great birthday, she got so spoiled and the celebration went on all week!  I am going to do a different post with her birthday parties but I thought I would at least do a post about her actual birthday.

On the morning of her birthday she opened a couple of presents from us but we saved the big present for her friend party (which was on Saturday).  She wasn't thrilled about getting clothes but she was excited about the Frozen shirt she got. :)

Malea wearing a little birthday crown I made :)

Keith had to work on the evening of her birthday so I took the day off from my internship and we all went out to an early lunch at Golden Corral (her choice :)).

After lunch we took her to school and brought treats for her class.  They sang happy birthday to her and then she got to pass out the treats to everyone :)

That evening my mom and step-dad took us out to Olive Garden for dinner (her choice again :) this girl knows what she likes!).

Malea holding a little stuffed puppy she got :)

Happy Birthday Malea!!  We love you so much! XOXO

Almost there....

[The view from where I sit]

For the past few weeks I have been studying for "comps", which is short for the comprehensive exam that is required for graduation in my program.  The test is called the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam, or CPCE.  In addition to finishing up 300 more internship hours, taking three more classes, and being a mom, I have to find the time to study for this exam that is coming up on Feb. 22nd in SLC (who needs sleep, right? ;)).  I set up a weekly schedule of page numbers from the Encyclopedia of Counseling and audio book CD's to listen to, and so far I have been sticking to the schedule pretty well.  I am also super nerdy and color coordinated my note cards to the 8 content areas of the test (Research, Ethics, Multicultural, Theory, Groups Counseling, Appraisal, Lifestyle & Career Counseling, Family Counseling, I think that is it).  The test has 160 questions and I have to pass with about 70% (not too bad).  I am reassured by the fact that according to my school there is about a 90% pass rate on the first try.  I'm just praying that I don't fall in to that 10% range :)

I have really enjoyed graduate school and have learned SO much, not just about theory and practice but about myself.  I am so proud of myself, especially that I have been able to push myself out of my comfort zone and grow so much.  But at the same time, I am so exhausted....mentally, emotionally, even physically.  In the last 2 1/2 years I have probably gotten sick with some kind of infection or virus every 4-6 weeks (not exaggerating).  The stress of this program, especially the last couple of semesters, has at times been more than I thought I could bear.  Let's just say that I cannot WAIT to be done!  I can't wait to have "spare time" again (which isn't much when you're a mom but it's virtually non-existent while being in school).  I can't wait to be able to give my kids the full attention and energy that they deserve.  I can't tell you how many times I have just cried from the guilt of not being there as much as I would like to be for my kids.  I have been lucky to have an amazing husband who picks up the slack for me in so many ways so that I could accomplish this goal.  I just keep day dreaming about summer and all the fun things we are going to do!  I can't wait to be done and am so excited to go to Colorado in May and officially graduate with my Master's degree!!!    

ALMOST THERE!!!

Christmas 2013

So it's officially February and I'm just barely getting around to finishing my post about Christmas......my bad!  I wasn't even all that busy during the month of January, other than being super lazy and hibernating inside all month.  I am not a fan of January, I usually end up watching way too much Netflix and get kind of "blah" for a few weeks.  However I did take some much needed "me" time to recover from a very stressful fall semester and to gear up for another even more stressful spring semester.  But knowing it's my LAST semester somehow makes it bearable!  Anyway, on to my Christmas post.....

Here's a cute pic of Malea with her face painted :)

A little ornament I made with our most recent family pic

More shenanigans from our Elf on a Shelf.....here he is holding baby Jesus :)

Isaac and his adorable cousin Cannon.....Sam and Taylor came down from Logan to visit for a couple of days before Christmas but unfortunately they had to go back up because Taylor had to work Christmas Eve :(  We sure miss them!

On Christmas Eve Eve, our Elf ("Charlie" as the kids have named him) left us the stuff to make sugar cookies so that's what we did!

(Are you impressed by my Charlie's cursive? ;))

Malea being a helper

My best batch yet!  Usually my sugar cookies end up looking like blobs, I was actually quite proud of myself!

Isaac patiently waiting for the cookies to cool so he can decorate!

The kiddos did such a great job decorating!

We decided to take the kids on the new Frontrunner for a train ride!  They loved it!

After the train ride we stopped off at the Riverwoods mall to look at the lights :)

Malea and me in front of a cool tree

Malea riding the carousel at Provo Beach Resort 

Christmas Eve!

Charlie left us a note to make sure we read the story of Jesus' birth and to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas!

Cuties having a bubble bath

Silly picture of Isaac with a Santa hat on, haha!  Thought his expression was funny

Every year on Christmas Eve night for as long as I can remember we go to my Grandma and Grandpa's condo clubhouse to have a big dinner with all of our extended family.  This year was no different!

The cute decorations my aunt and cousins did

Isaac with his cousin Miles, they were so excited to play with each other!

Isaac wrestling with someone, as usual ;)

Grand kids all ready to open their presents from Gma and Gpa Great

Isaac got tons of play doh!

Malea got a darling tea party set!

Sisterly love!  Love these ladies!

Cute girls have a tea party.....they are little besties :)

My Grandma and Grandpa opening their presents

Back at home.....

Christmas Eve night at the Walker household we have a tradition of opening one gift each. The kids decided to open their gifts from Grandpa Dave and Grandma Judy

They both got a cool new wallet with money inside and a picture of Gma & Gpa!  They loved it!

I got to open a present from Malea, it was an ornament that she made for me at school :)  She was so excited to give it to me, I will cherish it forever!

We got our milk and cookies ready for Santa, as well as some carrots for the reindeer!

Our tree all ready for Christmas morning!

Santa left us a note!

CHRISTMAS MORNING!!!

The kids were SO excited to open presents!  I got so many cute pictures of them with the best expressions!  That was best gift of all, just seeing them so excited and happy!

Opening their stockings

Malea got the pottery wheel she has been wanting!  She talked about it non-stop for weeks :)

And she was happy to get anything Monster High!

Isaac with his new Woody doll!  A much-needed upgrade since our old one is missing a head, lol

The kids hugging, Malea loved her gift from Isaac :)  So sweet

Isaac hugging his "Rexy" doll as he calls it, he sleeps with it every night!

Turbo!

Isaac's loot!

Malea's loot!

Me opening my presents, Isaac gave me a darling frame he made at pre-school :)  I love it so much!

And the finale.....a new trampoline!  We hid it downstairs and after the kids were done opening their presents we told them there was one more thing.  They were so excited!

The aftermath.....

Daddy made us breakfast, pancakes and bacon!  Yum!

Playing with our toys :)

Trying out the new pottery wheel.....

.....Malea's face says it all!  Once she realized that your hands get dirty, she wasn't too in to it.  Daddy ended up doing the whole thing for her and I did one too that she ended up painting once it was dry.  Oh well!

We had a wonderful Christmas!  Just seemed to go by so fast!  I love my family so much and I'm so grateful for the wonderful memories that we made this year!