Happy Un-Valentines Day!

We've never been the kind of bunch to really celebrate Valentines Day. Let's face it...it's a "holiday" of expectations. Kid's schools expect valentines to be passed out, kid's expect valentines, wives or girlfriends expect flowers, dinner, and even dessert, and guys expect to get...well...you know...

This year I decided to dress this holiday up a little more from our boring last minute "love" plans. I actually planned stuff...who cares if it was the day before.

First we have the lovely class expected Valentines. These of course were "optional" but teachers have to say that for all those who don't celebrate love holidays.



I was very grateful for 1. Pinterest, which gave me this idea for their valentines, and 2. Malia who was so willing to put most of them together for me.



I got many compliments on these bad boys and they were super easy!

I stayed up well into the night preparing cute little love papers for the kids to wake up to. I actually told them that there was something special on the table for them when they get out there but they have to be dressed with shoes on their feet and hair brushed before they could go see. We had a really easy morning today. Kids were ready quicker than ever!









It was fun watching them read the 10 things I loved about them.







It was like midnight last night and I was up working on these. I made a list for each kid with 10 things that I loved about them.



Raya:



1. I love when you sing in the shower.
2. I love how you play with Carly.
3. I love that you are so smart.
4. I love when you laugh.
5. I love that you like to craft.
6. I love your quirky sense of fashion.
7. I love that you read your scriptures.
8. I love when you help me by babysitting.
9. I love how you work hard at soccer and volleyball.
10. I love you.

MALIA:



1. I love when you dance around the house.
2. I love your big brown eyes.
3. I love how smart you are.
4. I love your creativeness.
5. I love when you choose the right.
6. I love when you teach Carly.
7. I love how you conserve water and love the earth.
8. I love your smile.
9. I love your beautiful singing voice.
10. I love you.

ETHAN:



1. I love when you tell jokes.
2. I love that you always want to learn new things.
3. I love when you create things with Legos.
4. I love that you share with your sisters.
5. I love that you love to draw.
6. I love that you play hard at soccer.
7. I love when you listen and do what I say the first time.
8. I love your tornado hair.
9. I love when you say your prayers at night all by yourself.
10. I love you.

CARLY:



1. I love your giggles
2. I love your singing voice.
3. I love when you make sure I'm watching you at gymnastics.
4. I love your cute little button nose.
5. I love when you give me hugs and kisses.
6. I love when you read your ABC's.
7. I love watching your play with your babies.
8. I love your curly hair.
9. I love when you cuddle with me and watch Spongebob on TV.
10. I love you.

The kids really enjoyed reading their love letters and Carly immediately told me that she wants to read her ABC's. Patrick left See's Candy Truffles for the kids with a printed out card for them as well.

When the kids got home from school, I left a little heart box of chocolates for them along with a card that came in the mail for each of them from Grandma Poindexter Hasson. They loved them, but of course the big bags of school valentines quickly became the favorite.



Speaking of school valentines...remember back in December when Malia got a necklace and some earrings from a boy who had a crush on her? Well, he still has a crush on her and gave her a big box of chocolates and a teddy bear. He apparently was heard saying that he "would give anything if Malia would be his girlfriend." I still think this kid is cute. He hasn't gotten to obsessive quite yet.



Raya then told me that she found out from a friend of ONE of her crushes, that her crush has a crush on her too. She has exclaimed many times today that she "is in LOVE" and that this is "the best day ever"...oh boy...

I never do anything really special for the kids for Valentines day because they always do stuff at school, but this year, I wanted to make it special for them here at home and in case I don't tell them enough, I love them. I think they got the message.

The kids weren't the only ones who benefited from my day before planning...The Mister was also a product of my creativeness.

It started with his morning ritual...the bathroom:



What man doesn't like to be called a stud? Then...it moved into the shower...



Washable Crayon...totally awesome. I think I might write little notes here and there for him. Thank you again Pinterest for this easy yet awesome idea!

The kids also got a bathroom surprise:



Because of Patrick's lame not so normal schedule, we went to lunch with the little miss (Carly) at Il Forno Classico. We've only been there a few times but we have nothing bad to say about it. The bread is absolutely and ridiculously scrumptous!







After school, I loaded up the kids and we headed to Patrick's work. I forgot that he had moved buildings since the last time I had to drive out there, but I had gone with him one night on date night to do something there so I vaguely remembered where it was at. After driving around for about 5 minutes, we just happened upon his car. Lucky us! The kids and I then proceeded to give Patrick a "Heart Attack". They thought that was totally "awesome"









We came home to more Valentines squeezed into our screen door from Grandpa Poindexter and a little while later, got some yummy Valentine treats on our doorstep from our friends the Gleasons. We are about to partake in some Pizza Spaghetti (new recipe)to end our love filled day. I'm pooped!

Beautiful

Isn't she gorgeous?

Mother Nature is Beautiful

Not sure why I've been looking to the skys lately. Perhaps I just can't miss the beauty that God has given this world. California has been experiencing spring like weather this winter so when the clouds finally came rolling in, the beauty in the skies have become breathtaking and I've been collecting pictures of it.





This morning was super foggy. It is a very rare occurance when you can stare directly at the sun without having to squint. The fog was just transparent enough to allow for me to do just that. I took this picture through the blue of my car windshield (hence the blue color), but that is not the moon...that my friends, is the sun!



I am not one to get all mushy over nature stuff, but these beautiful skies has helped me remember that our Heavenly Father really does love us and created a beautiful earth for us to enjoy...and I've been thouroghly enjoying the views He has given me recently!

Moonlight

This morning when I headed out to the car to warm it up before my daily taxi trip to schools and back, I noticed the moon in the bright morning sky. No picture could do it justice, but it was beautiful! So big and bright, yet almost transparent. Awesome enough for me to grab my camera on a hectic morning and take a few shots of its amazing beauty.

Museum Day

Saturday, February 4th was free museum day in the Sacramento area. There were many museums that were opened free of charge to the public including parking! Our family took advantage of this and headed to The California Museum.



I actually drove on a field trip to this museum with Malia's class earlier this year. I didn't bring my big camera then and knew that I would want it this time around. There were many different kinds of exhibits to see.













This particular exhibit really stuck out to me as I just finished an amazing book (Unbroken) that talked a lot about World War II. The book mainly focused on what happened to the POW's in Japan during the war, but I never really thought too much about what happened to the Japanese Americans during that time. This is a picture of a "house" that the American Japanese lived in during the war. Very small. I could go on and on about it, but for the sake of time, I will just say that the whole war was just crazy!



This painting was on the ceiling. It was very long and very cool!



I don't even remember what this exhibit was about. I was just loving all the suitcases. They were very old and vintage and I kept thinking how awesome it would be to have some of them for photography shoots.



They had a "CA Hall of Fame" section and of course, I took a picture of this guy and his quote. I LOVE it!



This was my favorite part. It's called the Constitution Wall. As you can see, it is extremely big. You can see how small the kids are compared to it. It was kind of a hidden jewel amongst the crowds that day as you had to go outside to see it. Since we already knew it was there, we knew where it was and we were the only people outside and on Free Museum Day...there usually isn't an exhibit that only you are viewing.



And of course, the great Mickey Mouse...perhaps the kids' favorite part



We got lunch at the museum. I think they brought in some caterers to do it. By the time I got up there, they had sliced their prices in half and after purchasing four hotdogs with chips for $8 total, the guy said it was his biggest sale yet. Perhaps that's why they sliced their prices.

We had fun and enjoyed Free Museum Day. We will have to do it again next year!

Vandalism

I went down the street to visit my dad the other day and as I was heading back up I came across a piece of the sidewalk that had many familiar names etched into it. Patrick and I purchased our home on the same street that I grew up on so when I saw this, it brought back many memories that have been made here.



I am assuming that all the little rough and tough neighborhood boys were just itching and waiting for whoever pored this concrete to finish and leave. No yellow tape or cones would keep those trouble makers away. Jimmy, the loud Italian next door neighbor who was always getting in trouble and just so happens to be the first boy I ever kissed playing spin the bottle in my garage with just each other (don't ask me how that worked)...Kyle, one of the many Gambetti boys that lived up the street. Jake, my brother, and Nathan, my cousin... I wonder if they even know this is still there twenty years later. I'd like to thank Jimmy for etching in the date so that I know just how long ago it was. Perhaps a story about the making of this concrete art needs to be sought after...hmmm.

A Sad Goodbye

Goodbye McDonalds...









I will never forget you and I'm sorry that I stole your sanitary seat covers with my friends back in our rebel years of high school. It says you've been in business for 40 years at this spot. Let's hope it doesn't take that long for the new McDonalds you've been replaced with in the same parking lot to get my orders right. So far they're zero for three.

So long,
Rachael

You Never Know...

You never know when you step into place of business and see your child's picture haning on the wall...



Donut Spot to be exact. They sponsered Malia's soccer team last year. Totally forgot about it until we did a donut run and there she was, starring straight at us!