Time Out for Melissa

This Friday and Saturday is Time Out for Women in Chicago. It's a two day event of speakers and music, much like Women's Conference at BYU. The great thing is that it comes to us! We went the last time it was in Chicago 3 years ago, and I felt so rejuvenated when I got back home. A group of women from our ward will have dinner, stay in a hotel, and experience some spiritual, mental, and emotional jump-starts! Paul is a great husband and dad--he's watching the kids even after being gone all week. He knows how important it is for me to recharge my batteries, and for that I am truly grateful.

Little Mother

I'd like to think that she's emulating me--I do wear an apron,sometimes, and I carry her around a lot! Maybe it's something that's innate in little girls--they want to be just like their mommies!

Halle is walking!

She does it rather reluctantly, but she is walking! Halle thinks she's much faster crawling, so she isn't walking full-time yet, but at least we know she can!
(Sorry the video is sideways--I don't know how to turn it around and I forgot about that when I caught her on camera. She usually sits down when I pull it out to document her actually walking!)

Writers' Celebration

Matt's class had a writers' celebration where each student got to share a story they had published with family and friends who were invited to the classroom. Matt wrote a story about getting a strike when he went bowling with Grandpa Walker. This was so fun for him, especially because his dad went! Matt now tells us that he is going to be an author when he grows up!

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Matt thinks that Grandma is "just fantastic!" and we all agree! Grandma does a lot for all of us--tiling the bathroom, painting, sending care packages, taking the kids to the dollar store, making Halloween costumes--you name it, she does it! We just wish she lived closer--We love you grandma and hope your day is great!

Happy Birthday Granny Kate!

We love Granny Kate--her enthusiasm and youth make her a great friend to the kids! What other Granny loves Slurpees and Disney as much as the grandkids? Kathryn has been a wonderful friend, mom, and granny to all of us--we hope your day is wonderful and that the year ahead brings many more happy memories and events!

Jane for the Day...

Masterpiece continues to show the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice. Last night was part two of three and I convinced Paul to watch the last half hour with me. (I do own the movie, but there's something about watching a favorite movie that's actually on the television!) So here's the quote that introduces Mr. Darcy and his "first impression" of Elizabeth Bennett. (You "Jane" fans will understand the "first impressions" thing!)

"'She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men.'"

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have liked Mr. Darcy I had overheard him say this about me!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Paul had to leave on business trip early this morning--we got to celebrate last weekend. Today was Valentine's for the kids so I got up and made a special breakfast of chocolate raspberry waffles, complete with pink milk, and they opened up their Valentine gifts. Afton had her school party yesterday and Matt has his today. It's just a party all the time around here! Halle had no idea what was happening, but happily ate breakfast and wore her new Valentine's shirt!

10 Years Ago...

Paul asked me out for the first time on Valentine's Day. I know you're all thinking that's a little cheesy, but he had his reasons. I have to say that although we may not have experienced love at first sight, it was love at first date. We stayed up until the early hours of the morning talking in my driveway. After we hugged goodnight, I went into the darkened house where all my roommates were asleep. I prayed that if nothing more happened between us, that this guy would become my best friend. 10 months later we were married and he's been my best friend and greatest support ever since. I love you Paul--here's to the past ten Valentine's and a hope for many more together!

Have you met THIS Halle?

Yes, yes, we talk all the time about how happy and cheery Miss Halle always is. Lately, though, she has started into the tantrums. She will throw herself onto the ground (mind you, it's not far, she's still not walking) and roll around while she cries and looks at me to see if I'm paying attention. She may have picked this up from her older sister! So here's our normal, smiling, happy Halle and a few seconds later, alter-ego diva-not-getting-her-way Halle!

Finally

After wiggling this tooth for almost a month, Matt finally tugged it out yesterday. We tucked it into his tooth pillow and ta-da! A visit from the tooth fairy! He was very excited to find a whole dollar in place of his tooth this morning. (Although Grandpa Bunting told him to expect $20) Matt put his name on his classroom lost teeth board and he's now got a second loose tooth. We're sure to keep that tooth fairy busy now that the first tooth is out!

Happy Birthday Pat!

Another Snow Day...

Okay, the first time was fun. The second time not so bad. But today too? School is canceled for the third time this year today! What is wrong with the state of Illinois that they close school all the time? It's not like Chicagoland doesn't know how to deal with snow. When we moved here, we wondered why the fire hydrants all had 3 foot poles with flags on top--it was so they could be found in the snow! I grew up in Utah and had only 2 snow days in my entire school life! Also, I know they probably do it for safety reasons, but if that's their reasoning, they should keep school closed permanently! Yesterday, Matt's school bus was hit by another car. (school was not canceled yesterday due to weather or slippery conditions) All the kids were okay, but the police had to write a report, check out all the kids, and then clear the bus to leave the scene. Those kids were on the bus for and hour and a half! Matt got home and said, "Guess why we were so late?" He thought it was amusing, so at least no harm was done! So today, we will all stay home and mom will go just a little crazy.

Snow Day

It snowed so much Thursday night into Friday morning that school was canceled. The kids were excited, and since I wasn't going anywhere anyway, I didn't mind either. Paul took the kids sledding on Saturday. You ask where kids sled in Chicagoland seeing as there are no mountains nor hills? The villages all have sledding hills that have been built up specifically for sledding. Unfortunately, it means everyone sleds there and so the snow gets run down rather quickly. Matt & Afton don't seem to mind as long as they get some good runs in, hit their dad with a few snowballs, and enjoy some hot chocolate when they get home!

Our Non-Walking Walker

Halle apparently thinks she has reached her mobility pinnacle. She will stand up on her own, walk with her walker, walk holding someone's hand, but refuses to walk on her own. She'll apparently be crawling the rest of her life when she wants to get somewhere.