Not So Romantic Valentine's Day 2012

We celebrated Valentine's Day yesterday as one big SICK family! We are all sick with bad colds. Luckily, Joe and I celebrated Valentine's Day this past weekend with a "date day" away to Bismarck. We went to a movie and out to eat at the Bistro where we both enjoyed a great steak dinner. We celebrated early as we had a free babysitter this past Saturday otherwise known as Grandma!

The kids woke up to find presents on Valentine's Day but were not as excited as usual since they have been sick the past few days.

I found Joe and the kids on the couch when I woke up... they were not sleeping well so they ended up on the couch and Dad turned on movies for them. You can see that Tommy has a pacifier.... we had mailed all of his pacifiers away to his cousin Peter a month ago but we "found" one last night for Tommy to use while he is sick.

Joe took Tommy down to a lung specialist yesterday afternoon. Whenever Tommy gets sick he gets a croup cough so the doctor in Garrison wanted him to get checked out and see what is going on... he cannot get tested for asthma until he is 5. However, we did find out that his oxygen level was low so he will have to take nebulizer treatments 3-4 times a day every time he is sick. He did such a good job taking his treatment last night!

Joe brought home a dozen roses for me from Bismarck, chinese take out for dinner, and a foot bath that the kids thoroughly enjoyed. I gave him some new snow pants, work pants and a canvas picture of the two of us. We also had cards that we had planned on exchanging after the kids went to bed but it was late by the time they were sleeping so we will open up our cards today. I am excited to open the card when Joe gets home from work as Joe says there is another surprise present in the card!

It may not have been a romantic Valentine's Day but we spent it together as a family and hopefully, we will start feeling better soon!

Valentine Memories from 2011

I was downloading old pictures from a memory card I found this past Sunday and they were pics from last Valentine's Day. I couldn't believe how much the kids have changed in one year. I also could not believe that 1 year ago we still lived in AZ.

When I was downloading the pictures I was also reading a beautiful e-mail that Colleen (Joe's Mom) had sent to all her kids and their spouses. She had forwarded a beautiful e-mail that she had found in her e-mail that was sent from Randy in 2009. He wrote to her about how much he loved her and wrote so beautifully to Colleen. Colleen, reminded us in the email not to take for granted the love of your spouse. She also reminded us in the e-mail that the best gift you can give your children is to love to your spouse. It really hit home and I was crying by the end of the e-mail. Joe and I have been married for almost 4 years and I have at times taken Joe for granted. The move to ND has been hard but one thing is for sure our marriage is stronger and I am taking Joe for granted less and less. He is such an amazing husband and I am MORE IN LOVE with him now that I ever have been before... I contribute a lot of this to Randy in heaven as I know he has been praying for us to our God and it has strengthened my relationship with Joe.

It is so hard to believe Randy was here with us last year on Valentine's Day and that he is not here with us today but Joe and I both know he is up in heaven and we also have faith that he is praying for us and watching over us everyday. I can tell as my marriage is stronger because of the love Randy had and has for Colleen and his kids.

Tommy's Ice Fishing Adventure

My cousin Brian and Uncle Kevin fly and own small planes so a couple of weeks ago they invited Joe and Tommy to go ice fishing and they decided to fly and land on the ice. Tommy was so excited! He got to hang out with the big boys and he loved every minute of it! Lily jumped into the picture before they flew off.
Uncle Steven (my brother) joined the boys on the fishing adventure!

They drilled over 40 holes and were not able to catch anything but Tommy had fun anyways! He had so much fun that he fell asleep on the plane ride home!