February Photo Roundup

Yikes, is March really over half way over already? Fortunately for the blog, March has been a pretty uneventful month around these parts, so this post will bring you up to speed on the noteworthy events and celebrations of the last month and a half.

February was a really fun month. I could/should have written a few different posts along the way, but since I am perpetually behind, you get it all in one shot.

On the morning of February 7th, Super Bowl Sunday, we headed over to the Sacramento State campus for the annual "Super Sunday Run." I sat this one out with the kids as Shaun ran the 10k race, but not before Avalon ran her first-ever race...  the "Future Stars' 1k!" She trained for months and was so excited!

Our little runners!  Ellie was signed up to run the Pee Wee 40-yard dash, but refused to do it at the very last minute. It took place at the exact same time as the 1k and she didn't want to "dash" alone without big sis. 

Flashing a big grin as she approached the finish line! I was happy to be allowed to run the 1k with her, though that was all my idea. She wasn't one bit nervous about running the race alone but didn't mind me tagging along. ;) I was so impressed that she ran almost the whole way with maybe only a minute of walking (1 kilometer is about 2/3 of a mile)! Now she wants to train for a 5k!

Shaun finished the 10k, which is 6.2 miles, in 57 minutes!

Ha ha!

Later on at home, Avi and Eddie got decked out in Broncos colors for the big game! (I'm pretty sure we couldn't get Ellie to get dressed at all and she ran around in her undies.)

I was so surprised to receive these flowers from Shaun a couple days before Valentine's Day. I only wish I had taken another pic after the stargazer lilies (my favorite flower) finally bloomed! Not pictured are my other Valentine gifts... an Amazon Fire tablet and a new dress! How spoiled am I?! :)

Avalon all dressed up for her class Valentine's Day party on Friday, February 12. That pink cardigan was mine when I was a little girl! 

Sorting through all her Valentines Day loot after school. These are the only times when I feel a little bad for Ellie not being in preschool; she was a little jealous of all Avalon's Valentine treats. Luckily Avalon is a fantastic big sister (and doesn't have near the sweet tooth Ellie has) and was happy to share her candy.

Eloise working on a painting for Daddy's birthday

Baking birthday treats on Sunday, February 14--Daddy's birthday! As usual he was stuck working the winery's popular "Port Weekend" event held every Valentine's Day weekend, but on the bright side--us girls had plenty of time to get ready for his birthday party. :)

We made homemade snickerdoodles and chocolate chip cookies-turned-cookie bars-turned cookie cake. 

Avi decided she wanted to make a "Bugs Life" cake so I made some chocolate frosting (dirt) and she made some bugs and a "Happe Brthday" banner out of construction paper.

Then we decorated the kitchen, with Avi calling the shots, of course. She is quite the party planner!

The kitchen table all set up with Daddy's birthday goodies

Ellie's birthday painting for Dad

The birthday art Avalon made for Dad

Avalon decorated the front porch with crepe paper and then sat at the edge of the walkway waiting for Dad to come home

A shot of the Birthday Boy as he walked in the door (and wondered aloud if he was supposed to bust through that crepe paper that Avalon taped up in the entry way).  

Avalon (who had grown bored of waiting outside) and Eloise jumped out of a box to surprise Daddy as he walked in the door

Eddie ran up to greet Daddy and "cheese" for this pic

Avalon posing with Daddy's birthday dinner--homemade pizza. (Because he had to work late on his birthday, Shaun had requested what has become his customary birthday dinner ([rib eye steak, Caesar salad and baked potato] to be the previous Sunday.)

Opening presents! The girls didn't think Dad was doing it fast enough, so in this pic Shaun is explaining that he can take as long as he wants because it's HIS birthday. ;)

Happy Birthday, Daddy! (Eddie really does think he is smiling!)

A few days later we headed to our home away from home, the Peppermill in Reno, for Shaun's belated Birthday trip and Jesse met us there! The three of us hadn't done a trip together in quite a while and we had a blast. (Meanwhile, the kids had a great time back at home with Nana and Papa.)

Lunch at Oceano

Dinner at Ruby River

A shot of the pool area from our spa suite on the 14th floor. It was warm and sunny the day we arrived...

...and cold and snowy the day we left, two days later. Reno in February is like a box of chocolates!

The snow storm made for a long drive home, but it was a pretty one

Avalon all packed up and ready to go to... Chuck E. Cheese. ;) We made a deal with the girls to take them to Chuck E. Cheese if they behaved well for Nana and Papa while we were gone. This was a very effective bribe because within minutes of Shaun and I getting home Avalon confidently announced, "you're going to get a good report!" Indeed we did, so three days later the girls got their special trip (and I was able to convince Avalon to leave most of her gear in the car).

Since beginning to learn to write, Avalon has been big on making "to do" lists. How cute is her Chuck E. Cheese Schedule: Get Dressed, Breakfast, Get Bag, and Get In The Car. ;) Her bubble/block letters are pretty impressive for a 5-year-old, too!

Chowing down on pizza 

After some rides and games it was time for a frozen treat

Eddie on his FIRST-EVER Chuck E. Cheese ride. So cute!