Happy Valentine's Day

Well, we celebrated valentine's day a day early because it was my turn to teach "joy school," which meant we got to throw the Vaentine's party at our house. With seven girls (eight including Mae), a pink and red flowery, heart shaped party can be pretty fun. All the girls brought valentines for each other, we ate jello in the shape of hearts with whipped cream on top, and had a blast. Right after joy school, I started coming down with something fierce. I never take naps during the day, but I told Grace I had to lay down. She layed by me on the bed and watched a cute little show on T.V called "Max and Ruby." She knows that "sponge bob" comes on after that show and that I don't like her to watch it. I fell asleep immediately and a half our later, I felt a tap on my shoulder; "Mom, sponge bob is on. Hurry turn it off." I was so proud of my little girl. She could have watched it and I never would have known. I praised her a ton and told the story multiple times to different people when I knew she was in hearing range. I just love that they can make good choices and feel good immediately.

For family night last week, we made an "OKAY MOM" chart. Grace wrote out "OK MOM" on a poster board and decorated it. We told her that everytime she said "Okay, mom" she gets a sticker and then next week for family night if she has lots and lots of stickers on her chart, we can get icecream. You wouldn't believe the difference in attitude from last week to this week. NIGHT and DAY difference!!!! That girl works with positive reinforcement. I have to remember that. It's almost a habbit now for her to say "okay, Mom" to anything I say. It's wonderful. We have been so happy this week. This morning we were talking to her about why she has been so happy this week and she immediately related it with her obedience and good responses to mom and dad. Then she said "it's just like those people in the scriptures - when the obey, they're happy and when they don't obey, they're not happy." Ding ding ding!!!!!!!!!! She gets it!!!!!

I felt terrible the morning of valentines day because Alan got me roses and these earings I have been wanting and I didn't even make it to the store because I was feeling so sick the day before. I was sad I didn't get anything for the girls either, but of course he got them little presents and made them little heart shaped cards from their "secret admirer." He is the cutest girl dad ever! Our Valentine's evening was nothing to write home about. I layed on the couch burning with a fever and sniffling my nose while Alan flipped through the channels. We'll do better next year:)