February 2022: Valentines and Birthdays

Living near family means lots of birthday and holiday celebrations. Beau turned 9 this month, and Elise turned 8! Here are some photos of Beau's birthday lunch at Firehouse Subs. We went to Pet Land afterwards where Beau picked out a new pet. He was planning to get two parakeets but fell in love with the dwarf bunnies! He brought home the prettiest rabbit, which is black and white and is gentle and friendly. We bought a plastic hutch with all the essentials included for the rabbit. Beau later named him Harry Hopper!

On Valentine's Day, I thought it would be fun to have a triple date with our Albuquerque kids. We had a candlelight dinner with romantic music followed by a movie date to see "Marry Me" at the theater. Mike grilled thin ribeyes that I had marinated, and I made roasted red potatoes with rosemary, fresh green beans with bacon, and a Caesar salad. I had also made yummy heart-shaped sugar cookies the day before and had set the table extra fancy. These photos are in reverse chronology:

February 14th: At the theater

Jacob and Shauna

Jessica and Sebastian

Getting the table set for our Valentine's triple date with our kids

My second batch of sugar cookies for my favorite valentines

February 13th: Sam being silly during a FaceTime call

February 12th: I threw a little breakfast birthday party for Elise's 8th birthday, and the Dunlap's were invited. The photos are in no certain order:

Hudson Dunlap

Tyler Hobbs

Hudson was still getting over a flu bug, but we didn't know it

Beau Dunlap

Sofia Dunlap masked up due to a cough

Our Valentine birthday girl, Elise Hobbs

Brandon Hobbs, always happy to party!

Spunky little Sofia

Hannah Dunlap

Elise blows out her candle (and look at the sweet smile on Brandon's face)

Elise with her birthday balloon bouquet

Eating breakfast with cousins and brother Tyler

We had doughnuts, a breakfast casserole, juice, and milk

Ready to open her gifts!

Treat bags for the kids (with toys from Party City and gummy candy)

We had a couple of snow days here in Albuquerque this year so far--once in January and again in February. It's so pretty, and school gets cancelled or at least delayed.

A day with Sofia

Trying out a new sugar cookie recipe for our ministering families

My mom without her teeth--haha. Vernon's giant bib to keep his shirts clean during meals. Mike and I have been going to my mom's house on Sundays with lunch for her and Vernon. Sometimes Mike gives Vernon a shower and a shave, and gets him into clean clothes. After we eat, we play games together.

Green smoothie made with frozen spinach, pineapple, mango, banana, and coconut milk--yum! Got Mike a Vitamix machine for Christmas and gave the Blendtec machine away.