Valentine Fun

I had a Valentine week.  I started making sugar cookies on Saturday for my family, my preschool kids and Devin's work associates.  My grandma Titensor would bake sugar cookies for all her grandchildren.  This was not just any sugar cookie.  These were specially made for each person with their name on it.  It was huge!  I looked forward to going to grandma and grandpas house every Valentines and devouring my own cookie.  So because of these fond memories I have want to pass the tradition on.  

Monday and Tuesday we exchanged valentines in preschool and each time it was a little chaotic so next year I think I've figured out a way to make it less crazy.  Each day there was one child who didn't give their valentines out.  I didn't discover it until everyone was already gone.  Monday I didn't give my cookies out.  So next year I will have everyone sit with their valentine sack and each child, one at a time will go around and give everyone a valentine.  That way we won't forget someone.  

Devin surprised me and bought me an hour massage that I will cash in on Monday afternoon.  I have had one massage before when I was pregnant and it was really nice so I'm looking forward to it.

Saturday the Titensor Adults went to our annual Valentines couples dinner.  This year we went to Maddox for lunch.  I love Maddox.  This has got to me my favorite restaurant.  The servers, hostess and just so professional and the food is awesome.  I tried the Buffalo burger.  I've never had buffalo meat before and I was very surprised at how much it tasted like a beef burger.  Buffalo is a leaner meat.  

Saturday night we had an adult party for the ward.  The Elder's Quorum and High Priest were over the activity so Devin did a lot to make this happen and it turned out really nice.  They had everyone bring a dessert and they made homemade root beer and ice cream to make floats.  

My whole week has been filled with amazing food.  Not so great on the healthy eating side so this week I've got to do better.  

Today was our ward conference and the ward choir sang "My shepherd will supply it's need"  It is so beautiful here are the lyrics which testify that Jesus is our Shepherd.  My favorite verse in the song is the last and the concept of coming home to God and being welcomed like a child at home.  

My Shepherd will supply my need:
Jehovah is His Name;
In pastures fresh He makes me feed,
Beside the living stream.
He brings my wandering spirit back
When I forsake His ways,
And leads me, for His mercy's sake,
In paths of truth and grace. 

2. When I walk through the shades of death,
Thy presence is my stay;
A word of Thy supporting breath
Drives all my fears away.
Thy hand, in sight of all my foes,
Doth still my table spread;
My cup with blessings overflows,
Thine oil anoints my head. 
3. The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days;
O may Thy house be my abode,
And all my work be praise!
There would I find a settled rest,
While others go and come;
No more a stranger, nor a guest,
But like a child at home.

BOM study and preschool

Devin and I have been studying the Book of Mormon in a new way this year and it's been great.  Each night we alternate asking each other a question that the other must answer from scriptures from the Book of Mormon.  It has been fun, challenging and very enlightening.  We have done better with couple scripture study since we started this then we ever have.  Last night Devin asked me, "Why is the church called after the name of Christ."  I've learned a lot and it's fun to try to stump each other so we really have to search and study.  

I am really enjoying my preschool.  I really feel like I'm doing something good for these kids and it's a great feeling.  We went on a field trip this week and it was awesome.  We did a combined music therapy group (intergenerational) with a group of older adults at Sunshine Terrace and Terrace Grove.  To see the smiles from both the children and the older adults was priceless.  It brings a whole new level of energy when children interact with their grandfriends.  I did my internship at Sunshine Terrace and so the memories of this was just so special to me.  I'm so grateful for Jennifer Birchell (my internship director) and all she taught me.  Jennifer and I planned this session together and it was so much fun to do this together.  I would like to do this each year with my preschool.  

  

Monster Concert

Traeden participated last night in the Monster Concert at the USU Kent Concert Hall.  It was quite a concert.  They had 465 student play in just one hour.  On stage there was 20 pianos and several keyboards and the concert was just seamless.  They had a great storyteller tell a fun story that kept the whole family engaged the entire hour.  Traeden played an exciting piece called "Fire Dance."  He did awesome!  They had three rehearsals this week to get it ready to play.  The family enjoyed the concert and had fun sitting by Grandma and Grandpa Titensor.  Then we got treats at Zeppi's which was yummy!
Devin has encouraged the kids to be in the Stake Play with him and they have been going to a few practices and seem to be enjoying it.  Throughout the day I hear some of the music from "Joseph" from at least one of the kids.  I think it will be a great experience.  I'm excited to be in the audience and the supporter of this event.
Last weekend we decided we needed to experience winter so we drove an hour up the canyon and went tubing up Logan Canyon with a friend.  It was a blast.  Our friends own an old Snowmobile that was used to pull the kids up the hill.  This was so nice and made the sledding last for more then just a couple runs because everyone is just so tired to climb up the hill again.  We sustained no injuries, which I was grateful and just had a great time in the outdoors.
We are looking forward to Valentines and have plans to make lots of sugar cookies, go on a Titensor Couples dinner at Maddox, and have a ward Valentine party.  We are also looking forward to having a new Titensor join the family.  Danny and Melissa are due to have a baby at the end of February.  They are having a boy.