Whirlwind week! part 1

In a matter of 5 days we had my birthday, 3 grandparents in town, Emma's school choir concert, a temple sealing, Valentine's and a baptism! It was very busy, but wonderful around here!!! Then all the kids and I got to work out our post-visitor, post-vacation blues over an entire week of school being out for winter break. I was one tired mommy, so I suppose it should not come as a surprise that this morning I woke up with a terrible sore throat/sinus infection. Nature's way of slowing you down I guess. At least I can catch up on this blog.

First, I have to say that I need to have my mother-in-law come out for all my birthdays! She made dinner for me and baked me my traditional birthday cake: layered chocolate cake with cherries and whipping cream. Yum! In the afternoon at naptime she and my father-in-law also watched the kids so Jeff and I could go out on a date. It was great!

The next night was Emma's 2nd grade school concert. She sang beautifully, and it was so neat for her to have 3 of her grandparents there!

Thursday was a very special day. Our family belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and we believe that marriage and the family unit can be sealed together forever, rather than just for "time" or "till death do us part." When Jeff and I were married in the Bountiful, Utah temple, we were married, or "sealed," for eternity, and any children we would have would be "born in the covenant," or automatically sealed to us. Since we adopted Maya and Tristan, we were able to take them to the Detroit temple on this very special night and seal them to our family for all eternity!
In the temple we dress all in white as a symbol of purity, so I hauled the whole family off to get portraits taken before we went. They looked just like little angels!The next day we celebrated Valentine's. We did it a day early so as to not interfere with the baptism. This worked perfectly since it was the day they had all their parties at school. The kids were in heaven with all their fun new treats and gifts. They especially loved their new placemats, and the new GeoTrax set Grandma gave them.Emma loved playing games with her grandparents! (and eating Valentine cupcakes)
Jeff and I got a babysitter and took our parents out to our favorite Thai place. Jeff's parents had never eaten Thai food, so it was a cultural experience for them. :) Hard to believe that 11 months ago we were on the same side of the world as Thailand, in Siberia...should have taken a quick jaunt south through Kazakhstan and China. :)
to be continued...