Today started out like most days.  I woke up early, I think just out of habit, before anyone else.  So, I sat around for a while just thinking a lot.  So, I got up and started doing some church work, finished publishing a blog journal post that I started over a month ago but never finished, and then Eli came running into the room around 7:30ish.  Eli never cuddles with his daddy.  It is always with his mama.  So, I looked into his room and saw his big sister still asleep.  She looked so sweet and innocent, so I had to go lay down on the bed next to her for a little bit and just gaze into her sweet shining face.  I tried to wake her by petting my head on her cheeks and forehead but was unsuccessful.  I have the cutest and greatest kids

An unusual thing occurred today at church.  I left after Sacrament meeting with Eli.  He has pink eye which was the excuse, but the real reason was to head over to Nichole's parent's house to help try and put their new door on that they got for Christmas.  I was successful in the attempt to get the door installed and leave their house more secure.  But, I had another great time with my littlest son who got to come with me.  He fell asleep in the truck and so I just sat in the truck for a while with him asleep.  It was fun to watch him sleep.  Sometimes, you just need to stop, relax and enjoy the moment with the ones you love.  Well, I've been blessed with five awesome children who have the same shiny smile as their mother.

During halftime of the Super Bowl today, I was able to go on a little bike ride around the block a few times with Ava and Eli.  We went around twice and went home because mainly daddy wanted to get back home to watch the big football game.  But, then, the unsatisfied Eli would not let us stop with just one ride, so we commenced another round of bike riding.  Eli had a blast just hanging on in the back of the bike carrier while Ava was cruising at top speeds trying to beat her daddy.

Yesterday, I went swimming with Jake, Ava and Savannah.  At least that was the original plan.  But, when Eli heard all of us ready to go, he started freaking out.  He wasn't going to be left behind!  So, Eli got to be my swimming partner.  Jake has changed his hairstyle.  He's cut it super short on the sides and then left it super long on the top.  It's funny the different hairstyles kids go through.  Brad still likes his a little long with that natural wave of his.  Ethan still likes to be scruffy with his bearded shadow covering his face with the curly afro on top.  Ava's hair is getting super long.  I like playing with Ava's long hair.  Now, I know where Jake gets it from.

Nichole got in an accident last weekend.  The accident was not her fault.  I was in Wyoming on a campout with Ethan and Brad at the Erekson's cabin.  Upon starting to drive home, August Spangler was sitting in the passenger side of our Expedition and said to me, "before I tell you what Danielle told me, you're family is okay, but they've been in an accident.".  So, I took the big family car for the campout with the young men and Nichole was left at home with the 3 little ones and the "silver bullet", or as Brad, Ethan and Jake like to call it, "the silver snail."  No respect for daddy's car.  Nichole took Jake, Ava and Eli to go see a kid's show over at the theater in American Fork.  When coming out, she came to a stop but the guy behind her did not, smashing in the rear end.  The guy got arrested and handcuffed apparently for a DUI or drug use.  Either way, he was impaired or intoxicated.  Nichole said Jake and Ava were cute because in their prayer at night they prayed for the guy to get better and for God to help him overcome his problem.  Cute kids!