Savannah's birthday was on Monday!  Of course, we couldn't be with her and give her all the hugs we wanted to, but we did have cupcakes delivered and it was her P-day, so she got to read our emails, and we got to read hers!  She is doing great things and we are proud of her, AND we will be very happy to have her back in just two months!!

Tuesday was Valentine's Day, so Beth and Ben (my only elementary students this year!) brought treats to school and came home with lots of valentine goodies.  It was Cali and Chey's first year without the school Valentine party tradition, but two anonymous people sent them carnations through the junior high tradition, and I think that eased the blow a bit.  Kevin and I met for lunch and he brought me flowers!  The rest of the day was spent with Mariah's last home basketball games at the high school.  I went to the JV game and the Sophomore game, but Kevin and Sarah stayed for Varsity, too!  They have a senior with downs syndrome who has been the team manager for the last few years and they let her play the first bit of the Varsity game and shoot the first basket.  The news was there and everything.  It was really cool!  That's some good love to celebrate on Valentines, right?

Wednesday I went to the temple.  That was peaceful and lovely.  Kevin, though, had to work a 13 hour day.  They need him to run a group on Wednesday nights for the next several weeks.  It's hard for him to be gone that long, but we sure appreciate all he does for us.

Thursday I went to the first day of LTUE which is a big writing conference in Provo.  It was tons of fun.  Mariah played in her last away games in Heber.  Kevin rearranged his schedule so he could go watch them all!  Kevin says that Mariah was the high-scorer in both the Sophomore and JV games.  She is always worth the trip.  Sarah left us on this day to go visit her grandma and grandpa in Las Vegas.  She needed an adventure!  That night I coached Bethany in one of her basketball games where she had great fun and went to bookclub late, but still had fun.

Friday I went to LTUE again and it was even better.  But, it was a sad day at the Skinner house, because . . . Cheyenne's calf died.  It was very sad.  Cheyenne and her partner, Elizabella, cried most of the day.  Kevin took Chey to the gym to shoot baskets to get her mind off of it.  I took Megan to the store to look for a semi-formal dress for Saturday, and Mariah stayed to shoot baskets with her dad and the twins--because she likes that better than dress shopping.  (She actually likes just about everything better than clothes shopping).  Still, Kevin and I managed to get away for our Friday-night dinner out!

Saturday, Cali and Chey and their friend, Logan, made cookies to cheer up Elizabella.  Ben was out flat from his second day battling a cold.  Beth had spent the night at Grandma's house and spent a good part of Saturday enjoying some special time.  When Mariah was done with basketball practice and shooting practice, we had her try on more of our dresses from home and at last decided on one!  Megan worked until two and when she got home, got ready for the Sweetheart's Dance!  Kaden picked Megan up at 5:00 and they had a fabulous time!  Mariah's personal hair dresser helped her with her hair after that so that she was ready to go TO HER FIRST DANCE EVER at 6:15.  She was very nervous but ended up having a great time!  Do I even need to tell you that they both looked incredible?