4th Week of January

Here are some highlights from the 4th week of January.

Monday at 4:30pm, I had our primary girls' activity.  We did a physical activity by playing ladder-ball, cornhole and frisbee throw in the gym.  All the girls came and we had a great time!

Silly Hudson kicking the wall while laying in his bed.  Steve took Hudson to the Butterfly Museum.  The butterflies kept landing on his hat.

Silly Piper w/ her leg in the air.  Then Steve found her cuddled up on Nyles' bed, which she's not supposed to get on beds.  Cute Hudson snuggled w/ his blankies.

On Wednesday, Nyles had his primary activity.  They went on a tour of Smith's Grocery store.

Another day at the Butterfly Museum.

After going to Nyles' Martial Arts class, Carter has wanted to go back.  He stopped going to Martial Arts when school started back up in August, since he wanted to take a break.  We talked w/ the instructors and they're willing to let Carter come to Nyles' class (usually you have to be at least 8 years old) since there are usually only a few kids in the class.  Carter's super excited to get back to the mat!  

Nyles and Carter at Martial Arts class.  Cute Hudson at the dinosaur museum another day.

Carter had his last basketball game on Saturday.

Carter enjoying the game.  Dave and Joann came and watched again as well.  He did an awesome job!

After Carter's basketball game we went home for lunch.  Steve and Nyles then went fishing at Utah Lake for a while.  Carter and I worked on making a Perler bead hummingbird while Hudson took a nap.  When Hudson woke up,  I asked Carter to go get Hudson out of his bed since I was ironing the beads downstairs.  Carter then left him up there and came back down.  A little while later I asked Carter to go check on what Hudson was doing.  Carter said I better come up and look.  Someone had left the Vaseline on the counter and Hudson apparently thought it would be fun to smear it on the bathroom door.  Silly kid!  At least it came off!

Nyles and Carter singing Happy Birthday.

Steve and Nyles smoked some ribs for dinner tonight.  We went over to Diane/LuDean's for dinner w/ them and Dave/Joann.  It was snowing both on the way there and back, but we made it safely thankfully.  We had a great dinner, played a game, and sang Happy Birthday to me (a couple weeks early).  Hudson loves "helping" me blow out the candles.

Playing a fun game Aunt Diane put together.

We all had a great time!  Thanks everyone for the fun evening! 

3rd week of January

Here are some highlights from the 3rd week of January. Monday, January 16th, we had the day off for Martin Luther King Jr Day.  We took it easy.  

Hudson playing in the blocks bin.  We then bundled up and went outside.  Piper wanted to play ball of course.  Hudson helped by kicking her the ball.

Nyles had my name for Christmas and he got me a dart board.  Steve set it up in the garage.  We took turns playing it as a family and Hudson played in the car.

On Tuesday, I had to go into work, the whole week!  They just started requiring us to go into the office for the whole week, every 4 weeks.  I'm not excited about it, but I guess it's still better than going in 50% of the time, like we did before Covid.  I stinks though that it takes 1 hour total to get to work on the train and 1 hour total back.  I'd rather be at home w/ Steve and the boys for those 2 hours, but we'll make due and adjust again.  Hudson was especially sad I had to go into work.  In the past when I've said I'm going to work, I just shut our bedroom down and he knows not bother me (mostly).  He wanted to call me on my way home on the train on day, and of course played w/ the graphics.  When I got home he gave me a huge hug and wouldn't let go.  I have been spoiled being able to work 100% from home since March 2020 when Covid started, so almost 3 years.

Hudson loves Nyles' Rocketship and wants to play w/ it all the time, but Nyles is afraid he'll break it of course.  We finally looked online and ordered one for Hudson so he doesn't have to play w/ Nyles'.  

Hudson talking to me while coming home on the train after work.  The boys using their tools to build things.  Hudson sleeping w/ Nyles' Rocketship, then playing w/ his once we got it.

Hudson counting backwards for his new rocket to blastoff.  He learned it watching Mickey Mouse.

Hudson jumping.

Hudson walking, being silly.

Hudson finding out that peanuts are inside of the shell.

On Saturday, Carter had another basketball game.  Dave and Joann came to see him.  He had a great pass (assist) to another player closer to the basket who then make it for their team.  Great job Carter!

Carter (#13) and his friend Colin (#5) play on the same team.  

Joann, Carter and Dave.  Hudson rolling the basketball w/ Nyles.

Steve put up my ukulele above my desk w/ something we already had at home.  The boys wanted theirs hung up too, so we ordered some online.  Now we can safely put them away each day and keep them out of Hudson's hands ;)

Steve has wanted to try smoking a pork butt for a while, so while we were at Sam's Club we found one on sale.  He started it this morning at 5 am and it just got done, a little earlier than expected.  We're having the missionaries over tonight for dinner plus Stacie/Phill's family.  It's super yummy!  Good work Steve!  It's been snowing today, so Steve put up the canopy to try to keep the smoker warmer, protect from the snow, plus Steve stays dry when he goes out to check on it.  It works great!

The pork seasoned and ready to go.  The canopy keeping the smoker dry.  

The snow we're getting today (not much).  All done!

We had a great lesson today on forgiveness.  It's something we all can continue to pray for and work on.

Great quotes on forgiveness.

2nd Week of January

Here are some highlights from the 2nd week of January.

Monday afternoon we had our girls' activity days at the church.  We discussed goal setting as we're starting the New Year and had the girls write down a couple they want to work on.  We'll check on their progress next time they meet.  My goals are to do 3-5 minutes of DuoLingo every day (on my phone), practice 15 minutes of the Ukulele,  do 15 minutes of Pilates during the weekdays, and reading scriptures together as a family every night.  So far so good.  Even if we missed a day, as long as we are trying and keep coming back, that's all that matters.

Our back neighbor finally hired a tree company to come cut down his dead Cottonwood tree.  We're thankful he did as it was growing into our side retaining wall.  Hopefully it won't need replacing.  Hudson also developed a fever and didn't want to do much but snuggle.  Poor little guy.  

Hudson came and laid on my leg while we were eating dinner.  He had a little bit of energy and was playing w/ his excavator during his nap. 

Carter playing w/ the Magformers.  Cool design!

Carter wanted to go to Nyles' karate class.  Carter decided to take a break until he's 8 from karate, since it takes longer to earn a belt.  He still really likes karate/martial arts, so he wanted to go do it w/ Nyles.  Nyles is now going to the later class that starts at 6:45pm, so there are only 2 other boys in his class.  The instructor let Carter participate the whole class.  

Afterwards Carter asked if he could join again, but be in Nyles' class (just on his own he didn't talk to Steve or I about it).  The instructor said as long as Nyles was ok w/ it.  After going home and talking about it we agreed that it wouldn't be in Nyles' best interest for Carter to attend his class. Even though it would be fun for them to be together, we know Nyles wouldn't be pushed as hard, and thus wouldn't grow as much.  Carter and Nyles agreed.  So Carter is going to wait one more year until he's 8, then plans to join again.  Nyles is more than half way to earning a black belt now.  He has 4 more belts after his current green one.

Cute Carter and Nyles practicing together.

Though Hudson had a fever the whole week, he was begging to get outside.  On a day the sun was shinning we went outside for a little while to get some fresh air.  The boys playing w/ the magnets.

Steve went over and helped Diane put away Christmas decorations and also his parents w/ theirs.  Hudson loves to vacuum, either w/ a real one or his play one.  Silly Piper stretching, begging for someone to pet her.  Cute Hudson asleep.

On Friday, January 13th, the boys didn't have school.  I took the day off as well.  We were originally going to go up to visit my parents (after not being able to over Thanksgiving when Hudson was sick, then over Christmas due to the weather), but my parents were both sick and Hudson was still showing a slight fever.  There was also a chance there was going to be a snow storm coming in over the weekend, which would have made it difficult to get back.  All things considered, we decided to stay home.  Friday afternoon we decided to go to the zoo w/ Dave and Joann in an effort to get outside.

At the Hogle Zoo.  Looking at the zebras and elephants.

Elephant and rhinoceros.  Then going on the Merry Go Round.  

So much fun!

Then looking at animals, reptiles, birds, insects inside.  Carter by the huge tortoise.

Carter took some pictures of the animals on display.

Hudson catching a ride w/ Steve.  An iguana and an owl.

The tiger was out which was cool.  Nyles standing by the bear size display.  Carter by the Polar Bear (in the background laying down).  A cute red panda licking itself so we didn't see it's face.

Looking at the sea lions before calling it a day.  It was a lot of fun.  Thanks Dave/Joann!

Saturday morning Carter had a basketball.  Steve took Nyles and Carter while I stayed back w/ Hudson since it was at 8am.  Carter did awesome.  He even shot the ball by the free throw line and made it!

Great quotes.

First week of January 2023

Here are some highlights from the 1st week of January.  

On Sunday, January 1st we got dumped on with a large snow storm.  Our church time also switched to 9am.  We made it out the circle and streets by our house and thankfully to the church.  The snow was coming down the whole time we were at church.  Thankfully we also made it home just after 11am.  It continued to snow most of the day.  We were going to get together w/ Rose and Pauline that afternoon, but decided we'd better not, as roads were a mess.  Steve went out w/ the snow blower several times trying keep up w/ the snow.

Lots of snow for New Year's Day!

We got 9 inches.

 

Piper thought it was fun!

And so did the kids!

I threw the ball for Piper and it got stuck in the snow on the slide, and she couldn't find it, haha.

Nyles and Carter playing on the snow piles and on the playground.

Making large snow balls!  We have all been practicing our ukuleles.  We found an app to teach us chords to play a song.  I got a perfect score on one, yeah!

Playing w/ the neighbors (Kaitlyn Moreton, Clay and Beau Evans) on the snow mounds.

Monday, January 2nd, Steve and I wanted to go out to eat for our anniversary.  It was the observed Holiday for New Year's Day, so both the boys and I had the day off.  We've been married 14 years now!  Time sure does fly.  Dave and Joann on were on their way back from watching the Rose Bowl football game at Jeff/Kim's in Lehi and got off the freeway on 12300 South (our exit) since there was a bad accident ahead.  They decided to stop by and ended up watching the boys (Hudson was in bed) while we went out and got a bite to eat for our anniversary.  We went a little ways down 12300 South and ate at Astro Burger.  They were really good!  

Ironically on the day we were married, 14 years ago in 2009, the University of Utah played in another Rose Bowl that night and we had a huge snow storm that day too.  As we were having our wedding reception that night, people would come in and tell us either the score to the football game or what the snow levels were.  Of course Steve and I didn't really care about either one, as it was our wedding day, but it makes us laugh looking back at it.  We had a nice time getting a burger together, then came home.  It was nice to just be w/ each other.  

We have so many wonderful memories to look back on and so much to cherish. I am forever grateful for the life we’ve made and the love that we share. Steve has been my rock, the one I lean on when times are tough, and the person I turn to for strength. He is my everything and one true love. I will love him forever!

Nyles w/ his monster Lego truck.  

Hudson fell asleep w/ Nyles' stuffed animal snake that's 9 feet long.

Nyles at his marital arts class.

Wednesday after work/school, we went sledding on a hill close by.  There was a pretty sunset.

Carter and Hudson making snow angels.  Climbing back up the hill.

Hudson observing the tree :)

I've been doing some organizing and found these wood blocks to hold your plastic wrap and tin foil (plus it has a cutter on each), and one for Ziploc bags.  I also got an organizer for under the kitchen sink.  You can see before and after for the sink.  Before I was using our dish drying rack, so we never used the rack to dry dishes since it was full.  It's much better now.  I didn't get a before picture of bags/wrap drawer, but it looks much better now also.

Since Hudson transitioned to a bed now, we took down the crib.  We don't need it anymore, so we found someone that needed it (having a baby this month) and gave it to her along w/ a few other baby things we don't need.  No more cribs!  Now we just need to lose the binky and get him potty trained.

Hudson so cute when he sleeps.  Great quote.  Fidelity sent me a snack box again, yeah!

The neighbor kids playing again on the snow mounds.

Saturday, Carter had a basketball game and they won!  Silly Hudson w/ his bum up in the air.

I stayed home and made cinnamon rolls and cooked bacon.  Pauline, Rose and their families came over at 10:30am and we had a brunch.  Rose made crepes and Pauline made some monkey bread.  It was fun to finally get together and visit for a little while.

Saturday afternoon we went to the aquarium for a little bit.

There are always fun things to see there.

We also got an email from Canyon's School District that Carter was accepted into the Dual Immersion Spanish Program, same as Nyles!  He'll start it in August, when he starts 1st grade.  We're so excited for him to learn Spanish also.

Sunday evening, I cooked up a lasagna and we took it down to LuDean/Diane's place for dinner.  Dave and Joann came over as well.  Diane made her yummy breadsticks and Joann made a yummy Jello salad and brought yummy pomegranates.  We then played Exploding Kittens.  It was fun to get together as well.

Great Quotes: