January News

NEW YEARS DAY

We started off the new year bowling at All Star Lanes and having our annual New Year's Day lunch at the Harman's.  I love our New Year's Day traditions.  It was wonderful having the Polaks in town this year.  Emma and Charlotte tied for first place in the kids' bowling lane, and Aksel wasn't too far behind.  Scott played with the adults this year, and Lizzy played her own game for the first time.  David fell asleep in Grandpa North's arms while everyone bowled.  It was during his nap time.  After we went bowling, Brad and I enjoyed learning how to play "Ticket to Ride" with Zach, Bruce, and James at Aunt Marian's house.  It was a fun, relaxing day.  I love being with Brad's family.

SHAVING LESSON

Scott had his first shaving lesson this month.  His dad helped him by giving him a few shaving tips.  Bye bye, peach fuzz!
I can't believe how quickly this boy is turning into a man.  I mean, just look at him!  He's going to be all grown up before we know it.

SNOW

January was extremely cold this year-- much more cold than usual.  It's snowed on and off every week this month, and the temperatures consistently stayed in the single digits and even dipped in the negatives.  The pipes in our basement froze, but Brad and his dad figured out how to warm them up again before the pipes could burst.  We spent most of our time indoors.  By the end of the month, the temperatures began to rise up again, and Lizzy and I had a wonderful time playing in the snow outside.  Lizzy had fun drawing pictures in the snow with a stick she found, and we made a snow-"woman" together.  We gave her a pink sunhat and scarf, and a little baby carrot nose, and Lizzy had fun giving her kisses.

SCIENCE PROJECTS

Scott and Emma got busy doing their Science Projects near the end of the month.  Scott's project was on how soil affects plant growth.  He grew pinto beans for one month in various types of soils.  The soil that the pinto beans refused to grow in was Utah clay.   No wonder the plants in our yard keep dying!  Emma teamed up with her cousin, Kaylie, and together they did their project on mind power over the sense of taste.  They made homemade candy and dyed them colors that didn't correspond with their flavors.  For example, they made green raspberry candy and orange grape candy instead of using the traditional red or purple dye.  Everyone who tasted the candy were convinced they were the more traditional flavors. They did so well on their project that it was chosen to represent their school in the district science fair.

Emma's and Kaylie's project was chosen to represent their school in the District Science Fair!  Go girls!

The Highlight of My Day: January 2013

Something good happens every day. Here's what happened in January 2013:

Tue 1/1/13: New Year's bowling was a blast today! I loved watching Lizzy play her own game, and watching Scott play against his dad. Emma and Charlotte tied for first in the kids' alley. David fell asleep in his grandpa's arms. It was fun visiting with Brad's family at the Harmans' house. We played "Ticket to Ride" for the first time. Zach won. It was fun visiting with everyone, playing good games, and eating good food. I love family traditions!

Wed 1/2/13: I beat Brad at his Amazing Mutant Chess game tonight. Made me feel like a geek. We've played five games so far. He won three and I won two.

Thu 1/3/13: Life is good! I am so grateful for my amazing husband, who demonstrates how much he loves me and his family every day. I am blessed to be married to him.

Fri 1/4/13: Brad and I have been enjoying re-watching Season 2 of Downton Abbey for the second time. We love picking up new details and having discussions about the characters and story-line. One of our favorite shows for sure!

Sat 1/5/13: I had a busy morning, going with Lizzy and her cousins to the primary P.J. party, and then later going to Sam Johnson's baptism and luncheon. My highlight of the day was finding out that I'm going to have a baby niece in June. I'm very excited to be an aunt again!

Sun 1/6/13: Scott had his first shaving lesson today. I, of course, had to document it and put pictures on Facebook. The boy is growing up! He is becoming more and more like his father every day. Speaking of his father, I beat Brad again tonight during another round of Amazing Mutant Chess. We're evenly scored now.

Mon 1/7/13: We played more "Harry Potter: Scene It" as a family for FHE tonight. Brad won, but I was impressed by how well Scott did. He's got a knack for naming characters and places quickly. Brad and I stayed up late and watched the first episode of Season 3 of Downton Abbey. It was such a good episode!

Tue 1/8/13: I lost two pounds yesterday, which made me happy! I did an excellent job eating well today. I made ratatouille for dinner tonight, and everyone liked it (except Lizzy, who wouldn't even try it).

Wed 1/9/13: I finished Emma's Rainbow Dash hat! Scott was pretty disgusted by it, but Emma loved it. I like making geeky hats for them.

Thu 1/10/13: Lizzy watched "The Biggest Loser" with me while I crocheted a hat for Marilyn. During the movie she asked to sit on my lap and brush her hair. I thought that was sweet, so I stopped crocheting and began brushing her hair. The static made her hair go crazy, but it was still cute none-the-less. I love my daughter.

Fri 1/11/13: I had a busy, active day today! I danced with Lizzy in the morning, shoveled snow out of the driveway around noon, went shopping and picked up my nephews from school, and cleaned up the nursery and made dinner in the evening.

Sat 1/12/13: We had a fun afternoon at the Harmans' house. Aunt Marian made pork chops and potatoes for lunch-- the same recipe Brad's mom used to make. Brad and I played "Ticket to Ride" with Marian and Gordon, and I won the game with 114 points. Marian, Brad, and I played some Nerts in the evening. Marian won that round.

Sun 1/13/13: It was nice having our home teachers come tonight. Brother Hyde spoke about our prayers being answered and told a great story about a time he took a photograph of a rainbow up in the mountains.

Mon 1/14/13: We built things with dominos tonight for FHE. It turned out to be a very fun activity, talking and laughing, and spending quality time together. I love my family!

Tue 1/15/13: Lizzy sang the "Downton Abbey" theme all the way to the doctor's office and back this morning. David had his 15-month well-check with Dr. Vierra. He's on track for his weight and his height now, which made me very happy!

Wed 1/16/13: I have been having so much fun dancing with Lizzy and David every morning. Today was especially fun! I feel so much better getting in some exercise each day. It's lovely.

Thu 1/17/13: Why do I have so much fun filling up my vegetable and fruit basket in my kitchen? I really do! It was fun going to Harmon's tonight with Brad and the babies after student led conferences. I bought a ton of produce, and Lizzy enjoyed riding in the car cart.

Fri 1/18/13: The little ones and I had a fun morning running errands. We went to Entheos and dropped off some food for the teachers, then we went shopping at Walmart and Sam's Club.

Sat 1/19/13: Brad and I had a wonderful day today! We went to watch Les Miserables in the morning. Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean was amazing! We had hamburgers at Five Guys Burgers for lunch, and we had an enjoyable afternoon with Lizzy watching Megamind while David napped. Later in the evening we went to Alexis Hill's wedding reception and visited with a lot of people we knew. Today was a perfect Saturday.

Sun 1/20/13: Brad got the antenna on the television working tonight, and we both enjoyed watching AFV, Once Upon a Time, and the next episode of Downton Abbey. It was fun watching them on the big screen TV verses the computer monitor.

Mon 1/22/13: Brad sure loves my ham and lentil soup. I've made it three times since New Year's Eve, and he and I can't get enough of it. So, so yummy.

Tue 1/23/13: I had a busy night tonight with the Activity Day girls, having an interview at the Stake Center, and shopping at Michael's for the kids' science fair display boards. It was a good night.

Wed 1/24/13: The highlight of my day was falling asleep in my husband's arms. Yes, he's wonderful. I love him!

Thu 1/25/13: I enjoyed watching Downton Abbey with Bradley tonight while I continued crocheting Scott's creeper hat. Finished by the end of the episode!

Fri 1/26/13: Today was a busy day! I had fun exercising, running errands with the little ones, and carpooling kids after school. I helped Scott get ready for the winter scout camp, and Emma had fun working on her Science Fair project with Kaylie.

Sat 1/27/13: Brad, Scott, Emma, and I went to the temple to do baptisms for our ward temple night. It was beautiful! I loved that Emma thoroughly enjoyed her first time going. She kept going on and on about how we'll have to do it again soon.

Sun 1/28/13: I began crocheting a Homespun afghan today. It's going to be pretty and soft and warm.

Mon 1/29/13: The kids finished their Science Fair projects tonight-- just barely before the due date. They did not need my help as much this year as in years past, which made me both happy and sad. So proud of them for doing so much on their own!

Tue 1/30/13: My hamstrings are sore! I've been working out really hard daily, but I'm loving it, so I'm going to keep at it. The little ones like it, too. They know it's a part of the routine now, so they get excited when I start the music.

Wed 1/31/13: We went to the Science Appreciation Night at Scott's and Emma's school tonight. We found out that Emma's and Kaylie's project was chosen to go to the district science fair. Way to go, girls!