After the whirlwind of December, we were hoping for a nice quiet January. And although it wasn't too crazy, it was still busy. We took Weston on a snowshoeing hike to start the year off right. We went up Yellow Fork Canyon, and then Scott took just Aidan on a quick hike. I am so glad we have a fun family activity to share with the kids. Then Scott and I went an a childless hike the Saturday before his birthday. We had been having a terrible inversion in the valley and it was great to get up into the mountains high enough to breathe good air.
For Scott's birthday, we made a delicious dinner and had family over to share it. Our brother in law shares the same birthday, so we joined forces for a party. I made some "Almond Joy Cupcakes" and they were divine. He received a tile saw and a nail gun. He eagerly began a project using the tile saw and made a beautiful backsplash in our kitchen. It did take us awhile to decide what to do. We spent 4-5 hours on one day looking and then ended up not liking what we chose, so the next weekend, we spent another hour making our final choice. We love how it all turned out. Scott is marvelous at things like this and I can't wait for him to use the other tool to finish our basement...
We took some opportunities to get to know some people in our neighborhood. We had a few families over for dinner various times. We really enjoy the people here. The kids have also been invited to a couple birthday parties and have been able to get out playing in the snow the with neighbor kids.
The boys are enjoying school. Weston was chosen to be in a special science group at school. He gets to attend special classes and participate in events. He also created a piece of art to enter into a contest. Although he didn't win, it was a beautiful landscape picture and he spent a lot of time and energy to make it so wonderful. He and Scott worked all month long on a rocket for the scouts Space Derby. His rocket won for fastest rocket and most streamlined. It really was amazingly fast. I videotaped it going across the line, but wasn't fast enough to keep up with it! He was so excited to win, but said that his favorite part was working with his dad to make the rocket (awww).
We also had the opportunity to bring home Weston's class pet hampster, Snowball. The kids loved having him for the weekend (Scott and I were glad it was just a weekend... :). We played with him and held him and fell in love. We got a few good photos. Then a week or two later, Snowball died (in the classroom, not here). It was sad for Weston and he wanted to do something, so we put together a collage of the few photos we made and put it in a frame for class to have. Goodbye Snowball, we will miss you!
Aidan has been "caught being good" several times at school and is really improving in his reading. He has showed interest in starting the violin so we are looking for a teacher and a violin (Matt and Barbara have offered Grace's old one), and wondering if he will have the determination to practice both the piano and the violin daily. I think he will be a natural.
Brennan is loving preschool of course, though he asks all the time when he gets to start kindergarten. We have read through all of the "Bob Books" Omi gave him for Christmas and now we are starting on the books I had when I was a child (Sam and Al, etc). He loves to tell stories, but often we can't follow what he is saying--he is very detailed, but un-follow-able... He also makes us laugh every day because he STILL puts on his shirts backwards!
To end the month we had another birthday; Elise turned three! She is so much fun. She has just started liking Strawberry Shortcake, so Grandma and Grandpa gave her a cute Strawberry Shortcake tea set. She loves it! Norma and Elaine came and gave her a bunch of rings and a princess coloring book. Omi and Opa gave her her special dolly, "Princess Sparkle" with the matching dress. Elise promptly put the dress on and didn't take it off for 24 hours. I made a bed for her doll with a quilt and pillowcase. She loves to put her dolly to bed, and then carries her around all day. Having a three year old party for a little girl is so much fun! We made an angel food cake with whipped cream and strawberries and a few pink cupcakes. She loves to play with Brennan --they love to play house. Just today she was pretending that he was the baby and she was the mommy. She "read" him several books. She loves all her brothers and at night, once we've put them all to bed, she sneaks out of her room and climbs into bed with one of them! There have been several nights when Weston comes down complaining of Elise kicking him. She also says sweet and funny things. Brennan wanted to be wrapped in his blanket like a taco and Elise said wanted to do it too, so said, "I want a cock-a-doodle blankie". She loves to help with work around the house. Her job is to put napkins around the table and she takes it seriously. We love her happy happy smile, her silly silly faces, and her infectious laugh! Happy Birthday lovely girl!!!
I am still loving Young Women and I really love the new teaching program the church has in place. I think it will be so effective. I really enjoy the girls.
I cut my hair off and donated it to Children with Hair Loss. It was a good excuse to grow it out and a good excuse to cut it. I am loving my hair cut--I was getting sick of the long hair. And a change is nice, especially at the beginning of the year--to go along with our new resolutions. We'll see how well they go.
