January Things

New Years Eve plans - Byron went out with friends somewhere, Soren had four friends over for D&D, firepit dinner and sparklers. Darin went to bed early, and I watched Anna Karenina and waited till the New Year was rung in to make sure everyone got home and the fire was put out.

Another great Hat's Off party at Centerpoint Theater.  Soren got to perform "Stick It To the Man" one last time with these amazing people. 

Mirissa was gifted some tickets to the Jazz Game.  So fun to hang out with the ladies in the Toyota Club. Jazz lost but we won.

Some truly amazing sunsets this month. As well as some great star gazing. Mars, Venus, Jupiter were all in their glory. I still love our window filled living room where I get to keep tabs on the sunsets almost nightly.  

Byron achieved 3rd place for his division in the State Cyclocross races. Combo of placement and getting yourself to every single race, even when the weather is awful.  Loved his grit, sacrifice and determination. 

He then won $50 in the raffle, lucky guy.

 This came in the mail this month.  Such a fun reminder of Newsies. 

I remember worrying so much if Soren could handle a main stage show, he is so young in these photos!

Yes, yes he can, he was scared and it was hard but he did it anyway. 

Although so many wonderful events have taken place, this month has felt very long and hard. Donald Trump was sworn in on January 6th, and it's been a circus government ever since.  I want to believe that he can't actually, legally do the things he is threatening. He is a horrible example of civility and leadership, putting in the least qualified people for every office, and is on track to be the most immoral president since Andrew Jackson.  I hope I am wrong on this, but things are very dicey and exhausting at the moment. 

Hoping February can bring in some love.  Things start out with Miriam's birthday! 

11

We have been blessed with the sweetest guy around for 11 years now.  I don't know anyone who doesn't like Byron...Scout Leaders, Primary teachers, friends parents, school teachers...everyone says the same thing "he is such a calming peaceful influence on the rest of the kids".  He is the same in our family, a true middle child peacemaker. He is fun too, with a great imagination.

Soren Miriam and I made a sneaky balloon/birthday breakfast supply run the night before Byron's birthday.  We had the Mini for some reason so we squished those balloons in tight with Soren (and no I couldn't see out of the rear view mirror, made sure we took only straight shots home).

So Byron woke up to 11 balloons bagels, fruit and nutella for breakfast.

Byron and Miriam gave Soren I-Fly certificate for his birthday in April.  About a week before his birthday, Byron was the first kid in his class to fill up his sticker chart for the year (what did I say...the guy is a teachers dream).  We had agreed with his teacher to do something fun to celebrate so I got both the boys I-Fly!!  Although this wasn't technically a birthday gift, I did pull the boys out of school early for Chick-fil-a lunch and then some flying!!

They both said it was hard, but so fun! 

Byron requested pizza, with a trip to the park, followed by ice cream Sundays.

Here is the real birthday gift.  

This boy had totally outgrown his mountain bike so he got to go out with dad to pick out a new one!

Last Week of School - An unpublished post from 2019

2025 -The Beginning....again

"Life is amazing. And then it's awful. And then it's amazing again. And in between the amazing and awful it's ordinary and mundane and routine. Breathe in the amazing, hold on through the awful, and relax and exhale during the ordinary. That's just living heartbreaking, soul-healing, amazing, awful, ordinary life. And it's breathtakingly beautiful. -L.R. Knost

I am rethinking about how to record my ordinary, mundane, breathtakingly beautiful little life. Instagram and facebook has been easy and alluring, but I so easily get sucked into all the minutia: the news, beauty products, drama, vacations...sucked into others lives and away from my own. I am feeling a pull inward. A pull to slow down my brain. Act, think, move and eat in a more mindful way. I also want to document my life in some organized way, and my favorite part is the photos. So I have come back to good old fashion blogging. I am sad and a little anxious about the huge gaping holes in time here, and I am not certain I can keep it up this go around. I can only try. That's all I can promise, just try.

And I will start with today.

January 1st: french toast with Darin and the boys, then I took Orion on a long hike in the hills (just a little bit of trespassing). The boys were on a bike ride when I got home, and Darin deep into building a new money organization system we have much needed. He has read, and I am reading "Your Money or Your Life". Very good. I have needed a re-evaluation of what my life goals are, and what our goals as a couple are, the book has been a good catalyst for thought. It's so easy to fall into patterns, and to just do what culture tells us to do.

I put away Christmas, read a little about China civilization (upcoming trip research), took a nap and then made fondue dinner. We invited Helena to join in. Miriam is in Utah County, working all week, and hanging out with her Will & friends in the evenings. Last night Byron went to ring in the New Year with friends. Soren invited 4 boys here for a D&D session and firepit in the backyard. Darin and I are both exhausted, he more than I because he is still going to work everyday over the break and worried about his parents who are needing so much more support than ever before. Neither of us felt any urge to celebrate, but since we couldn't leave 14 year olds with a fire pit alone, I stayed up to watch a 1977 BBC version of Anna Karenina. I read it last year and loved it, I wondered if I had completely comprehend the political and social themes of the book. According to the mini series I did, which makes me happy. It's wasn't easy reading.

June Things...besides the puppy

We took each child on a one-on-one date/adventure just to do a parent child check in. Byron's adventure was rained out, but we took him to Twigs for lunch.  We took Soren mountain biking and then out to Blue Lemon for lunch.  Miriam and I hiked to the Centerville Flag and then we took her to Cafe Torino. 

Byron started following a guy on YouTube that has ant farms.  He started looking for ants, identifying the species and has begun his own ant colony in test tubes in his closet.  So far his queens have layed eggs so now we wait...

Soren took his birthday pottery class.  He loved it and now has something else in common with his Grandpa Ray.

Soren