When you turn 45........

Did you doing anything fun for your birthday?    Hmm...  Well I left for work around 7AM.   Had the best coworkers who brought a yummy lunch, flowers and gave me some Burt Bees supplies.  I left work to rush and pick up the middle school carpool.   I came home and Emily offered to take me out to get a swig and a treat but there was no time between Emily getting things ready for an Orchestra booth at the Alta High Freshman orientation later that night and I had to go pick up Aaron from an after school activity.  I then rushed home and quickly helped Spencer get a 100 day poster ready for school the next day.   I helped Spencer then gather up his piano books and was very grateful Bart took him while I went with Jane to her freshman orientation.   After eight I arrived home in time to give an exhausted Bart (who was recovering from Sundance)  a kiss goodnight.   I changed into my comfy robe and sank into the couch.   Jane my gifted gift giver brought me a few presents to open from Spencer and her, one from Ally as well as my mom.   Aaron then came in and gave me a hug and said his present was a hug everyday for 10 days.   

One might say my  birthday was a bust but I wouldn't have it any other way.   I have so many duties as a mother with busy kids but my heart and house is filled with so much love that all I can feel is extreme gratitude for these blessings.   

The following Sat Bart took me on our annual post birthday dinner.    I have such fond memories of these dinners  including the time I told Bart I was pregnant with Aaron.    Raquel suggested using a birthday coupon to go out to Benihanas.   This was my first experience at this restaurant.   I remember thinking how cool it looked on the commercials as a kid and now I've checked it off my bucket list.  

 

Aspen Grove 2

 By Jane:

Emily and I had the opportunity to go to Aspen Grove with the youth and a few leaders. We arrived on Thursday afternoon and were immediately shocked by the 6 feet plus of snow. We went to a fireside and played some games. On Friday we went sledding, snowshoeing, to devotionals, the dance, and played so many rounds of signs. On Saturday, Emily left early, but I stayed for testimony meeting. We had so much fun and already want to go back.  Oh and a miracle occurred. We now "hate" the young men in our ward a little less.

Jane's no good very bad horrible day

 It's the end of Christmas break and the night before the kids are heading back to school we all got a case of what I call "The Sunday night Blues."   Jane in particular kept mentioning she did not want to go back to school.     I'm struggling to gather my family for scripture and family prayer.    (I swear the Devil comes out with guns whenever I recommit to being more consistent).   Anyway I finally get everyone to gather and Jane in particular is not having it.     We finish the few versus and Bart asks Jane to say the prayer.  She belligerently agrees and then in a smart aleck voice prays for a horrible day.    At the end the boys giggle that she prayed for a bad day and Emily said something like wow you just prayed for a bad day.   I say nothing because I know she's just doing it to get a negative response and don't react (something else I'm working on) and we all go to bed.    

The next morning I take Emily to early morning seminary because city of Draper finally got to our neighborhood and her car was not going to make it over the huge bank of snow the trucks piled up at the end of our driveway.   I come back and make breakfast for the others.   At about 7:15  I wonder why I haven't seen Jane yet.  Jane is a very regimented person and wakes up and the same time on school days and follows a routine that involves eating breakfast around 7.  I call her phone and wake her up.  I tell her its 7:15 and jumps out of bed in a panic and mumbles something about how there is no way she is going to look nice today.    Jane hates feeling rushed and gets over stressed when hurried and barely makes it out of the door in time for carpool.  Throughout the day I get texts like.   My friend is really moody today.  I hate school etc.    After school Jane is sitting up to the counter while I prep dinner talking about her day.   She sums it up with a statement today sucked.   I respond well you know Heavenly Father answers our prayers.  Maybe it's not such a great idea to pray for a bad day huh?   

P.S.   In case this paints the wrong perspective of Jane she is usually a spiritual strength in my house.  A few days later everyone is asleep except for me and Jane who is packing herself a lunch.    I comment Oh man!  I forgot to read the scriptures with everyone tonight.   Dang it.  We can't even go more than 2 days in row.  Jane goes and gets the scriptures, hand them to me and says "I'll read them with you tonight."    

cabin fever

After weeks of begging, bribing, more begging, some crying and frustration that I can't walk around and manage all that's needed in a house I was close to a nervous breakdown.  Spending a few days with the Richards at the cabin with other women who cooked and cleaned like only a mom can do was respite to my weary soul.     Oh and the kids had fun too.....

 

The Big Fourteen

A description of Jane at Fourteen

F:  Forthcoming:   She is deliberate about life and lets you know exactly what she wants and when she expects it.  

O:  Outward:   Jane looks outward to see where she is needed and who she can help.  She's kind to        others, welcomes new friends into her life and kids just love her.   She's told me that when she serves others it makes her happy.  I was touched once when she volunteered to play the piano for a nursing home in our stake and while the memory ward residents  were  waiting for sacrament to start she found a lonely soul and  sat by her and talked to her so  kind and gentle.   

U:  Unbelievably gorgeous:  The kind of beauty that is timeless. 

 

R:  Righteous:  Jane's my girl who keeps us on track.   She's the first to say we haven't done Come follow me and puts her heart into her calling and lessons she is preparing          

T:  Tender:  Jane hates to be criticize or teased.  She has a very tender heart and gets her feeling hurt easily. 

E:  Elite:   Jane takes after my grandma Morrell who's motto was it's better to be over dressed than underdressed.  She never leaves the house looking straight out of a magazine without even a strand of hair out of place.  She effortlessly presents herself so poised and confident.  A naturally elite lady.  

E:  Embrace:  Jane resists hugs from me and I joke that when she rolls he eyes its a code for "I love you lots mom."   Her love language probably isn't physical touch with us but will embrace showing me she truly cares and writes the best cards and even comes and give me a two armed hug that makes my day.  

N:  Neat:  Nothing is out of place in this girls life. I sometimes go into Jane's room at night and sit there while she is reading and say:  I just love to come in this room.  My house might be a wreck today but I love to know at least one part of it is clean and beautiful.  

Just my own fam "dam" ly

John and Pauline decided to spend Christmas at their cabin again with Suzanne's family.   (I don't blame them it is a very peaceful place)

So she held the annual P.J. gifting party the Sunday before.  

The O.G.'s

The rat pack 

The girls with Baby Alice 

Because we live so close to extended family we aren't used to spending major holidays with just the six of us.    We opened up suggestions with the kids about what to do on Christmas Eve.  I insisted we go the sing along at the Capitol Hill ward  since Emily shared in a sacrament talk a couple of weeks ago that singing the Christmas music and hearing the bells has been a major part of feeling the Christmas spirit.  Ice skating was at the top of the kid list!   Bart didn't share his opinion happy to spend it with us so off we went up to Steiner skate rink for some early afternoon skating before the sing along. 

Having a bummed leg makes me the official photographer of ice skating.   It's a hard job but someone needs to document the day for the blog.   Emily informed me when the youth were planning on an ice skating activity, she made everyone laugh when she impersonated me trying to get everyone to stand close and get a picture.   She's hilarious even if I pretended to be insulted and called her mean for making fun of me.  

They closed the rink sooner than we were expecting and since we were already in Salt Lake we had a couple of hours to kill until the sing a long.   We decided to go out for a lunch/dinner but discovered most restaurants are closed Christmas Eve.   Cheesecake factory was open so we decided to put on name on the wait list and stroll around City Creek Mall while we waiting.    The 45 minute expected wait time turned into 1 hour and a half, they were out of our favorite dishes and the service was so crappy.   Despite the mishaps we had fun playing the texting game cup pong on our phones.  

I also insisted that we do not start opening presents until after Sacrament meeting.   It was not up for debate so the kids didn't give me too much grieve about it.  

I loved opening the gifts not feeling like we were in a hurry.   I cherished all the giggles, hoorays, hugs everyone shared.  

Spencer got his pro scooter he really wanted and it was in red too.  

I surprised Aaron with a subscription to crunch labs with Mark Rober.   It's the gift that keeps on giving and will put his thinking fingers to work.  

Jane got a lot of little cosmetic and a cosmetic fridge to go in her bathroom.  

Emily's list consisted of the things that make her happy.  Clothes and Shoes. 
  

Last summer I discovered the genius behind those popular Stanley cups.  They fit in your drink holder, have a straw and are easy to grab with the handle.   I found a knock off Wal mart one that has suited me fine, the straw is garbage on it but I had too much pride allow myself to be too trendy.  My girls decided it was time to step up and be a 'real" Utah mom.    My sister Raquel gave me one too and I'm humbled to say I love my Stanleys.  I have one that lives in my car and another one that everyone drinks from because it always has the coldest best water in the house.    I guess the only shame is in denial that "I actually am a utah mom so I might as well embrace it and the stanleys that go with it.  

The Girls got Bart a pair of shoes.  New Balances for the win!

The rest of the day we relaxed and prepped for the coming week at the Pace Party and the Cabin.   I just love this Fam 'dam' ly of mine!