Dancing with Daffodils

 I have come to really like how relaxed January is for our family compared to September-December. Since Brandon's birthday there just hasn't been too much going on.  Highlights from last week are that Emma got her braces (she has not been happy with them especially after we had to go back the very next day because a bracket came unglued). She ate ice cream, yogurt, oatmeal and rice for a week and is finally just now starting to eat more regularly. Thankfully she doesn't have to wear rubber bands quite yet so she has some time to adjust to just the braces. I also went to the temple with Michelle and it was so great to catch up after both of us being so busy the last month and of course, it was beautiful to be in the temple. I felt such peace, especially after having followed the prompting I had last time I was there. As we've been reading about the creation and the fall in Genesis I've felt a renewed gratitude for what we learn in the temple about God's plan for ...

 What a week this has been. I had so much to do to catch up from Christmas and then I got asked to substitute Monday morning for a few hours. It was for one of my favorite teachers so I couldn't say no. As it turned out she has a teaching apprentice so she did all of the teaching and I just supported. During recess I made friends with a kid who was kind of just standing around by himself but was willing to walk the track with me so that helped us both stay warm because it was barely warm enough for us to be able to go out. I got home and did so much laundry and ironing and made a grocery list and taught a bunch of piano lessons and tried to get my house clean. It seriously feels like a never ending task and I have to often take deep breaths and tell myself that it is okay that my windows are so gross and the baseboards so dirty and my kitchen floor and cabinets always have stuff on them and the counters and things are dusty and then I have five other people leaving their stuff arou...

Our first day of Christmas break we slept in and had a big family breakfast; it was so nice. Then we left around 2 to head up to the Nationals stadium for their Winter Wonderland. I wanted to do something fun as a family and it was the cheapest per hour so we went up there and it was fun. There was an ice slide that we did a few times and miniature golfing and a snowball throwing thing and curling and you could go in the dug out (which thrilled my baseball lovers) and there were lights and a silent disco that was funny to watch. We spent about two hours and decided we were hungry so we went to the Silver Diner and even let the kids get milkshakes--quite the splurge. It was a fun family day and a good way to kick off Christmas break. As we walked back to the car, we found these cool bell things on the wharf and they were swings but they played music as you would swing; super fun.            Tuesday we were busy and in all different directions and then Wednes...

Friday, Dec 19 was our annual party. It started right after we got married when I decided I didn't want to plate a bunch of treats and have to go deliver them. It seemed so much easier and more fun to invite people over and just eat the treats at our house. So every year since 2003 (except 2020) I have hosted a Christmas party for our closest friends. In some places we didn't really have friends so we used it as a way to make new ones or serve our ward leadership. I used to do pretty much the same thing every year but now that we have lived here for almost 17 years, I've had to get more creative. I still make pretty much the same food with maybe one new something every year because it is fun to have tradition but also to spice things up a bit. We always have two games and then our gift exchange. I have done Family Feud, the newlywed game, minute to win it, all sorts of singing/music games including a lip sync battle one year, bunco, Jeopardy and then board games that I make...

 December is always crazy and I always think, maybe we should cut back, but then I realize everything is related to service or is a kid activity they love so I guess it will just always be a busy month. For family night on Monday, Dec 8 we went down to Jason's house to help him out. He is Josh's co-worker and his wife is pregnant and just found out she has colon cancer. It is a very challenging situation so we wanted to help and he said the best way that night was to put up their Christmas lights. It was literally the coldest night of the year so we bundled up and told the kids they had better not complain and got to work. It took longer than we expected so we got home late but I think it was worth it and hopefully helped their five kids feel like things were more normal.   My mom and dad came on Dec 9 and we had a nice week with them. I had invited them to come for Nutcracker and everyone was happy they were willing to come. I cleaned all day Monday and then drove up to ...