Inspired by the Olympics

I don't know how many little girls have been inspired by the Olympics to want to be a figure skater when they grow up. I know I had that dream for awhile before I learned I couldn't skate, let alone jump and twirl on skates.  We have been watching the Olympics together some evenings.  Our children, even the ones that don't like sports, love watching the Olympics.  We love cheering for our favorites and the underdogs in each event. 

Lydia loves watching figure skating and she knows that is what she wants to be when she grows up.  Here is a short video of her watching and practicing.  Hope you enjoy our future star.

Things to keep us busy when it is freezing outside

Last week we didn't even see zero degrees after Monday.  Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we had temperatures around -20 and with wind chill it felt like -30. Cold!  I knew it was cold when Neil drove the car to school instead of biking.  He finally biked again on Friday, it was slightly above 0 that day.  Saturday we got some snow, but at least it has warmed up.

We had to find things to do to keep us busy while in the house all week.  Actually, I could stay in the house all week and not need anything to keep me busy, but the children needed some entertainment.
Lydia discovered that the Easter basket could make an adorable hat.  MaryAnne found out it was fun to play with bubbles while doing the dishes.  Dallin learned how to make a snowflake out of Borax, boiling water and pipe cleaners. It was a fun science experiment.  The crystals grew over night and worked really well. Matthew and Lydia did puzzles together.  We have plenty of teasing that happens at our house, I love those moments when the older children play with the younger children and it really feels like Heaven on Earth. We have been building monkey houses out of books and blocks since Rebecca was about 2 years old.  Neil came up with the activity and it has been a favorite ever since.  We built a few monkey houses this past week.  Emma and Julia decided they needed a change and both of them had their hair cut.  Emma had 10 inches cut off to donate to Locks of Love.  I miss Emma's long hair to braid, but I think her new hair cut looks cute.  Julia just had her layers cut again, she didn't really go any shorter.

Here are a few pictures of our week. Hope you enjoy.

Burritos the Wyoming way

It was really cold in Powell last week.  -20 some days and it felt like -35. We're talking cold! Joshua found a cute way to stay warm.  Hope you enjoy the picture of our little burrito Wyoming style.

Joshua stayed warm and enjoyed being a burrito for a day. I kept worrying that he would trip and not be able to catch himself, but he loved being all wrapped up tight.

We share very well and it's not even February yet!

For the longest time I have been afraid of February coming. It seems like someone is sick from the first of February until the last.  At least it is a short month!  I think by February our immune systems are worn down and we are tired of winter in Wyoming.  This year we are getting a jump on things by being sick the end of January, maybe that means we won't still be sick at the end of February.  We share very well when it comes to being sick.  Dallin started everyone out on Saturday.  Monday Dallin still didn't feel well.  Dallin was fine all day Tuesday, but threw up again at bedtime.  Wednesday, Joshua and Lydia had it.  This morning David, Emma, Matthew, Julia, Neil and Lydia are all not  feeling well.  I hope Rebecca and Bethany are staying well!  MaryAnne and I have decided we aren't going to share with the others.  We are staying healthy, at least if we have any say over it.  The funny thing is that Julia wanted to be sick yesterday so she would have an excuse to miss the games being played at the Triward activity.  She got her wish, but about 12 hours too late. She still got to play the games.  Well, I'm off to help my patients.  I think today there will be a movie and rest for their doctor's orders. Stay well, and we'll try not to share with anyone else.

The joy of exercising

Exercising is something I do because I want to be healthy, not because I love it.  I do enjoy reading a good book while riding my bike or a brisk walk with my good friend in the morning, but I really only do it for the book or the conversation. I wish I could say I enjoyed exercise as much as Lydia does in this video.  She was showing us how she exercised a few months ago.  It was so adorable that we pulled out Emma's ipad and recorded her.  We just figured out how to send the video to this computer so I could post it.  I hope you enjoy watching. Maybe I'll start trying out some of Lydia's moves and smile and laugh with her while exercising.  Now that would be funny!
 

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Saturday Morning tradition and how Lydia reacts when everyone isn't home

I am not very good about cooking breakfast for my family, that is putting it nicely.  I could really say I don't cook breakfast for my family.  Cold cereal or toast is what they really want anyway, so that is our usual breakfast.  A few years ago I decided I needed to do something different on Saturday morning and started the tradition of cooking french toast on Saturday.  It is the only day of the week that we all sit down and eat breakfast together.  The other days we all eat at our own schedule, some people eat on everyone's schedule.  I think they are really hobbits and they need a second breakfast.

I love this Saturday morning tradition!  There are seasons (sports seasons) that get in the way of us all being home together.  We just had one of those Saturdays where there was lots going on so only 6 of us were home for breakfast.  Emma had basketball games in Thermopolis so she left at 6:00 in the morning.  No breakfast cooked that early, she had to make do with cold cereal.  Next, Neil, Matthew and David left at 7:00 to go ice fishing with the High Priests and Young Men.  They had to fend for themselves also.  

We have the fun tradition of using our name plates that Kendra made for each of us at Saturday Breakfast.  The children love to set the plates around the table.  Lydia was helping to set on Saturday.  I only gave her the 6 plates for those of us who were home.  She was so sad that some of the family were gone.  She cried that Neil, Rebecca, Bethany, Matthew, Emma and David  weren't home.  She was sure we couldn't eat until they were all here again.  I thought it was so cute that she really wanted everyone to be here.  You can see how she reacted.  I hope we will have everyone home next Saturday. The children better give up what they want to do and just stay home.  It means a lot to Lydia.

Jump rope performance and a piano recital

This week we had the opportunity to watch David in the Jump Rope performance at Parkside on Friday.  He has been practicing since before Christmas and did a great job.  It was fun to watch how he was a leader in his group.  He hasn't had much opportunity to be the one in the spotlight.  He is a fly under the radar kind of kid.  He doesn't like to be in the spotlight, but it was fun to watch him.  Great job, David!

Sunday morning Julia casually mentioned that she had a piano recital that afternoon that she hadn't told us about.  Talk about children who don't like to be the focus of attention in the spotlight.  Julia would just as soon never be the one in the spotlight.  She could love playing the piano just for herself and never play in front of anyone else.  I decided not to take everyone to the recital after remembering the last experience.  Joshua turned the lights off in the middle of an amazing performance.  I think he got the lights not just once, but twice in the same performance.  I asked Emma if she would stay home with David, MaryAnne, Joshua and Lydia.  Dallin went to the recital in the hope of getting treats afterward. Neil and Matthew were home teaching, and got there in time to listen to Julia.  Julia did a great job. I remember when she was about 8 and wanted to learn to play the violin.  I was convinced that she wouldn't really enjoy it and wouldn't stay with it.  She begged and pleaded.  We decided to give her a chance, she ran with it.  She did really well until her teacher quit teaching. More than anything she had discovered her love of music and one of her talents from Heavenly Father. She has a real talent and interest in music.  She loves to play the piano, especially Lord of the Rings music.  I love to listen to her play the piano!  It brings me great joy.  Here is Julia playing A Very Respectable Hobbit from The Hobbit composed by Shore.  After the concert Julia asked me if she skipped half her song. I'm not sure if she skipped part or not, but it sounded beautiful to me.

I am so grateful for opportunities to support my children in their interests in life. I am grateful they are looking for their talents and learning. I am grateful for teachers and leaders who teach them and expose them to new interests.  It brings tears to my eyes to watch them work hard and then share their talents with others.