Journaled January

We started out the month in a deep freeze. It was 5 degrees on the first day of January 2019!! Happy New Year!

We also got dumped on and then had a beautiful day after. Cache Valley's weather has been so unpredictable this month, and COLD, but teases us when the sun comes out.

I started my DIBELS testing. I enjoy hearing the variety of toys that kids get for Christmas and what they did over the Christmas break. Kids tell it the way it is.

Dale and I headed south and I soaked in my yearly pampering at Little America, while Dale went to meetings. Govenor Gary Hurbert came and talked to us at our banquet. The district is in good hands with the board that they have, they’re all awesome and have a good vision for what’s best for the kids.

We live in a great state. Utah is making it’s mark on the map.

Dale and I also took advantage of a perk from me ushering. We used some comp tickets and went to the show Dr. KABOOM at the Eccles. It was a lesson in science and a lot of fun for all ages and free!! Gotta take advantage of those perks every now and again.

Dale and I also got tickets and went to a concert with Lyza Bull (a young and rising vocal artist), Jason Lyle Black (an awesome pianist and comedian, and Lauren Allred (from The Greatest Showman), hosted by Cherry Peak in the new Cache County Event Center. All of the artists were from Utah. Way to represent our great state!! It was a great way to help our freezing January have some spark to it.

                         

I took my first successful selfie and decided to post it to show that it can be done. Not bad for a short armed gal.

We went to dinner and the USU vs Wyoming basketball game with some friends and cheered them on to a win. USU has a good team going, they’re fun to watch. We might have to catch some more.

The rest of the month I helped Amie around her house and with her kids. She had some major surgery to remove some hernias and she got her ab muscles put back in place because of them separating from having such big babies. The Dr. also gave her stretched out skin a lift. So, she’s laying low for 6 weeks to heal.

I learned how to play Wii Winter Olympics, build race tracks and streets for cars. I played teacher, housekeeper, and cook and learned about dinosaurs. I also got a lot of hugs and became pretty good buds with Mazin. Fun times for me.

Dale was also laying low for most of the month because of the flu and a bad cold. So, maybe it was good I was staying away so I didn’t get sick.

When he thought he was feeling better, Dale took Jaxson and Kennlyn ice fishing at Hyrum Dam. They all had a good time and even caught a few fish! (At least Kennlyn caught some fish)

We hosted a get-together at the house to have dinner and then watch the Super Bowl game for our die-hard football fans. The game was pretty boring until the last 7 min. of the game in my eyes and a low scoring one too because they were tied 3-3 until then. The New England Patriots played the Los Angeles Rams and won 13-3. 

Those not so into the game played games, or made messes with the games, ate the snacks, and visited. It made for a fun evening with family for all.

Nate’s taken advantage of the cold and snow by taking a road trip to Montana in his house on wheels with some buddies and doing some ice climbing. They went a little too deep into the woods and the vans battery died, due to the heater running all night, so they needed a tow truck to come help them out, but they didn't let that stop them and still had fun.

 He also got in some backcountry skiing around Mt. Shuksan with a friend as well. He loves the outdoors and makes the most of it.

The Mallory’s enjoyed the snow we got and celebrated her birthday with the family doing some sledding. (This was before her surgery)

They also went to the Cherry Peak Concert with some friends. We saw them when we were in line and got to wish her a Happy Birthday as well. 34 years looks good on her. 

Jaxson and Kennlyn are still playing basketball and doing well, and Langston’s going to a soccer skills clinic to keep them busy. Mazin and I took Langston to his skills clinic and honed our own soccer skills while we watched and waited for him to get done.

Danica and Jason came and watched Jasxon and Kennlyn play in a game and then Danica pampered Amie by giving her a facial and a foot massage to help speed up her recovery from surgery, while Jason played with the kids. They also brought in some pizza for the kids. That was the icing on the day for the kids.

Lindsay had her brother and sister-in-law watch their kids for the weekend and  celebrated her birthday by flying into Mrytle Beach, Flordia. She spent a few days with Andrew. He got her up in the helicopter for a ride too. 

Titan's learned to play chess and he’s become quite good at it. He gave grandpa a good game. That boy’s a thinker. He’s still taking piano lessons and always jumps on the piano to play a tune when he comes to grandpa and grandmas house.

Eloise is doing well in school and is a great big sister to Nora and Arwyn. All the girls get along well, play well, and enjoy having Titan tease them I’m sure.

Garrett and Zandra have been making the most with the cold weather and snow. They all played in the snow, went ice skating and skiing. Their area got a lot more snow from the storms than we did! 

Garrett's been staying busy and helping clients get into a new home. Business has been good with the economy the way it's been lately. 

Jorie’s started taking tumbling lessons and loves it! Before we know it she’ll be doing cartwheels and flips as well as dancing on her toes.

To start out the new year in a warmer climate, Jason and Danica headed south and spent some time in St. George with Jason’s family and to get in a golf game.

Also, with this being the beginning of a new year, our family decided to get together with those that could on the second Sunday of each month for dinner and a Come Follow Me Discussion that ties in with the teachings from the New Testament that the church implemented this year.

Jason and Danica offered to host our first gathering and Amie taught the lesson. It went over really well and was great to have all pitch in with the meal and the discussion.

Jason  and Danica decided to take advantage of the new snow from the late storms we had and hit the slopes. Jason took a ski day and got some fresh powder in Park City, at Deer Valley and ran into Nate, who was fitting in time on the slopes in-between sessions at a conference he went to for a couple of days.

Oh, and of course they got in a Jazz game this month. Jason's turned Danica into a true fan.

Life is short—make the most of it, right?