January 2017

I've missed blogging and writing so much. It is one of my "resolutions" is to be better about updating and going more in depth here than on Instagram. So now that I've got that out on the internet, I can move on to our month.

January...

We received record amounts of snow this month. Almost 200 inches. The ski resorts are loving their life, I'm sure of it. The boys have been able to go a couple of times and Darren even snuck away by himself a couple of times to enjoy the powder.

Bundling the boys up for school, errands, anything really takes so much work in the winter. Luke is very particular about what warm clothes he takes to school each day.

Took our Young Women to Manila Elementary and did Archery. Eliece Jenkins (one of my awesome advisors) is the P.E. teacher and archery coach there.

Remme had a Trolls party and invited Graham. Devrie swears she invited other boys, but he was the only boy to show up. He was a little apprehensive about making troll hair, but once I had it made for him, he was obsessed. I love that I kept finding him in the mirror looking at himself like this.

Jenna came to Utah to have some "stuff" (surgery) done. She flew Tagg, Rick and Grant in for the weekend. We sure had fun with Tagg here.

I've been trying to grow bangs out for over a year now, and I think I'm almost there. I decided to chop off like 9 inches and so far I'm loving it. Here is it straight. I've been more into the curls lately, but looking at this now... straight isn't so bad.

I took this one night while Luke and I were cleaning up dinner. Darren was doing tubs with the younger ones and I was just looking at Luke in awe of how old and big he is getting. He has the biggest heart and I just could eat him up.

Morgan had a ruptured ear drum in the right ear and an infection in the other... ugh, I hate this time of year and time of life with all the sickness and guessing games of knowing what is going on with them. We've had multiple rounds of stuff this month.

I put a post on Facebook this month asking for date ideas. I had over 30 comments back on fun things to do besides dinner and a movie. First up for us was Top Golf, and I'm hooked. This video is kind of embarrassing, but I was into it. This was my first good drive. I had no idea Darren was filming me. When I turn around, I'm looking at the score on the screen. Let's just be clear about that. I'm not going to punch anyone.

Saturday fun. Darren is so patient and fun with the boys. I'm happy that this year they will actually go and play in the snow. 

Random, but I designed this invitation for Karen Arnesen for her niece. I love doing all of this on my phone. Crazy how far technology and apps have come.

Never ever has there been a boy that loves their daddy quite like Morgan does. He says "daddy" all day long. If I ask him to say 'mama' he responds with 'daddy'. He loves to tell me that Daddy goes in car down hill. Its adorable and exhausting/annoying at the same time. Darren isn't home as much as I am, obviously, and it puts a real damper on life when all he wants is his daddy. :) 

Grandpa Chuck passed away January 2nd, and we had the funeral at the end of the month to celebrate the wonderful life he lived. 

Bathtime at Bommy's house

Friday morning we all went to the Museum of Flight. This was the boy's second time and Darren's first. It is a fun museum to explore.

After the museum, we surprised Karen with a party at the Pro Club arena! It was such a blast. Dave and Darren executed the party with the help of Jane, Dick's secretary, and it was perfect. The kids could run free for 3 hours and we played dodgeball, obstacle courses, ping pong, and roaming free. I loved so much that I could just let Morgan go.

Saturday was the funeral over on Vashon. We took the Ferry over and the boys loved it. 

The funeral service was great, but almost two hours, and my boys were kind of a nightmare. This next part is for me in 10 years when I look back on this and remember certain things. I have three boys. Not three girls. There is a difference. Twenty minutes in both Luke and Graham were done with being quiet and Morgan, well he didn't even last five minutes. I put so much pressure on myself to keep things under control, even when it is impossible to do. Its frustrating to me that I sometimes just can't roll with it. Especially in situations like this. I think I'm afraid of the judgement. I NEED to let that go, and that is something I've working on.

Graham's smile is hilarious in this photo. He has Darren's smile syndrome too.

Sunday as we arrived home, we started to notice a rash on Morgan. He has had a viral infection with a rash now for 5 days. This night he was scratching and itching them like crazy. Broke our hearts.

The stars aligned and we were able to go to the aquarium with Devrie and Brynlee. It was so fun.

Luke started his first piano lesson with Jackson Jenkins on the 31st. I was nervous, but my heart quickly melted watching Jackson interact with Luke. The lesson was so great! Better than I could have imagined. More on 'the piano' later!! Yay for the start of lessons and fighting with me to practice. Ha, I used to fight with my mom in having to practice.

And last of all, Graham has caught the virus too. Poor boy has been down for two days. 

Oh January, you weren't a bad month-- just not our favorite month. I'm ready for spring and sun and playing outside.