Spring Break Baby!

A week off of school to spend time with friends and family? Heck yeah!

We started off the relaxing week with a spot of herbal tea. Elsie prefers it in English china from her great grandma. 

Then it was off to Coke and Conference. Thanks to my mom for coining such a catchy and truthful alliterated phrase. We listened and we talked and we celebrated birthdays in Park City. 

Ian was gifted this balloon from a cousin and didn’t take it off his wrist for 12 hours straight. 

We spent some time at a trampoline park. Elsie’s getting so good at running and getting to just about everywhere she wants. 

Then we were off to St. George for some warmer weather. On our way down to southern Utah, we visited our friend’s family’s farm. It was lambing season. We got to see lots of baby lambs, some less than 24 hours old!

It was neat to see a working farm. My friend mentioned that sometimes the ewes have too many lambs and some of them don’t get enough milk. These lambs are called dogies and have to be hand fed. She said that sometimes friends and family take them home, raise them, and return them to the farm. I was tempted to do so. Look how cute they are!

There were baby puppies too. Elsie was in heaven. 

Ansel liked them too. As for me, I was tempted to take home a puppy as well. Upon better judgement, I didn’t, but those little things are just the cutest. 

We continued down the interstate to finally meet up with cousins. We swam in the pool, made dinner together, did some karaoke, played tennis (I’m learning!), mountain biked, played games including the “guess that See’s chocolate flavor,” and climbed on the rocks. 

We swam a lot and at one point, made a tubechain around the lazy river. 

The red rock always delivers on the fun. We went through “the crack” and I must admit, my heart was beating just a little bit faster when I was about to start through it…with my two year old. Needless to say, we made it through the tight squeeze. 

The cousins were so good with Elsie. They’d play and help her at any time. Every time she’d go down for a nap, she’d ask if everyone was going to be there when she woke up. She was having such a grand time. 

The teens were definitely going to sleep late. Here’s my daytime nap evidence to prove it. Ha!

It was fabulous time had by all! Another spring break in the books. 

Living my best life

Have you heard the song from Ben Rector called “Living My Best Life”? It’s so good. Of course, I love the tune and Ben’s singing is great, but I like it mostly because I am totally living the stage of life he is talking about. One where you have opinions on the ottoman that goes with your couch, you’re busy holding your kiddos’ hand, your best friend is in the bed next to you, and you seriously can’t believe you are where you are. One line in the song I like is “I’m learning how to eat the the fruit that is in season.” 

I think that line is just the best advice for every season of life. Don’t you think? I’m sure I’ll have to remember that when I have teens, when I’m becoming a mother-in-law, etc. The fruit will be different, but it will still be good!

Things keep happening that make me realize more and more that I’m not in my twenties or thirties (gulp!) anymore. Case in point:

- I recently gave Oliver $8 to buy lunch at the mall. He was like, will this buy me anything? Ends up he could get a piece of pizza (for $6.29). He wanted a soda but that would have been $2.69 more. After he came home and told us this, Jess and I remarked, “We could have bought two pieces of pizza and a soda for that much when we were younger!” Oliver’s like, that’s interesting guys, but next time $10 would be better. 

- I have become my mom. I cut my own hair, like to buy clothes and even have stuff in my closet that still have tags on them, use the same parenting methods, say phrases to my kids like, “it’s not hard to change your bed sheets” or “that’s a little too loud,” and I sit down to play the piano in short 5-7 stints. 

- Jess and I are always talking about home improvements or changes. Many of our friends are too. 

- I have been to a PTA meeting, acting like I know what’s going on when I really don’t. Ha! I just sit there and nod. Next year I’m the secretary. Wish me luck. 

- The mall I went to as a little kid and the adjacent restaurant I’d frequent as a teen have been torn down and the spot is now being filled with new housing. 

- I look on Instagram and appreciate accounts that help pregnant women and their partners learn about giving birth. 

- I saw a quote in an obituary the other day and appreciated it… “the art of living is: adjusting.”

But I feel young too! Yesterday I ran my second fastest mile and I wasn’t too worn out (but I was feeling it. Ha!). I can still wear a pair of white boots and no one cares. I’m asked if Elsie is my first, and when I say she’s actually my fourth, people respond with surprise. And that’s the fun of it. This stage is a sweet spot in the middle. It’s the peach of life. A delicious fruit when it’s in season. 

Pre-spring wrap up

The last few weeks have been filled with good stuff. 

Elsie made herself a sheepskin dress and paired it with her brother’s shoes. A fashion forward look to be sure! She prefers to “run nakie” most mornings and evenings. 

Oliver’s in a symphony and a symphonic band, and they’re both pretty good. The symphony had the opportunity to perform at Abravanel Hall. 

Both sets of Grandparents came and it was so nice to sit and listen to the music. Elsie had a good seat :)

Then the school symphonic band got into the state competition which his school had never done before. This was a big deal! Oliver was a tad bit nervous, but had a great time. It’s cool because they all tune to his B flat to begin. I never did any of this stuff growing up, so it’s neat to see how it all works and how much fun the kids have. 

We had some birthdays. Ansel was pumped to turn nine. He had his birthday party at a skate/trampoline park and it was a great time!

Elsie turned two and started her day off by decorating the balloons we were planning to put up. We danced after dinner on her special day and she couldn’t have loved it more. This girl loves to dance. 

The last few weeks have been filled with the regular stuff too, and with it, the joy that is everyday. Another fashion choice of Elsie’s had to be documented. So many choices at Nordstrom Rack!

We had checkups. I’ve heard the best place to play is on the floor of a doctor’s office, right?

I went on the first mother/son date I’ve ever been on with Ansel for a church activity. He said to me, “Why do I have to go on a date with you when you’re already married?” Needless to say, he was most excited to see his friends, but I did get to dance with him. Ha! And this photo is, well, a perfect summation of it all. 

Ansel was Jesse Owens for his 3rd grade biography assignment. He was so excited for this day. I had bought a Jesse Owens replica jersey from Etsy, but it never came, so we were scrambling to create one the morning before school started. Thanks to my mom for buying me the tank top we used back when I was in college. It came in handy at the beach last year, but it was even better as a Jesse Owens Olympic jersey!

And no summary of life is complete without the obligatory photo of your kids at Target. Ian requested I take this picture. Thanks Ian!

Reach out

I can’t help but mention that in the last month or so, I’ve read or heard quite a bit about the following:

If you have the thought to do something good or say something kind, do it. 

I was reading Ernie Johnson Jr.’s Memoir, Unscripted, and he had a passage on page 154 that I failed to completely remember of write down (ha!), but his basic gist was to reach out and say something kind to someone if you have an inkling to do it.  

How many times do we have those moments? I get them a lot and act on about 25 percent of them. And that’s an improvement! I used to do it about 5 percent of the time. My fear of what people would think was stopping me. But Ernie says people will always appreciate it, period. And I believe the guy. 

Capitol Reef in the winter

We did it again! We went to Capitol Reef in the cold just like last year and it was wonderful. It was in the fifties and sunny, making it perfect weather for hiking. Doing it with our cousins made it even better!

We made it to Cassidy Arch and enjoyed the views, ate lunch, and played the melodica.

Some of us did it with bare feet. 

We found perfect places to sit and smile. 

Sulphur creek was frozen in some spots, so we slid along the ice. 

Others slept. 

We hiked to Hickman Bridge. This was a very easy hike to a beautiful site. 

The water along this trail was running rapidly. The kids threw mud and rocks, leaves and sticks. 

It was so nice to spend all day outside because it’s been weeks since we’ve done that. I could have sat by this river for another few hours in the sunlight. So therapeutic. So awe inspiring. So perfect. 

The kids were great hikers. Ian woke up the first day lamenting, “Do we have to hike today?” By the end of the trip he was excitedly asking, “Can we go on a hike today?” Mission accomplished. 

Elsie wanted to stop and play in the sand everywhere we went. 

Ansel and Oliver were busy with the cousins up at the front of the pack, so we didn’t get as many photos with them. Those kids are fast!

We played games at the hotel and swam in the pool. A perfect trip. As we drive away from Torrey, clouds were forming and snow was coming. We definitely lucked out with weather and timing. Such a splendid time!

That caption!

The other day I was scrolling through Instagram, and I saw a photo I liked. I liked the caption even more. 

I have had those very moments. 

At times like this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

2022

A New Year with new goals! 

How about this: increase your ability to do the things you did last year, and better. Run more. Read more. Reach out more. Remember time = love. Find good music. Dance a lot. Laugh a lot. Be understanding more. Here’s to a new year!

Snapshot of the rest of us

Ian:

Age five is a great age. This is so true for Ian. The stuff he says is golden. This morning I mentioned that some of the people in our family were fasting. Ian replied with, “I’m not, I’m slowing today.” He’s into playing with Legos and asks me to go to the basement to play with him everyday. He loves cereal and enjoys snacking on frozen peas. You heard that right, frozen peas. During the month of November, we tried to say one thing we were thankful for during dinner. One evening Ian said, “Grandma Julie!”

Ansel:

The kid loves his sleep and reading in the morning, so getting ready on time for school is difficult, but he’s great at rushing out the door happily. He’s playing basketball and will ask me to shoot hoops with him regularly. He is a whiz at times tables and really enjoys school. Minecraft is a favorite as of late and he was kind enough to try to teach me. 

Oliver:

Every week day, he is up and at ‘em and ready to go to school, but on weekends he loves to lounge and is usually the last kid dressed and ready for his day. He enjoys taking pictures of the moon through his telescope and recently got a series of photos of every phase of the moon. He will read anything and usually reads every book in the library bin before I’ve finished mine. 

Jess

Road cycling is Jess’s jam. He rides up canyons that cars have to downshift regularly to get up. The guy can ride! His long hair and beard make toddlers believe they’ve seen Jesus at church. He continues to be one hilarious guy, making me laugh on the regular. Plus, he’s good for a solid Dad joke every night at dinner.

When it snows…

…this is how your day goes. 

First this:

Then this:

Repeat.