Valentini

Our spread for our Valentini this year.  It happenedto be a day that everyone had short day, so we got to have all the kids there and Tara took a couple hours off and my Dad is retired so he got to join us for our fun tradition.

Dakota, Braxton, Grandma, James, Kiley, Grandpa

Grandma, Grandpa, Dakota (rear), Tara, Brax, James (front), Dresden, Geana, Carrera, Cameron

February Happenings

February (and the next 5 months) was all consuming with Stake girls camp.  I spend a lot of my day looking for ideas as well as a TON of mind space and sleepless nights going over what to do and what not to do.  It is going to be the most stressful calling so far in my life, but I am learning to embrace it and see the growth that it is bringing in my life.  I have to plan and be in charge of each meeting and stand in front of everyone and act like I know what I am doing, and I am learning a lot about myself in the process.  For instance when we planned this breakfast we thought we would have a food committee to take care of the breakfast, well no such luck on that and so it fell on me.  I simplified and did muffins and fruit and it turned out lovely.  Not much stress and cheap (just my style!)

Lisa and Neil were in charge of FHE for February and we did an escape room.  It was so cool and a lot of fun to go through the clues and figure out the right scriptures to help crack the code.

My baby boy had a valentine at school.  I could not believe that the first time I had to take one of my kiddos shopping for a special valentine treat was my littlest boy.  The cute girl asked him to be her valentine and we didn't know what that meant (lame I know), so we asked around and it means you buy each other a little something special.  He was hilarious when he shopped for this cute teddy bear and chocolates.

Cam decided on a tank for his valentine box this year.  Most things the kids do at school I feel a little bad that it is possibly our last one, but Valentine boxes I can say adios to and not feel one bit sorry! They are not my thing.

This handsome dude also had his state report in February.  He did all kinds of research on New Hampshire and made this tri-fold board to display it at the school.

Just another representation of camp taking over my life.  This is the skeleton plan for what we are doing each day.  It is for around 300 teenagers and their leaders and it is for 3 nights and 4 days, but the last day is just go home day.  I tell my self every day "One thing at a time and a whole lot of prayers and you can do this thing".  It works most of the time, but sometimes I get really discouraged and wonder who wanted me for this job. 

Jake and Alayna's Cabin

For the past few years we have spent Martin Luther King weekend at Jake and Alayna's cabin near Lava.  This year Ed Hall and family also joined all of us.  That makes 12 kids and 6 adults.  It was so much fun and of course our kids loved it because it always includes a day of skiing.

 We went to church then went on a show shoe hike. On Monday we went swimming at the pool.  Such fun memories with some of our best friends. 

 I kept falling over and over on the hike down.  I laughed so hard which made it worse of course.

First part of January

       Well today's date is March 16th and I realized this week that I haven't spent even one minute on my blog updating my journal of words and pictures for 2019.  Sometimes stopping for a minute and making myself sit at the computer and write is quite complicated and then its 2 1/2 months into the year and I am just starting.  I guess one may say that I am still 9 1/2 months ahead, but the task will become insurmountable if I don't do a little at a time.  We just returned from a vacation of a lifetime to Puerto Rico where we ran the sand between our toes and basked in the beautiful sunshine everyday.  Meanwhile at home in Utah, today is the first day above 40 in the last 120, according to the news.  It is slightly difficult to adjust back from that sun to this winter that is lasting way too long!  We also came home to full on Lacrosse/Track season which consists of Brax practicing or having games 5 days a week, Dakota running or having a meet 5 days a week, and Cameron practicing 3 days a week with a game on Saturday.  To say I feel overwhelmed is an understatement for sure.
       All three of my boys are at their happiest self when they are very busy and especially if that includes a workout daily. Winter is long and very cold and they get in somewhat of a rut come January.  This year Shane made up a wonderful excel chart that he changes the inspirational message on the top each week. If they get all their practicing instrument/working out (lacrosse, soccer, running) done for 6 days, then there is some sort of an incentive.  It is working very well so far especially for Dakota who will do most anything for a surprise. 
       On to January......... Becky gave the boys these super cool wooden gear puzzles that kept them occupied much of their winter break.

Braxton Had to make a poster for English class and this is what he came up with.  He really hates projects like these ones, but I always think they turn out very nice.

 Great Grandma Weston passed away right after the first of the year.  It was a sad thing for all of us but we know she is happy and with Grandpa once again.

The great grandkids sang a song as well as the grandkids.  This was when we were practicing.

 The boys played Deacon Church ball.  Braxton would not play because "he hates it", and the other boys are super competitive and he also "hates that". 

 One very cold day Shane suggested we go snowshoeing.  I was shocked because he hates cold weather sports with a passion.  It was really fun and the powder was deep.

The boys got a 3D printer for Christmas, however it came about 1 month late, so here is Shane studying it like he does on the daily.  He loves that thing as much as the boys do.  They have printed a lot of really cool stuff so far.  Some they have even designed themselves.