Slices of Life - January 2015

PLAYING WITH AVA
January 1, 2015

Emma loves to have playdates and especially loves to play with her friend Ava.  While they were at Ava's house they made peanut butter blossom cookies and even brought some home to share with us! 

photo taken by Mary

PACKAGE FROM THE MURATA FAMILY
January 3, 2015

We got the best package in the mail today from our neighbors in Japan.  We love the Murata family and miss them so much.  When we opened up the box it smelled so much like Japan.  It was such a good, familiar smell.  We loved everything from the beautiful card to the fun gifts for the kids and the yummy snacks that reminded us of how much we truly miss living in Japan.  

BOWLING WITH FRIENDS
January 5, 2015

We headed over to the Brunswick zone to go bowling with our good friends, the Seaquists.  The boys bowled on one lane while the little girls bowled on another.  It was fun to see the friendly competition between the boys.  At one point my boys stopped trying to get high scores and decided it would be more fun to see if they could just hit one pin.  Mary and I just enjoyed sitting on the bench chatting while the kids had a good time bowling with each other.

FOGGY GLASSES
January 7, 2015

It has snowed so much this month and the temperatures and wind have been pretty nasty.  The boys always ride the bus home after school and then walk the short two blocks to our house.  By the time they get home they are quite cold.  It is pretty hilarious to watch their glasses fog right up when they walk through the door.  I couldn't resist taking a picture of that today.

RUNNING WITH MY BOYS
January 8, 2015

It's been far too long since my boys have been on a good exercise routine.  The occasional ski trip just isn't enough to keep them in shape.  This week I decided we had better do something about that so I told them they would be running with me twice a week--outside if the weather permitted and at the gym if the weather was bad.  We also decided that they would start swim team at the YMCA.  I do love being able to run with my kids and I hope that my love of running will rub off on all four of my children.  

EMMA'S BOOK PROJECT
January 9, 2015

Every month Emma has a book project due in school. This month she had to read a Historical Fiction book and then make a game.  She read, "Star in the Storm" and made a Clue like game to go along with her book.  She and I found pictures online to use as the different places on the board and then I found some non-violent objects to use as the weapons you would normally use in the game of Clue.  We used some silver bottle caps I had in my drawer and made those into the people game pieces.  We used epoxy dots as the seal on the bottle caps.  This was definitely a team effort to get this project done.  She was so excited to show her friends and play the game in class.

SHOVELING AT NIGHT
January 11, 2015

The moments a mother lives for are those special times when one of your kids just does something without having to be asked.  Tonight after getting home from the Priesthood Preview for Peter and the TREK fireside,  Andrew decided that he would shovel the driveway and sidewalk without having to be asked.  I was so impressed by how touched Andrew was by the TREK fireside and I could tell that a spark was still lit up in him when he got out of the car.  I love watching how the spirit works in our youth when they allow the spirit to be present in their lives.  I was so proud of Andrew tonight. 

NEW HOT WATER HEATER
January 13, 2015

We have had bad luck with some of our appliances over the last couple of months.  About a week ago Mike went down to check and see why we weren't getting any hot water to find that the hot water heater was slowly leaking out of the bottom.  Our 9 year old hot water heater had rusted through the bottom and needed to be replaced.  After a few days without hot water we were finally able to get someone to come out and install a new hot water heater.  I realized that after experiencing many household inconveniences while living in Japan, not having hot water was at the top of my list as one of of the hardest household things to live without.  I was so grateful that we were able to use the club at Flying Horse to go and shower and for kind friends who also offered to let me shower at their house.    

SICK GIRL
January 16, 2015

Our poor little Emma was sick for 6 days straight.  She missed 3 days of school and spent most of our long holiday weekend inside the house.  I felt so bad for her.  On her 3rd day of not going to school I made a bed for her in the living room with the futon and gave her my iPad so she could watch movies during the day.  Being sick is no fun. 

SHOVELING BEFORE SCHOOL
January 21, 2015

With all of the accumulation of snow we have had this week the school has delayed the start of school 2 hours 2 days in a row.  This morning I had the boys go out and sweep off the driveway that Mike had shoveled before he left for work.  Then Andrew shoveled the walk to our house and Peter shoveled part of the driveway that had not been done.  I have such good boys to go out and do those manly duties.  Thank goodness for that!

School Family Dance
January 23, 2015

Mike and I took the girls to the elementary school family dance.  Since it was the 50th Anniversary of their elementary school all the kids were dressed up to represent the different decades.  Mike and I sported our Grease costumes and the girls put on their poodle skirts.  The girls were so excited to see their friends, eat pizza and drink soda, and cut a rug on the dance floor.  It was a fun night.