January

January is here, with eyes that keenly glow-- A frost-mailed warrior striding a shadowy steed of snow. Edgar Faucett

January 2 - going on a sleigh ride

Audrey and kids came up today. They found the old sleigh and went for a ride... jingle bell and all!

January 6 - hot tub

I got in the hot tub with Dave this morning. It was cold getting there, but felt ohhh so good sitting in the hot, bubbly, back massaging water. I enjoyed watching the hot steam of the water rise and combine with the cold air, making a steaming, fogging, mysterious scene in the orchard.

January 8 - make a mix

I went to Audrey's today. We made some pancake mix. Ben had to get in on the action. He is such a funny boy. He loves to cook and help mommy in the kitchen. He's got his favorite (super hero) shirt on and Alia's knitted hat. Ben and Alia got a Leap Frog for Christmas. Ben is showing off his reading skills to grandma.

Case of the missing marbles

A story about Ben 

Ben's favorite thing to play at grandma's is marbles and the roller rack. He also loves to transfer marbles back and forth in Dave's wooden canisters (that he made in Jr. High). When it is time to go home, the kids pick up their play things and puts them away. Well, Ben cleaned up all the marbles so well I couldn't find where he put them. They were not in the wooden canisters, not on the roller rack. No where to be found. That's strange! Where could they be? I didn't think about it again. And then, one day Makaela was at the house and reclined the couch in the living room. And there they were! The marbles, fruit snacks, and candy had been stowed away in the back of the couch. The case of the missing marbles had been solved!

January 12 - 4 months old

Emilee could pass for the Gerber baby! She is so adorable. She has wild hair, sparkle in her eyes, rose bud lips, and a smile that never ends. She is so happy. So pleasant. So full of vigor and life. When lying on the floor, she can spin herself in a 360 before you can blink and eye! She's a mover and a shaker. She is a joy to watch grow.

Snowed in

Today... lots of snow. And it just keeps coming!

January 14 - snow and icicles

A beautiful sight after the snowstorm! Looking down the driveway.

I was excited to see icicles. I haven't seen them in years. They formed in the eaves of the house. Apparently the rain gutters did not do their job! The sight took me back to my childhood. Every winter brought snow, thaw, and then icicles. Each day the temperature rose allowed the snow to thaw, water to drip, and icicles to grow. I loved to watch the formation of icicles from beginning to end. Some would grow straight down as a tin soldier. Some would find a slight path of curves. Probably from dripping and combining with other drips of water. They intrigued me. And I thought they were just beautiful. Like icicles hanging on the Christmas tree. Winter wasn't winter without icicles! I made my rounds around the house knocking the long icicles down with my little gloved hands. The clanging and crashing of icicles sounded like glass breaking. Looking for the perfect icicle to lick on was like looking for a treat on a treasure hunt or hunting for the perfect Christmas tree. My huge icicle (popcicle in my mind), was a treat on a winter afternoon. 

One day I had a friend over. We were making the rounds around the house, and I was knocking icicles down from the eves. My friend was following close behind when a bunch of icicles came crashing down. Right on top of her head! It was like a dagger. She was bleeding. I felt so bad. I can't remember too much after that. I am sure we went racing to the house where my mother doctored her the best she could and called her mother. I don't think she came to my house after that. It wasn't the first, or the last time, I would hurt a friend un-intentionally.

January 16 - colored chairs

Chairs provide so much imagination. Put in a line, they become a path, a bus, a train, a bridge. Alia and Ben put their colored chairs in a row and entertained me. Alia is trying to read the Friend. Ben is trying to get from one side to another. Some how it worked out, but not without the ruffling of feathers!

January 17 - car

Dave had taken the car to Las Vegas over the weekend. It came home very dirty. It was a clear, nice day today so I took the car to Super Sonic car wash in Ogden for a thorough wash, inside and out.

January 19 - painting

Kelsey is so ambitious. I don't know how she does it, but she does. She is also a perfectionist. She is tackling one room at at time, repairing walls, tapping, and repainting them. Armed with the best brand paint she could find, it will look like a brand new house when she is finished. I asked her how she does it because it seems so overwhelming. Her strategy is simple... " I take it one room at a time. I don't think about the other rooms." It will get done. Just like every other thing she has set out to do in her life. She is a DOER. She is amazing! She is my role model. Above, she is working on Makaela's room. When finished, it will be a soft robin blue egg color. She is surprising Makalea with a beautiful new bed, quilt, and room accessories for her birthday next month.

January 26 - home from hospital

It's been a long, hard month for me. I won't dwell on it. It takes me to a place I don't want to be. But, nonetheless, I have to say I was sick, very sick. I have been taking antibiotics to clear up an infection of the gut. Di.ver.ti.cu.li.tis. The doctor also put me on a diet of no dairy, no fat, no oils (from gall stones). I was basically on an all liquid diet. My bowels were running away with me, I was weak, I was sick. The only thing I could do was lay on the bed and stare into space. I was losing weight. I knew I needed some medical attention. I called the doctor first thing last Monday morning and told him about my condition. Upon seeing me, he immediately put me in the hospital. So that is where I spent the last week. IV's in both arms. My electrolytes were out of balance. I was extremely dehydrated. More CT scans. Now, not only did I have Diverticulitis, but I had C-dif. An infection of the gut where when you take too many antibiotics, the bad stuff takes over the good stuff. It took a few days in the hospital to start feeling better. I'm still recovering at home. It's been slow.

On the bright side, Amie and Kelsey took it upon themselves to completely clean and disinfect my home from top to bottom before I came back from the hospital. When I walked in, I was overcome with emotion at the site. The counters and wood floors sparkled. The house smelled fresh and clean. Everything was in perfect order. Flowers and a new "thinking of you" Willow Tree angel greeted my bedside. I was overcome with emotion. When we walked in the house, Dave said "I'm going downstairs."  I said, "I think I'll cry." And I did! 

Amie came to the hospital and visited me one day. The aide wondered about this good deed she and Kelsey had done and was amazed that they would do it without being asked. My reward as a mother came when she exclaimed, without hesitation, "you raised me mom!" It was a wonderful gift any mother could ask for. Children who serve with joy and cheerfulness, just because they love their mother.

January 28 - Shutterfly book

I made my first book using Shutterfly. First trip to Hogle Zoo for the Mecham family. It was tons of fun to make. It turned out even better than I expected. It came in the mail today. I can't wait to give it to the kids!

January Birthdays

          January 6                               January 15                      January 29                          January 29

Month in Review