Happy Lollidays

In a magazine, I saw the time between Christmas and New Year's Day described as the Lollidays.

I agree.

In the days since Christmas we've cracked open our newest (bigger than ever) Lego set, eaten all the good food and enjoyed each other.

One of my favorites is silent reading time.  We gather in the family room, with our books.  One big difference from when they were younger is that when Braeden asked me what a word meant, I didn't know and Emma didn't either and then Mark told us to be quiet because he was reading and wasn't it supposed to be silent reading time?

I used to know what all the words meant in the books Braeden read and I used to be the one telling Mark to be quiet and read.

Times change.

Speaking of Mark, we have inadvertently been torturing him a little.  One of Emma's new games is called Snappy Dresser and one of the versions is you analyze what the characters are wearing and play a sort of Spot It game to distinguish the differences (mostly difference in color).  It is fast paced and Emma is really good at it.  Mark was just sort of stuck and then I remembered the child is color blind.

We decided to play a different game.

One day we joined Adam for lunch and I got home at 10:30 PM.  It was a long story but a longer day.  Adam is moving to a new office so we took the brute squad after lunch to move his stuff.  Then I started scheming (with input from a few of the guys that report to Adam) on what he needed at IKEA to better outfit his office which is nicer but more cramped than his previous office.  (A few of the guys tried to convince Adam to just take over the conference room.  "It would be a total power move!"  Adam is not the kind of guy that goes in for a total power move.)

The kids took Adam's car home and Adam and I took Joan to IKEA.  I did not buy one single thing for myself (kind of a big deal). We bought some things for the office and headed back that way.  It was snowing and icy but Joan was a champ.  We carried everything in together (stacking smaller things on the platform of one big box, including my drink which Adam questioned the wisdom of me bringing) and assembled.  Because IKEA is kind of our jam.  (Although I wished Mark were there too.)

I called the boys (Emma was at work) and told them to cook some frozen pizzas because we wouldn't make it home for dinner.  Braeden said, "I'm sorry you're stuck there so long."

But it didn't really feel like being stuck because I love being anywhere with Adam.

We finally got everything done and headed out into the winter wonderland.  We hit an Arby's drive thru because even though we weren't super hungry, we were a little hungry.

It turned out to be a good idea because the trip home was not great.  The freeway was closed because of crashes and we were finally able to exit and take a remarkably underutilized road that Adam knew about.  (Why did no one else know about it?)  It was icy and I was a little white knuckled but Adam warned me of potentially dicey curves on the unfamiliar road and again, Joan was a champ.

We made it home and even though it was a long day, I was with Adam.

Saturday I had a migraine so I holed up in my office with Adam's noise canceling headphones and listened to a playlist on Amazon music that definitely put me in a zen state.  I texted anyone who would listen for food and Emma brought me a tray of artfully arranged cheese and crackers and Braeden brought me a cup of ice and a Grapefruit Shasta.  I felt like I missed the whole day but they carried on without me.  They played Mario Cart in the basement and when I took off the headphones,  the whoops ascending up the stairs confirmed that they were having a good time.

So it's had its ups and downs, these Lollidays, but they've been a nice break and a time we've enjoyed each other.  I'm already excited about/dreading taking down the Christmas decorations (it's a big undertaking) and I'm already excited about/dreading heading back to work (mostly because I know I will be cold).

Grateful Friday

Christmas was a nice day.  We enjoyed our presents and our time together.  We played new games and the boys built Lego sets and we ate good food and talked on the phone.  I love catching up with my sisters on Christmas day and hearing all about their celebrations too.

I did indeed get Thelma the Unicorn (from Emma and it's a great book).  She also gifted me with a little unicorn and wrote Thelma on it.

I'm pretty sure I'll be the envy of all the 4th grade girls.

Today I'm grateful for a wondrous happy season where we pause to remember and be nostalgic and grateful.  I love spending time together and enjoying the light that illuminates the dark winter nights.

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I'm also grateful for a living prophet.  I took the challenge issued by President Nelson in October to finish the Book of Mormon by the end of the year.  I finished this week.  The last verses of Moroni 10 seemed like a great capstone to a Christmas celebration:

Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

I'm looking forward to a new year of studying the Gospel together as a family and I know that following the prophets brings me peace and happiness.

Christmas Eve

1)

I felt like the section of our tree that keeps going dark because our lights have a short. My cold had gone from bad to worse and I declared that I wasn't making cinnamon rolls after all (which is what I do every year on Christmas Eve.)

Emma stepped up to the plate and she and Adam made them.

2)

We decided what time we were going to wake up Christmas morning and the final time everyone landed on was 8:00 AM.  This is what happens when everyone gets older.

3)

I finished reading my book.

4)

We assembled gingerbread houses (mostly so we can smash them on New Year's Eve).  I named mine Guernica.  (Keep in mind I felt like the lights on the Christmas tree that don't work.)

Bottom left:  that's Guernica.  We're calling that protruding bit a flying buttress.

5)

Everyone chose a Christmas story to read aloud and Adam read from the Book of Mormon and Bible about Christ's birth and that feels more like Christmas than anything.

6)

I went to bed before the letter to Santa could be written.  (I usually write it.)  Emma again filled in for me.  (Daughters, am I right?)  She and Braeden both complimented St. Nicholas for his actions at the Council of Nicea.  (College kids, am I right?)

7)

Even though I felt like the dim bulbs on the tree, Christmas came.  I felt like the Whos down in Whoville.  It came just the same.  And I loved it.

The highlights

(Some of these pictures are mine and some of them are nabbed from Olivia and Facebook.)

Our quick trip to Nevada was memorable and exhausting and wonderful.

Friday morning we left early and made it in time for the Ladies' Brunch at Olivia's.  We stopped at the school in Wells to pick up Lili for the brunch.

If I were to pick up Mark from school, I would have to carefully identify him by name and grade level and then I'd have to show a picture ID and they'd make sure I was on the list of people that could pick him up.

I walked up to the office window and before I could say a word, the secretary (who I don't know) said, "You must be here for Liliana."  (I must look like my sisters.)

I said yes and she had me sign a roster and that was all there was to it.

The brunch was lovely as usual.  Everything was festive and beautiful and the food was spectacular.  I just love the convivial atmosphere of mothers and daughters and aunts and sisters and cousins and nieces.  They are my people.  Aunt Olivia came too which was wonderful.  Olivia has us go around the table and talk about our past year and what we're looking forward to and our end of the table always cries.

There's just something about all being together and saying things that all of us know anyway and all the love around the table.  It makes us emotional.

Or maybe there's some allergen at Olivia's house that makes our eyes water.

It could go either way.

We also laugh quite a bit.  Here's a picture of three sisters losing it and one daughter/niece thinking we're crazy:

After, we headed back to my parents' to pick up our menfolk.  They had been helping my dad in an archaeologist dig under their house.  The back of my dad's truck was full of old toys, destined for the dump.  My parents said I could have anything I wanted.  I loved seeing things but the only thing I pocketed was a Weeble.  Because Weebles wobble but they don't fall down.

I got to finally meet the groom, Timeon and he was every bit as great as I'd been led to believe.

We went to town and the mighty decorating began.

I was kind of in charge but eventually felt uncomfortable with people giving me credit because it was very much a group effort.  I never could have done it alone.  We stayed there until late afternoon, went back to my parents' for dinner then to the Club Hall for the Starr Valley Christmas program.

My mom wrote the original Nativity script way back when and I could recite it to you right now; it's imprinted into my brain.  My dad made the manger they still use and some of the decorations on the tree are the same I remember from the 70s.

It was good to be back.

Olivia ran the show this year (usually Marianne does too but her kids have aged out/she had one or two other things going on) and did a fabulous job.

I loved it.

Saturday morning we had a scalloped potato making party at Marianne's.  We had teams and Adam and Robert were the champions.  (Emma and I made a respectable showing.)

In the afternoon, it was back at the church for setting up and preparing.  It all came together in a lovely way.

Desi and Liberty did all the flowers and they were AMAZING.  My children were silly and made McDonald's runs (also they helped a lot with set up.)

I loved this picture I snapped before the reception began.  The happy couple and my dad.  

Emma and Braeden with Adam in the background who apparently missed his calling as an announcer.  

Teamwork makes the dreamwork.  It was a lucky day when I got in the same line as these two before coming to earth.

When I was pinning Marianne's corsage on her, I said, "Can you believe this is happening?  Your daughter's wedding?  I feel like we're grownups."

It's blurry but this is me holding sweet Boston.  He's basically sweetness with blue eyes.

I love these two!

Robert's sister, Deborah, took pictures and she is amazing.  She had the bridesmaids pose like this:

So these goofballs tried to do the same:

At one point during the reception (I think after we'd watched a video of the happy couple with some sweet words at the end by Timeon), Braeden said to me, "I don't know why I'm so emotional."

I said, "It's a big deal.  A family is being created."

Braeden nodded, "Yes.  It is really sacred."

And it was.  The adoration of the new couple, the encouragement of a community who showed up to celebrate, the amazing women in the kitchen who worked so hard, and the large extended family of Clarissa's who opened their arms and welcomed Timeon.

Dahl Family

Johnson Family

We were all there out of this huge love and that's sacred.

Sunday was also a big deal.

Before church, Adam ordained Mark to the office of priest.  We had permission to do it in Nevada so Mark could have his uncles and grandpa and Hyrum there.  I loved feeling the goodness of those men as they surrounded my sweet son.  What a blessing it is in life to have righteous men to look up to and through them, to feel the power of the priesthood.

Enoch unfortunately didn't make it in time because of snowy roads.

It's a wonderful life.

Deseret spoke in church and I cried the entire time.  She is just this embodiment of light and truth.  Every word she said was so good (I'm guessing the Cantonese words were good because she spoke a little Cantonese too).

After, we had a big ward dinner and then we headed back home.

That much concentrated joy can wear a person out.

Merry Christmas!

We're excited over here!

Well those of us that are awake are excited.  It's Mark and me and he was groggily singing Christmas songs while pouring his Cinnamon Toast Crunch (which I rarely buy so it's kind of a big deal).

We had a wonderful weekend!  Assuming I don't lose the battle with the cold I'm fighting, I'll blog about it in the coming days because I want to remember and record it all. (Is it just me or have I just had one cold after another?  I guess it comes from working at a school.)

Having such a weekend align with Christmas feels about perfect though.  Because of Christ, everything that filled me with such joy means so much more.

I'm grateful for the bonds of eternal families.  I'm grateful for the kids my siblings are raising that take my breath away with their goodness.  I'm grateful for the faith of my parents and hope for a bright future.  I'm grateful for the sacredness of a brand new eternal family, about to be formed.

I'm grateful for the birth of Jesus Christ.  I'm grateful for His example of righteousness and the truths He taught that help lead us home.  I'm also grateful for His Atonement.  What a gift we have been given.  It's a gift that strengthens and heals and enables and redeems.

Joy to the world!

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

Here we gooooooooo

Today's the day.  It's the first day of Christmas vacation but I was up extra early.  I think maybe out of solidarity for Adam who is taking a very early flight home from San Francisco this morning.

Today's the day for last minute Christmas (food) shopping--the presents are all wrapped and under the tree and accounted for (except for a gift for Geri that I "set aside" to give her when she came and have not located).

This is why I never can feel too smug about anything.  I'm always something of a mess.

Anyway.

Today's the day we're getting ready for our quick Nevada trip.  Maybe I woke up early because I was considering how I was going to pack up and transport all the philodendron vines I'm "harvesting" from my ten million (ballpark figure) philodendron plants.  I'm going to use them for a bit of decorating.  Will it work?  Time will tell.

(sometimes I'm afraid that the confidence placed in me for decorating for this reception is misplaced....)

Today's the day Braeden is coming home for vacation.  Emma came home yesterday afternoon.  We went to dinner with Nyla because Vanessa went into the MTC yesterday and I know how that feels.  (I told Nyla if she ever misses Nessa and needs to talk to a quirky kid--or three--she can come on over.  We've got the liberally minded political science major, the French speaking girl who loves to sing and the red-head.  Wrap them all together and maybe that amounts to someone as awesome as Vanessa.)

I'm looking forward to everyone who calls me mom sleeping under the same roof tonight (Bruiser the dancing fish is back too).

Peace on Earth, goodwill to men

I spent yesterday with a heavy heart.  A tragic accident happened in our town, a 12 year old boy was killed in an auto-pedestrian accident.  Although I don't know any of them, my heart ached for the boy's family and friends as well as for the driver.

On the way to work, I listened to a podcast from Emily P. Freeman.  As usual, it spoke to my soul.

Babies come into the world as little reflecting mirrors of the grown ups around them. The fact that they exist brings out the best and also the worst in us — the round the clock care, the constant dependency, and availability. You would think a little baby would give us this great opportunity to show off how strong and capable we really are, how able we are to care for them. They are so small, after all. And we are so big. 

As it turns out, babies do the very opposite, revealing our weakness, our neediness, our limited supply. They show us everything we are not, all the things we cannot do, balance, hold, finish, or remember. But they also reveal beauty, pull out our best when we think there’s nothing left, and compel us toward them, again and again, just by their presence in the room.

This Emmanuel is no different. He reflects for us our neediness and our weakness as well as our capacity for hope, love, and redemption. And the wonder of the story is that even as he exposes the need, his is the presence that meets it.

I kept thinking about it all throughout my day.  I thought about the juxtaposition of tragedy and sorrow against the swirl of happy activity at the school.  It was the Christmas program and parents were invited to come and watch.


The children were thrilled with their performances and waved happily at their adoring parents who were proudly taking pictures and video and waving back.

Well, not all the children were thrilled.

There was the kindergartner completely overwhelmed and in tears.  There was another kindergartner who had lost his paper buttons (they were snowmen).  I put my arms around a sobbing little boy whose mother hadn't come.  "She promised she would and she didn't!"  He's an unkempt little boy with dirty clothes and black under his fingernails.  I don't think it's the first time his mother has let him down.  I hugged another tiny girl who had fallen at recess and although she'd been given a bandaid, she was hurt and crying.

Sometimes even a bandaid doesn't cure us.

I thought about Christmas and how Christ came for all of us.  He came for those suffering from tragedy as well as those happy children whose parents show up with smiles and support.  He came for the disappointed and the hurting and the joyful and for everyone in between.  For the ups and downs of life that all of us have had and will have, we have a Savior.  

God is not dead nor doth He sleep.

More from Emily P. Freeman:

May we remember Jesus has come, not for the sake of a good story but for the sake of our soul. May we not push aside our own longing, heartbreak, or thrill of hope, no matter how small. 

May we allow the miracle of the life of Jesus to be born in us again today...

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

We had a nice slow weekend.  We did a few errands, we cleaned the house a little, and I made clothespin dolls of the five Bennett sisters:

Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia

They delighted me even though they turned out wonky.  There are two types of people in the world:  people that should use glue guns and people like me.

We also went to A Christmas Carol at the Hale Theater.  Emma is planning an internship in France next fall and it occurred to me that we won't get free tickets to the Hale Theater!  Perish the thought!

It would be worth paying for though.

That theater!  Their version of A Christmas Carol is my favorite (and that's even considering the Muppets version which is a very close second).  I cry like a crazy person during it because Christmas  and all that it means hits me like The Polar Express (I was going to say freight train but decided to keep it seasonal).  The Hale Theater's production adds a subtle layer that speaks volumes to me about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how it is because of Him that we can change and do better and be better.  I just love it.

They add songs into the production and near the end, Ebenezer sings, "God rest ye merry, gentlemen..."

Adam said later, "Did you notice he paused for the comma?"

Adam notices punctuation and until he pointed it out, I always thought the song was about merry gentlemen.  Instead it's about God resting us merry.

I don't know.  I just love that.

Desi is back!

Friday I was looking forward all day to being at the airport when Desi arrived home from Hong Kong.  I even told some of the third graders I work with about it.  Exciting times!

Braeden and Emma met us here (Adam would be joining us later because he was refereeing).  We took Loki (which is a gutless rattletrap it turns out) and I drove.  Because I'm not crazy.

We were merrily rolling along and then we hit traffic.  Terrible traffic.  The ambulance came up the side and there was clearly an accident up ahead.  Turns out there were multiple accidents and we crawled.  At one point Mark said, "Hey, we're moving now!" except we were only going 25 mph.  It just felt like a really fast pace.

Emma was texting her aunts and I realized we weren't going to make it to the airport on time.  We aborted that mission and went instead to IHOP which is where we were all meeting for dinner.

Because of the magic of Facebook, I did manage to steal some pictures of the airport scene which made me feel both better and worse.

I really wanted to be there.

Here's the big group--minus us. :(

I love this one of Hyrum pointing proudly, the joy on Robert's face and that wild swirl of hair as sisters hugged:

I also loved this one of my sweet Mama:

This picture captures Desi perfectly.  Such a bright light of sunshine in the world.  Here she is greeting Edgar:

My mom called us to see if they should wait at the airport or what.  I said, "No, we gave up and just went to IHOP."

Braeden and Emma and Mark laughed loudly at that (and if you've heard Braeden laugh, you know what I mean).

I realized it did sound kind of bad to the people surrounding us--like IHOP is where you go when you've hit rock bottom.

(I sort of felt like I had hit rock bottom.)

But then people started arriving and Desi bounded in and hugged me tight and had way more energy than anyone should have after flying in from Hong Kong.

We settled in and ate french toast and it must be said, that cheers a person up.  Adam and I sat in a booth across from Marianne and Robert and drew sketches of the reception plans on one of those little adhesive papers that was wrapped around a napkin.

(It was a small sketch.)

It was wonderful to chat briefly with people.  I'm looking forward to next weekend and having more time to see everyone.  It is a tiny bit intimidating to contemplate executing my lofty (literally--I want to hang some stuff) plans for the reception, but Robert said, "I'll do anything you tell me to do."

So there's that.

Grateful Friday

Three grinning siblings cross my way every morning at school.  They have sunny dispositions even on the coldest mornings.

The other crossing guard, the one out on the street, seeks refuge in her car while waiting for the kids to come.  The other day she didn't make it to the corner in time when the three kids wanted to cross but a car stopped and the driver waved the kids across.

These three were just thrilled with the turn of events.

The oldest sister said to her younger brother and sister, "People are just so nice!"

What a way to look at the world.

They could have been unhappy that the crossing guard wasn't in her place.  They could have been expectant that a car would wait for them to cross (there is a crosswalk after all).  Instead, they chose to marvel at the goodness of people.

It was a cold morning, but it surely warmed my heart.

I want to wash my hands, my face and hair with snow

I want:

...enough snow that I have an adventure putting Joan through her paces (I also want her to do well in lots of snow which hasn't really been tested yet).

...little snow so Emma can drive safely to work.

...enough snow that recess is cancelled and everyone stays inside.

...little snow so the driveway/steps/sidewalk don't have to be shoveled.

...enough snow that everything looks lovely and wintry and Christmasy.

...little snow so kindergartners don't slip and fall down.  Because they will cry.



Is this all too much to ask?

Christmas concert

I have a lot of favorite things about living in Pleasant Grove (and a few least favorite things).  Topping the favorite list is the high school choir Christmas concert.  It is very thoroughly a Christmas concert and in most parts of the country, I don't think that could be the case.

But I love it.

As Nola whispered to me during one of the songs, "Imagine the impact learning these songs about the Savior and singing them every day has been for these kids?"

It's pretty remarkable.

And they're talented.  One of the boys arranged a beautiful song and then accompanied the choir.  It was amazing.

I was thrilled to see my own handsome guy in the men's choir.

The concert ended with all five choirs singings All is Well.

All is well all is well

Angels and men rejoice

For tonight darkness fell

Into the dawn of love's light

Sing Ale

Sing Alleluia

All is well all is well

Let there be peace on earth

Christ's come go and tell

That He is in the manger

Sing Ale

Sing Alleluia

All is well all is well

Lift up your voices and sing

Born is now Emmanuel

Born is our Lord and Savior

Sing Alleluia

Sing Alleluia

All is well

Born is now Emmanuel

Born is our Lord and Savior

Sing Alleluia

Sing Alleluia

All is well

It's possible it made me cry.

You've had a birthday shout hurray

He's sixteen!

Adam and I marveled that it didn't seem possible that our baby was sixteen.

But he is whether we can believe it or not.

Yesterday morning he said that now that he's sixteen, he's very impatient to get his license.  What is holding us back are the driving hours and what is holding back the driving hours is me.

Sometimes Adam will say, "Let's have Mark drive."  And I will say no because it stresses me out.  I've been trying harder lately to get him behind the wheel.  I also want him to have his license.  I just don't want him to drive.

It's complicated.

We celebrated his birthday Sunday.

Emma came again and Braeden was already here and that is my hands down favorite situation.  I love the life and laughter that fills up the house when those three are in it together.

We were waiting for someone before opening gifts (I can't remember who) so we made Mark do clapping pushups while we waited so he could earn his gifts.

He's 100% the only person in this family that can do those.

Here he is reading his card from Grandma and Grandpa Dahl.

Emma and Braeden remarked that his gifts were nothing they would ever have been gifted with for their 16th birthdays.  I guess it goes with the ability to do clapping pushups.

Here he is showing off his new socket set from Grandma Geri (he immediately made sure there was a 10mm wrench inside and Emma said, "I don't even know what that means") and car emergency kit from Grandma and Grandpa Dahl.

photo bomb by Braeden's enormous foot

He wore the new scarf he got the rest of the day.

I'm so grateful we have Mark in our family.  He is endlessly patient and kind.  He works hard and forgives me when I'm late picking him up from school and he's standing in the cold (hence the scarf--hence the impatience to get his license).  He is strong both inside and out and wickedly funny.

More often than not, I have no idea what I did to deserve the kids that were born to us.  But I'm very grateful for them.

Pikkujoulu 2018

(Today is my best Christmas present ever's birthday!  Happy Birthday to Mark!  I'll write about his celebration tomorrow.)

Geri came Friday night and Mark and I also drove to Provo to pick up Braeden to stay with us for the weekend. (Emma had work and other Emma things to do.)

So it's been a party.

Saturday morning we went to the temple and performed sealings for some of Geri's family members she had researched.  It was a powerful experience, particularly when we sealed five sisters and one brother to their parents all at the same time.  It made it seem more real somehow to see each family member represented at once.

It reminded me how much I love my siblings.

That afternoon Emma came and we played Disney Codenames (which is really hard but also fun) and drank Cranberry Sprite.

That night we celebrated Pikkujoulu.

In a rare turn of events I remembered to take a picture.  I said, "Don't touch anything!  I'm going to take a picture."

As you can see Mark was already digging into his bread bowl though.

We ate clam chowder in sour dough bread bowls and fruit and cheese and it was a happy time.

Afterward we sang some Christmas songs and gave the kids a new Christmas book:

In keeping with the theme, Adam surprised us with a new Lego set:

We put it together while we ate fudge and cookies.  Emma and I discovered if you detach the train from inside the carousel and then turn the crank, the train goes flying.

Emma said that next year she's hoping to be in France this time of year and I told her that I am going to cut her passport into ribbons so she can't go.

I think it's what any supportive mother would do.

I need this girl in my life.  That's all.

Grateful Friday

The other day I told Adam about some trying times at school and he said, "Just imagine if there wasn't someone there that cares as much as you do."

When I see myself as floundering, he sees me as someone who cares a lot.

It's a nice spin.

Awhile ago I told Adam that I felt bad because the amount of money I earn at my job probably doesn't make up for the amount of hassle it is for our family.

Adam said, "I was just thinking the other day what a blessing it is for our family to have you serving so much."

When I see myself as neglecting my duties, he sees me as out in the world serving.

He is the first to reassure me everything will be OK.  He is always ready to pick up the slack.  He is game for half-baked ideas and makes everything more fun.  He is my biggest champion and wants me to be happy.

I sure love that guy.

Sometimes

Sometimes (like when he delivers my stack of fliers to all the doors publicizing the Relief Society and ward Christmas parties), Mark is the most awesome kid imaginable.

Sometimes frozen pizza makes a fine dinner.

Sometimes an unkempt second grader who is mad at the world and exceptionally naughty holds his arms out because he wants a hug. (I hugged him tight.)

Sometimes I get in school mode even at home.  I asked Adam if he wanted me to tie his shoes because he was walking around with them untied.  I tied them and said, "Now, you should stand up a little straighter because your shoes have been tied by a professional."

(Then he retied them because he wanted them tighter and said I did them backwards.)

Sometimes you are not Nutella.  You can't make everyone happy.

Sometimes it's really nice to opt out of things.  My roommate Jamee taught me in college to say, "I have to be somewhere."  It's magic.

Sometimes you accidentally put peppermint extract instead of almond extract in the cookies and decide now no one will have to brush their teeth. (minty fresh!)

Sometimes you consider what a real time saver you are for your family....

What a world

Isn't it disarming when you see a comment on a Facebook post and realize that two people that you know from two completely different parts of your life (and different parts of the country) know each other?  That happened to me today.

It's a small world after all.

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It's also a cold world.

I know I was hot last summer.  I know it.  I just can't remember.

Yesterday, when it was 17 degrees and I was standing on my corner doing traffic duty, I tried to remember being hot.

I couldn't even remember being warm.

I ordered more base layers from Amazon because I can't live like this.

**

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That is our backyard and those are 100% animal footprints.  It seems like they're maybe having midnight parties out there.  I notice they're avoiding the trampoline though.  A few years ago, a deer ventured onto the trampoline and I'm sure that was a party.

**

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I read this:

Ships don’t sink because of the water around them; ships sink because of the water that gets in them. Don’t let what’s happening around you get inside you and weigh you down.

I love it and it gave me encouragement after a sort of disastrous session with some third graders and their writing.

I think it could give me encouragement in lots of parts of my life.

**

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My heart has been breaking thinking of a BYU student who attempted suicide a few days ago.  I keep thinking about it and thinking about the people I interact with and the fact that I don't know what they're going through on the inside.  We never do.

Yesterday, Elder Bednar was already scheduled to speak to the students for a BYU Devotional.  What a blessing to have him address a shaken student body.  Braeden told me about it and I cried, then I told Olivia about it and we both cried (then I told Adam and Mark and cried some more).

It is wonderful to have apostles of Jesus Christ amongst us to comfort and give wisdom.

When tragedy strikes and the only true place to turn for peace is the Prince of Peace, it really makes me appreciate this Christmas season all the more.

I'm grateful for the Light of the world that is an unending source of goodness and light.  The gospel of Jesus Christ bring reassurance to my life.

A weary world rejoices.

Merrymaking rollicking frolicking carrot shaking celebration

When I texted the BYU kids about Sunday I told them we would have a merrymaking rollicking frolicking carrot shaking celebration and whoever knew which book that was from got extra fudge.

Liberty texted back it was from Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree and I hope that girl got enough fudge because she deserved it.

We had a nice time Sunday.  My parents and grandma joined us so we were 13 for dinner.  After an existential crisis about which dishes to use and how to set the table (because I only have 12 Christmas bowls), we ironed it out and the evening went off without a hitch.

After dinner I set my mom to stirring the fudge and put Emma in charge of decorating the tree.  Emma has an eye I trust and a bossy authority her brothers don't question so it worked.

I gave my dad the hooks to manage.

I only took one blurry and incomplete picture.  Everyone was in front of the tree so nicely in a sort of action shot of decorating and I grabbed my phone and in an instant everyone dispersed.

There's Mark with the hooks and Mark II going to get a hook, that's Braeden's friend Anna, then Emma and Braeden and Liberty barely in the shot.  Freja and Zack were helping with the tree too and they all did a great job.

I gave up with pictures so it's not very well documented but we were having a good time.

We mixed four different kinds of fudge:  oreo, candy cane, salted peanut and cranberry pistachio.

Everybody wins with fudge.

The kids stood around the piano singing and Liberty played for them and it occurred to me that here we've been having this amazing pianist to dinner every week and have not utilized her!

(I'm all about exploiting talented people for my enjoyment.)

After everyone left, we ran one more load of dishes in the dishwasher. (I wouldn't let my mom or Liberty wash dishes though they tried.  I am a firm believer in making dishes wait their turn for the dishwasher.)

Then I collapsed in the chair in a tired heap.

Merrymaking rollicking frolicking carrot shaking celebrations can be exhausting.

We Facetimed with Grandma Geri and are excited to see her later this week.

Later in the evening, Braeden texted a picture of his tree that he, Anna, Emma and Freja had decorated:

Emma commented he didn't take a picture of the star so he added this:

I love that Emma and Freja are still being creative together.

Concert going

Saturday night we left a good-natured Mark behind to go to Emma's concert (we sadly weren't able to get him a ticket).

We met Emma beforehand for dinner.  We had a nice chat over Costa Vida then dropped her off for her call time.  We had an hour to kill before the concert and decided to walk over to the library to see if they had any interesting displays.

As a side note, the library is completely unrecognizable to me now.  I like the comfort of the aging buildings at BYU where I know where everything is.  The HFAC for example.  I know where the bathrooms are that most of the concert goers don't know about and it comes in handy sometimes.

Anyway.

We were at the library and my phone rang and Adam shushed me but who knows, maybe it's fine to have your phone ringing in the library now?  That place is different.

It was Emma on the phone.  She said she didn't have her black shoes for the concert.  She asked us to go to her apartment and get them.  We immediately headed there.  Baby girl + distress call = mobilization.  We lamented the loss of our great parking spot but Emma needed us.

Emma had said Jackie would be there.  Jackie is her roommate who was decorating cookies when we'd picked Emma up.

Well, Jackie wasn't there.

I texted Emma and Emma texted Jackie and nope.  She wasn't home.

Emma texted, "I should have just sent my keys with you!"  And I realized that would have been a good idea but none of us had thought of it and now there wasn't time to go back to campus and then back to her apartment and then back to campus.  Besides Emma was supposed to be warming up.

When you marry an Adam all your children have big feet.  That's just science.

So I considered giving Emma my black shoes for the concert but they wouldn't fit her.

I texted Liberty.  "What size are your shoes?"

Too small.

We drove to Target.  It's a new little mini Target close-ish to campus and we had never been there before.  I hurried inside to find that it was seriously mini.  There was no shoe department, just some shoes scattered thinly through the clothes.  I quickly scanned the few black pairs.  Wrong size.

A mannequin was wearing black shoes and I got down on the floor to investigate the size.  Too small. I was totally prepared to rip those shoes off the mannequin had they been right though.  I stood up to find a guy staring at me like I was a complete wacko.

What?  You haven't seen a woman down on her hands and knees checking out the shoe size of a mannequin before?

We headed back to the HFAC, out of ideas.  Emma called and was in a complete panic spiral and I told her it was all OK.  "Just go shoeless.  You're in the second row."  They have floor length black skirts and wear black tights.  "It's fine," I told her over and over because being a mother of a child in crisis mode has two facets 1) do everything you can to fix it, even if it means lunacy and 2) reassuring them it's going to be fine.

I asked Adam if he thought you ever reach a point when you don't act like a crazy person for the sake of your children.

We don't know.

We found our seats and were happily in the balcony because we've learned that's the best place to spy our shoeless girl.  (We couldn't tell she didn't have shoes on.)

We loved and adored the concert like we knew we would.  Adam cried more than I did but we had gone straight to Provo right after he was at a meeting with Elder Soares so it's understandable he had an extra tender heart.

At the intermission, Adam stood next to an elderly man and started chatting with him (because he's Adam).  The man asked Adam if he was on the football team.

How old does he think BYU football players are?

The concert was a combination of the four choirs that I love as well as the BYU Philharmonic and a brass quintet.

How wonderful is a world that is capable of producing such beautiful music?

Grateful Friday

I'm grateful Mark is a better driver and way (way) easier to take driving than his siblings at that age.  He was a way (way) harder toddler/preschooler so I earned this.  He is never defensive nor argumentative when corrected, but says a quiet, "OK," and away we go.

I'm grateful I'm almost done teaching children to drive.  Because it is the worst.

I'm grateful for Braeden and Emma texts.  I like getting texts from them.  Braeden sends  funny/interesting/bizzaro NYTimes articles and memes I minimally understand.  Emma sends things like a recent day when she texted us three paintings so we could guess the artists.

Even though I didn't get them correct:

I love that our children are learning things and expanding their minds and sharing their gee whiz stuff with us.  I say this all the time, but I'm so grateful for their opportunities.

I'm also just grateful for those weirdos.  Braeden randomly texted this picture and Emma's response left me wanting to say what?!? and why?!? to both of them but I just went with it.

I'm grateful for snow on the mountain.  If feels like an insurance policy against a dry summer.

I'm grateful for Joan because even though Adam is out of town, the weather forecast doesn't worry me.

I'm grateful Emma was able to score us some tickets to her sold out choir concert this weekend!  Huzzah!

I'm grateful for my job.  It's so fun to be around kids.

I'm grateful that even though the 3rd-4th grade boys that play soccer at recess seem bent on killing me with the ball, they haven't succeeded yet.  And yesterday when I managed to stop the ball that was careening toward me, a few boys threw up their hands in victory and yelled "Teacher blocked the ball!"

I felt like a hero.  For about 10 seconds, but still.  Me + a situation involving a ball + anything resembling victory doesn't happen very often (or ever).

Wouldn't be grateful Friday without a nod towards Adam.  He is the favorite part of every day.

Books I read November 2018 and things I learned

The Visitors by Sally Beauman **

This was about a girl who was visiting Egypt with her governess and their social circles intersected with the archaeologists who found King Tut's tomb.  It was TOO long.  The book was very interesting at times but dragged to an uninteresting whimper by the end.  It felt like the author had three books and tried to mash them together.

Beartown by Fredrik Backman ***

So good.  So crude.  I skimmed a lot of it, especially every time they were in the hockey locker room.   It's about a small town in Sweden (Beartown) and a hockey team and a community rocked by an accusation.

**

*

I listen to a podcast, The Next Right Thing, by Emily P. Freeman.  (I recommend it a million times.)  She recently talked about a quarterly reflection she does.  Each season, she stops to consider what she learned.

So here's my feeble initial attempt to do the same.

Here's what I learned in Autumn 2018:

I absolutely love being in an elementary school.  It is dramatic (blood and temper tantrums and escapees) and loving (I get hugs and compliments and shy waves and big smiles all the time) and so very fulfilling (teaching and watching children learn is my happy place).

It's been challenging to start working outside my home after such a long hiatus.  Even though I only work part time, it's been a full time change.  It's a huge adjustment and has required me to alter my expectations and to do list.

I don't have as much time to read or do other leisure activities.  And that's OK.

(Reading is less OK, but I need to remember how much I love being at school and recognize that I am choosing something else to fill me up.  Everything has a season and I'll have chances to read more--here's looking at you Christmas vacation.)

I like podcasts and listening to the Book of Mormon.  I didn't used to be very good at listening but I'm getting better at it.  I need to practice listening to audio books.  And choose books well.  I was listening to one and realized that when I can't skim over bad language but have to hear it, it feels different.  I started a book by an author I usually enjoy (Liane Moriarty), but I ultimately abandoned listening.  Because I couldn't skim.

I'm learning (and likely still need to learn more) that 90% of the angst I feel is because of my own wrong expectations.

I need to work on that....

Nevada party

One of Braeden's roommates was recently called to serve a mission in the Nevada Reno mission.  We decided to throw him a party.

Because Nevada.

Adam said, "You know how Texans are really into Texas?  Nevadans are really into Nevada too."

It's true.

Emma and I decorated by cutting apart some calendars my mom had made for us with photos taken around their house.

Nevada = photogenic (the horses are too)

Adam said we had to have salad like my mom makes because that's Nevada salad.  (I don't think my mom's salad is necessarily Nevada salad, but Adam loves salad like my mom makes and I never make it because I'm not a big salad eater and even less of a salad maker.)

I created a trivia quiz with prizes! prizes! prizes!  (gold Hershey's chocolate and silver Hershey's kisses in a nod to the gold mines and The Silver State)

Adam did a reprise of his Nevada/not Nevada game using Google images.

(Brian won both games so I'd say he's ready for his mission!)

We ate brownies cut into the shape of Nevada.

After awhile I gave up and just had regular brownie shapes.  Nevada/not Nevada brownies....

We forgot to sing the Nevada state song for Brian!  Braeden and I even had a debate ahead of time about whether we should sing the traditional version (my vote) or the Killer's version (his vote). And then we forgot!

All the returned missionaries did two truths and a lie about their missions.  So now Brian either is terrified or excited.  It depends on how you look at it and what kind of thirst for adventure he has.

Because crazy stuff happens to missionaries.  Adam said it's because you talk to everyone.  Braeden added, "And they tell you everything."

Sam's impersonation of the man who showed up drunk for his own baptism was pretty awesome and Ben told us about fish he ate in Tahiti that was "cured" in a liquid where another fish had been fermented.  He said the worst part was the smell.

There were eleven of us for dinner and turns out we only have ten knives.  Where did the others go?

Adam and I shared a knife.

Because we're in love.

Haul out the holly

Saturday was a day packed with goodness.  We decorated a bit in the morning, went to the temple (with Braeden too, which only makes it better) and then decorated some more.

Adam bought me that picture of Santa the first year we were married.

this little Finnish guy delights me

Also, Emma joined Adam and me on our Saturday errands.  We swung by Walmart so she could buy a small tree for her apartment.  They were $17.99 online and $25 in the store.  All of Emma's pennies matter to her so Adam talked to the store clerk, named Richard. Richard said, "I don't know if I have the authority to do it but I'll try."  He did an override and gave Emma the online price.

When we were leaving, Emma told me how much she appreciated Jolly Old Saint Richolas.  (He did have a long white beard.)

At dinner I told the kids they could have ice cream if they ate some vegetables.  This has been a trick I've employed for about 20 years and I'm not giving up on it, I don't care how big these kids get.

Mark said, "Ravioli are vegetables.  If you can't hunt something, it is a vegetable.  And you can't hunt ravioli."

Then he ate some broccoli (because he wanted ice cream).

We played a new Disney version of Codenames (which was surprisingly hard) and watched Somebody Feed Phil which we're maybe obsessed with.

Adam presented us with the new Christmas bear.

We named her Tea Cup and she was immediately embraced by the sleuth (which is what you call a group of bears--I googled it.)

This is all to say, being here makes me happy.