Bringing the Sunshine

Owen's class had a chance to sing Christmas carols at Sunshine Terrace, a local nursing home. It was very sweet to watch. I was instantly transported back to the days of visiting nursing homes growing up, with my family, or with the young women in my ward. I wish I could report to you that I loved performing this service. Sadly, sadly, and to be honest with you, dear reader, I didn't like it then, and I still don't. I know it is important, and I feel grateful for the chance to provide service to the sweet people stuck in these places, but I always find it so very sad and even scary. I especially felt so as a child. I have huge, enormous respect for people who work with and serve these people in the last and probably least pleasant days of their lives.

These kindergarten and 1st graders were first taken to the Alzheimer's unit to sing. It was a little frightening for them, as some of the residents are very, very, debilitated. I was worried, and really tried to comfort my Owen, but he seemed surprisingly okay with it all, so maybe it's just me who is scared of old people. Not sure.

I wish I could include more pictures, but I don't know most of the kids' parents yet, so I don't think it's a great idea. But I have to show you that Owen is a full head taller than all the kids in his grade. It was pretty funny to see them all lined up singing... a flat skyline of heads and then >POP< there's Owen's head. Here is is feeling really inspired and focused on the music:

Jr. Grizz

Cue "The Eye of the Tiger" in your head...

Another successful season of Jr. Grizz basketball has come to an end for Bennett and Owen. Guess what? Even though by the end of the season I am ready for it to end, I REALLY love going to their games and watching them as their skills improve week by week. They are so cute. They may not be the stars of the team. Okay, they are definitely not the stars of the team. But I don't care. There are so many great options for kids activities to get involved in and really devote time to. (Too many, really.)  If sports is not their thing, that is totally fine with us. I just want them to have fun, and learn the basics. And they did!

Kudos to Owen's coaches who were utterly brilliant. Owen improved so much and gained so much confidence over the course of the season. He went from never having dribbled before to totally getting after it by his last game. Did I mention that sometimes I bribe my children with money if they shoot the ball? (Double if they make the shot.) Well, let's just say it may not be my finest parenting tactic, but it sure inspired them to play a little harder and be a little braver. Although I did find out that when their Uncle Lee found out I was paying them a dollar a shot, he told them he would pay them a dollar for every technical foul they made. Um. Fortunately, my boys would never dare to even attempt to steal the ball from someone, let alone get a technical, they are far too polite on the court. Sorry.

Avoiding the Inversion

In case you didn't know, Logan has terrible air quality on and off throughout the winter months. HERE is an explanation of our infamous inversion. It is so nasty. But if you can get up high enough, in the canyon, or even up on the foothills, you can find yourself out of the haze and into the sun. That's what we did this day, and even though it was freezing, it was exhilarating!

The Short Story of Owen's Tooth.

 Owen got down to business to pull out a stubborn tooth the other day.  He is seriously one tough kid.  I love his cute, new whistley smile.

At first he thought the tooth fairy had forgotten to leave him any money, because there was none under his pillow.  (That poor, old, senile tooth-fairy!)  But fortunately, with a little help from mom, they were able to locate some cash under his bed that maybe she dropped or something.  Phew.  Crisis averted.

Thank you, Jordan Ferney.

Thank you, Jordan Ferney, professional blogger and seemingly very cool girl, for your great idea about advent calendars.

I have to say that even though professional bloggers' lives seem so disconnected with the life I find myself in, I am often inspired and think to myself,  "Hm. I could try that." And that is exactly what this post made me do.  So thank you, Oh Happy Day, for providing my family with a new holiday tradition!  Yay!

As Ms. Ferney's blog points out, this is a great way to help us actually do all the things we always want to do, but often don't leading up to Christmas.  This year I actually planned it out, looking at my calendar, and then wrote everything down, so I could be prepared.  For example, I want to have all ingredients on hand if we are supposed to make sugar cookies or orange pomanders one day.  (Yes, we are doing those.)  It has helped to set aside a time to go for a "Winter Wonderland Walk," go caroling to a neighbor's house, read about Samuel the Lamanite's prophecy in the Book of Mormon, or deliver a secret gift. Not that we won't also be spontaneous, but that we are guaranteed to spend some time on each of these.

I got this muffin tin advent calendar from my friend, Christy, last year.  It is a mini-muffin pan, so it is perfect for putting slips of paper inside telling which holiday activity we will do that day.  I started making one like the Pottery Barn one, but it will have to wait until next year.  Stay tuned.

Day one:  Make a paper chain to count down the days.

An unofficial activity not found in the advent calendar:  Make pet beds.

THIS activity was also not on the calendar.  But it was fun too:

By the way, all these activities are coinciding perfectly with our new "no screens" rule. I will dedicate an entire post to this topic soon. But we have found that tv, computer, iPhone, etc. were making our kids mean. MEAN! So all these creative outlets have been a huge help.

This winter.

There is something making me sad about cold weather right now. It is this: because Harper is always bundled up, or at least wearing long sleeves, I hardly ever get to see her delicious chubby shoulders. You know, those adorable rolly baby shoulders of which I speak? I want to see them in tank tops and swim-suits. I hope they last til warmer weather comes again. Because bath time is not enough time to see her cute little baby body.

She is growing so fast.