Snow Hikes are better than No Hikes!

We're really embracing Global Warming around here--after 3 days of sledding over the Christmas Break, we've BARELY had snow!! We've loved these warmer than normal temperatures, and the chances to enjoy the non-inversion days of blue skies.  Over Martin Luther King Weekend, I took the kids hiking in Kaysville Canyon to watch the sunset, and yesterday, because the sun was so brilliant, we walked through the Layton Bird Refuge.  Brian and Brent stayed home both times to work on basement crown molding.

Bird Refuge--IT FEELS SO GOOD TO SOAK UP SUN IN JANUARY!!:

 

 

Anne is 7!

Anne turned seven last Friday, so after opening gifts at breakfast (she wanted glasses and a new baby doll, and clothes!), we had a Circus Birthday Party for her that afternoon with 12 fabulous friends

I hung red and white streamers to make our big top, put on a clown costume, and we decorated clown hats, took pictures w/ clown noses, dug for candy in a giant box of popcorn, had popcorn (looking) cupcakes, popped balloons tied to ankles, played pin the nose on the clown, throw the ping pong ball in the jar, and ate hot dogs and soft pretzels.  Thank goodness for family help!! Maddie and Emily saved me by decorating all of the cupcakes, and Spencer and Emily did magic tricks for all of my in-between moments during the party.

New Look at Things

 New Look through our Camera:

So we're finally getting to our new camera.  Brian and I went to a free photography class at the library one Saturday.  He loved all of the detail with landscape photography.  It was cool, but I would rather have faces.  These were some experiments with our shots.  (Guess who took what; guess who is NOT camera shy)

New Soda Place (Fiiz):

Is Utah the only place exploding with Soda Bars? (I don't know what else to call them).  We just had one open up last fall, and it is ALWAYS hopping!! Maddie and Brent had gone w/ friends, but I wasn't even tempted--a menu of soda flavors???--but after missing Anne's AND Spencer's class programs in December, I thought I'd treat them, and Emily got a giftcard for her birthday, so she and Lucy all tried it out.  It's a fun little hangout, and they had some cute ideas for the kids ("Rubber Ducky" had a yellow Peep on top of Lucys' blue rasperry and whipped cream, Spencer had gummy worms in Rootbeer, and Anne had gummy sharks--cute, but still not tempting :)  ).

New Student:

 I found and registered for an MBSR class given by the County.  (Mindfulness Based Stress-Reduction)  I had read a little about it in a book on Depression, and how effective the RESEARCH had shown it to be.  We even tried a little mini-meditation for the FHE activity one night, but I had been anxious to learn more about it, and was thrilled when I saw this chance!...Until I saw the $235 registration fee! As I read further though, I saw that scholarships were available, and decided that even though it was a big chunk of time commitment (2 1/2 hours every Thursday night!), and I wasn't sure if I was ready for it, IF I got a scholarship, I would jump in w/ both feet.--and a Scholarship I got!! (I later found out their philosophy is not to turn anyone away, but it still made my day).  I didn't fully realize how MUCH meditation it is--I was ready for more writing/reading exercises, but it's mainly meditation, and if I thought the class was long, we ALSO had to commit to 40 minutes of guided meditation every day!! What a hippie I've become!!-But our teachers and class are great, and (sometimes ONLY) because of all of the great results I've read about for mental health, depression, anxiety, etc., I am sticking with it for all 8 weeks! It is awesome fun taking a class again, and I am finding a lot of value in the principles :).

New Bed!

I was so reluctant to shop for new bedding since I wasn't tired of ours yet, but the holes were getting a little out of hand, so I started looking for ideas last October (!!), and after many hours of online looking and many orders and returns, I finally got our bedroom settled for a price and look I can be happy with (Hooray for Ross and Steinmart $30 quilts!)

 BEFORE:

 

AFTER:

 

Last, but not Least, Anne started making Valentines one afternoon, and in my meditative ACCEPTING attitude, I tried not to freak out when Maddie noticed, giggling, Anne's card:

Anne can be quite a spitfire, but it did seem a little young to be SO cynical of Valentine's Day!! I tried to see a better translation, but was convinced she must just be touting some attitude.  Maddie calmly asked her why she wrote that, and gradually, we discovered she had forgotten an "r" in heart! Shouldn't we always just look at the best of each other?? Love it!

Brian Job and Birthday

Brian didn't have as long a vacation as the schoolkids, so we met him for lunch one day to tour the office and look at a couple of homes for sale in the area. 

 

Jane loves her new Bunny hat, and wears it whenever we go out (okay, maybe Mom loves it, but she doesn't object to it when she's cold!)

For New Year's Eve, Maddie got sick, Brian and I chaperoned at the stake dance where Brent tried mightily to avoid us, and Emily (with Spencer in tow) had a couple of friends over to play games. 
We celebrated Brian's 45th Birthday with Steak Au Poivre, Black Forest Cherry Cake, his own kendama (to keep at the office?), and some new slacks. 

 couldn't resist Emily's party face