True Grit
True Grit: A Story about my 5th Great Grandmother, Tamson Parshley Egan. Tamson was born in Barnstead, New Hampshire on July 27, 1825. She married Howard Egan in December, 1838. She was just thirteen and...
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The Mice Will Play
While mommy and dad are out of town to see Bruce for an epic weekend in Denver . . . The kids had all sorts of fun! The word on the street is that Everett...
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Bruuuuuuuuuuce
For Christmas, 2021 Wyatt gave me the “Christensen Concert Series” – a promise to take me to a few different concerts. The last concert of that gift was Bruce Springsteen – But he wasn’t coming...
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The Second Half of February
It was rough – but the pictures make it look like it was all good times 😀
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The World Don’t Bother Me None
Over spring break in 2021 (just shy of 2 years ago now) we took a road trip through Southern Utah and into Arizona and Colorado. I’ve loooong wanted to take the kids down to Monument...
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SweetHearts Junior Year 2023
Cute Olivia went to Sweet Hearts with her friend, Seth. They had a great time. I am so, so pleased at the choices in friends and activities that Olivia has involved herself with. She just...
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Painting
I finished two paintings in about a week of each other. This feels miraculous to me. One painting I’ve been working on since last spring when I first did a study for the idea. I...
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Basketbaaaaaaallllllll
We have a lot of basketball happening around here. Nate is on a J.Jazz team with games every Monday night. Roo is on a J.Jazz team with the same neighborhood boys as forever, with games...
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#TakeNote
After seeing the Nutcracker in Munich, I asked Everett what he thought of it. He said something to the effect of “I’m a 13 year old boy, and the ballet is not my thing.” –...
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Reading 2023
I feel like I’m not a very good reader. I have friends who are always brimming with excitement, talking about the books they’ve read – one or two books every week. I read – but...
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Welcome to the Show
For Olivia’s birthday we took her and her bestie, Natalie, down to the PRCA rodeo championship in Las Vegas. It was a whirlwind trip – just about 24 hours because the girls couldn’t afford to...
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Snow Day
School is canceled for the day The snow is piled high The joy of every child’s heart Exhaled in winters sigh. A poem by me on a snow day
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Bless Us All
Life is full of sweet surprises Every day’s a gift The sun comes up and I can feel it lift my spirit Fills me up with laughter, fills me up with song I look into...
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Weekend Update
Roo graduates from DARE! Corner Canyon loses in the state championship football game to Skyridge, 7-17. A&W went to the Jazz game with the Lakers Roo went to Winnie’s birthday party. We DIDN’T do a...
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Trying to be FUN Mom
As I get older I notice I definitely am more tired than I used to be. In 2021 I finally gave up and admitted to myself that I needed a daily mid-afternoon nap. So, it’s...
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This is not a moment. It’s the movement.
Calvin is super-fan of Hamilton, and he really got into the musical last spring. He can sing every lyric of every song. So, when his birthday came around and I was trying to figure out...
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Time to Go the Other Direction
There was a time when Nate always wanted his room just so. He would clean, and line up his dinosaurs, and whine when cousins came over and moved them. He always kept his room perfectly...
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I Need a Hero
Wyatt saved a horse! We went to get a pizza the other night, and there was a horse trailer pulled in at the gas station – “Why does that lady have her trailer open” I...
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Halloween, Halloween!
The festivities: 1- Neighborhood adult party at the Montagues; Wyatt wins a prize for his costume. 2- Ward trunk or treat with a salsa contest. Andrea wins a prize for her salsa. 3- Trick or...
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Young and Sweet, Only Seventeen
Olivia turned the iconic age of 17. I cannot. I CANNOT I cannot believe that she is 17 years old. Where has the time gone? What happened? I love that sweet, young, precious, and amazing...
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Garden 2022
Every year the garden grows a little bigger and feels a little more magical. We got lots of tomatos and peppers that I used to make my own home made salsa, and other things. Of...
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STATE
For fall break we spent the weekend in St. George, watching Calvin race at the state championships. We were super impressed that he qualified for the event. It was such a fun and exciting weekend!...
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Inauguration at the Park
After a loooong many months of looking through the fence, the playground at our park is finally complete. This means no more: “Can we just sneak in?” “Do you think anyone will notice?” “What is...
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A Fall Drive
On Sunday we (just Calvin, Roo & I, no one else wanted to come) took a drive up the canyon to see the fall leaves. Of course, Calvin wanted to take some pictures too. And...
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Olivia and Mamma Go Shopping & Olivia Gets a New Dress
And so we went shopping . . . And Olivia found the most beautiful dress! She reminds me of Audrey Hepburn a’la Breakfast at Tiffany’s. So classic. She is so beautiful, and that glow comes...
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The Week of Everett
Everett had a mighty big week this week! 1- He tried out for and had call backs for the school play! Last year he was in the play “Suessical” as part of the ensemble. This...
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Draper Walking Field Trip
Nate-O had a walking field trip to see the sites of historic Draper. I was so excited to be a chaperone for the trip! We went to the Heritage Park where we learned about the...
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Ichabod – What a Name
Kinda odd, but nice just the same. On Wednesday night we had our annual viewing party of the notorious Ichabod Crane, complete with Apple Cider and Pumpkin Donuts. Roo has been reading The Legend of...
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Happy Birthday Everett!
Oh my heart is squishy and full. I love this kid just so. so. so. much. He’s in the throes of middle school, with all the horrible-ness that that is, and my heart regularly bleeds...
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Library Book Displays
I’ve been making book displays for the library, hoping to encourage kids to try some different books than the same-old same-old that are always in circulation. I’ve had pretty good success so far, the kids...
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Happy Birthday Kellie!
Monday was Kellie’s birthday! #45. For her big day I filled her bedroom with 45 balloons and tied little notes of things I loved and admired about her. Happy Birthday Kellie! One of my dearest...
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