This winter has been long and cold with the watery yellow skies and sullen grey horizons. The coldest winter on record in over 60 years, so the weatherman says. We have stayed inside, watched much too much television, and dreamed of summer days to come.
But we have also . . .
Gone on two weekend trips – one south to St. George when the cold became so unbearable we busted free on a long weekend. Of course, St. George has had it’s own cold spell, and the weather wasn’t exactly nice. Still it was great to go to dinner with my parents, and sit and chat with brothers and sisters in a place not my own.
Another weekend we headed north – to Logan. We’ve been meaning to spend a weekend at Jacob and Melinda’s house for forever, and finally our schedules aligned! We went for just 24 hours, but had a great time watching movies, eating snacks, and playing “Sorry” – which, it must be said, I won. 😉
Chasing Fireflies is the name of Olivia’s piano recital piece she is working on. She plays it all the time, and we all have it stuck in our heads – all day, every day – It is beautiful. “It’s a little advanced” her teacher told me, “but with enough time she will be ready.” She started a month ago, and still has six weeks till the big night. She’ll be ready.
In January we started a new family tradition – “Fort Friday” – every Friday we hit up the grocery store for some treats – Red Vines, Charleston Chew’s, Swedish Fish and M&M’s, we pop some popcorn, and all head downstairs for a movie. We’ve watched Toby Tyler, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Kim Possible, and Charlotte’s Web just to name a few. After the movie we set up our “Forts” (sometimes during or even before the movie too) and have a slumber party in the family room. The kids have thought this is THE GREATEST THING EVER!!!! They talk about Fort Friday all week long, what movie to watch, what treat to get, etc. Olivia even requested a TeePee of her very own for her Fort (hot pink, I obliged). I have really enjoyed this new tradition because the kids are so engaged and thrilled. Most of our other traditions the kids seem indifferent too, but we do them because Wyatt and I love it so much. But this one the kids remind us of all week long. It’s great fun.
We bought an annual pass to the pool – (the last few years we’ve only bought a summer pass) – and have begun spending afternoons at our community rec indoor pool. It’s funny because I used to go there as a kid with Hilary Andersen, the only kid I knew who went to Cottonwood Heights. So every time I go, I am filled with memories of birthday parties, and dares to go off the high dives.
The kids love the pool. Especially Everett. He is my most fearless. After watching Olivia and Cal for the past two summers at swimming lessons, he’s decided he’s got this thing down. The first day we went he took off into the water before I could even turn around. Olivia, Cal and Ejo spend their time running around the two pools, and I sit with Roo in the shallow corner by the Frog slide. It is a great time – even if it does take as long to get ready/unready as it does to swim.
Wyatt has started taking Olivia and Calvin skiing. He wants them to learn, and decided they are old enough. Calvin is “a natural” as Wyatt tells me – he asked Wyatt to let him go down by himself on the first day. Wyatt said ok, and went to get his phone out to video-record it, and when he looked up, Calvin had taken off and was half way down the hill! Wyatt was super impressed. Olivia has really enjoyed it as well. I will have to learn now too so I don’t miss out on family ski activities!!
I have been reading a number of fun books to the kids at night – Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, and How to Eat Fried Worms, and Superfudge. They were all innocuous in my mind – but in reading them to my very young children, I have found that they actually aren’t age appropriate. Last night, for example, the entire chapter was on the un-reality of Santa Claus. I had to skip, fill in, and reword seven pages, and I’m sure it didn’t make any sense to the kids, even though they didn’t say anything. Next is “Charlotte’s Web” and after that I think I will move on to Lewis Carrol. I’m staying away from books I remember reading in later Elementary School . . .
There have been a few art projects too – I’ve been trying to be more “still – ” like it says ALL THE TIME in the scriptures. To me being still means meditating, slowing down, and reflecting more on life, instead of living each moment in the chaos and noise that too easily takes over. And nothing slows me down, makes my brain hush and my heart feel, more quickly than art. I have been painting, and I made Olivia a TeePee, and I have done a lot more web design than I care to admit. But it’s good – theraputic – to have these things in my life.
And this morning – Wyatt and I sat down and made a list (GASP – NOT A LIST!) of projects. It makes me giggle inside because we always start with grand ideas of Summer and everything we will get done. But by early July Wyatt is cursing the heat and all projects come to a halt, and maintenance is done at the very minimum level. Still, it’s good to dream big. And we are both itching to get outside.
The List (in no particular order) (and pictures found on Pinterest where applicable).
- Stain the Fence
- Put flower pots in the vinca
- build a box around the playset, kill grass, add woodchips.
- Move the playset
- Plant raspberries in front of the shed.
- Add pavers/path in front of the shed.
- Add sink/trellis to the front of the shed.
Source: solutions.com via Andrea on Pinterest
- Install flower pots on the fence by the shed.
Source: shelterness.com via Andrea on Pinterest
- Add trees behind the house.
- Add sprinkler to the middle back of yard.
- Fix back gate
- Add man gate to back fence
- Kill, mow, roto-till area behind the fence for pumpkin patch.
- Make a compost pile behind the fence.
Source: plus.google.com via Andrea on Pinterest
- Add spigot to garden area.
- Install fence hooks.
Source: chezbeeperbebe.blogspot.com via Andrea on Pinterest
- Finish deck/railing.
- Add topsoil/ground cover/bushes/succulents to rock walkout area.
- Install lighting around the yard.
- Mount shelves in the garage.
- Plant pink flowering dogwood in yard.
- Add pavers to the driveway area.
- Add outlet to front of house.
- Install spot light for tree.
- Tree lanterns.
- Drip line for garden boxes.
- Rain gutter fence flower pots.
Source: Uploaded by user via Andrea on Pinterest
- PVC Flower tower for back of garden area.
Source: thegreenhead.com via Andrea on Pinterest
- Fairy house for garden.
Source: midwestliving.com via Andrea on Pinterest
- Top soil
- Plant Garden
- Plant Sunflowers
- Plant front yard.
Things to look forward to!
I am tired just reading it.
I think wood chips are a horrible idea they are the worst to play in!! you should do sand or rubber but not wood chips they give you slivers!
Benjamin and I have loved reading chapter books together at night. Some of our favorites have been the Little House on the Prairie series, Mouse and the motorcycle, Ralph S. Mouse, the Ramona series, the Henry Huggins series, the Magic Treehouse series, the Boxcar children series, the BFG, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series, TumTum and Nutmeg, Junie B. Jones, James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Time Warp Trio series, The Great Brain series, the Narnia series, Stuart Little, and A Cricket in Times Square.
I’ve found them all to be appropriate for him as a Kindergartner/First Grader with the exception of the Great Brain series. There are a few mature themes in there which I had to explain/skip. He still loved all the books though.
Thanks Michelle for the list. I’ve read a lot of those, and we’ve enjoyed them as well. But I have had the BFG on my bookshelf. I was wondering if I dared read it to the kids at their age. I will give it a go!