Sports and activities

 

Ben had a whole basketball season with his Superleague team, and I didn't get to go to a single game. I'm really ready for Covid to be over. They limited crowds. Though many games were late, so I couldn't have gone anyway.

JB has been doing a lot of driving and coaching every week for these hard-working young men. And on non-practice days, Ben goes to the church meetinghouse to play basketball. 

Max meanwhile is all about tennis. This mild winter has been great for him to be able to play often. And during snowy days he's in our laundry room doing drills.

Here's a photo the coach's son took of him for his photography class.

James and Andrew however have not been able to do any kind of activity. At their age (10 and 7), Max and Ben were heavily involved in sports. These two little boys aren't as interested, but I still need to find something for them to stay active. I hope things open again soon. Andrew wants to do Kung Fu again.  They did get a lot of wiggles at the park recently.

Meanwhile Millie begs for dance ballet classes again. "I'll wear a mask!" she tells me. She had the cutest teacher before everything shut down. She wears her outfits and ballet shoes a lot.

Time for more recommendations

Podcasts

Follow Him. Subscribe to this one! With John Bytheway and Hank Smith. These two men do firesides, write books, teach at BYU, and are just incredible storytellers and scriptorians and relatable, funny people. They bring on experts and go along with the Come Follow Me curriculum each week and I always have "ah-ha" moments.

All In. I sometimes choke up listening to this one. I love hearing from ordinary and "famous" members of the Church share their experiences and why they are all in the gospel.

The Priesthood Restored: A Joseph Smith Papers Podcast. I only met Spencer McBride once, but I know how hard he worked on this one. It has such great insights!

TV Shows

 All Creatures Great and Small. I cannot say enough good things. It was sweet, funny, poignant, and I could watch it with my kids in the room. Max thought Tristan and Seigfred were funny. I will only say they changed a couple key plot points from the books (which I own), but I can forgive them because I think they'll come around in season 2, which should be filming soon. Only 6 episodes on PBS and I wanted much more.

Miss Scarlet and the Duke. This combined two of my favorite things -- British period pieces, and detective shows. Crossing fingers for a season 2, as it was only 6 episodes as well on PBS.

Name That Tune. Super fun show to watch with my boys. I can name many tunes pretty quickly and I love to shout them out. They recognize many songs, too. 

Ellen's Game of Games. 7 year old Jamesy loves this one. I kind of don't like seeing contestants humiliated or slapped with slime or thrown down a shaft after hearing rumors of Ellen being a bully, but it's fun to share a show with my kids.

When Calls the Heart Season 8. I'm not recommending it, I'm just posting here about it in case anyone can commiserate with me. I'm hooked on this stupid show and its stupid love triangle they won't resolve, ugh.

Books

Once Upon a River. Good storytelling, where the water is also a character, and your heart breaks for some of the people involved. Magic and science together.

When We Were Young and Brave. Heartbreaking and inspiring story of British children and their teachers in boarding school forced into a Japanese internment camp in China in WW2.  "Pull your socks up, eyes on the horizon."

Maud. Inspired by the life of Lucy Maud Montgomery (my favorite author). This absolutely shows me where her writing and characters come from -- her stern grandparents, her feeling of never being a part of a family, her close childhood friendships, and the boy she grew up with who has the special whistle (that childhood boy is the one who ends up marrying the heroine in the Anne, Emily, and Pat stories). A good companion to the biography I posted about a while ago.

The Blythes are Quoted. LM Montgomery's last collection of short stories and poems, it is also similar to The Road to Yesterday, but without some of the edits. These themes are much darker. This was as World War 2 was starting, and at the end of Montgomery's life, and she was not happy. But between the lines you glean more information about Anne and Gilbert and their children and even grandchildren, as they are mentioned in stories about other people in the area. Similar to how Chronicles of Avonlea had snippets of young Anne in them.

Otherwise Engaged by Joanna Barker. I like this author. I've posted about her other books. She writes in the same style as others like Jennifer Moore, Josi Kilpack and Sarah Eden, but without the "her chapter" then "his chapter" storytelling. Just a breezy, easy read. 

The River of Doubt.  JB read this one and liked it. I think I have time to try it before it has to to back to the library. About Teddy Roosevelt's trip through Brazil.

Boys in the Boat. I checked this one out for JB and now I need to read it. I've heard good things.

Movies

To All the Boys: Always and Forever. (Netflix) The last in the trilogy. They changed locations and colleges (lame), but I like the style of the cinematography. I just don't think high schoolers should be THAT in love. But I did enjoy the books and all three movies, let's be honest.

The Secret: Dare to Dream. (amazon Prime) What a gem of a movie, on Amazon Prime. Josh Lucas and Katie Holmes. Positive thinking and forgiveness and how it can change your life.

Faith Hope and Love. (Netflix) Ballroom dancing, Christian themes, some funny moments.

A New Year's Resolution (Hallmark). Cute and funny, and that's why I go to that channel. She says yes to any social invitation and he is so into it.

Flora and Ulysses. (Disney Plus). Funny and fun, the kids and I watched it together Sunday afternoon. The squirrel has super powers (but not nearly enough according to our action-fan Jamesy). 

Snow sledding

 We have not had much snow this winter at all. The blue skies and 40 degrees are so great for mental health, though I know we need the snow, I know.

Last week some snow fell Saturday morning so JB took the littles over to Sugarhouse Park's long sledding hill before it melted away.

Millie was too nervous to do the sledding hill at the cabin over New Year's Eve, probbaly because it was steeper. But this time she went up and down over and over. Look at Andrew holding her hand!

Church milestones

We had a big Sunday this month. 

First, Max and Ben moved up to Priest and Teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood at church

 

Nona and Papa came for their ordination. The next Sunday (yesterday), Max blessed the sacrament for the first time and Ben helped prepare. I am proud of these boys who make sure we are there early every Sunday, and who stay after to help cleanup.

After our morning meeting, JB and I went over to his ward in the Avenues to meet with the stake president first, then to attend a joint meeting of two singles wards. His bishopric was  released as the two wards combined.

Bishop Gifford was in our stake presidency when JB was called to be bishop of our ward in 2013. What a great man. And Brother Sanders is incredible. I will miss their wives, too. 

When JB was called in early December 2019, they said it would only be for a few months. But the pandemic kept them in the calling longer than expected. It also changed when and how we could meet with that ward. I didn't get to go as often as I had hoped, but I am grateful for seeing a different side of the gospel. There are many young adults doing their best with faith in an uncertain world.

I made these handkerchiefs for Lisa and Jane.

We bore our testimonies and I expressed how I have learned again to say yes to hard things. It helps you grow. And God knows us personally. The kids watched the Zoom at home on the computer.

Then, once that was all over, I went with James to the 2021 stake baptismal fireside for kids turning eight. He was asked to give a short talk. 

This was a hard thing for him, but he was really brave. We practiced before, and talked over his fears. That's the screenshot from the family watching on Zoom back home. He turns eight in June!

Yesterday Sunday, James kept asking why dad was home. "Doesn't he have his church to go to?" Not any more!

(*pictures taken quickly outside w/o masks and then masks put back on)

Christmas

We had a great Christmas. We were very happy to safely visit Nona and Papa's on Christmas Eve. Children need tradition and rituals and extended family in their lives.

I had found a few presents several months before, and it was hard to keep it a secret when the kids kept talking about what they wanted.

For example, James always wanted a Lego Big Fig. He was so anxious and growing impatient, so he just about lost his mind with happiness when he opened that present.

Millie wanted a tiara, and I could only find a happy birthday one, so that's in all our pictures. And she wanted an Anna doll from Frozen. I found a great deal and also bought Kristoff....but she has been giving Kristoff to daddy to play with ("Here's a boy toy for you.")

Max wanted a new tennis bag.

Andrew loved things like his new books and Yoda socks.

Ben got new clothing and gear he specifically wished for.

This year they also bought little treats and things for each other, and loved watching each other open them.

JB and I seemed pretty happy. Here's our photobomber who couldn't resist.

Andrew is 10

 Our darling Christmas-time baby is now two whole hands old.

Andrew loves Star Wars, so when I saw a Baby Yoda on sale on Amazon months ago, I ordered it. JB saw one at Costco and bought it about the same time. We returned one, thinking one would be enough.

Spoiler alert .... it wasn't enough. Who knew Millie, with her strong opinions of boy toys and girl toys, would fall so deeply in love with this green child? She insisted on being in the picture with him after he opened it.

And ever since his birthday, she has clung tightly to it and has to be bribed and cajoled to let Andrew have a turn with his toy. 

Andrew gets turns with it, thankfully, and loves to read to it and make up adventure stories. 

He also got an RC car from Nona and Papa.....and spoiler alert...James has been trying to take it over as long as he can. I took them up to the church gym, and James wanted to run the car only himself. I have video of Andrew getting a turn, and I'm glad he is so easy-going and patient with those two younger siblings. But he also deserves to enjoy his toys, and we are trying to help him.

Here's his cake!

Christmas Prep

We put up our tree on Thanksgiving and JB put up the outside lights when the weather was nice and I must say I just love all the cheer.

Nona and Papa sent the Christmas Eve PJs early and these kids wear them all the time, they are so comfortable and cozy.

Well, except Millie. She likes to wear the bare minimum of clothing and strips as soon as she is inside the house. Then when she is cold she just snuggles in her blanket.

The little boys have been wrapping a couple of things for their siblings, and begged to have them under the tree so I agreed -- as long as they didn't whine and cry or try to peek early. 

I love some of the new ornaments we have this year, from home-made ones to gifts.  I'm in the primary presidency, and we put together a bag for each child with treats and a Hear Him ornament. We included our testimonies on how we hear heavenly guidance and promptings. We've been trying to do something once a month and drop it off at their homes. I hope and pray our primary teachers will be able to do more for their classes in the New Year, until the kids are finally able to meet in-person. 

We didn't do our yearly Christmas smoked pork this year for neighbors. There seems to be a reluctance to have any treats here because of the pandemic. I guess it's good not to have a full counter full of sugary things. 

There are still plenty of Christmas family traditions we've been able to do, like driving to see the lights, and reading our special books and watching holiday movies together. I'm trying to remember to play  more music -- I remember certain records playing a lot when I was young, like the Tabernacle Choir and Muppets Christmas and Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby.  

Here's one of the amazing houses we saw.

I know there are people who are sad and struggling right now, and the Christmas season may not feel so cheery for them. I pray a lot in my heart and out loud for things to improve. I forget sometimes to not get discouraged....but I am grateful for reminders to lean in to faith and hope in Christ.