Random Thoughts

I've thought about updating the blog several times since my last post but haven't come up with anything terribly exciting to write about.

I guess I could take a photo of the inversion or an icecicle. Last weekend we made news by having the dirtiest air in the country. What an honor! We need a big strong storm to blow the stagnant air out of here. I hear one is coming tomorrow night so I guess we have something to look forward to. I hear we may also break 40 degrees next week, the first time since the first of the year. It will feel like July.

Oh, here's some exciting news: I was recently made the wolf den leader for cub scouts. It's just been a few weeks but I think it will be a lot of fun. Tristan is stoked about being a scout, it will be fun for us to do it together. He asked me the other day if he could wear his uniform (shirt) to school which shows how cool scouting is to an 8 year old boy. A couple of the boys have waved at me in the hall at school so I'm getting the feeling that Den Mother is near celebrity for them. I'm in charge of our den meeting on Friday, we're making bird houses. Dan has been a good sport, he stopped at Lowe's on his way home from work to get all the stuff we'll need. He and Tristan spent the evening cutting wood and drilling holes.

We've also started down the exciting road of potty training with Gavin. It was going quite well but I'm afraid he started regressing this week. He does well as long as we're home all day and I remind him to go every hour. If we leave the house or I get busy with other things it doesn't go so well. You should see the excitement when he does produce, though. There's singing and dancing, high fives and "whooo hooo!"s. One time I forgot to say "whooo hooo!" and he reminded me. He also has a sticker chart and he gets to take a trip to Target to pick out a Thomas engine when a row is filled. What more motivation does a little boy need????

There, I guess there were some exciting things to write about. ..

Cabin Fever!

Did you know that adding jacuzzi jets to a bubble bath makes an enormous amount of bubbles? So many, in fact, that you have to turn off the jets? We found that out today!

We feel like a family of home-bodies. We haven't been out of the house much this weekend as our arctic temperatures are hanging around. It was sub-zero last night. I knew we were going to be home all day, so I divided the day into several activities. The kids watched a movie this morning, then we made Play-Doh, had a pizza-making contest (with the Play-Doh), we had reading hour, a puppet show, nap/play with your toys in your room hour, and now bubble baths!

We even had an unexpected visit from Ruth, our neighbor who has Alzheimer's. She surprised us by walking right though the front door.

And the day is young, it's only 4:00!

Welcome to Antarctica!

Holy Moley, it's COLD! We got another 6 inches of snow here yesterday, lots more in the mountains. The storm ALMOST prevented me from going to book club last night, but our trusty Utah snowplow crews came through. I was amazed that the roads were as clear as they were because it was snowing when I woke up and literally didn't stop until 3:00 or so in the afternoon. I heard that a 20 minute commute took 1 1/2 hours yesterday morning because there were vehicles off the road everywhere.

Today the news story is the COLD! I was at the market before dinner and the air was absolutely frigid. The thermometer in my car said 12 degrees but I guess it's more like -3 with the wind chill. Brrrrr! I'd love to post a photo of the wintry scene but I think I'll stay inside where it's cozy.

I know what you're thinking... It must be pretty bad outside for ME to decline the opportunity for a photo! That really says something, doesn't it?

Tristan's Baptism

Tristan's baptism was yesterday afternoon. It was a very special day for him and for our family. Dan baptised Tristan and Grandpa D. confirmed him. There were two other children who were part of the baptism, so it was very special.

Jolie and a couple other children sang a song during the program called "When I Am Baptised." These are the lyrics to the song:

I like to look for rainbows whenever there is rain
And ponder on the beauty of an earth made clean again.

I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain.
I want to be the best I can and live with God again.

I know when I am baptized my wrongs are washed away,
And I can be forgiven and improve myself each day.

I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain.
I want to be the best I can and live with God again.

Tristan's primary teacher gave him a beautiful journal to record his thoughts about the day. He made his first entry in the car on the way to dinner. When I was tucking him into bed last night he showed me what he'd written. Among other things, he said that he felt very special after his baptism. I know this is a day that we'll all remember for a very long time.

Scrapbook

I promised Robin that I'd post some photos of the scrapbook I made for all of the grandparents for Christmas. It was quite a project. I started just after Halloween and finished just in time for Christmas. Each scrapbook includes 25 of my favorite photos of the kids (taken during 2006). I looked everywhere for a nice embellishment for the cover but finally covered the front and back with this patterned paper and I cut my own monogram letters out of chipboard and then I painted and inked them. Oh, and thank goodness for Ben Franklin where they sell ribbon by the yard (yards and yards and yards of ribbon!)