February 2013: For my Sweatheart

Nothing says I love you to a spouse like 108 boxes of sweethearts on after clearance sale. He loves these things. Glad I don't.

February 2013: FHE

Family Home Evening is an event we have worked hard on becoming more of a habit. It has helped to have my in laws in town. We usually have a nice dinner together and then we have a lesson by one of the kids or nana. Today's lesson was on Joseph Smith and the restoration. Following Nana's lesson we went into the living room and Andrew played praise to the man while we sang along. This was a sweet moment that as a mom you just treasure.

February 2013: Valentine Etiquette Dinner

On valentines night I decided to create an opportunity for the kids to practice manners at dinner. Lizzy helped me set the dining room table the night before complete with fine china and goblets. Then she cut out hearts to put in the windows. On valentines morning I made a baked ziti dish for dinner. Then that night the kids dressed up in Sunday dress. The evening was incredible and so memorable. Ethan gave a beautiful prayer complete with the blessing of making him have less diarrhea. Then he gave us a lesson on how to hold a goblet which includes a fist around the stem, pinky out. The kids then took turns saying what they love and all enjoyed our feast. We even had a fancy ice cream cake for dessert. I think I found a new tradition for our family. It was a wonderful evening.

February 2013: Andrew Bball

Andrew is playing probably his final year of competitive basketball. He fortunately had his buddy Kennon on the team. Over Presidents' Day weekend Kennon, Gavin, Seth and Andrew played together in a three on three tournament. They won two and lost one before getting board and wanting to go back to Seth's house to shoot hoops. I love that trio!

February 2013: School Valentines Day Parties

I spent most of Valentines Day at the school running classroom parties. Nothing like loading kids up with sugar and playing games with them. My voice was hoarse by the end of the day and my ears were ringing. We played the love tower game where you stack conversation hearts. We transferred conversation hearts from a plate to a cup with chopsticks and we played "who do you love" where the kids exchange chairs with everyone the love (ie. all those with red on their clothes, etc). The kids were glad to have me in their classrooms. Lizzy even came and helped during Ethan's party. And of course, Stevie was the class mascot!

February 2013: Dancing Drew

Andrew went to youth night and learned how to line dance with the ladies. I asked him if he learned anything and he said he wasn't that good. I had him show me and I was dying laughing. He doesn't know I filmed it. He thought I was taking one picture. I got to figure out how to post this because it is hillarious.

February 2013: Spring Ball

Just sat in a line for an hour to sign up Sophie and Ethan for baseball/softball. This will be added to Andrew's football/soccer and Lizzy's soccer. I am going to invest in a good game chair.

February 2013: Jackson county library

It's pretty sad that our public library can only be open for a few hours. It's even sadder this is my first trip there in nearly four years.

February 2013: Anne & Cookie's Party

Each year Anne does a valentines party in honor of her family's dear friend Cookie who passed away. This year it was donut heaven. Between the donuts I ate and the donuts I just had to eat to make sure our family didn't waste any, I was rolling out the door. It's so wonderful to have Anne in my life. She enriches my world here in Medford and she makes we want to celebrate life. Whether it is a donut for valentines or a frozen Costco egg roll and pot sticker, a Chinese lantern and a leftover cupcake it is an amazing Chinese New Year. Thanks Anne!

February 2013: Daddy daughter date

Brian asked Lizzy if she wanted to join him on the slopes last week. She had never been before. Brian said she was amazing and a natural. All I read into that statement is, "She is going to love skiing and say goodbye to $40 in ski rentals and lift tickets each Saturday!" Lizzy, how about a sport like jogging?

February 2013: Elder Muir

One of my besties had her son open his mission call. It was a pretty exciting day for their family. I consider her a sister and felt as if my own nephew was getting his mission call. And I have watched this young man develop a love of the gospel and of missionary work this past year. He will truly be an amazing missionary. I was glad to share in the event. Blake will serve in Denver Colorado. Raj is convinced he is going to teach Payton Manning. Maybe so?

February 2013: Weather

Dear Utah,

I don't miss your winter temperatures, just the family that likes them.

Sincerely,

Mild climate Jill

February 2013: Nana's Carrots

Ethan likes Rozanne's crock pot carrots so much he asked Rozanne for the recipe to give to his mom. It's obvious that I don't make cooked carrots enough, er, ever

February 2013: Family Talent Home Evening

Tonight Lizzy and Sophie ran family home evening. They called it Family Talent Home Evening. After frequent bickering the two of them shared with the family, via a game, computerized songs, and lots of index cards, some of our families talents. They explained that talents are gifts from God. Then they shared a talent that each family member had with the family. They were attempting to share talents that were not so obvious. It got me thinking and here are talents I thought of for each of my children that are not so obvious.

Andrew: Compassionately wants his mother to be happy and constantly checks in on my well being and then attempts to do/say anything that helps me be happy. You can insert your name where it says mother and it would be the same.

Elizabeth: Is an excellent cleaner between the hours of 10pm and Midnight. That's also when her flight of ideas ability displays itself and be prepared with a listening ear because she doesn't stop, but makes cleaning my house go quickly.

Sophie: Has given her mom lessons on makeup application. And when she compliments my clothing or hair it is sincere and usually spot on with todays pop culture. She also is my only child with organizational qualities such as my own and truly keeps her room the cleanest.

Ethan: For as strong willed and stubborn that he can be. And as stiff and insensitive as he can appear, he truly is a big teddy bear with his mom. After recently being gone on a trip for several days, when I arrived home the child most excited to see me and who wanted to be near me was Ethan. When we have our alone time after Steven is down for a nap and the other kids are at school he does like to ask to cuddle with me, for even as brief as a minute but he does ask.

Steven: He tries so hard to be like the big kids and you can see how smart he is by watching his eyes and how intensely they observe. One of his greatest gifts is his love of the outdoors. I have never looked at flowers, dog poop, bark, and birds in as great a light as I do when I am outside letting Steven explore. I took him to the ranch the other day and he screamed when it was time to go and didn't stop till I placed him in his room for a time out. He must be my little Idaho farm boy.

February 2013: Andrew and the SOU Masterclass

Andrew had the unique opportunity to perform at an SOU masterclass with college students. He performed and received critique from Dr. Julian Martin, a Juliard Professor. He was fearless and had no problem with his performance nor telling Dr. Martin that he had listened to a lot of versions of Bartok's Bear Dance on his ipod touch and felt "he knew it pretty well." ....I think he forgot who he was talking to....

I told him he was telling this to the Kobe Bryant of piano. His response, "Who is Kobe Bryant?"

I didn't sleep the night before and nearly crushed my bite guard and gave myself a tooth headache. It's hard to be a parent sometimes. Andrew had nerves of steel....I was the nervous wreck.

But he did great!!! What you can't see is that there were 40 people on stage watching the master class and the far right side of the auditorium was packed (so they could see the keyboard). It was a great event. Afterwards I offered to take Andrew to lunch, he preferred Wendy's via the drive through so he could get back to school as quickly as possible. He downed a baconator (3 slabs of beef, 3 slabs of cheese and bacon), large fry and soda in the 12 minute drive....I am not looking forward to teenagers!

 

Julian Martin & Andrew