Shiny and New

Papaya and Bam with their YW leader and friend--at lunch over Christmas break.


January FEELS like a shiny new quarter. 

I love it.

(Especially after a year like 2015. It brought us A TON of challenges new experiences: 3 hospital stays, 2 surgeries, 3 drivers licenses, 2 cases of mono, 1 case of pneumonia, 9 sinus infections . . . . And those are the highlights. PS: I like that I put the drivers licenses in this category.)


Funny how a new year (or even new day) can bring such a feeling of hope. And I'm not saying this year won't have challenges, I'm just sayin', I am happy to put all of last year's challenges in one book and shelve it.

2016 kicked off with Jay's 21st birthday. He had a great bday, celebrating with friends (sushi and Star Wars) and family (burgers and gift). It was crazy to think that we have "missed" his last 2 birthdays while he's been serving his service mission. FUN to have him home for one.

School began again for the kids and BYU began again for me. The kids might not be super happy to be back in school after Christmas break, but I'm happy to be back. I'm teaching 2 classes instead of 3 and it's amazing how different that feels. I love it.

Random Sidenote:

One of my goals this year is to hug more often--I've never been much of a hugger. And while it feels kinda dumb to actually put this as a goal, I think it's a worthwhile goal. And I am already feeling happier because of it. No kidding. On my first day back to work I ran into a colleague who just battled and BEAT ovarian cancer (stage 4), and as I walked by her normally vacant office I was stunned: there she was!

You know what my first thought was? Talk to her. Talk talk talk talk talk. But then I remembered my goal . . . and I just stopped by and gave her a hug. No words. Just a hug; it just seemed like the best way to say" "I'm so glad you are here HERE.

So that's what's going on here in Utah.

Hugs,

Dawn


Making balloon animals for FHE (family home evening)--to hang up on Jay's door for his 21st bday.

Balloon dog.

2 balloon dogs and a misfit.

Lots of snow this winter--which we love. (Harriet loves it, too.)

Lu working on her science fair project with her friend from school.
(Can you use fruit to charge an iPod?)

Dave's favorite breakfast is the German pancake
 (I began making them, but now the job is all his. He is WAY better at it than me. Mine never rise like that. Crazy!)

Dave has been asking for this for years (he's an operations guy): a color-coded towel system for the family.
I finally got around to it . . . because 2015 was OUTTA control with towel laundry. Holy guacamole!
Anyway, here's the plan: each kid has 2 towels in their color. They use them, hang them, and wash them ONCE a week.
After Survivor, I'm feeling like once a week is plenty, but if you like to wash more frequently, you can.

CityKitty is FINALLY warming up to ObiWan the baby cat.

Since Bam started working almost full-time, she has a little extra spending cash.
Apparently Saturday there was a sale at Bath and Body Works.

And Harriet is still keeping in real in the SLC.












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