Looking Back

Ok, so we come to the close of another year. 2008 officially ends tonight. It has been a great year. So, here is a list of my most memorable happenings. Keep in mind that I do fear early onset alzheimers - the list may be short.

1. My little girl turning 12, McKenna, and entering Young Women's. Where has the time gone?
2. Starting January 20 to count down the days until the end of the current US presidency.
3. Starting February to count down the days until school would end. I don't recommend starting that early. It makes it worse.
4. Going to the Young Women's Conference with McKenna, Sherrie and Nicole, and Carol and Maddi. We had so much fun!
5. Adri and Katy turning 10 and all of our family being in the double digits. I think that is a sign of getting old.
6. Planning and taking the entire 2nd grade to the "Horton Hears a Who" and having half of my class say that they have never been to a movie before. It was like taking them to the circus. And, they were quiet!
7. Snow! Snow! Snow! Shoveling. Shoveling. Shoveling. No Spring. Students wearing coats and boots on the last day of school - in June! Not my favorite memory.
8. Waiting for the high waters to recede so we could kayak.
9. Katy breaking her arm, again. Six broken bones in five years. Kinda depressing.
10. Trent and I talking more because our TV died.
11. Taking Trent's mom and Tracie kayaking down the Teton River and wishing that I had used better judgement and taken them somewhere else.
12. Starting a blog. I've learned a ton and it keeps evolving.
13. McKenna's softball team winning the championship.
14. Collin working a real summer job and becoming so strong and buff.
15. Collin getting his drivers license.
16. Trent switching jobs and enjoying it - mostly.
17. Kayaking at dusk down Warm River in October!
18. Having a very interesting and diverse class at school! Blind, downs, speechless, bi-polar. Can you say special-ed? Absolutely delightful!
19. Erikson family trip to Disneyland!! So fun.
20. Getting a Wii from Santa. Non-stop giggles and sweat.

That's the end. I'm sure more will pop up. I'm so grateful for what I have and for this fantastic family (especially my Trent) that I spend everyday with.

SNOW!

I'm sorry I keep posting about snow, but seriously, there is a ton. I am amazed at the amount of snow we have gotten in the last couple weeks. Our neighbor has a stick that measures the snow in the middle of his backyard and it says 21 inches. I find that hard to believe. I'm sure there is more! We have shoveled way more than that because in those two weeks the wind hasn't stopped blowing. Drifts as high as 3 feet have formed and we've had to shovel them. We aren't sure where we'll put the snows that are to come.
I was talking to a friend who cheers for every flake that falls. I cringe and think of shoveling with every flake that falls. Tomorrow the kids and I will go sledding so that we can enjoy something in the snow. Perhaps that will change my perspective a little. Of course, we'll have to shovel first - more snows are expected tonight.
We got a Nintendo Wii for Christmas. It is so fun. I think it is great for bringing families together. I've tried to play other gaming systems and can't focus enough to be play. My kids say I'm "pathetic" and they are right. But, the Wii is different. Our whole family enjoys playing. The only time we don't have giggling is when everyone is sleeping. It'll bring some joy and activity when we are completely snowed in.

Christmas 2008

Christmas Day came with a bang this year. We woke to a blizzard that completely covered all of Eastern Idaho. Not very many people were out traveling - except us. We drove to Rexburg just to open a few presents with Grandma, Grandpa, and the cousins. It was crazy and not the brightest thing we have ever done. We didn't stay long, however, because the roads just got worse and worse. We called it an adventure once we got home.

All the new snow made for fantastic sledding. Trent took the kids out to the hill in town while I stayed home to improve my skills on Guitar Hero. I couldn't figure out how to even set it up so, I decided to practice skiing down a mountain on the belly of a wildebeast (at first I thought it was a yak).

Christmas was so much fun because we were stuck home together. We had a delightful time. Only 364 days to go until it comes again. I can't wait!

Snow? or Snow!

I've been thinking about snow lately. I guess that is what happens when it keeps falling and you keep shoveling. Winter was once my very favorite time of the year. But, as I have gotten older I've come to recognize the pitfalls of snow. Shoveling everyday is not fun. However, shoveling that first snow of the year, when you only need a coat and a light mittens, and the smell of the neighbors wood burning stove is lingering in the air, can be priceless. Even in January, when there's been snow on the ground for two months, i can enjoy shoveling if the snow is big and fluffy. Shoveling when it is 5 below zero is not fun!

Our dog loves snow. He's so big and furry that the snow clings to him and probably cools him down to just the right temperature, the only time all year. My kids love to play outside with him. I love to watch them from the window. But, the snow balls and ice that come inside with them is a big pain as it melts.

Christmas without snow doesn't seem right. All the best Christmas cards show snow. So how do you have Christmas without it? But, I can't get my shopping done because the snow just keeps falling. How do you have Christmas without a little shopping?

Snow. Should I take it or leave it?

They Just Keep Growing!

Despite my efforts to keep my children small, they just keep growing. I really don't feel like I should have children this old. In fact, my current age, as calculated on one of those "what is your real age" websites, is really only 14. So, how could I have a child older than me?
I have begun to feel old lately - at least mentally. My students at school are now calling me "Grandma," by mistake I'm sure. I remember doing that to my teachers but they were old. I remember one teacher that was at least 90 when I had her. I saw her about two months ago, in the store - not the obituaries, and she is still driving on her own. How can that be?
Our son, Collin, just recently got his drivers license. If I didn't feel old before, I do now. And not only do I feel it, I look it. Do you know how many gray hairs you get when your son takes the car to early morning jazz band practice when there is snow on the road? I probably should start coloring. That's why my students are calling me old.
Our daughter, McKenna, just attended her first "fancy" dress dance. She's in 7th grade. We had to buy the dress and everything. She even took her hair out of the ever present ponytail for the occasion. That's another reason I feel older - dress shopping with a girl who only likes basketball shorts and skate shoes. Bring on another bottle of color. I need it!