A Check on the Ol' Bucket List

I despise the month of February. It isn't February's fault. It is January. But January is cold and long and ugly and poor February must follow January and is still cold, long, and ugly. Therefore, because I am already sick of January I must also dislike February. So, Presidents' Day is a very important day of the month. It can be different and out of the normal. We can break from the routine. We did. I plan crazy and somewhat adventurous things to do - quite spontaneously. I planned at 8:00 a.m. Saturday and we left at 11:00 a.m. Saturday. It didn't really matter what we did as long as it wasn't here.

Our first stop was a Utah State University basketball game. McKenna has chosen to attend USU next Fall and we thought maybe she should, at least, see the town she will be living in. We enjoyed the game. Of course, USU lost. But it was still fun. I think McKenna will definitely enjoy being part of the "Herd" at those home games. A quick drive around campus, on a Saturday over a holiday weekend, showed us that much was going on and we should just get on our way. So we did.

Our next stop was Salt Lake City, where we planned to stay for the weekend. I had planned to go to Tucanos, which I love and no one else has tried, but the girls all wanted to go to The Spaghetti Factory. I don't really enjoy that place but we have great family memories there so we went. We waited FOREVER for a table and some of us nearly fainted from famine. We survived, however.

We were all tired, and grateful to go to bed early. The next morning we got up early-ish to attend the "Emily Show" aka Music and the Spoken Word. My friend Emily plays the violin. We think it is her show. To our surprise we ran into Michael, Emily's husband, and were able to enjoy the broadcast with him. Then we visited with these dear friends after. We also got to ride in their very cool bus. Yes, a bus, that is cool! They gave us a ride from one parking lot to another. Good times with good friends! We love the Rices! (Should have gotten a picture. Hindsight is a good teacher.)

Our next adventure was to visit with our dear friends that moved very far away and have now moved closer but not close enough - the Sorensons. We love them and miss them. But we had a great visit. (No picture of them, either!)

We then got to do something that I have wanted to do for a very long time. We went CURLING. The girls were about to die thinking about what I was about to make them I do. We had an instructor and broom-y things and stones and ice. It was way fun. It is a lot harder than it looks. You have to have good balance and extreme skill to be able to get that stone clear across the ice and into a small circle on the other end. It was so much fun. Katy didn't find it all that enjoyable. Adri and Kenna endured it well and Trent, the only one of us to score points, seemed to think it was fun too. But no one enjoyed it as much as I did. That is a check on my bucket list!

After that fun, we visited with Grandpa and Grandma in Farmington. We love them and always enjoy our time with them. Then, we were tired so we went back to the hotel to fall into bed. 

Next morning, we were able to contact a missionary friend of Collin who had brought a gift home from the mission field. Collin had sent it but it took us a long time to meet. The wait was worth it. Elder Sleight is a great young man and the plate Collin sent is beautiful and a treasure.

We had to return back to Idaho quickly so someone could be back for a practice and I could get my classroom prepared for another week. All good vacations must end but they end with great memories in this family.

Choices, Choices, Choices

So, as long as I remember, McKenna has been striving for perfection. So much so, that it has caused her a few issues from time to time. It doesn't matter what she is doing, she wants it to be perfect - except for keeping her room clean. When she was a little time, like 2nd grade or so, she decided that she would have perfect grades for her entire school career. She has worked hard and stressed about it (at one point causing ulcers) the entire time. Well, here it is, her final semester of high school and she has made it. All that work and stress was to help her get into the college of her choice so she can do whatever it is she wanted to. 

Well, she won't tell anyone, because she is really low-key about that, but she did apply to college she has been accepted. She now has to choose between 

and

One of those schools offered her much more and she will probably go there. One of those schools has colors that matches all her current clothing. One school is further away and not the mainstream decision that others in her school choose. One is closer so she can visit more often when she feels she needs to. Choices, choices, choices.

Wherever she goes, we are proud of her and know that she will conquer the world. She is just that way - determined and hardworking.

Christmas 2013

When our kids were younger, Christmas vacation meant a lot of bundling up and unbundling as the children ran in and out of the house. It meant lots of lists and letters to parents and Santa. Italso meant reading Christmas stories around the Christmas tree each night of December. It meant magic and sparkle as the kids awakened early, sometimes way too early, on Christmas morning. It meant oohing and awing as gifts were open.

Well, the kids are older. The girls don't want to go outside anymore, too cold! They hate snow. There aren't lists anymore. They just expect Santa to know what they want. I made the girls write five things that would make them happy this year. Reluctantly they obliged. Most nights, one or more of the girls were gone, and of course Collin is on the mission, and so no group stories were read. Finally, at 7:30 a.m., the first kid started to stir. But, the magic was still there as the twins opened their gift from Santa. Way to go Santa! He knew just what would bring that awe moment back to the Grant household. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUmZYTnv0Jw&sns=em 

Also, we had been looking forward to Collin's Christmas Skype. Last year, when he called, I was so emotional and had a very difficult time hanging up the phone. He also had a difficult time once the call ended, and he cried. But, we were all more experienced now and I expected this year to be different. It was. We we re just a happy to talk with him but it was such a happy reunion. We giggled and talked so freely. He was relaxed and so were we. And, when it came time to end the call, we said our goodbyes, knowing that in 6 short months he will be home.

I also learned something. I have always wanted one of those Christmas trees that are seen in magazines and beautifully decorated. So, this year I decided I was going to do it. It was so frustrating to the girls. I let them out all their homemade decorations on but in the back so they didn't detract from the design of the tree. Eventually, however, I began realizing that something was missing with the tree. All those memories that we have cherished were hidden away, pushed to the back. So, I brought them out. Right to the front and the top and the center. The tree was still great and I enjoyed looking at the little ornaments that were so full of memories. I don't think that I will do that again. I don't want my tree in a magazine anyway.

This could be one of my favorite Christmases EVER! 

Day 24 and 25

Day 25 - It has been such a wonderful experience to write each day, nearly,  of the things I am grateful for. I think of the many blessings I have and then write about one. But there are so many things to be grateful for that I sometimes have a hard time picking just one. Today I wanted to express my gratitude for my nieces and nephews. I spent the weekend with my nephew's wife and their sweet baby. They are so much fun. Today, at school, two of my nephews came into my classroom to stay with me after school was over. One gives me hug every time I see him. My niece knocks on my window each dayas. She passes by. I love seeing them, as I do all of them. I enjoy watching them grow up because they are good kids that come from good families. 

Day 24 - I am grateful for texting so I can stay in contact with long distance friends. 

Day #23

This will be short. Today I am thankful that there is always another day to wake up to just around the corner. Not every day is going to be rosy and this one wasn't. Tomorrow is new and has all the prospects of being a great day. That's why I am thankful today for tomorrow!

Gratitude Month - I am Way Behind

Grateful that today is the beginning of the GGG, the Grant Girl Getaway, and we are in the fifteenth year. It is a weekend that has taken on many forms but has always been the Grant girls crafting, or shopping, or eating, or watching movies, or laughing. We love it. We look forward to it each year. So grateful that it is a continuing tradition.

Day #18 of Gratitude Month

Today, I am grateful for my coworkers, especially my 2nd Grade comrades - Toni Miller, Betty Schaat, and Stephanie Forbush. They are three of my best friends. I learn from them each day . When I get frustrated, which can happen almost daily, they listen and share ideas and solutions. We laugh together and we have cried together. And sometimes, they even let me drag them to movies that I want to see and think they should see with me. I once dragged one of them on a "ride" to Boise and back in one day. I best she loved that.

Three days a week we formally collaborate and discuss data then make decisions about our students. I am sure glad I don't have to make all those decisions alone. We are a good team! I am glad I am part of it.