January- Snow, dog gone, 40 YOLO

Me: Hey babe can you build me a bookshelf this weekend. Preston: sure if you get me a new saw Me: DEAL! Preston: wait what? Our library has STEM days the first friday of the month. When I remember the kids love them. This month was fingerprinting and crime identification. Speaking of hidden crimes....Axel was super pleased with himself for decorating his Christmas wreath with "gnome faces with big noses" that got put up in the hall all December.

 

I got called as Primary President. Not something I ever thought I'd do. Robyn Hope got moved to the stake YW so I knew a change.... but seriously i've been in Primary 8+ years.  I guess the lord was preparing me.   I  also started nannying for 2 little kids. Also not something I ever thought to do. I worked with Megan Asturizaga in the Primary. She called me out of the blue. "How would you feel about watching my kids a few times a week. your name keeps coming to me?"  It's actually been a blessing. Zara and Hyrum are good "Fr-enemies"  and I get my baby fix.  It started a bit rough to put it mildly... Second week in Brownie the horse died.  "we talked about heaven and death a lot last night....(animals are great teachers of sex, birth, death)."   Then feeding the chickens Hyrum took the food bucket from Cookie who nipped him and caught his lip just wrong. OH $#!T.  Then not 10 min later knock knock knock "your dog just got ran over."  Poor stupid Pip. Doctors office couldn't give me medical advice for "not my child".... I couldn't  get a hold of his mom for like 2 hrs.... He kept taking off the butterfly tape.... Made some duct  tape bandages....He got 2- 3 stitches. (Please don't hate me).   Oh and Cookie met a depressing end. (bullet).   So yes rough week. Kids were understanding  about the horse, resigned over pip but totally LOST it over cookie.  

Idaho weather.  Snow day.  Melt off.  Snow day.  Melt off.  Predicted bad snow day... psych--nope beautiful day.   With the thaw/ freeze cycles it was perfect snow for building. The  kids made the most of the snow while it lasted with caves, forts, snowmen, and sledding.  The chore of breaking ice for animals often turned into more play than punishment.  Forced indoors we got crafty. Katana did a Bob Ross and designed a doll dress. Mace grew a crystal tree.  I updated boys hair art.   The Children's Museum is opening  a branch in Twin Falls and had an open house at the elementary school.  It was so much fun. There was a dinner too but I don't think the  kids stopped long enough to eat anything.  We ended the month with a trip to Arco for Dan's 40th Birthday Surprise Party.  A quick intimate affair with family and friends. Preston and I mused on the way home "People around us are getting old."