January started off with a much anticipated event in our family. Grant had a field trip to JA City! I co-taught his fifth grade class Junior Achievement twice a week for a couple of months to prepare them for this field trip. The kids all got assigned jobs, and Grant ended up with the job of Mayor, which was what he was hoping and praying for (literally). Junior Achievement is all about practical economics, on a fifth grade level. So, I taught them about bank accounts and credit cards and how to write a check and other fun adult things like that. At JA City, they all got a chance to buy and sell things and use their adult financial skills that they had been learning. Grant didn't sell anything, but he said he had to sign his name on things all day long. And he had to give multiple speeches and give awards to different businesses. He was such a great mayor! I had multiple parents tell me what a natural he was. I couldn't decide if I should be proud or worried that he is a born politician!
Right at the beginning he had a moment where he looked very nervous, and I was worried he was going to panic and back out, but then he stepped up to the microphone and his nerves were gone and he became a confident mayor. It was a really fun field trip to be a part of.
I helped the kids at the school district, so I wasn't in with Grant to see him perform all his duties. But I peeked in when I could.
Something that was no good this month--
I lost my diamond from my wedding ring. It was either at the high school or the junior high, so some teenager may be very lucky. This did not make me happy, but we have been paying on jeweler's insurance for 19 years, and the good news is that it was not in vain! My new diamond and fixed ring should be done soon!
Something good? Maren's braces came off! And much earlier than we thought they would. She is looking so grown up!
We took our kids skiing/snowboarding for the first time ever. We got an awesome deal for Ski Utah month. The drive up was the most terrifying drive I've ever had with my kids in the car with me. It was a blizzard and our GPS took us on a scary, narrow, way too high up without guard rails, snow packed canyon road (North Ogden Canyon). Prayers were answered, and we arrived alive.
The awesome deal we found included a two hour lesson for the kids. Dustin and I did a few runs while the kids were learning (which was a good chance for us to re-learn). Neither of us had skied since high school, or snowboarded since when we were first married. But, luckily, it came back pretty quickly and we were able to enjoy the day. The first run down for the kids was pretty rough, with lots of tears and frustration (with the exception of Ryan, who was a natural on his snowboard--maybe because he has been snowboarding in our backyard a number of times). I kept telling them what I remember my dad telling me "It's not going to be very much fun until the 3rd time down the hill, and then you will love it." And, that's pretty much what happened. By the third time down, the weather had improved, the sun was shining a little bit, and they were loving it and having a great time.
Dustin and I went on a date to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple, just for the fun of it.
We retired our old copy of our Family Mission Statement. It was written on the back of a previously used poster board and we had updated and edited it, as needed. For Christmas, Avery gave us a nicer, typed copy to hang in our kitchen.
January has had basketball, basketball and more basketball. Maren is playing for the Junior High, and Ryan and Grant are both playing Junior Jazz, so we usually have four games a week, plus practices!
The boys get to go to a Jazz game as part of their season, and Dustin and Grant did that this week and had fun.
Another sad thing was that we got news that my cousin Von passed away unexpectedly last week, and Dustin, Lynnette and I drove down to Delta for the funeral. It was very sad, but it's amazing how funerals always turn into a family reunion. Von's sister, Katie was my exact age and we were inseparable as kids, so I spent a lot of time at their house when I was growing up.
I love this picture. My two favorite cousins hugging me, and Dustin hugging Aunt Bev.
My best friend cousins all growing up.
Daniel, Katie and I are all the same age, and there is a picture of us with our dads as babies that everyone loves for us to re-create when we all happen to be together (which really isn't that often anymore).
A picture with Grandma Losee. She is 93.
So, lots of stuff happened in January! Some of it sad, most of it happy. But, life is good and we are grateful for our family relationships and new experiences!
