Optimistic

Every time we go to the library Ali gets a bag full of books. During the school year they don't all get read before we take them back, but she likes to have options and I like her optimism! 

Bulls Game

Logan and Eli got tickets to go a Bulls game with their dad for Christmas. This might be my favorite picture of this statue yet (we have a few!)

A (Last?) Year of Funnies

With our youngest getting older, this may be the last year we have funnies. The kids are still finny, but it's often a whole conversation (rather than Facebook-sized tidbits) that's funny, or a you-had-to-be-there kind of funny. We'll see. Either way, enjoy!

1/1/22 Jake: In book four of The Notebook of Doom, Chomp of the Meat-Eating Vegetables, they defeated the vegetables with teamwork. I really liked that. They did it TOGETHER, which is really, really nice.

1/7/22 Jake: My birthday is only four months away; you better start buying me presents soon so you can be ready!

1/20/22 Jake: Is January close to being done? I’m over it.

2/13/22 Jake: Deep down inside myself I really do like quiet time (mom-imposed hour of time where everyone is alone in their rooms).

2/26/22 Jake: A hug is more important than a cookie because a hug shows you love someone

3/9/22 Jake: When I grow up I’m going to be an author, who’s also a dad, and I’m going to make video games and board games in my free time. I’m going to live next door to you, mom, and just go to New York City when I need to give my books to my publishers.

3/22/22 Jake: Mom, can I say… (whispers) barf?

Me: Yes…

Jake: OK, it just seemed like a word that wouldn’t be welcome in your house.

3/31/22 Me: (made a silly, self- congratulating comment about how moms always sacrifice for their children).

Jake: But not you, right?

Me: Of course I do!

Jake: (eyes widen, chin trembling)

Me: (realizing what he’s thinking!) Most sacrifices aren’t giving your life for someone. You can sacrifice time, money, things- that’s what I meant!

Jake: (sigh, chuckle in relief) Oh, yeah, ok. That’s true.

4/2/22 Me: Jake, is your room clean?

Jake: Yep!

Me: Will *I* think it’s clean?

Jake:…Let me double check.

4/4/22 Jake: Thank goodness for this magazine- now we know how to recycle right! If I ever meet the person who wrote it I’m going to give them a high-five!

4/7/22 Jake: (Seeing an amazon box): Is the thing in there something for my birthday?

Me: Yes.

Jake: (In all sincerity and sweetness) Mom, I don't even know what it is, but since you got it for me I just know I am going to love it. Thank you so much!

4/24/22 Jake: I brushed my teeth really hard so I’d have nice breath for Stake Conference.

4/25/22 Jake: Now I KNOW I'm getting older, because I let the dentist do what he needed to even though I didn't like it AT ALL.

5/1/22 Me: I can’t get this game piece off, can you?

Jake: (gets piece off) Maybe you just needed to be pure in heart to do it.

5/3/22 Me: (Telling Jake that the thing he’s looking forward to will happen this Friday)

Jake: No offense, because I know you’re trying to make me feel better, but Friday feels like YEARS away.

5/5/22 Jake: She’s a really good friend because she doesn’t even care if I yell at her.

Me: (Camilla Movrich Wise please tell me he doesn’t yell at your daughter!)

5/13/22 Jake: I’m pretty tired tonight, so I think I won’t read for quite as long so I can go to sleep sooner…I’ll turn off the light at 7:28pm (bedtime is normally 7:30pm).

6/3/22 Me: How did you know (something)?

Jake: It’s just part of boy magic.

6/7/22 Jake: My hamburger tastes a little bit picklish.

6/9/22 Jake: I’ve learned that laughing means the same thing in any language!

6/14/22 Jake made up this joke:

What does a secret agent call something they think is amazing?

Inspiring (In-SPY-erring)!

7/21/22 Jake: Mom, you lived in the 19s?!!

7/23/22 Jake: I know her like my pinky- so trust me, I know her.

7/28/22 Jake was offered some juice at a friend’s house and he requested one that didn’t have alcohol in it. (Thanks to Camilla Movrich Wise for sharing this gem)

7/29/22 Jake: ‘Satisfying’ is such a satisfying word.

8/3/22 Jake: Mom, aliens are real. Trust me. I just know they are.

8/15/22 Jake: Now that I’m seven, I have super strength.

10/23/22 Jake: I have a mind like an elephant when it comes to holiday decorations: I never forget.

10/25/22 Jake: If the world is ever taken over by crazy squirrels or rabbits, Max (our dog) will have us covered.

A (COVID) New Year

 A few days after Christmas, I got COVID. It was really a very convenient time to get it since Jason already had off of work and could take care of me and all the things. He was wonderful.

I sent a note to Jake under my door suggesting a few activities we could do together, and not surprisingly, he kept me as busy as I wanted to be doing that!

New Years Eve Jason took Logan and Eli to a Bulls game (part of their Christmas present), and Ali was a great sport watching movies with Jake that she let him pick. I did come down and celebrated "New Years" with the two of them when the timer went off, and then watched a movie from far across the room with Ali till the boys got home. Not quite how we'd pictured the day, but I think we all had a good time. (Also pictured next to Ali and Jake is the dinner my RS counselor brought me- the other brought one the next day, bless them.)

Christmas Break Fun

We all really enjoyed time off of school and work this break. We mostly hung around the house and stuck to ourselves, and had a great time.

We played lots of games, including this drawing one the kids came up with and all enjoyed!

We went to the library a couple of times.

Some of us practiced our fireman holds.

More reading.

We did baptisms at the temple with some of our new member friends. 

We also went to Feed My Starving Children with a family from the ward, the kids played lots of DnD (they even made a character for Jake!), Warhammer creating and playing, watched movies and TV shows on Ali's new projector, and basically enjoyed the time off.
 

Christmas Fun

Spirit days around Christmas are always fun!

This was a new one for the junior high- Zoom meeting business dress: dressed up on top, pjs on bottom!

Max really wants to eat our elf and his reindeer. One night they moved to this spot that way annoyingly right at his level, but still out of reach. He whined and watched them for quite a long time, poor guy.

We had our traditional Christmas Eve nativity reenactment. 

Merry Christmas!

Happy Birthday Todd

Jason's brother Todd turned 50 this December, and our sister-in-law Janell went all out to celebrate including flying out Jason, his sisters and his mom to surprise Todd. Jason was more than happy to join in on the fun!