January

 Sorry for the lack of pictures. The first half of January was all about cleaning and reorganizing the upstairs and basement. The 2nd half of January was trying to stay alive. The middle was about celebrating the princess. 

Goals for 2021: Greg: Get good grades. Syringa: make memories. Denali: Stay Dry-try new things. Colvin: sleep in own bed - Learn more in school. Azalyn: learn more words. We are also learning the song, "My Own Sacred Grove" by Angie Killian

We were finally able to use Mom's Christmas gift from last year, movie tickets, we went to Croods II. The boys love it. Family news: Sonya and Rusty got married. Miracles really do happen. Greg was sad that he was unable to attend. I hope this summer we can celebrate. 

Since the boys each received instruments for Christmas. I decided they needed to learn how to play them. I cannot help Denali with the guitar since I know NOTHING. However, I can teach them both the beginning of the piano. A well-guarded secret is: I took 5yrs of piano lesson. I would say my skill is a level 2. Piano lessons are 10 mins 2 days a week. The boys get $0.25 for every song they pass off. 

Our last big home improvement project, Or the first one however you see it, was putting in all new carpet upstairs.  We did not install it, we hired it out, but we did have to clean out everything from ALL the rooms.  Our bed was not as hard as we thought but our treadmill was harder so 6's. Since we were cleaning out all the rooms, I also wanted to clean out the basement. We took so much stuff to the DI. The boys did more than great donating toys. My main level suffered. During the carpet install we had all 5 of us in one room for 2 days. Glad to know we can but, let’s not. We were really scared that the room carpet would be too dark, it is perfect. We were not worried about the stair and hall carpet; it might be a little too light.  We love how plush the room carpet is and LOVE the short carpet. We put the queen bed up in the boy’s room. They are going to have to earn their bunk beds. After I got everything cleaned and organized, I decided to implement the 5 min rule. If it takes less than 5 min do it now. LIKE: put your dirty clothing in the hamper, put your clean clothing after church away.  

My kids got their wood train track out. This has been the favorite toy since Denali was Az's age. It brought back so many memories. It is funny that each kid plays with them in their own unique way. Denali liked to build, Colvin actually likes to play with the trains, Azalyn likes to put the train tracks away.  A friend of mine was selling more on Facebook. The boys got to go pick them up, they said it was better than Christmas. We went to Nickle Manana again, sometimes we all need an out. Colvin won 2 jackpots back-to-back. We were all so excited you would of thought we won a million bucks. With the cold we have had to get creative. We busted out the bubbles. I am not sure who loves them more, the kids or the dog. 

We got to go meet our new neighbor. The worst thing about COVID-19 is we are not interacting with our neighbors at all. After we went and said HI, Greg figured out we are kind of related. Our neighbor is Glen's grandson; Greg is Glen's step grandson and Denali is names after Grandpa Glen. 

I try really hard to see the everyday blessing. We were getting ready for real church, Azalyn had no church shoes. I was inspired to go look downstairs. Charlotte had given me a whole sack of shoes. There was a pair of cute little boots that fit. BLESSING! If you do what the lords ask, he will help you. If I read my scriptures, right now I am reading the old testament, I know the lord will give me strength throughout the day. I started a new book and within 10% I knew I should not read it. I stopped and started looking for another book. As I was looking, a book I have had on hold for months came in and I found another one I really wanted to read. I stopped one bad book and got 2 good books. 

 Colvin has rainbow sight words that he passes off. If he is motivated AKA a prize for passes off a color, he can read. Being a boy mom is interesting. The key is having a blank face even if you are dying inside. A conversation I had with Colvin on the way to school. "Mom can I poop in your face" "only if you pop strawberry poop" "but mom I only have banana poop I guess I will have to eat more strawberries then poop in your face" "sounds like a plan" Denali asked me, "mom do you like when I am a smart ass, because I think being a smart ass is funny" Denali has already tired something new, he went to a friend’s house after school. He had a great time. Azalyn is really into animal sounds, eehe's (horses) are her favorite. she had eehe PJS she loves. One night they were dirty, and she was not going to get dress. However, I remembered her Christmas PJ have eehe’s on them. She was excited to get dressed. Saved by Christmas. 

My main goal for January was getting all the hard drives organized. I filled up my hard drive with all my pictures. Then I crashed my hard drive with all my movies. (I was converting all moves to MP4.) I reevaluated my goals and decided my blog was a better way to spend my energy. 

As I stated at the beginning Greg and I both got sick. I was down for the weekend. Greg was getting worse not better. Monday afternoon he had to go get tested for COVID-19, he was positive. Kids are now out of school for 10 days. They do so good with school in the morning.  Poor Greg had every know system; Chills, fever, sick, cough and so much more. After about a week I called it his pregnant sickness. Super tired, does not feel like eating but sick if he does not eat. I have tons of empathy. 

Putting this is bold; the boys earned their switch. They have been working on it for about 6ms. Denali has not gotten off. Colvin has a hard time with the controllers. So proud of them! 

Verse 1 Joseph Smith went to a grove full of trees. Seeking God's wisdom, he fell to his knees. As he pled with the heavens the sky filled with light, And the Father appeared with His Son Jesus Christ Standing above in the air, Coming to answer his prayer. 

Chorus I will find my own sacred grove Away from all of the noise in the world. I will turn to prayer, For I know He's there. I will find my own sacred grove.

 Verse 2 So many choices with so much at stake. Life's full of pathways, but which should I take? If I lift up in prayer in the name of the Son, Through the pow'r of the Holy Ghost answers will come. Heavenly Father is there Ready to answer my prayer.

 Chorus Bridge Verse 3 Sometimes the answers take time, So I'll listen in heart and mind. Revelation will come my way As I wait patiently in faith. Chorus I will find my own sacred grove.