January flew by this year, thankfully, because January SUCKS! Utah...inversion...cold...snow...ice...it all SUCKS! The only thing good that has ever come out of January is Nathan! But, it's January 31, I survived, and maybe had a little fun along the way...maybe...
{JEN CONFERENCE}
The Lone Peak Jazz Band was invited to go to Texas and perform at the JEN Conference this year. Lone Peak is the first Utah public school to ever be invited. It was 3 full days of performing, listening to concerts, and rubbing shoulders with the best jazz musicians in the world. Nathan had an amazing experience and loved every minute of it.
On our way home from picking Nathan up from the airport I received a text from Rhonda Bromley, the principal of Lone Peak. She said, "I have spent the last few days in Dallas with the jazz band. I can't believe what an amazing young man Nathan has grown up to be. You should be so proud of him."
...I am.
{SNOWSHOEING}
I have to say...I'm in a pretty great stage of life. I get the kids off to school and then most of the time, I can fill my day with whatever I want to do. Luckily I have friends who like to fill their time the same way I do, and so it makes for weekly snowshoeing adventures. As much as I hate living in Utah in the winter, I have to admit that living 5 minutes from the most beautiful canyon in the world makes it almost worth it!
{BREAK-UP TREAT}
So...whenever Brittani dumped a boy I would always take her out for a break up treat after the deed was done. The tradition has carried on to Nathan. Why are my kids dumpers? Really though, maybe it's my fault, I mean they get a treat after it is done! As I'm writing this it really doesn't make sense to me, but in the moment I want to relieve some of the break-up stress.
Anyway, Nathan wanted to break up with his first real girlfriend - he found out that girlfriends at 16 aren't all they're cracked up to be. So after a family meeting on how the break up should be done with Cody and Brittani on facetime, Nathan gently told the girl that it would be better to be "just friends". Nathan felt horrible, but the girl took it really well, and when Nathan got home we hopped in the car and went for a shake!
{JANUARY BIKE RIDES}
Amazingly enough we have been able to get outside and ride our bikes a few times this month. During the summer months if the wind is blowing a little too much for my liking, or there is a cloud in the sky and therefore a chance of rain, or it is below 60 degrees, there is NO WAY I get on my bike. During the winter months, if there isn't very much ice on the roads and the temperature is above 30 - we are outside! So there have been a few days this month that with 2 layers of thick gloves, and at least 3 layers of clothing, we have been able to get outside and ride.
It's amazing and well worth the frost bite!
{BRITTANI APPLIED FOR THE ADVERTISING PROGRAM}
The application is in and now it is weeks of waiting for the letter. Brittani's video was amazing, and her application was incredible. Part of her application had to include a personal manifesto of 100 words or less. This is what she came up with (she tweaked it a little to get it down to 100 words):
Your life is up to you. Set goals and work for them. You are determined. You are brave. Nobody can tell you you’re not smart enough, strong enough, or talented enough to achieve your dreams. In each trial, give it your all; fight your fight. You are gentle, you are bright, you bring something exceptional to the world. You are a leader and example. Serve, love, leave everything more beautiful than you found it. Be happy, positive, and a light in the darkness. You are unique. Stay unique. Be yourself and be confident in what makes you Brittani. Your life is up to you. Live it.
What can I say???
I mean...SHE IS AMAZING!
{HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. NATHAN}
17 years ago, this handsome man came to our little family. He has brought joy and happiness to me EVERY DAY since. I am so so thankful that he's mine. He is kind and loving, respectful and honest, and good to his very core. I love you Nathan Sean.
For Nathan's birthday this year we went to UVU Aviation - he was supposed to have an introductory flight but the weather didn't cooperate, so we rescheduled but got an amazing tour. Nathan was able to fly in the simulator for almost an hour and we found out all the information to get him on the path to be a pilot.
He had a few friends come over for waffles and cake, and they just hung out the rest of the night.
Overall I think his birthday was a success.
{SCIENCE FAIR}
Okay...I'm going to rant for a minute...
I believe the person who came up with the dumb science fair was not a parent, and most definitely not a mother. There is no way a 5th or 6th grader could do the research, report, or display without massive amounts of help from an adult. I finished school. I don't ever want to go back. Why in the world am I stuck doing science fair projects over and over and over again. Last year Connor accidentally pushed the wrong key while trying to save his project, and we had to retype the whole thing. And when I say we...I mean I had to retype the whole thing. This year we finally got smart and just re-used his report from last year, but we still had to do the dang display board. And we aren't even done. He has to do it again next year. What a waste of time!
^^I think he may be flipping his project off^^
Happy January Everyone!
