Love--Exciting and New--Month 7

Dan did not travel once the entire month of February.  He got so sick of it in January, he made a point of it, not to do it in February.  We really enjoyed having him around more.  It was a huge help with kids activities and everyone just likes having him home.  Dan did have an unfortunate event this month.  He was at the last 5 minutes of the last hockey practice of Deagan's season.  He was playing with the kids, skating backwards into the corner, meaning to give a pass to kids who were going to the net.  All of a sudden, he hit a rut in the ice and went straight backwards, head first into the boards.  He hit his elbow next, then his head hit the ice and bounced.  It knocked the wind out of him, and it took him about 5 minutes to decide if he could get up off the ice.  He hurt his back really bad, and although he managed to get on his hands and knees, it took several more minutes for him to decide if he could get off the ice on his own, or if he needed to be carried.  He was having flashbacks the whole time, of his senior year in high school, when he hurt his back so bad that he couldn't walk for three days.  He finally pulled himself off the ice and drove Deagan home, but it took him 20 minutes to get from the car into the house and on the couch.  He got a blessing that night, and felt much better the next day.  He was very sore and only lasted 2 hours at work before not being able to sit any longer, so he came home, but at least, he was walking.  It took several days before he could sit comfortably.  He felt great by Friday, the next week--until he had a sneezing fit, which set his back, back several days.  A week and a half later, it still hurts to run and to lift anything, but he is on the road to recovery.

In the meantime, on the same day as Dan's accident, I got hit with a cold.  I spent 3 days doing almost nothing.  I had a fever and body aches for three days straight.  The kids had to make their own dinner and do all the dishes.  I was out for the count.  I finally started feeling better on a Saturday.  I still have a cough, but I feel much better!!!  I was also asked by a friend to go to a circuit weight lifting class.  I thought this would be a great idea.  I went to the class and was able to do all of the stations.  We were partnered, so I had to do them all, or else I would let my partner down.  It went great.  It felt really good to use weights in my workout routine.  Then, I got home.  I realized my mistake by the first time I went to climb the stairs.  I barely made it up!  The next two days after that, my muscles were so sore, I was not very quick at anything.  Even sitting on the toilet hurt to get up and down.  The pain only lasted for 3 days, then I was able to get back into real life again.

Dan and I decided last minute to do a Valentine's party.  We had 3 couples show up.  We played "minute to win it" games and we had a great time.  We are starting to get back into the habit of inviting people over again.  We have a good time and enjoy the people in our ward.

Danyon continues to do his swimming.  He has had a few substitute teachers, which has set him back. He still has not passed the second level.  If this continues, I think that I will put swimming on hold for a while.  But, we did start gymnastics.  It has been a hoot to watch, as Danyon does not follow directions very well.  He doesn't know how to skip and learning the basics for kart wheels can be pretty funny to watch.  He has his friend, Ethan, in the class, and he loves spending time with his friend.

The other day, Danyon came up to me and asked if he could have some sex.  A little taken back, I asked him to repeat what he wanted.  Again the reply was, "sex".  I sat there and tried to think of what he could possibly want.  I asked again, "what do you want?"  He grabbed my arm, and said, "C'mon mom.  Let's go.  I want some sex."  Dane who was sitting next to me at the time, was rolling in his chair.  He thought it was hilarious.  So he asked him a couple more times what he wanted.  Each time Danyon was insistent.  He wanted sex.  All out of ideas, I finally asked Danyon to show me what he wanted.  He took me to the pantry and pointed to the snack bucket.  "There mom, I want the sex in there."  Apparently, Danyon has a hard time pronouncing certain consonants together and when he says "snacks", it comes out very much like "sex".  So, let it be known to all--if Danyon ever asks you for sex, he really just wants some snacks.  I have tried working with him on this specific sound, but he still has a hard time with it.

Dyllan contines to do well in school.  She also still loves swimming.  She had her last SuperSplash last Monday night.  She was supposed to swim in three events, but she missed the butterfly.  She had too many numbers written on her arm, and she got confused as to which heat she was in.  She did swim the 100m freestyle and the 50m breaststroke.  She was disqualified in the breaststroke, as she did not have a two hand touch at one end, but she has learned from the situation, and is excited to do more meets next year.  She only has one more week of practice, then she is done with swimming for the season.

Deagan finished up his last practice and his last games of hockey this month.  He played very well in his last regular games.  He scored several points during each game.  We got to sit with Dan during the game, because of his hurt back.  It was nice to have him to talk to during the game.  Deagan also had a mite major graduation game to finish the season.  He moved on to full ice.  Deagan had a couple of firsts during this game.  He scored a goal during this game, and had an assist.  He also had his first (and the only) penalty of the game called on him for hooking.  He wasn't truly hooking, but the ref thought he was.


Dane had a jazz band concert this month.  He only got to play 2 songs, but we went and enjoyed it anyway.  His voice is changing and he is talking much lower lately.  He has a mustache growing in.  He is finally growing up!  He got to tour the FBI building this month.  He really liked the gun room there.  He also got to go tobogganing with the scouts this month.  There wasn't any real snow, but they had enough fake snow to go down the hill.  The toboggan run is on a designated permanent track. The scouts had a good time.  Dane and Dan got to play in the brass band at the church.  We had a linger longer, celebrating the 20th birthday of the ward, and the band was able to play.  The day was snowy and cold, and as a result, the last hour of church was canceled.  They still had the linger longer, but most people went home first.

Winter hits!--Month 6

This month has been winter, for sure. We have had snow, ice and cold. Our house remains cozy and warm, thanks to grandpa, who fixed the fireplace over the Christmas break. 


The kids reluctantly started the new semester. This one, however, is going much more smoothly than the last. It seems that we have finally settled in. The kids know the routine and don't feel like they are always a step behind everyone else. Things are going much better, in that respect.


Dane had a music competition this month, ISSA. He was in a saxophone quartet and a large wind ensemble. His groups won gold medals in both! The guy that critiqued the larger group was weird, but had an incredible ear. When we walked in, he started telling us all a story that had no point and no end. When they handed him the music, he stopped the story, and told the group to go ahead. At the end, he could tell the students which ones played well, which ones hit wrong notes (along with exactly where each was hit in the music)--all within a band of 15 different kids and four or five different instruments. He also gave the group pointers on how to create more musicality. I don't know how someone can listen to the piece as a whole, and each of the different instruments, from each of the different kids, while looking at the music for the first time, and putting it all together in minutes.


Dyllan swam in her first swim meet. It was an in-house swim meet. She had three events: 50m backstroke, 50m breaststroke, and 50m freestyle. In her heats, she came in 1st, 2nd, and 1st. She did very well. She is excited to swim more and wants to be the "top swimmer in high school". She has a lot of work to do it, but she is on her way!


Deagan has continued with hockey. He is still enjoying it. He usually scores 3-5 goals on game days. This week, he gets to try out being goalie. He is very excited for this new challenge. We'll see how it goes. 


Danyon has also continued swimming lessons. He asks almost every day if it is swimming day. He loves it! Especially if he gets to see his friend, Ethan. Danyon can swim 10 feet and roll over on his own. He just needs to work on a stronger forward pull to go to the next level.


Dan has traveled a lot this month. He has tried to make it to everyone's kick off meetings for the new year. Starting tomorrow, he has a new job title. He is now Director of Food Chain and Market Access . That should keep him busy for awhile. I'm afraid that he will probably be traveling a lot in the next few months trying to get everything set up for his new role. Although he has been traveling a lot, he still has the travel bug. He has planned 3 family trips for us coming soon this year. He also traveled back to Canada this month, sadly, for the funeral of his grandmother. Dan was grateful that he could be with his family. The rest of us were sad that we couldn't make it.  


I have been busy getting the kids to their normal activities. I also found time to start quilting again. I bought a kit of island fabrics with my Christmas money, and I got started right away. It took me only 2 days to get the top all finished. I also made a wreath for the front door. And I made a cute Valentine's centerpiece. It has been fun to get back into creating things again. I think I have been trying to get back to my crafting roots, as I was asked to be the Camp Crafter for girls camp. I'm not really sure what that will entail, but I figured I better get working on something.


It has been getting lighter in the evenings. The sun doesn't set until after 6:00pm now. We had a very unusual 60 degree day yesterday, and I'm starting to get Spring Fever--already. I've been working on eating healthier and exercising every day. It has really been a chore to get back into a workout routine. I have not enjoyed it, and every day has been a struggle to get it done. I feel like I finally had a small break through this week (not with weight loss), but with energy levels. It seems like every time I work out, it drains me of energy and I have no desire to continue. This week, after a couple of my workouts, I've actually felt like I had more energy. The desire to workout is still not strong, but it is getting better. I'm hoping that it is my metabolism that is changing and I will drop the weight! It is certainly a slow process to have only lost 2 pounds in a month of eating healthy and exercise.