attitude

salsa bar at Tarahumara

Oh my gosh you guys- it has started.

Elliott is only 8 and isn't loving all the places we go as a family anymore.

"Why do we have to run errands (or go here or there)?!"

"Can't you go while I'm at school?"

"You're wasting all my time!"

He would rather stay home most of the time.

He's okay if we are going someplace fun- which is understandable. 

But I don't think it's that bad hanging out together?

And I definitely thought we had more time (8 more years at least?) before we had to worry about this.

And he is a bit of a picker in the food department and can't quite 

understand why we don't go to Olive Garden every time we eat out.

This is a new chapter in our little family.

 And I'm still learning how to deal with the "attitude."

A couple weeks ago we went to see the ice castles that are in Midway every year. 

The plan was to see them after a drive up Provo Canyon 

and eating at our favorite Mexican restaurant in Midway.

Too bad we realized after the drive up that the ice castles weren't to be found in 

Utah this year because of the mild weather we've had all winter.

(Really should have looked that up before the drive.)

Anyway- we were bummed, but had more to look forward to- 

Eating! The Store! Being together on our designated family night---> Monday!

Except for Mr. E.

And then when we went to drown our sorrows in the best salsa bar in Utah- 

we heard a few more loud grumbles. 

We ordered our favorites (E ordered something new) and settled in.

The boys started drawing on the paper table covers 

and were soon laughing and talking.

The negativity started to disappear-- as fast as the food on our plates.

We tore out the pictures and hung them on the designated cork board in the restaurant 

and were on our way.

We stopped by the little store in Midway (The Store) to stock up on more freshly packed salsa and some V chocolate pretzels and started the drive home. 

We talked all through the canyon (our family rule is no video watching while in canyons and the boys totally enforce it) - telling stories from school, work and our day.

It turned out to be a pretty great night together as a family.

Even Elliott thought so.

I just hope he starts to realize beforehand that it's not going to be that bad.

We're his family after all and we're happiest when he's with us. 

 1. Elliott's depiction of Adam 2. Adam's sketch of Ollie

My drawing of Linc in the foreground.

E- happiest when drawing.

sidewalk ice skating

baby jordan

 Jordan and my mom

My little niece Jordan was blessed the other day.

We got to come and see her all dressed in white.

She is so tiny still at 3 months!

My little brother Mikey and his wife Joy

january iphone

I've never been so excited for a weekend to be over! 

Between the two of us, Adam and I had like 8 meetings- it was crazy!

I taught a Young Women class for the first time in almost two years.

It went okay- but I was nervous that there were so many leaders there too, 

including a member of the stake presidency and bishopbric. 

And I didn't know any of the girls since it wasn't my ward.

And somehow we all had the sniffles this weekend too.

We got some snow on Sunday (just a dusting) 

when it was high 50's the day before.

Spring is on it's way though- I can feel it!

I've been a slacker at taking pics- I really am grateful for my little phone.

 Linc figured out how to start a movie on his own...

 The deer came out of the hills to find food and we spotted them in a field by our house.

 new hat

 valentine krispy kremes

Ollie's gigantic transformer- he loves it.

 The throw-ups hit the boys last month... not fun. 

 My niece Gabby turned ONE!

 laundry basket car

 tree in front of Adam's work

 Helped Ollie's class make snowshoes for winterfest.

 Indian food at the Bombay House with Adam, my sister and her husband.

 Afterwards we saw Jim Gaffigan's stand-up routine.

So funny my cheeks hurt from laughing! 

 Popovers seem to be my roll of choice for dinner now 

because I always start them too late and these are fast.

I use this recipe from Sister's Cafe.

(The winter soup is great too.)

Happy Monday! 

dino museum

 We are lucky to live so close to the dino museum!

We always see fieldtrips there and people visiting when they come into town, like it's a big deal.

We love that we live just down the road and have a pass.

Not quite the same as all those school children I've seen in Europe ignoring the Mona Lisa as they check their cell phones or parade begrudgingly past Michaelangelo's David, (lucky ducks!) but you get the idea.
The boys love it, I like that they love it, and we all learn something new every time we go.

T-rex!!

mini paleontologists 

 Linc's brush collection that he didn't want any of the other kids to touch... yeah- he's that kid.

 Trying to be like his big brother- he seriously thinks he's five. 

Ask him and he'll tell you.
But Linc- you're only two!
"No! I FIVE!"

sisters and hats

 

Sini, Linds, Mom, Lisa & Fisher

My sister, Lisa made her annual Utah visit to snowboard. 

We were in Vegas for part of her stay, so we only got to hang out on her last night here.

So fun to see her little big boy Fisher, who just turned one!

 Troy showing Brian and Adam his old college ball movies.

 Lisa broke out my mom's fuzzy Finnish hat, so we all took turns trying it on.

And it has been confirmed that I have a HUGE noggin! 

I could barely get it on!

 And Addie is wearing the hat I wore when I was little- isn't it the cutest thing ever?!

My little brother wore it after me.

This ugster was Lindsey's, but I'm pretty sure I wore it after her.

People must have been so confused here in Utah... haha!

Will

 Ollie

 Me

 My mom

 Linds

 Ollie

 Ben

Cute Lisa and Troy