I Learned Some New Skills

Superb Owl Sunday was on February 8. Jeremy, Nichole, Jr. Jr., Lucky, and Jet all contributed to Sunday Sketches. I will post about that later.

Jeremy fed us some Rootinest Tootinest Breakfanootinest Casserole (his own creation- we haven't had it in years, though). 

Since the weather was nice, I wanted to take a nice relaxing drive in the afternoon. Several of us got in the van and went for a drive through Provo Canyon, around Deer Creek Reservoir, up into Midway, around Heber Fields, and back through downtown Heber, around Deer Creek Reservoir, and through Provo Canyon again, where we had a tire blow out after we got out of the canyon.

So I got to learn some new skills and recognize many blessings. If I was on my own (without Jeremy), I would have freaked out. As it was, we were both able to support each other. Jeremy looked up YouTube videos and was able to get the spare tire out of the trunk (and managed to get the old tire off and into the trunk- it was heavy). I was able to crawl down on the ground and figure out where to put the jack. We both took turns lifting the van with the jack. I got to put the spare on and put the lug nuts back on. Jeremy did more tightening than I did. We both got to see that the spare was flat so I called some friends and since we were not too far from home (huge blessing), I was able to get a ride home to get our portable air compressor and drive back with our other vehicle. Then I got the experience of learning how to use the air compressor to fill up the spare tire. Jeremy and I worked well together. That's another blessing.

It was a beautiful night. Kids were well behaved. Nichole took Jet walking up and down the sidewalk because we pulled over off the main road to a road that didn't have much traffic. Jet was well behaved in his cute Seahawks jacket. I put that on him because the Seattle Seahawks were playing in the Super Bowl that day (and won). Jr. Jr. kept himself entertained by juggling.

It ended up not being too late when we got home, too.  

The next day, I was able to get kids to school then drove to get a new tire. I got to read some more of The Hobbit at the tire store while I waited and then found out the tire was still under warranty. Woohoo. Yay for more blessings. 

I'm a Helper

Saturday, February 7, had nice weather. I'm glad of it because I walked over to someone's house in the neighborhood to help paint platforms for the school play... twice. Base coat in the morning, texturing in the afternoon.

It was Play Outside Day. It was nice to get out for that short walk (four times because of back and forth) because I have just gotten over a cold so I haven't been out for walks much lately.

Between trips to do that service I made sure to eat ice cream. It was Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. Several people in the family celebrated.

Sadly I was too tired to take anyone to the library for Take Your Child to the Library Day. Oh well. 

It was National Fettuccine Alfredo Day but we didn't have any fettuccine so we had rotini alfredo. Mmmm. I love the homemade alfredo sauce we always use. It's from ourbestbites.com and it uses ingredients I always have on hand. Guiltless Alfredo Sauce.

Saturday was a good day.

Read-a-thon

I'm not the only one who loves reading challenges. The elementary school recently had their annual read-a-thon. This year, a Book Bandit escaped from the book and it took reading so many minutes to get him back in his book.

Jet got very excited about it when they had their opening assembly. He came home and told us about the Book Bandit. He even decided he had a certain color shirt that was his "case solver" shirt to solve clues about the Book Bandit so he alternated between two shirts during the whole read-a-thon. Oh my. He is so cute. 

But let me let him share about it:

 

yeftefytrreggdytdyrtderfyg;lgblkghjghjbnhjbioiuio jioojuojujojiiiiiiiiiiiiikuiiooiuoyiiigtjjirtjrithgiirgthghtiththitgthhfthtrhfrjtgjrgihhrugrftbrth hjrknfrg fjrmfrnfm

 

Translation (as fast as I could keep up):

Mystery solver. mystery solver solved the clues. Boom, solved the clues.

something about the book thief.

Find the clues, mystery solver. 

 

Told you he was cute.

Daddy read a bedtime story (or two or three) to him every night then told me how many minutes they read so I could record it the next morning.

Lucky, of course, did his own reading, and read he did.

On the last day of the read-a-thon, he came home with a medal for being one of the top readers (reading the most minutes). Not really a surprise. This kid also loves reading challenges.

Lucky told me that Jet's team got the most minutes overall, though, so that's also fun.

Galentines

Party time!

Nichole and I went to a Galentines celebration with friends. We had a potluck dinner and did some getting to know you activities.

Our friend, Stephanie, shared some things with us to remind us that our best Valentine, the one who loves us most, is the Savior.

After those activities, a few of us stayed to watch a movie. 

It was another great night with friends. 

 

P.S. That morning I got out for probably my last walk at the park before the lights are turned off.

Sunday Sketches

For Sunday Sketches, Jet requested a bat so this is what they came up with:

 

Jeremy

Jr. Jr.

Lucky

Jet 

 I like to see the different styles and techniques.

Celebrating with Food Again

February 3 was National Carrot Cake Day. I made carrot cake. I like carrot cake.

It was also Feed the Birds Day so Lucky and I reminisced last year when he was doing the Mary Poppins play on Feed the Birds Day. 

February 4 was National Homemade Soup Day. I made Ogre Stew. Yumm.

February 5 was World Nutella Day. We had hazelnut spread on tortillas with baby carrots and apple slices. 

Rise and Shine, Campers

I texted my son on February 2. "Rise and shine, camper. It's Groundhog Day!"

Then, "Bundle up (in your new coat) 'cause it's cold out there this morning."

Then, "It's cold out there every morning. What is this- Miami Beach?"

Then, "Not hardly." 

I gave him enough time to respond between each of my texts but he didn't so I had to do all the (paraphrased) quotes by myself. 

It's okay. 

For dinner, we had imitation groundhog burgers (black bean burgers) and potato wedges (instead of tater tots, even though it was Tater Tot Day). Mmmm.