Family Time

Sometimes you have to MAKE time for the whole family or make the whole family take time. With a not so tiny family and everyone going in different directions, sometimes it's hard to do something with everyone (in the home). We do make sure to do Family Home Evening and family prayer and scripture study (those last two are quick, however, and sometimes with the phone on speaker). Oh, and sit down family dinner time is fun. 

But... to have everyone doing one thing together as a family (besides the normal necessary things) is not always easy. So I made everybody sit down together on Sunday, February 1, and I told them that one fond memory I had with my family as a child is when my oldest sister took the time to read to us younger siblings The Hobbit. As you know, I'm reading The Hobbit this year for the library reading challenge and I told everyone else they could read it, too. The book is for the whole family but I'm reading it on my own.

I wanted to read out loud to my family another book from my childhood so I made them all sit down (besides the bouncing around littlest- but he was still in the room and was listening to the book) on World Read Aloud Day and started reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to them. Besides being World Read Aloud Day, February 1 is also when Willy Wonka opened his factory up to the 5 golden ticket holders. We didn't get that far in the book but we did get started. I'll MAKE them all listen to me again another day.

 

Bonding Time

Bonding Time! You know I love it.

Sometimes it's important to stop and give someone the time they need. So one day when my son wanted to play board games, that's what we did.

Another day when my daughter needed to go to the library, that's what we did (we ended up going to both Provo and Orem Libraries). We had great conversations on the drive. We had great conversations in the libraries. She even gave me a book recommendation which would fit one of a number of categories for this year's Adult Reading Challenge.

Hot Chocolate Without the Brussels Sprouts

January 31 was both Eat Brussels Sprouts Day and National Hot Chocolate Day.

We didn't have any Brussels Sprouts so I made Sheet Pan Sausage and Veggies (from A Season of Family Meal Plans, volume 1) with other vegetables instead. Yumm. Good with Brussels Sprouts. Good without.

Later on, I went to sleep while others in the family had hot chocolate. I obviously didn't get pictures because I was asleep. 

My friend, Stephanie, sent me Hot Chocolate Day greetings and a picture of hot chocolate she enjoyed that day. She knows how to celebrate, too. 

 

Earlier in the day, Lucky went to a friend's birthday party. He helped Jeremy build a balloon sculpture for his friend. His friend had a really good, "Whoah!" reaction when Lucky got to the party. Heh Heh. 

 

100th Day of School

For the 100th Day of School this year, the elementary schoolers (and teachers/staff/etc.) were told they could dress up like themselves if they were 100 years old. It was fun to see the principal and others outside before school dressed up and welcoming the students. 

Lucky told me this is how he would look at 100. Ha Ha Ha Ha.

I gave him a quick haircut and put some gray in his hair since we still had some left over from when he was Brigham Young for the wax museum last year. We also had a discussion about how we don't know what his hair will be like when he gets older- genetics. My dad is bald with gray in what little hair he has on the sides. Jeremy's dad has a full head of naturally dark hair. Who knows what will happen?

Jet didn't want gray hair but was happy with the 100th Day hat he got from school and the treats he got to bring home to eat.  

My Husband is So Nice (and So Am I)

January 27 National Chocolate Cake Day. I didn't make chocolate cake that day but I made some recently. Mmmm. Thinking about it, now I want to make chocolate cake again.

 

January 28 was National Blueberry Pancake Day and even though my husband had a cold, he still made blueberry (and plain and chocolate chip) pancakes, omelettes, and hashbrowns.

 

January 29 was National Corn Chip Day and I made chicken soup (you know, for colds) and we put Fritos in our bowls of soup. Actually, it was turkey meat in the chicken broth with veggies and some pasta so it was turkey soup?

 

January 30 was National Croissant Day. We didn't have any croissants so we just had Asian Chicken Salad Sandwiches (from A Season of Family Meal Plans, volume 1) on rolls. Still yumm even without the croissants. 

 

A Room of One's Own Day 2025

January 25 was A Room of One's Own Day.

 

It was also Opposite Day so one of my children was trying to get away with things by saying the opposite. Silly child.

When I could (that evening), I celebrated A Room of One's Own Day relaxing in my bedroom. I read The Hobbit. I took a nap. I read some more of The Hobbit. You know. The usual.  

Sunday Sketches

It's been a while but Sunday Sketches are back. Jeremy, Nichole, Lucky, and Jet sketched that hermit thrush that Jr. Jr. and I saw while hiking. They used that picture I shared as reference.

 

Here's Jeremy's

Nichole's 

 

Lucky's. He got a later start than the others so didn't draw as much.

 

Jet's. He started out telling me about the head and tail he was drawing. Then he decided to embellish. "I made that bird and a machiner attached to the robot bird." Then he decided to really embellish so the original picture is lost in there somewhere. 

I love seeing the art my family creates.