Our Little Singer and Dancer

After the success of Alice in Wonderland Jr. in March, those students from the play were invited to perform at an Elementary School Drama Showcase with a few other schools. Lucky's group performed three pieces from the play while they wore their cast shirts.

Jeremy and I were able to attend and cheer them on. 

On the way home, the mountains were so beautiful so I made Lucky take pictures from the van. Thanks, Lucky. 

Here's Another One

I haven't been getting out for walks as much as I'd like lately but I did the other day so here's a picture of the sky, mountains, and me.

Aren't I cute?

You're As Nice As Peanut Butter

Saturday, January 24, I got out for my morning walk at the park. 

It was a misty mountain morning, which was appropriate because I was listening to the soundtrack to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey as I walked.

 

January 24 was National Compliment Day, the anniversary of when the California Gold Rush began, and National Peanut Butter Day. 

We had fun complimenting each other. "You're as good as gold," was an obvious one. Jeremy started getting creative with peanut butter brands. Here are some of the ones we came up with (paraphrasing): You're so helpful. I know you'll be there in a Jif. 

This tastes so good, it makes me want to Skip-py.

When I'm around you, I feel like I could fly like Peter Pan. 

I got a little silly. "You're as great as Winco Brand Peanut Butter." 

Creativity. Isn't it great?

Fine. I'll Blog

It is the season. Sickness is starting to happen. So, I'll just quickly blog that December 11 was National Teriyaki Chicken Day and International Mountain Day. We had teriyaki chicken and I made a mountain of mandarin oranges.

O.K. Until next time.

 

Walks

I have been enjoying getting out for walks in the mornings when I can. I've done a lot along the lake. It's been fun to see the changes in the lake from Winter to Spring, from frozen to unfrozen.

Here are some of my morning pictures from my walks or brief stops by the lake to get a look.

 

January

 

February

March 

Sometimes I take walks along the river or the Provo River Delta.

This wildlife viewing tower is where I was in the last picture. I took the picture of the tower from over by that tree way behind me.

Sometimes I walk at local parks. I love living in a place where there are mountains all around.

 

While we're talking about the lake (or let's go back to talking about the lake), Jeremy and I went out to Utah Lake State Park one day and got to see some cool ice stacks. Here are some pictures of them.

I already mentioned ice stacks I saw on Valentine's Day.

 

And while I'm going back to talking about things, somehow I missed mentioning on my blog (probably because I was falling asleep while trying to catch up) that on March 3, besides being National Cold Cuts Day and Soup It Forward Day, it was also World Wildlife Day and I went to the Provo River Delta for a walk but also got to see a long-tailed duck, a duck I don't see that often. Yippee! 

Another day, Jeremy and a couple of the kids were able to go see it. Also yippee!

 

December Holidays

Let's talk some December holidays that weren't Christmas and New Year's Eve.

There were a lot we didn't end up celebrating because of sickness. Nobody found treats in their shoes on St. Nicholas Day. Sigh.

We did get back to our tradition of someone being sick during the First Presidency Christmas Devotional, though. Woohoo?

And since that day, December 8, was also National Brownie Day, somebody did make brownies for us to eat during the devotional. 

December 11 was International Mountain Day and I did take a sunrise picture with mountains.

I also managed to make Teriyaki chicken because that day was also National Teriyaki Chicken Day.

Jet helped me make waffle batter for National Maple Syrup Day on December 17. I love that he's my kitchen helper.

Jet loves decorations and lights as you know so he and I were able to go for a walk in City Center Park in Orem on December 18. Jeremy called us when he was going to pick us up but I totally forgot to "answer the phone like Buddy the Elf," even though that was the holiday and I knew it.

When we got home I was telling the story to the kids when my phone rang. Jr. Jr. had called me so I could answer the phone the right way that night. Thanks, Jr. Jr. We of course then had our traditional Buddy the Elf breakfast for dinner.

We used our Fablehaven Cookbook and followed one suggestion for making Tanu's Heartening Soup (shelf cooking style with substitutions) the night before the Winter Solstice.

Then I got out on the Winter Solstice, December 21, for a morning walk around City Center Park while the lights were on. I love doing that in December/early January when I'm up for it (which I wasn't much up for it before January- just those two times).

 We celebrated Lucky's birthday in December. He took balloons to his classmates and we "partied" at home. Jet helped me make Lucky's birthday cake (and put the candles in) and luckily Lucky asked for a really simple dinner. 

Our Vacation, Thy Creations, and Our Relations- Part 13

Road Trip!

Goodbye, Grandma and Grandpa. Goodbye, evergreen filled mountains. Goodbye, Washington.

Welcome to Oregon.

Welcome to Idaho.

Hello, Snake River.

Welcome to Utah.

We made it to our final destination- home. Hooray! Sigh.

Traveling all day kept us from celebrating Embrace Your Geekness Day on July 13 (though we did listen to video game music on the drive) so we celebrated it the next day "observed." We like to call it Embrace Your Geek Day. I even wore my Mario shirt.

I have no more of our wonderful vacation to share. It really was wonderful, though. We got to enjoy the vacation, God's creations, and spent some good quality time with our relations. I'm so glad Jeremy got a real vacation instead of just a few days off. It was awesome!