January

a wonderful Christmas break with so much fun and family and playing abruptly ended launching us back into a comparatively demanding routine of school and lessons.  We were staying up too late and having a rough time settling back in for awhile.  But somehow it all smoothed out and mornings are getting easier.  Our days are still busy, in a productive, good way.  Piano lesson are going well, L loves dance more than ever if possible and A finished the month by testing for her orange belt in karate!  Z mastered crawling, prompting a quick installation of baby gates and lots of lectures of why we have to keep the floor clean and lego-free.

Our weekends have been busy and packed with fun.  The girls and I made a deal that they can each have a friend over on friday if all their homework is done and turned in.  "Friend Friday" has been a big hit with different friends over every weekend, usually staying for dinner and a movie.  Saturdays have been spent skiing, relishing the record amount of snow this month.  Daddy takes one of them out in the morning, I take the second one over at lunchtime to trade.  They're doing great! I can't believe how fast they are learning and I love watching the videos husband records to show me.  And then I've spent my Saturday evenings at a cake decorating course with my mom and sisters.  It was a brilliant and thoughtful Christmas gift from my mom and has been so fun. I love decorating cakes but I'm mostly Youtube taught so I'm learning much better technique.  And then Sundays are wonderful.  Our ward should have moved to 9am but we're too big to share the building.  So we still meet at 1pm and get to have our long mornings with a big lazy breakfast and plenty of time to shower, fix hair, write in journals and even watch Jesus movies when we can.  Husband's schedule is filling up with stake meetings so we play and schedule meals when he can join.  Even with his busy schedule, we've had families over for sunday dinner each week, renewing friendships and getting to know our neighbors better.


I'm not teaching as much at the gym--water aerobics isn't as well attended in the colder months.  And I strained my shoulder so I'm not working out as much either, just my minimum twice a week.  But feeling better and ready to increase it.  Z's schedule is becoming a little more predictable and his nap times allows me more time to do what needs to get done.  I've been reading more and preparing better planned meals more often.  It's been a really good month.  Maybe not always as productive as I wish, but I'd rather spend my time cuddling any day.  I'm so grateful for the incredible life I've been blessed with.