January

I often think to myself, "Boy, January is such a slow, boring month!" I guess it's because the preceding four months are so jam packed with the start of school, lots of soccer, and three major holidays that January seems so tame. In actuality our January has been just as lively as usual. The big news has been no snow! Okay, so we did get a sprinkling one morning...

but really, that's been it. David warned me not to buy all the snow stuff for the kids. Yes, Maryland, I jinxed you all on my own. The weather has been a tad crazy...freezing cold for a few days, then pleasantly warm, then back down to really cold, then up into the 60's today and tomorrow. Definitely strange!

Savannah has been keeping herself busy with indoor soccer games as well as training sessions by her own personal soccer trainer. She has two more goals to go before reaching her yearly goal of 10. She continues with piano lessons as well as violin lessons at school. She has almost completed the Governors Program at school, with only the first two verses of the poem "The Raven" to memorize. She has started on a special "How To" project at school where she will be making a gumball machine. Savannah is extremely interested in Greek Mythology and created a card game called Mythomagic. She drew up cards of all the major Greek gods and monsters, wrote down the rules and instructions on how to play the game, and has enlisted all of us to play several times. In keeping with her love of all things Greek she has been reading the Percy Jackson series and is almost done with book 4. She loves to run around the house pretending she is Anabeth (costume below).

Xander has also been having a fun month. He absolutely loves playing basketball and his team has been doing quite well. I struggle a bit as I watch him because he is definitely a beginner in the sport but as long as he's having fun, which he is, then that's all that should matter. I must admit that I am a little appalled by the behavior of some of the parents in this league. Most of the games have been so fun but the past two games we have played against teams that apparently are used to winning and it has been extremely sad to watch the parents yell and scream at the boys and the refs. They act as if this is a college game or something. Yikes! Xander is also enjoying his indoor soccer and scoring some goals. Xander loves going to school and his reading is coming along really well. He recently attended the "Eight is Great" fireside for our church; it's hard to believe that this is his big baptism year! He cheered for the Giants as David and I cheered for the Niners and was extremely excited that they are headed to the Super Bowl. I have taught his Primary class three Sundays this month and it has been so fun to spend that extra time with him and see his knowledge of the gospel grow. Xander is a pretty calm little guy but he does have his moments. We have had several emotional mornings when the only clean pants he has to wear are jeans - yes, he loathes and despises jeans, don't ask me why. It has even escalated to the point where he has missed his ride to the bus stop. In our home if you choose to not get ready in time for school then you spend the day at home cleaning. Xander has become my servant for a day twice this year and I'm hoping that he has learned his lesson. Eight hours washing walls, baseboards, and the kitchen floor, as well as vacuuming, cleaning the basement, and any other task I can find is definitely NOT as fun as being at school.

Noah continues to be so full of life. He spends hours playing with his legos and telling me all about the ones I need to buy him for his birthday. He's doing really well in school and loves being there with all his friends. His favorite part of school is when they get to go swimming. He's my special little buddy and I love having him run errands with me although he definitely raises my grocery bill with all the different cereals and treats he begs me to buy. He's started to recognize his sight words as we read and it's so much fun to see him start the whole reading process. He still loves to dress up and gets quite creative with his costumes.

He's funny and gross and crazy and says things that have us all rolling with laughter. He loves to play sports (just NOT soccer - it's boring!) and wrestle and box and show off his muscles.

He loves to color and draw and his specialty right now is drawing houses...all kinds of different houses.

David and I have been keeping busy as well. David always has many work and church responsibilities to fill his time but has made more of an effort to find some time to read. Church basketball has also started back up and the kids and I love to go to his games and cheer him on. I always have time to read as well as chauffeur the kids around, crochet, help plan the monthly Relief Society meetings, and meet friends for lunch. I continue to watch Adelyn two days a week and she continues to be a delight and a pleasure to have around. This month we have had several families in our ward move out and it has been really hard to say goodbye, especially to my dear, dear friend MaryAnn. A bunch of us gathered for one last hurrah to send her off. I'm going to miss my wonderful friend!