Mom Daughter Date with Simone

Simoney is 11!  We had so much fun shopping together for her birthday presents.  Its officially happened, she likes buying clothes.

Simone is an easy going, funny, talkative, friendly little girl.  She makes me laugh regularly.  She really gets humor.  She's just a lot of fun.  Very sweet to have around.  I'm lucky to be her mama.

Simone is into these Squishy things that are all the rage with elementary aged girls right now.   Who can ever figure out why or how things become a fad.  But they are basically foamy squishy animals, and food things.

Watching her greet the dogs in the morning is something I need to record.  Its so cute how much they love her!

She's doing climbing right now.  Yesterday at our bouldering gym she did a V5, which is pretty impressive I guess.  She's strong and determined.  So I'm not surprised.

She is signing up for lacrosse and track and she's really excited about both.

Simone's darling little BFF made this for her birthday!  We love you Brooke!  SO cute!

Preference 2018

It was so fun for these girls to go to the same dance!

Elise asked her friend Brendan with a poster that had all of these old photos of them from years past and it said something like "I picture you and me at Preference".  It was pretty cute.

They went to a cabin in Capitol Reef for their daydate the night before the dance.  They hiked, made meatball subs and had a really great time.

Monet asked Justin back in November.  Crazy how early they have to ask!  He's such a nice kid.  She was very excited to ask him.  She was also VERY excited for her braces to come off a few days before the dance.  Hallelujah!

Monet's group had some issues.  Lol.  There were a lot of changes leading up to the dance.  But they ended up bowling for their daydate and going to Tepanyaki for dinner.  Sad news though, both Elise and Monet's group had a 90 minute wait at Tepanyaki despite having reservations for several weeks before the dance.  LAME.  It really messed the schedule up.  So both girls groups ended up having to split up for dinner and for pictures.  Which is a bummer.

But they had fun dates and a fun time at the dance and you live and learn.  Don't go to Tepanyaki for dances.  Their reservations are not actually reservations.

I took the pictures!  I had to learn a few things to get the photos to work out at night.  But it was fun.

New Year Goals from our 2017 Travels

Remember back in 2008 when my goals included running marathons and training for races?  I feel old just looking at that post.

So here are my 2018 goals.  I'm looking forward to having kids in school ALL DAY in August!!!!  Now that deserves some celebration.  19 years of having littles at home.  The end of an era.  I've loved it, and I'm excited for the next stage of doing more hikes.

I've learned a few things from my travels this year.  So my new goals for the new year are going to incorporate some of those.  Its really fun to be in different countries and see how other people live.

1.  Amsterdam--They literally have to go several blocks to the dumpster (except it isn't even a dumpster).  They use little waste and separate everything.  We do already recycle a lot of things.  But I'm going to REMEMBER my reusable grocery bags this year!  Yes I will!  Also, I want to consume less stuff overall.

2.  Paris--Eat the good butter.  My sisters and I were talking about the amazing French butter and Angela said she's been "looking for a good butter" lol.  The things moms discuss.  But really, once you try it you'll understand.  French dairy products are tops.  In France they use fewer ingredients but everything is a good quality.  I want to cook more with better ingredients and learn more really fabulous recipes.  They eat slow and it isn't rushed but food is really great there.  I want more of that slow, good food in my life.

3.  Italy--Beauty!  I'm going to continue to make my home and my surroundings (including my yard) a better reflection of what we love and the styles we enjoy and fit our personalities.  Positano and the Amalfi coast was incredibly beautiful.  The dirt in some of those towns was hauled in and terraced before trucks existed, so that just sounds really hard.  But the payout was pure gorgeousness.   I want to make better use of the land and spaces we have.  This will probably include a huge kitchen remodel.  Which is intimidating to me.  (another post)

4.  England--Humor.  Its fun to go from one country to another and immediately feel a different vibe from the people there.  We think the Brits are really funny people.  I read in a John Gottman book about using comic relief or “repair attempts” to defuse intense conversations.  I'm going to try to be better about that.  If you watch This Is Us, Randall and Beth are super good at this.  Love this article here about this concept and how healthy relationships use humor. https://www.gottman.com/blog/h-is-for-humor/

5.  Spain--LIVE IT UP.  Yes.  This is a real goal.  Sometimes I have to remind myself to have fun.  But specifically this one is to have fun with my husband and plan more really fun dates.  In the past, date nights were complicated by lack of funds, lack of babysitters, etc.  But still we managed some really fun times.  Those things are not really an issue now and we are just kinda lazy!  We like our sushi and movies.  But we need to get creative.  In Spain, people go out and they stay up late.  It was fun to be a part of that, it was a good time!  It wasn't uncommon for the restaurants to START seating people for dinner at 10pm.  I really want to take the kids to Spain soon.

And to round it all out, I've been loving the no sugar goals from last year.  It was so great to do that all summer and most of the fall.   I lost some weight and feel so much better when I am doing it.  So while I enjoy some good sweets during the holidays and travel, I really like that for a way of life.

500!

Just looked at my total posts, 500!  Wow.  So glad I started blogging way back when!  11 years of my kids lives recorded from my perspective.

I have SO many posts that are unfinished.  Important things like bringing Lewis home, trips, etc.  I will have to complete those this year.

But I am pretty happy to see all of these books!  I finished these last Christmas and really just needed something fast.  I'm not super happy with the look of them, but they were easy and relatively inexpensive.  I still need to finish my posts from 2016 and 2017 to get the new ones published.

A Hard and Hopeful Week

So many things have happened this week!  Mostly great.  But also hard.  When Soren was a baby I was diagnosed with Meniere's Disease.  It is a combination of intermittent and assymetrical hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo.  The hearing loss and tinnitus had been an issue since Simone was a baby at least.  I would have to switch the phone to my right ear and I felt like there was something in my ear all the time.

But then when I was pregnant with Soren the vertigo started.  The vertigo is the hardest part of this.  And right around when I was diagnosed I got vertigo frequently.  I've not had a vertigo episode or any of the symptoms in about two years.  I thought I was just cured.  I was super happy about that because sometimes the vertigo can be really debilitating.  And in the past there seems to be no rhyme or reason to it.  I can be eating super healthy and I'll still get horrible vertigo.

In most people it is controlled by diet and I definitely feel I can do better right now.  But sometimes it just comes.  Even when I'm eating super, super good.

So what happens is my ear starts ringing really loudly.  I can't hear very well.  I feel annoyed and irritable at loud noises like piano practicing and background noises.  It feels like something is clogging up my ear.  Sometimes it sounds like there is a large shell up next to my ear.  Sometimes I feel like I can't find the right words I want to use.  Like I'm confused and can't think straight.

Then the vertigo hits.  And sometimes its bad (puking for hours, room spinning, have to lay flat and not sway my head at all.)  Other times its just mild and I just have to lay flat and go to sleep and I'll wake up fine.  But I do notice that the vertigo makes me really tired.  My neck and head hurts.  I'm not sure if its because I have to lay in a position and not move for hours or if it is something else.

Anyway, I was so relieved when I stopped getting the episodes.  It was REALLY hard when Soren was a baby.  Starting in December when he was 8 months old I had vertigo nearly every other day for about 6 months.  Jared was traveling a lot for work, and I had a baby.  I can't drive at all and if I try to walk (usually to get to the toilet to throw up)  I look drunk during an episode.  It was stressful and daunting and super inconvenient.  Supposedly the episodes can also be triggered by stress and fatigue.  I don't feel stressed right now, but looking back at when I got it in the past I was definitely stressed!  It peaked right around both of our moves.

When I started getting the ringing again last month I was a little concerned.  But now I've had two episodes in a week of vertigo, nausea and vomiting.  And I have to admit I'm so discouraged.  Usually after an episode of severe nausea and vomiting my tinnitus improves for a bit.  But this week it hasn't.  I know I'll just have to try harder to focus on my diet and eating low sodium.  But I'm sad that I have to deal with this again.  I'm scared because I don't like the idea of having random nausea and vomiting, it can really mess with your life.  And while the hearing loss doesn't worry me THAT much since only one ear is affected right now,  I really don't want to deal with balance issues.

Anyway.  Jared was sweet and got online and was doing some research for me.  And I was able to call Matt and get a prescription for some water pills that help with my fluid balance.  I've just taken one but I feel like its helping already.  I've chugged a gallon of water and have been eating super clean.  So here's hoping I have a vertigo-free Christmas.

Luminaria, Cousins and Basketball!

This was a FUN and eventful week!

Mom was here!  It was fun to hang with her.  She is so easy and fun to be with.

Elise got her Honor Bee for YW Sunday.  Super proud of her for doing those extra service hours coaching Simone's lacrosse team and for reading the Book of Mormon again.  First time she read it she was 11.  How many 11-year-olds read it cover to cover just cause they want to?

We started the week with the Hiking Mamas Christmas Party!  It was a blast.  I really love all these women.  They are a FUN group and so supportive.

We went to Luminaria with the Hales, Atkins AND Morgan and her roommate Maddy.  It was super crowded, but so fun.  Cody is heading out on his mission this week!  That is so crazy.   Wasn't that long ago when we all lived in the same ward in Lehi and Cody, Elise and Sidney all would hang out.  Its a pretty neat thing to have lifelong friends like the Hales.  Its fun to watch our kids all grow up and be friends too.  Sidney is heading to China with ILP when she graduates!  Today was Cody's farewell!  He did great!  They are remodeling and it looks amazing.  Kinda sad that it will be 2020 before we can all do Lake Powell again.  Its been a good week for Simone because we got to hang out with the Hales two times in one week! ;) <3 p="">

We all really were amused by Jared's vintage shearling coat paired with the rabbit fur hat.  LOL.

I want to be a gingerbread artisan someday

One more month and she'll smile again with teeth.  Cant wait for those braces to come off!

We got to watch Travis and Steph's kids for a few days!  It was great to have more time with cousins. Jared and I were cracking up because Sabrina and Lexi didn't realize he was their dad's brother!  I guess when you have 30 something aunts and uncles and like 50+ cousins its hard to keep everyone straight.  Sabrina and Soren had a lot of fun together!  Keagan and Lexi and Miles and Simone all played.  Elise and Monet took Kate to Roxberry and to the store to get a candy bar for her little crush at school.  So cute.  She's such a little beauty.   We took this crew of 11+ kids to Texas Roadhouse.  It was pretty fun!

Love this photo!  This is all of us catching up after a late night.  I love getting the rundown.  

Jared and I are going through withdrawals with only one basketball game per week.  So great that Elise and Monet got on the same team.  They played great this week.  Monet really felt more confident this game and played incredible defense.  Pretty sure the other team was super annoyed.  :)  One big girl kept bumping Monet and setting moving screens and I was realllllyyy  getting bugged by the clueless refs who have probably never played basketball and weren't calling anything.
Elise got fouled hard and got whiplash from her head hitting the floor and has had a headache for a couple days.  So we watched "This is Us" all morning.  I think we needed a morning to just chill after her concussion and my vertigo.

One basketball game wasn't enough for us.  So we went to both Lone Peak basketball games and the BYU/Utah game with the Hendricks.  It was super fun!  Love those games and those friends.  I'm pretty glad we have so many more years of games.  There is really nothing I'd rather do than watch my kids play ball.  But watching their friends and peers is fun too.  I asked the girls if we could go to their friends Junior Jazz games, but they said that was "weird" and "no way." LOL.  The student section (ROC or Roar of Cougars) at BYU looked so fun!  Elise is going to have so much fun in college!  She's going to apply to Utah State, BYU, U of U and UVSC.  She is thinking Utah State sounds fun this past week.  I'm hoping BYU.

I helped at Simone's class party with Minute to Win it games.  She has such a great teacher this year.  She just loves her.  Simone has been helping the Elf on the Shelf to find some great hiding spots when Soren is in bed.  Its so awesome to have a ten year old!

An Xbox arrived at the door this week.  I'm always so curious when a package arrives for Miles.  What could it be?  Flame thrower, salt lamp, collectible cards, Carolina Reaper seeds are all contents of previous packages.  You never know whats going to be in the box, only that it will be something interesting.  Miles bought it to relist on eBay.  He should make about $100 on it and he has this really cool present picked out for Elise that he wants to buy with the profits.  Miles has matured at least a year in the last month.  I'm not sure what's going on but there have been lots of "I love you mom" moments and he's been super helpful.  Its been awesome.  He and his friends made pina coladas the other day.  I love how he never asks for help with anything, just figures it out.

He just came in and saw me blogging and first thought it was kinda cool that his mom is a "Blogger" guess he didn't know that about me.  But then he wanted to know why I'd want to write so much.  Like the blog looks pretty boring to him.  Someday he is going to like that I wrote so much.  I hope.  I look back at my posts from 2007 and 2008 and I'm so grateful I like writing.  It is crazy what we forget.  I love the stories and memories.  So even if he isn't impressed, it brings me a lot of joy.

I'm LOVING Spotify.  My family can testify that there is music playing always and I'm usually singing along.  I have a couple new favorites.  Faith Hill and Tim McGraw "The Rest of Our Life" is pretty amazing.  And I also really love most of Lady Antebellum but the song "Home" just is the best.  Reminds me of my cute husband who is sporting some serious facial hair right now.  I think it looks good on him but he looks kinda intimidating.   He's been so sweet.  When I was puking all night with vertigo this week, his concern was really sweet.  He let me know that next morning that he would get me whatever I needed, etc.  I'm in love.

This week has been full of lots of tears.  So many moments where I really miss my dad.  But I don't know how to explain it.  Its kinda heartbreaking but beautiful at the same time.  Its not an intense sadness for me.  I feel like he's here with us.  Billy Joels Lullabye came on the radio and I was regretting my mascara.  It was all over my face.  Blubbering like a baby.  Then "This is Us" has a lot of things like that so yeah, lots of tears.  The holidays have definitely made all those feelings of missing my dad resurface big time.  I guess that's part of the deal.

Elise's dress for Preference came in the mail.  Its gorgeous.  Now we need shoes.  Real life Barbies.  This is what dressing girls is like.  Its so fun.

Niece Reese, Gingerbread Houses and Cheap Skates

It was so great to see Rachel!  Dylan and Soren had a great time too.  But Reese and her cute chubby were the most adorable thing ever.  Just look at that smile!  She looks like Rachel!

Baby Selfie!

Monet's Gingerbread House

Summer's

Miles's :)

Ugly Sweater Ice Skating Date!  They call it "cheap skates"  This is the nicest boy ever.  So glad Elise and Bryson are friends.  He's a triplet and plays the piano.

The neighbors have an amazing light display with music!  Simone and Maya made about 30 different slimes today.

Its not even decorated but its still pretty!