Ta Dah! January Happenings...

January.

What a month it has been (and it's not even over...).

Thought I would drop the random things that have been taking up space in my phone.

Brayden got a ton of legos for Christmas. Brent helped him put together a pretty intense Halo ship.

 

 August decided he would make himself breakfast...

I always find this really adorable.

He is generally not hungry for a long time after he wakes up...but, when he is hungry the boy can eat.

 Brent's holiday party was this month. I got to come to town without the kids and spend a lovely weekend with Brent. We started Saturday morning off getting his hair cut in a little Great Clips in Garden Home.

We went to the deli at the store in the same parking lot and took food over to the assisted living place where Kay is recuperating.

 We had a great visit. We were able to stay for almost 2 hours and just laugh and catch up. Kay then showed us how well she is doing by walking us to the door.

 From there we headed down town and checked in to our hotel room.

Brent's company booked us at the same place as last year. This year we were much higher up and had more than construction to look at.

 We spent time in the room relaxing and getting ready.

Soon enough night had fallen over us and we had to make our way downstairs to get our party on.

 The holiday party was very nice, like usual. Brent's new aprenticce was there and she was with us most of the evening. We got to bed super late. The next morning we walked to go to get Voodoo donuts, but the line was long and I told Brent that I would rather not...so we found another place to eat.

Parking garage...same as last year.

 We were at the happy tortoise. A pub type sports bar. We had a great breakfast and got to see the beginning of the Seahawks game.

Then we headed over to the Adidas employee store.

 Unable to find anything we really needed at the Adidas store, we headed over to Annette's to give her some hugs before we headed to the movies. We got to sit and visit a little over an hour. We had some great conversation and coffee.

Love her.

 We went and took Mitchel to see Into the Woods. It was a very interesting musical. I have to admit it was on my recommendation, so I had to deal with the backlash of jokes about how lame it was. In my defense Brent and Mitch both love Mama Mia and Grease. How was I supposed to know it was how it was? O'well. I like having things we laugh about.

I'm still not sure how I feel about it.

 I played around with some fun collage aps on my phone. I always tease Brent that he looks like Duckie in Pretty in Pink. This was me proving it to him...

My boys...

Back at home.

 We had some snow this year already too.

 I am counting down the days until we put away the winter coats.

This weak we are hovering just under 70 degrees.

Still, February and March usually bring a lot of snow.

I will enjoy these warmer days with the appropriate clothes.

 Mitch started wrestling.

Bray started Basketball

 August decided to throw up on a random Friday night.

 It got super FOGGY for a couple days.

 Brent and I are attending classes every saturday this month, to become FOSTER PARENTS.

This was an exciting step in an ongoing desire we have to become foster parents. 

It was quite funny though, in the booklet we got low and behold there is a picture of Marie. I called her and told her about it. She had already known her photo was being used, but it was not with her consent. This was a Christmas card from her and Tod's first Christmas after they were married. She finds it insulting since the implication is that Spencer is adopted! Crazy small world.

The classes go from 8am into the evening. 

It is such a process to go through emotionally. 

I know it is something we have always felt called to do. The more I learn and immerse myself in the stories and the impact these positive experiences can have, the more I know we need to do this.

 The weather continued to bounce around. This day there was just a layer of fog hanging on Prineville all day. I drove out of it in the morning and returned back to it that afternoon. Driving into the cloud.

 Ready to run...

 Rainbows.

Maybe this wouldn't excite anyone else but, I got to drive through a storm. 

As I approached the single area on the highway it was pouring I could see parts of the rainbow.

 Then I saw it get fuller and more arched until finally I could see the whole rainbow in front of me. 

And of course I had to video this.

I mean, it's not like there are a ton of cars on the road. I can count them on one hand. 

Plus...a full rainbow. I only see those a few times a year.

I was excited.

 *Jumping around with the pictures*

While in town for Brent's holiday party I had to opportunity to see my sister some more. We had a fun little trip to Fred Meyer grocery store. She found a hedgehog to pose with.

 These are pictures from the lobby of the hotel.

 Brent and I also went to the spaghetti factory with my sister and the kids.

It was very nice to have the older kids. We got to talk a lot and plan some things. It felt pretty productive.

 On the MLK holiday I headed home. 

We stopped by and let Mitch visit with his Grandma Kay.

This was nice for both of them. Mitch was great at making her feel special.

 It was so nice driving home.

 I love driving OUT of the rain. 

It is so refreshing to watch the dark rain cloud getting further and further behind us.

 Mitchel started his wrestling raffle fundraiser. 

Can I just say, I love Central Oregon.

The winner of the raffle gets 1/2 a pig.

Yup.

In other exciting new...Brent and I also began our Disneyland planning. We decided on some dates in April and are looking at the nuts and bolts of the trip. We know taking August may change the pace. We decided this time to stay longer and minimize the stress. We are beyond excited.

 Fast forward to this week. August decided to get a fever.

Cough.

Runny nose.

And complete aversion to ANY medicine.

Yippee!

I had to miss 2 of my classes and stay home to snuggle him. It was wonderful. My Profs are awesome. Anyone who knows me, knows that I cannot stand fevers. Give me coughs, vomit, diarrhea, what have you...but for some reason fevers freak me out. I am so glad BRENT will BE HOME tonight. Whew...

I hold this burning tired body in my arms. His head is so warm his eyes are dried out. He refuses to take the medicine so I make ultimatums, bribery, and then end us disguising it in hot chocolate.

Usually I try to take the advice of my pediatrician to let them FEVER it out, but he is miserable. Congested and dry at the same time.

I haven't minded him being planted on my lap. Frankly this hasn't happened in an age. 

The age old tale of a boy who learns he is independent. 

He no longer wants to be held. 

And all I hear is how he wants to, "do it by myself"

In this way, I love sick days with the boys.

They are my babies again.

Wanting.

Needing.

Clingy.

 Even sick he is photogenic...

I have no idea what my problem is.

 August is also a photographer in training.

I have about 60 pictures of the goings-on of the living room this evening.

 But really, most of our day looked like this.

 I have been taking notes of some of the things we have tried...

 Loved this idea of the mason jar salads. 

Especially this term. I am in school 3 days a week ALL day.

I love bringing these.

I also am working at a local food bank and Special education classroom on Mondays.

My schedule is BOOKED the next few months, the easier and more premade things are...

lets just say, the better the chance I ACTUALLY eat.

This guy came to the middle school.

It was great hearing such a positive message from a young-er person. 

The kids loved it. 

Whew, well that was one half of January.

I know I still have the rest to go.

I am just hoping I can keep up with everything we have roped ourselves into recently.

I will probably want to sleep through the entire spring break!