January 2019

Jack turned 8 on January 4th. He had his two best friends, Adam and Jonah, over for a casual play date party. They made personal pizzas and also ate the funny pizza cake that Jack and I made. Jack has really grown a lot socially the couple of years, It's fun to see him have real friends that he found and connected with on his own. He is especially proud that he was friends individually with Adam and with Jonah and that he brought them together to make the awesome group of three that they are now. He's like a friendship matchmaker!

Uncle Chris flew in that morning, and Aunt Kathryn that night, and all the grandparents, as well as cousins Carly and Shaylee, drove all day long to be at Jack's baptism the next morning. We had a full house and were so glad they all came out to support Jack.

Jack has taken an interesting personal journey this past year as he prepared to be baptized. He had a lot of questions and wasn't content to hear mine and Todd's answers and believe them. He's worked hard to learn what a testimony is and to start to grow his own. He wondered if God was real, if He really heard and answered his prayers, didn't understand why he had to read the scriptures when he had a hard time understanding what they were saying, and didn't think he had ever felt the Holy Ghost before. There were a handful of months where I wondered if Jack would decide not to get baptized yet. We prayed a lot for and with him, read the scriptures together and talked about them, and had a lot of tender moments where I felt impressed to share my testimony with him and teach him to pay attention to how he felt.  There were several months where he was frustrated because he felt he was praying and not getting answers. There were times I had to hold tight to my faith that Heavenly Father would give Jack answers he could understand, even as I wondered why He wasn't making it simple and easy for Jack to see. And then the answers did start coming, and it was a very faith-strengthening experience to watch Jack start to believe for himself. I love that Jack didn't get baptized because it's what kids his age do at church. He did it because he found out for himself that God is real and wanted Jack to make covenants with Him to be more like Jesus.

Jack played "When I am Baptized" on the piano at his baptism, which ended up being in front of a large audience since there were four boys from the stake all getting baptized. He was super nervous, but had practiced so much he didn't even need his sheet music with him, and did a terrific job. I was glad the piano song was right after the opening prayer, so Jack could relax and enjoy the rest of the experience.

We had about forty people over for a luncheon afterward. I was grateful the rain stayed in the clouds for those couple of hours, so the kids could play in the backyard. That made things lots easier. We served pizza, of course, in Jack's honor. What can I say, the kid really knows what his favorite food is!

Jack and Todd both had a run-in with some poison oak when we went hiking on Todd's birthday. It manifested itself in some seriously itchy rashes about a week later, and made both the boys miserable for quite a long time. Todd's arm was particularly leprous-looking, pussing and enflaming and being totally gross. I think he's going to have scars.

My parents stayed for a week after Jack's baptism. The kids headed back to school, so while we didn't venture far from home, they did get to participate in all our regular activities, like Jack's first Boy Scout pack meeting, gym class for all the kids, piano lessons, and volunteering in the classrooms at Croce. My dad came with me to all the drop-offs and pick-ups and got pretty proficient on the scooter (although he did biff it bad once). 

Mom and Dad both played some on the zip line. What can I say, it's a party in our backyard!

They got to watch Hazel participate in the school spelling bee. Todd and I were so proud of Hazel for participating, both because she's changed spelling from a weakness to a strength over the last few years, and because it was a very big deal for her to speak in a microphone in front of the school. She kept a clear head and was able to make it through several rounds, getting eliminated somewhere in the middle with a word that really did stump her, not one she tripped over because of nerves. It was perfectly satisfying.

Very last minute, I rounded up five of Gemma's best buddies and invited them over for a pajama play date the Saturday before her birthday. She decided she wanted her cake for her party, so Nana was able to help her make it on Friday before she and my dad drove home Saturday. It was made from cupcakes and set up into a horse shape. Gemma had so much fun frosting the cupcakes with the nozzle. And holy cow, it took so. much. frosting! But it sure was cute!

Her buddies came over and Hazel helped me lead them in a few games, but mostly we just sent them outside to play. Play date parties are the best!

Hazel and Jack showed Gemma how to write "poop" and suddenly a lightbulb went off in her mind. Now she writes words all over the place! Sometimes potty talk is worth it. She's really taking off with her academic learning and it's exciting.

Gemma was so proud of this she asked her teacher to text me a picture. Darling! 

Todd didn't go in to work on Martin Luther King Day, but I was on the couch with a yucky cold, so he took the kids out to "the dunes" to go bike riding. But it had been raining the day before, so the place was super muddy. Two hours later, they came home covered in mud. Apparently, Hazel got a little bit wild and started rolling in the mud and throwing it at everyone. The girls were stoked. Jack hated it.

Game night - still going strong, yo. Loving it!

Speaking of dreading the performing arts, Hazel's class has been working on some reader's theater and invited the parents to see their performance. Hazel picked the part with the fewest lines, but still ended up with an engineering masterpiece when it came to the costume. She played a squirrel whose tail curls up for the first time part way through the story (Native American folk tale). She sewed the tail herself using an old pant leg, and rigged it with some stretchy string that she pulled at the right moment, tugging her tail up and surprising all the parents. She made everyone laugh and I was pretty proud her hard work paid off with such a good reaction.

We went on a scout hike in the Marin headlands. It was beautiful outside and was one of those times I just got so excited about where we live. January and February are generally pretty rewarding times to live here anyway, as all our family seem to be getting tons of snow and we're outside basking in the sunshine.

We saw some horses on our drive home, and Todd stopped the car to give Gemma a few minutes up close with her favorite animals. She is holding strong to the dream of owning a horse ranch when she grows up.

We spent much of January with someone or other home sick. We went through a week where all the kids had colds. The entire next week I was knocked out from one. Now this week Jack has been home with a fever that has lasted for days. We've missed a lot of school. Good thing the kids are geniuses and that I like snuggling on the couch.