The Barrus Family Year in Review

As 2014 draws to a close, I must say that we've had a good year.  We've had a few sad moments, but lots of happy ones.  Here are highlights from this past year.

In January, we went with DeMartini cousins to the Midway Ice Castle.

In February we finished the loo remodel, complete with new sink, tile floor, and paint.

In March we were delighted to have warmer temperatures.

We did an initial planting of cool weather veg in our garden.

In April, we celebrated Easter and the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ.

With the DeMartinis, we had an egg hunt, decorated sugar cookies, and ran around.

May was a fun and busy month.

We started off with a trip to the Tulip Festival, went to Luke's baptism, 

and finished up kindergarten and second grade.

In June, we took a trip to Chicago and Lafayette to see Uncle James and Aunt Alisa

and Grandma and Grandpa Barrus.

It was wonderful to spend time with them and see interesting things.

In July we celebrated the 4th, and hiked to Stewart Falls, although not on the same day.

At the beginning of August, Brandt was baptized, with lots of family in attendance.

We also spent three days at Heber Valley Camp with the DeMartinis, 

and Brandt and Blythe started third and first grade.

 In September we had breakfast up the canyon with all the DeMartinis,

and had our final swim at Grandma Sue's.

We also went to the Studio C season 5 premier,

and had DeMartini family pictures taken.

It was another busily good month.

In October we hiked to Buffalo Peak and celebrated Halloween.

In November we bid adieu to Grandma Barrus who died the week before Thanksgiving,

a day shy of her 87th birthday.

And in December, we celebrated Christmas.

What a wonderful year it has been!

Here's to 2015

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve.  It's supposed to be a thing you know.  A big deal, a significant day, out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new sort of experience.  Turns out, it's just another day, and in this case, another day of having the children home with little to do.  We are nearing the end of the Christmas break, and quite frankly, the children miss school.  I miss school.  We wish there was something scheduled that required our getting out of our pajamas, out of the house, and away from the television.

In an act of desperation, I called Tysen and asked if she wanted to bring her kids swimming with us at the rec center.  They were pretty much in the same situation as us and readily agreed.  Small problem, however.  There was a big New Year's Eve/First Night celebration happening at the rec center, so they closed to the public at 3:00pm in order to prepare.  We arrived at 2:08.  We had just long enough to get wet and then we had to get out.  I told the kids to do whatever they really wanted to do quickly because we weren't going to stay long.  They went down the slides several times, floated around and around the lazy river, and were happy to be together.  So happy, in fact, that Brandt and Blythe returned home with Tysen so they could keep playing.  At least we got out of the house.

The deer I saw in the neighbor's yard right across the street when I got home from swimming.

Shortly after 5:00pm, we met Lee, Cammie, and Aaron at Bangkok Grill for dinner.  That has sort of become something of a tradition.  We like Thai food, they like Thai food, we feel compelled to do something on New Year's Eve because it's supposed to be a thing, and that works out for all of us.  The children always eat well when we have Thai.

This year we were invited to the Drake's house for a kid oriented New Year's Eve party.  We were absolutely delighted to have something to go and do, and we all had a great time.  The Drakes had planned lots of games for the kids--octopus (pictured below), a TP game of some sort, a balloon thing with money in the balloons, a food eating relay, and a dance party with lots and lots and lots of glow sticks.  The basement ended up a disaster, but McKenzie told me they only use stuff that can be raked up at the end of the evening's activities.  The adults enjoyed talking and laughing and watching the children.  We had yummy munchies (both Elizabeth Elder and I brought roasted red pepper dip) and just a really fun time.  In attendance were: Drakes, Barruses, Elders, Morelands, Bates, Bushmans, Masons, and Seamons.  At 9:00pm we rang in the new year with Halifax and then burned a Christmas tree, our contribution to the festivities.  We used the Bradford's tree which I had hauled home a couple of days ago and which was incredibly dry.  It went up like a shot and was danced around wildly by all the children and several adults.  It was the best time we've had on NYE for a really long time.  I hope we get invited again next year.

 

 

 

Brandt's black t-shirt with glow sticks attached on the left, and Blythe's on the right.

She wanted to be able to see her face in the picture.

 

Many, Many Children

The house was full of children today.  Lots and lots of children.  First of all, we had our two children, which is not many children.  But then we had Bryan's three children, Donovan, Milianna, and Victoria with us.  While Donovan was happy to be here (he always is), Mila and Evie were not.  They don't know us very well and aren't used to being at our house, so they were not super excited.  Every time I stood up to go do something, even if it was to cross the room, they would freak out and start crying.  I spent most of the day next to them on the floor.  That makes five.

Then we had the Olyers come over, Jarom, Sarah, and Sam.  They were in and out and up and down with our kids, all running around and doing stuff.  And last but not least, Cailin Atkinson came over and stayed too.  We had to have hot chocolate and lunch and snacks and more snacks and try not to step on little people.  It was pandemonium.  I was soooooooooo grateful Kent was home from work and could help.  And I'm equally grateful that two children is all the children we have.

Victoria and Milianna having some lunch.

Sam, Blythe, Sarah, and Cailin 

surrounding me as I look up a picture for them on the phone.

Snow Play

We've had lots of snow.  It's been marvelous for the Christmas break.  The children have loved being out in it and have played and played and played with the Olyers over a couple of days.  There is an enormous pile of snow at the end of the cul-de-sac, and they have excavated tunnels and a sort of cave, making the whole thing their fort.  They do pop in with some regularity and demand hot cocoa, shedding wet snow suits and boots, leaving cold snow puddles on the floor, only to bundle up again and head back out.  It's all too much fun!

Parental Advice

For Christmas, Christopher and Tysen gave us Family Talk.  It is cards with 100 questions you can ask each other and thus be a bit more engaged in conversation.  We pulled them out tonight and began asking and answering questions.  We each took a turn asking a question, but everyone answered.

The question that stuck out to me most today was "What is one of the most important things your parents taught you?  Have you practiced this?"  I loved the children's answers.

Brandt said, "Keep your body clean."

Blythe said, "Be kind to others."

Considering the personalities of my kids and the challenges they face, I thought these were wonderfully insightful and pertinent.  Brandt needs to keep his body clean and Blythe needs to be kind to others, and I was glad the message is getting through for both of them.  And here's hoping for a bit more practice from both of them.

Bestest Mom

Today Blythe said to me, in a rare moment of peace between the two of us, "Mom, you are bestest mom in the whole universe."  I thanked her and then said, "Can I get that in writing?" because all too soon I know she will say to me, "You are the worst mom ever! I hate you!"  I wanted proof that once, in a strange and unusual moment, she thought I was the best.  I was joking, of course, but a short time later she appeared with this note.

Voila!  Proof!  Turns out, I am the bestest mom in the unibrse.  For those of you who think you might be in the running, turns out the race is over and I've won.  At least for today.  And for the record, let it be known, that I think Blythe is the bestest daughter in the unibrse.

At least for today.

Snow Play

Today the children went out in the backyard and played in the snow.  They made snow angels, Brandt pulled Blythe around on the sled, and they threw snow at each other.  It didn't last long.  Brandt came in with snow down his back, courtesy of Blythe, then Blythe came in claiming Brandt had hit her in the face with snow.  They play so well together--most of the time.

Boxing Day Sledding

We got the kids new sleds for Christmas (on sale at Costco).  I hid them under our bed, but the children found them while looking for pith helmets.  They didn't immediately tell us they had found them, but I found the pith helmets out and knew they had to have been under the bed.  I asked them about it and they confessed they had seen them, but then begged, "Don't take them back! Don't take them back!"  Every year I threaten to return any gift they see before Christmas which keeps them from hunting around, but Blythe argued that they weren't actually looking for presents, and I shouldn't have left them where they would find them.  Never mind they were in our room when they shouldn't have been.

Anyway.  I didn't take them back, and with all the snow we got on Christmas, I was as excited to go sledding as the kids.  Even more excited than Blythe who got an invitation to go down the street and play with Ellen and went there instead of coming sledding.  We didn't let her absence deter us in any way, however, and went without her.

Kent, Brandt, and I had a marvelous time.  We went up to Rock Canyon park and were not the only ones there.  The hills were all well slid, with grassy patches all over.  Still, we didn't let that deter us either.  We sledded lots and lots, all of us taking turns or coming down together.  It was cold but exhilarating and so, so fun.  We had a great time with the hundreds of other people at the park too.

I love this one.

I love this one too.