2018 By the Numbers

2018 has come to an end.

It's been a good year.

Here's a recount, by the numbers.

Miles ridden on a bike (indoors and out): 3,322
Times to the temple: 52 for Katherine
52 for Kent
7 for Brandt

Times read the Book of Mormon: 6 total, 3 for both me and Kent

Books Read: 49

Number of blog posts: 263
Soccer games won: 5
Days spent at the beach: too few! Only 4.
Merit badges earned: 8
Holiday pies made: 67 (between Thanksgiving and Christmas)
New businesses started: 2
1 for Kent
1 for Blythe
Instagram posts: 45
Ministering visits made: Lots
Selfies taken: a ridiculous number

New Year's Eve

We had a very entertaining New Year's Eve.  In the early afternoon, we joined Uncle Lee at the Peaks Ice Arena to do some ice skating.  Lee was meeting some friends, and worried that he would be there with a single woman and her children, and it might look weird.  So we went along as "chaperones," even though the place was incredibly busy and the woman brought her ex-husband.  Even if we didn't technically need to be there, we had a marvelous good time skating.  We were there with many, many, many other people, and had to be very alert so as not to skate into other people.  Brandt doesn't love to ice skate, but he was a good sport.  Kent, too, who hasn't been on ice skates in years.  Blythe and Lilly Bradford who we took with us, skated around and around, hardly even stopping so I could take a picture. 

And speaking of pictures, there isn't a good one in the bunch.  I was trying to take them with my phone camera, I was in motion and those I was taking a picture of were in motion, and the lighting wasn't brilliant.  But it is photographic evidence, so there we are.

After a bit of a pause in the afternoon activity (Blythe to play with Lilly, Brandt to watch TV), we met Lee, Cammie, and Cammie's siter Alice for Thai food.  This is a New Year's Eve tradition, but sadly for us, our regular Thai restaurant was closed.  We tried a new place that was good, but not as good as our favorite.

After dinner, we went to Mike and McKenzie Drake's house for our other traditional New Year's Eve activity, a family-friendly, ring-in-the-new-year, end-of-year extravaganza with tree burning at 9:00pm, and lots of food and visiting beforehand.  Mike entertains 30+ kids in the basement while their parents visit upstairs.  About 8:30 there is a dance party, with the children all dressed in dark clothing and covered in glow sticks they have either taped to or wrapped around themselves.  We are always in charge of the tree burning, as the first year we were invited, we offered to bring one, and who doesn't love a tree burning?  It's marvelous good fun for everyone, and we still get the young people in bed at a "reasonable" time. 

Here's to the end of 2018 and the start of 2019!

Surprise!!

Mikayla turned 30 today.  Thirty!  Some weeks ago, she was sad that she was going to have a signficant birthday and not be able to celebrate in a significant way.  Her sister-in-law Jill called me and suggested we surprise her with an overnighter somewhere close by, and we planned with Guy to take her away to Midway.  Jill reserved a room at the Zermatt, I made delicious food, including a cake, to take along, and Megan, another sister-in-law, brought stuff to do facials. 

Mikayla was totally and completely surprised when we arrived to pick her up.  She had no idea.  She packed a little bag, and away we went--Mikayla, her three sisters-in-law Jill, Karen, and Megan, her friend Lindsey, and me.  We had dinner--teriyaki chicken, mac-n-cheese, salad, garlic bread, and cake with whipped cream--played games, did facials and nails, and watched a movie until the wee hours of the morning.  We talked and talked and laughed and laughed, and generally speaking, celebrated Mikayla. 

In the morning, we drove down the canyon and met others at Magleby's Fresh for breakfast.  Mikayla and I went for pedicures later, enjoying a bit of pampering.  Happy birthday to my dearest seester!

Sunday Selfies

Brandt, on December 30, ready for church.

Katherine, on December 30, not ready for church.

Brandt and I were playing Hand and Foot.

Looking at the clock behind me, I need to stop playing Hand and Foot and get ready for church.

As a side note, unrelated to selfies or cards,

this Sunday, December 30, 2018, is the last time we'll ever have three hour church.

Ambition

This evening, Blythe was very intent on creating a new website whereon she could sell her books.  These are not books that she owns, but books she intends to write.  Mind you, she hasn't written any books yet.  She is working on one, Paisley and the Possessed Pencil Box, but it's not done.  She works on it regularly, adding pages at a time, and we are impressed with her efforts.  Also impressed with her ambition.  Not only is she convinced she can be a writer, but she's convinced she's going to write lots of books, and will need a website to market and sell them.  I think she's a bit premature in the website construction, but why stand in the way of ambition?

On an unrelated note, I need to clean off the desk.

No Babies In December

Mikayla is expecting twins that are due at the end of February.  We've been excited to welcome two new people to the family, but we've been worried about them being born too early.  Mikayla doesn't like having her birthday in December, if they were to be born in December they'd be in the NICU, and so we've been saying all along, "No babies in December."

Today, Mikayla went to maternal fetal medicine for an exam and testing, and ended up being sent to the hospital.  She was having contractions, baby B's heartrate seemed inconsistant, and the doctor wanted her to be monitored.  After a fairly miserable night, Mikayla was sent home, everything fine.  So far, no babies in December.

Mom and I went to the hosptial to keep Mikayla company and play cards.

Bath Bombs

Blythe got bath bombs from Ava for Christmas.  She was so excited to make them.  This morning, she and Kent launched into production.  While all the ingredients were provided in the kit, as well as a measuring spoon, the lines that marked how much to put it where hard to see.  Kent asked for some of ours, and then they needed some conversion help.  Sadly, there was a miscommunication somewhere, and incorrect measurements of ingredients were added, making a mess rather than a bath bomb.  Blythe and Kent tried to fix it by adding additional cornstarch, but alas, their efforts proved fruitless.  At least Blythe had a good time trying.

The Book of Mormon

In October's General Conference, during the General Women's Session, President Nelson spoke to the sisters about the gathering of Isreal.  Earlier in the year, he spoke to the youth about the same topic and gave them three invitations.  In the women's session, he issued four invitations to the women of the Church, one of which was to read the Book of Mormon.  With the invitation came a wonderful promise.  He said,

I invite you to read the Book of Mormon between now and the end of the year. As impossible as that may seem with all you are trying to manage in your life, if you will accept this invitation with full purpose of heart, the Lord will help you find a way to achieve it. And, as you prayerfully study, I promise that the heavens will open for you. The Lord will bless you with increased inspiration and revelation.

As you read, I would encourage you to mark each verse that speaks of or refers to the Savior. Then, be intentional about talking of Christ, rejoicing in Christ, and preaching of Christ with your families and friends.  You and they will be drawn closer to the Savior through this process. And changes, even miracles, will begin to happen.

This morning the announcement was made regarding the new Sunday schedule and home-centered, Church-supported curriculum (two hour church). You, my dear sisters, are a key to the success of this new, balanced, and coordinated gospel-teaching effort. Please teach those whom you love what you are learning from the scriptures. Teach them how to turn to the Savior for His healing and cleansing power when they sin. And teach them how to draw upon His strengthening power every day of their lives.

I accepted this invitation, and yesterday, on Christmas, I finished reading the Book of Mormon.  I had underlined the scriptures and passages that spoke of Christ, but I took it a step further.  I also underlined words of Christ, when he's speaking to those in the scriptures, and also passages that show his interactions with and assistance to his followers.  I wore down a colored pencil with all the underlining I did; my Book of Mormon is orange throughout.  While I have done this same exercise before, because I was trying to make my scripture study focused on Christ, I was struck, again, by what a powerful witness of Christ the Book of Mormon really is.  It's obvious to me that God is involved in our lives, that He loves us and wants to bless us.  So many times it says, "If ye keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land."  Who doesn't want to prosper?  I know there are those who don't want God the Father and Jesus Christ to be a part of their lives, but I certainly do.  My Book of Mormon reading and focus have also helped me keep Christ in my Christmas celebrating.  I am humbled by Christ's love and feel the power of the Spirit in my life as I try to be more like Him.

I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God.  I know its teachings can lead us back to our Heavenly Father.  I know that when I read in it every day, my days are better.  I know that the Book of Mormon gives us power and, as the Primary song says, "keeps us safe from sin."  I am committed to continue to read as a family every day because I feel the strength it brings to my life, and I want Brandt and Blythe to have that same strength through the challenges they face.  Life is better when God is involved in it, and I want Him to be central in my personal life and in our family life.  I want the miracles President Nelson promised could be ours by talking of Christ, rejoicing in Christ, and preaching of Christ.  I want increased inspiration and revelation, especially within our family.  I will continue to read and study the scriptures so these blessings can be mine and ours.

Christmas Day

Blythe came in and rudely awoke me and Kent this morning.  To her and Brandt's credit, it wasn't until 7:30am, which is way late for Christmas morning.  The kids had been awake for a while, but they let us sleep.  You know, as a Christmas present.  Speaking of presents, they had all been organized by who they were for, with lovely little piles made.  The kids were excited to open, but were good about taking turns and even letting us open ours in between theirs.  I think they were pleased with what they got.  Santa came through for them.

We did a bit of the morning hang around.  I made crepes for breakfast.  I think Brandt ate eight.  They are thin and he doesn't put much on them, but still.  He's a growing boy.  We weren't in a big hurry to rush around and played a round of Clue. 

Eventually we all got dressed, prepared some food, then went over to Grandma's Sue to spend the afternoon and evening.  We played more games, ate, and ran around the house.  It is always so nice to be together.  So nice, in fact, that I didn't even think to take a picture.

Present piles 

Blythe's haul

Kent was up too late last night.

He doesn't want anyone taking his beef jerky.

Blythe, swathed in a new bathroom, new slippers,

with long legs and a new book.

She didn't move until she had read the whole thing.

Christmas Eve

It was a lovely day, spent with family we love, eating food we love, and playing in ways we love.  We started the day off with breakfast and cousin gift exchange at Christopher and Tysen's house.  Practically everyone was there.  We ate our standard Christmas breakfast--scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, fruit, orange rolls, cinnamon pull apart, juice, and chocolate milk.  We opened packages including the 2018 DeMartini Family Photobook, put together largely by Mikayla and which we all love.  The kids took turns opening packages, working up from youngest, Kal, to oldest, Blake.  There was rolling around on the floor, a bit of a tantrum, and general chaos, but it was wonderful to be together.

 The grandchildren, and me.  

We left the first party and went home to make rolls.  Eight dozen rolls.  That probably seems like a ridiculous number of rolls for one person to make, and it is, but that's just the way it worked out.  I didn't sign up early enough for a food assignment for the Barrus Family Christmas Eve Party, so when I finally looked, rolls were what was left.  I was also too late to order them from Shirley's, so I opted to make them.  Blythe and Brandt helped, I baked them in four goes (about an hour), and I'm happy to report, they all turned out.  They were delicious. 

In the evening, we joined lots and lots of Barri (hence the need for eight dozen rolls) for our second party of the day.  We ate, we played, we had a sweet nativity (Brandt was a wise guy, Blythe was an innkeeper), and then we did a white elephant gift exchange.  I distributed the 2018 Barrus Family Photobook, a favorite with everyone, and we came home late, happy to have been able to be together with those we love.

 

Sunday Selfies

I thought Kent and I looked festive in our red for Christmas today as we went to church.

I sure do love this man!

And while this isn't a Sunday "selfie,"

I've decided I like that post title quite a bit.

Our Favorite Brinkerhofferschofferdos

The Brinkerhoffs are in town.  Well, sort of.  They aren't in our town, but they are in Utah, and today we went to be with them in Salt Lake before they head south to spend Christmas in Cedar City.  We love the Brinkerhoffs and wish they were closer all the time!  They are staying in a hotel across the street from the Conference Center, and we drove up to have treats and go wander around and see the lights on Temple Square (which we would never do without an excuse like having the Brinkerhoffs in town). 

It wasn't too, too cold, so our wanderings weren't miserable.  We were there with thousands of other people also in the holiday spirit, but we talked and visited, the kids hung on their cousins, and we were just happy to be together.  We had hot chocolate and treats to celebrate Charlie's birthday, and talked and laughed until it was late and we had to go. 

The teeming masses