Norton Christmas

Today we joined the Norton Family for our annual Christmas book shopping at Barnes & Noble. As you can see, there were lots of Nortons in attendance. This outing is the only time of the year we see some of them, and it was fun to connect. We hadn't met Goose and Miles' daughter Ashe yet, due to Covid, and it was fun to see her in real life in all her squishness. We missed Keybug. We are grateful to these good people who have adopted us all into their family.

Book selections this year: 

Katherine & Kent: The Talented Mr. Varg  We intend on reading this aloud together, so one book for both of us was entirely sufficient.

Brandt: Tales From Shadowhunter Academy  Brandt didn't realize this was the fourth book in a series.

Blythe: The Okay Witch  A graphic novel Blythe read from start to finish while she waited for everyone else to finish making their selections.

Blythe's Second Best Day Ever

This evening, Blythe and I got to attend an author interaction at the Provo Library with Shannon Hale, LeUyen Pham, and Raina Telgemeier.  Shannon Hale is one of Blythe's favorite authors, and the person she selected to represent at last year's fifth grade wax museum.  She was very excited when I told her we were going to be able to not only listen to Shannon Hale, but meet her, too.  We also got new books from Shannon and LeUyen, and Raina.

Blythe will now give us an account of the evening.

It was the second best day of my life. The first one was when Jessica Day George emailed be back. We got there and were seated with their newest books. I brought my own book to read so I read that but then started reading Best Friends. Then Shannon, LeUyen and Raina came out and talked and drew. It was awesome!!! They made me feel welcome and then we got to have a picture taken!!! It was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's quite some report.  I'll add a bit more.  Both Best Friends and Guts are graphic novels.  Raina began talking about how she came to write and draw comics.  She showed wonderful early art work, including her parents with pizza faces.  Three of her books are memoires, and this newest one is about her lifelong issues with irritable bowel syndrome and the anxiety it has caused in her life.  She was funny!  They all were funny!  Then Shannon and LeUyen talked about their collaborations.  LeUyen is an illustrator, and spoke about how wonderful it is to be able to create images for a best friend's life story, but how painful it can sometimes be, too.  Real Friends and Best Friends are Shannon's memoirs about her friendships in elementary school and then in specifically in sixth grade, the very grade and age that Blythe is right now.  Some of her experiences were hard as she worked to navigate interpersonal relationships.  They pointed out that while we might not all have the same experiences, we have similar enough experiences that we can relate to each other.  They talked about writing, illustrating, graphic novels, connecting with others through good stories, and being friendly.  LeUyen and Raina did some drawing, they answered questions, and then we got to have an actual meet-and-greet and a photo or two!  It really was AMAZING!!!!!!!!  Blythe began reading Best Friends while we were waiting for things to begin, and she was practically finished by the time we got home.  She finished as she had a bowl of cereal before going to bed.  As we were leaving, she said, "Mom, nothing can quash my happiness right now."  How's that for a win?

We told Shannon that Blythe had been her for wax museum. 

She was surprised and delighted and then asked, "What did you do to look like me?"

LeUyen, Raina, Shannon

Light Reading

This morning, after I had taken Brick to school, I returned to Mikayla's house for a few minutes.  Kal had gone to school with us in his jammie bottoms and a tank top of Cora's that looked like a wife beater, and needed to be changed and to get dressed.  He climbed onto Cora's bed and I took care of him, and while he was on the bed, he found a book.  He showed it to me and I asked if he wanted me to read it to him.  He did.  Freya had been up on the bed, too, but I put her down on the floor so she could squirm around.  She was very offended that I had set her on the floor, so I picked her up and set her down in front of me so she could see the book too.  Her attention didn't last as long as Kal's, but I did read them both the story, we looked at the pictures under flaps, and identified pictures and colors.  I do so love these little people!

Dino-mite Book Sale

It has been the book fair at Rock Canyon this week.  I'm due to help tomorrow, but I wanted to take the kids to look at books.  To get them out of the house, I took Mikayla's kids, too, and everyone was able to get a book, even me.  I put Brandt in charge of Kal who wasn't going to look at books, and kept an eye on Cora and Brick.  Then we went home and read all our new books.  Nothing better than a new book to read!

Brandt with Supergifted

Kal with I Really Love Slop

Brick with a Zelda book

Cora with a Paw Patrol book

Blythe with Catwad

I got Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise

Norton Family Christmas Shopping

Brandt and Blythe spent a super fun evening with the Nortons.  It was their annual Christmas bookstore shopping outing, and while Kent and I were also invited, we were hosting an adults-only DeMartini dinner, so we sent the kids with Scott and Dawn.  They had a great time getting books, and then gathered at Aunt Goose's house for dinner.  They got fun books--Brandt got Evil Spy School and Blythe got Be Prepared a graphic novel, and Total and Ultimate Dog Manual. 

The evening was fun.  They wandered around the bookstore, Blythe kept wanting to read her book, they all signed each other's books, and Brandt wrestled with Grayson.  They got home late, thoroughly pleased with their time with family.

Norton Christmas Festivities

This evening we gathered with the Nortons for their annual book store/dinner Christmas celebrating.  Scott and Dawn always meet family at a bookstore, Scott buys everyone a book, then they share a meal.  They are always so kind to invite us to join them as their adoptee family members.  This year we met at Pioneer Books downtown, and roamed around the store looking for treasures.  As always happens, there were many to be found.  The kids got several books, among which was an enormous dictionary Blythe insisted on getting, even though we have a 12 volume OED, a Mirriam-Webster, and several foreign language dictionaries.  She wanted it, and as Grandma Dawn was more in charge than I, she got it.  Blythe and Brandt literally ran around the store with McKenna and Grayson.  My pleas to have them set a better example fell largely on deaf ears.

After book shopping we congregated at La Dolce Vita for dinner.  It's always good food there, and tonight was no exception.  We talked and laughed and passed around each other's books to autograph each other's choices.  Grandpa Gordy asked the kids who those strangers were at the other end of the table.  Those strangers were us.  I'm sure it was weird for him to see people he didn't know at a family dinner.  It used to be a bit weird for us, too, but after all these years, it feels fairly normal.

Festive tree made of books.

Festive family around festive tree made of books.

Standing: Katherine, Kylie, Gavin, Shannon, Miles, Alisa/Goose, Kent

Sitting: Blythe, Scott, Brandt, Cash, Grayson, Grandpa Gordy, Dawn, McKenna

This is a picture taken out of context of the Christmas activity.

It was at Grandpa Gordy's 90th birthday celebration some months ago 

(I don't remember when exactly).

We were there.  I don't know why he doesn't remember us!?

Norton Family Christmas Booking

Scott and Dawn have a tradition of taking all their kids, in-laws, and grandkids to Barnes & Noble before Christmas and doing a bit of shopping.  Everyone gets to pick a book, any book they want, then Scott buys them and everyone signs the inside cover of everyone else's book.  Then everyone goes to dinner.  In years past, Brandt and Blythe have gone with Scott and Dawn, and Kent and I have stayed home.  This year, however, we were invited to join in the fun, and this evening we went and met our Norton family for Christmas booking.

I am grateful for the loving inclusion of Scott and Dawn and their family.  We always feel welcome and included when we show up to a family activity, and Dawn is so good about inviting us.  Blythe's adoption brought about our family adoption, too.  Blythe became part of our family, and we became part of the Norton family.

Book selection is always hard.  Brandt had to make the tough choice between two super cool Star Wars books, but finally settled on a complete character encyclopedia with lots of pictures and lots of explanations.  Blythe got Weird But True, Volume 7, a wonderful collection of facts about weird but true things.  Kent and I both got a novel.  We didn't join for the post bookstore dinner as it was going to be at Shannon's house, but we had a marvelous time, as evidenced by the picture of all of us together. (Waiting for the picture of all of us together to be sent by Scott.  Will post when it becomes available.)

Yes, I Know Heavenly Father Loves Me

It was my turn to put Brandt to bed tonight.  We are currently reading Treasure Island, a reading that is not conducive to settling down for sleep.  Tonight there was a battle where eight men were killed, and Jim snuck away from the stockade.  Exciting stuff.  In addition, tomorrow is Brandt's class opera and he is nervous, worried about how it will all go.

When Brandt is wound up, or Blythe too for that matter, I find that singing Primary songs is just the ticket to calming him down.  So when we had finished reading and said a prayer, I began to sing.  All the rain we have recently received has made everything lush and green.  The plants and flowers seem to be singing in joy and gratitude, all abloom and growing.  The world is gloriously beautiful.  Tonight I sang songs about nature, Life is O'erflowing With Beautiful Things, I Think the World is Glorious, and Heavenly Father Loves Me.  As I lay in bed with Brandt, my arm across his body snuggling him, singing softly in the dark, I was overcome with love for my boy, for my girl, for my Kent, for my life, for this glorious world and the amazing experience of mortality.  I had an intense desire to live long and see my children and grandchildren grow with Kent by my side.  And then the loss of my dad hit me forcefully and I missed him, really, really missed him.

But then I was suddenly and completely overwhelmed by God's love.  I was immediately filled with sure knowledge that He knows me and loves me.  My life is so good; I am so blessed.  God created this beautiful earth and put us here in families to grow and learn and live and love.  I'm grateful for those I get to make the journey with, and hope my actions will show how grateful I am.