January Stuff

Back to our regularly scheduled programming, in January we did Stuff.  (Profound thoughts by Kara.)

Some of it was a bit unusual.  Instead of completing a typical science fair project,  Eli got to construct a simple machine.  If I remember correctly, he had to use a pulley, lever, wheel, screw, wedge, and inclined plane to do something--in this case, push the button on the top of our red ornament to make it speak.

Since the projects weren't judged, outside help was welcomed.  Good thing too, since the project definitely became a family affair.

The projects were displayed at Emerson's STEM night.  The school does a phenomenal job of inviting outside groups to help the students explore engineering and science.  My favorite was this father and son team teaching all about chemistry.

Other January fun: pack meeting.  Even though our church is pulling back from scouting, we will look for a way for Eli to continue because he loves it.

Annika started gymnastics.  Apparently she's learning because at parent-teacher conferences her teacher mentioned that she does handstands on the rug during circle time...

Believe it or not, she's doing what she's supposed to in this picture.  You're actually looking at a debut performance of "Once There was  a Snowman" at a Senior Center.  Accompanied by Talia on ukulele, Annika melted.  Brooklyn and Eli sang "I Will Be What I Believe."


In January our family went ice skating for the first time in a while.

Annika was in definite need of  a refresher course.


In general, she does better skiing, navigating most blue runs quite well.

Of course, every once in a while she insists on riding the magic carpet just for the heck of it.  (For the record, this is one run she hasn't mastered.  She tumbles at the top every time.)

One of our night skiing adventures was a little less successful.  Annika was being a nudge while Jason was trying to load her onto the lift, so his pole got caught in the chaos.  When he tried to get it free, it sprang back and hit her in the face, making her bite a hole in her tongue.  It was a long lift ride to the top with Annie wailing and spitting blood the entire way.

Fortunately hot chocolate can make anything right.

A few more pictures from the slope.  Here are Jason and I playing hooky from work for a few hours on a snowy day.

Talia skiing with Jason's office mate, Nicole.

In general, we hop on up the mountain any chance we get because with vistas like these, why wouldn't we?

Back on the home front, Eli is a master double tasker.  Isn't this how everyone spends their Sunday afternoon?

Other Sundays we get lucky and Grandpa Charles and Grandma Susie will come down from Hyde Park for a visit.  You can tell the kids all love it!

Hanging out with family is the very best.

On a sadder note, Jason's Uncle Merlen Mix unexpectedly passed away on January 3rd.  We have such fond memories from when he came to stay with us in France.

Always cheerful, Uncle Merlen loved to travel, take photographs, and make friends with everyone he met.  A high school French teacher, he wasn't wealthy by the world's standards, but rich in the ways that really matter.

Even if Brooklyn can't remember, I'm grateful that their lives intersected in such a special place. 

Uncle Merlen's funeral service was held in Twin Falls, so we took a quick trip to see the home where Grandma Susie was born.


Here's Susie again with Grandpa Hansen in Rupert.  Aging is hard, but the tender love that is shown through caregiving is heartwarming.

In one sense, funerals may be sad occasions, but I love how they pull families together.  Here we have Grandpa Hansen with Charles, Susie, and all of their kids: Jason, Justin, Christy, and Lance.

Last but not least, it wouldn't be January without a bout of the flu--stomach flu, in our instance.  Talia and Eli went down hard.  Fortunately they were quite considerate and didn't share.

So how did you spend your January?