Year In Review - 2013

1.  What did you do in 2013 that you've never done before?

I decided to buck my aversion to DIY and sand and re-stain my enormous back deck. I was incredibly nervous about renting an industrial sander and the inevitable back breaking labor from using it, but the project was actually a good experience for me and the boys. I hope they remember working along side me, although their help only lasted a few days. I was left to finish it…which I hope to do next summer (just a few steps and less  visible parts didn’t get the stain applied.  Which means I will probably have to re-sand them). 

I also fell in love with sushi.  Who knew? 

And I went to an evening of Cowboy Poetry on a date with Jay.  It was very entertaining.  Such a surprise. 

2.  Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions and will you make more for next year?

I totally failed at keeping my New Year’s resolutions, which were to blog more (worst year ever) and to write book reviews promptly (I am currently 28 books behind). I don’t know what the future holds for either of those things. I like to write but don’t like to feel any pressure to do so.  Honestly, I’m scared to make New Year’s resolutions this year. I am tired of failing at them.

3.  Did anyone close to you give birth?  

I had several friends give birth but no family. My dear friend, Lisa, who I have been friends with since 1st grade, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl she calls Coco (short for Collette), which totally delighted me.

Such a cutie and I gave her this adorable pink bear.

4.  Did anyone close to you die?

My cousin, Boyd, died but I wasn’t close to him. It was interesting to have old memories with him from when I was a young girl resurface and realize how little I know about the current lives of my cousins.

5.  What countries did you visit?  

I am so excited to fill this question out with the name of a country instead of the depressing-to-me answer, “None.” I went to Israel with my sister, Maureen, and loved every day of it.

6.  What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?

It’s interesting that this question uses the word “have” instead of other verbs like “do” or “be”. I don’t really need anything but there are lots of things I’d like to have that I don’t currently possess.  But, I’m going to answer a bit more transcendently and say I’d like to have more patience with Daniel. His toddler year of 2013 revived some of my old demons.

7.  What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory and why?  

I decided to sit here and think of any dates I could actually remember specifically and why. I wouldn’t say it was important but maybe because of dread or just seeing so many email reminders, but I did attend my 20 year high school reunion on July 20th.

8.  What was your biggest personal achievement of the year?

Nonspecifically, it would have to be the contribution the continued growth and development of my children.  Specifically, I worked really hard all year at my calling of Primary Music Chorister. I enjoy it and feel like the children in my primary were prepared for the program and knew the songs we learned. Is it sad that a successful primary program is my biggest personal achievement?  I’m also proud of another successful 3,000 mile summer road trip with the kids.  It is quite a feat of endurance but I’m so glad we go. It makes for such great summers.

9.  What was your biggest failure?

Since April, I have been meeting with a personal trainer but haven’t lost a pound or any inches. I started  intensely with twice a week solo sessions. That eventually turned into one solo session and one I shared with friends which turned into two sessions shared with friends which turned into one session shared with friends which turned into none. And this failure was mine all for the low, low cost of hundreds of dollars.

This was supposed to be my “before” picture.  Sadly, it is my “still” picture.

10.  Did you suffer injury or illness?

Yes. This is ultimately why I stopped meeting with a trainer. Something is wrong with my shoulder. Jay did an ultrasound on it and I have an inflamed AC joint. I don’t know if working out and lifting weights contributed to it or if it is auto immune related like arthritis or what, but my right shoulder is out of whack. Can’t really consistently lift things above my head.

11.  What was the best thing you bought?

We had a bit of a heat wave in early June and our house does not have air conditioning. The expense to install it exceeds the need to have it but when those 100 degree days hit, it is miserable. We do have a windowless basement that stays very cool and, one day, in a fit of hot mama rage, I ordered a new TV for the basement so that we could spend the hottest part of the day, the later afternoon and evening, comfortably downstairs.  With that purchase in mind, I started looking for furniture. It took me forever to decide and that new TV sat in a box in our foyer for over 3 months.  I do not move quickly.  But, after a weekend of help painting the large room from my sister, I finally chose a black, bonded leather sectional and we enjoy the room.  We looked into having it wired for surround sound but when the audio guys came out and gave us a $4,000 estimate, we bought a $250 sound bar from  Sam’s Club instead and have been totally happy.  There are some messy wires that, no doubt, the professionals would have better hidden, but I like my $3,000K+ in savings.

12.  Whose behavior merited celebration?

Jay’s whole family got together for a family reunion! And it wasn’t for a wedding although we did belatedly celebrate Jay’s parents 50th wedding anniversary.  It was a quick weekend in Utah in a fabulous house but it was great to see all of those cousins.

I am also so pleased my parents went on a big trip to Israel, Jordan and Egypt.  My dad is not really a lover of traveling and it is difficult to convince him to go places so it was wonderful to see them do something so grand together.


I’m always proud of Jay. He is so disciplined and works so hard to be successful in what he wants to do.  He learned how to A.I (Artifically Inseminate) and had success this year.

Look at me feeding the cows! These are two of the steers that are a result of his successful AI-ing. They are beauts (if cows are every beauts). 

He ran a great marathon in Newport, Oregon in May and has been trying to rehabilitate a bad calf after injuring it in August, which caused him to bow out of several other races he had planned this fall. He is feeling a bit better and hopes to run in Boston this April. I am also so proud of him for sticking with the whole “digging the ditch” to get electricity to the barn.  It was very labor intensive but he did it. And now there are bright lights!

I got to drive alongside the runners (they only had one side of the road closed off.  I just put my hand out of the window and shot as many pictures as I could.  I’m so glad one turned out. 

The home stretch!  He finished in 3 hours and 30 seconds.  He was bummed about those 30 seconds. 

He spent the rest of the day with me at the beach.  It was such a beautiful day. 

I think lighthouses are the perfect metaphor for life. It was fun to see one up close. 

Thanks to Yelp, we found some great seafood.  I got the fish tacos.

The view from our hotel room.  

Sam had eye surgery in March and had to wear these horrible stickers on his glasses to prepare him for it that made his eyes cross and distorted. He wore them without complaint, had his surgery and when it didn’t fix his ambloypia (lazy eye) just went about his glasses-wearing business, even though I know he was disappointed that he wouldn’t be glasses free, as he had hoped.  He quit his soccer team that he had been heavily involved in for 3 years and tried playing football, his favorite sport.  It was hard to find a place on a team that is heavily nepotistic (all 7 of the coaches have sons that play all the main positions and any other position that is involved on any play called) and even harder to excel in the position they did put him in, wide receiver, when he has no depth perception (which I explained to the coaches). The way his brain has adapted still makes it possible for him to catch balls but I don’t know how great he can ever become at it as the balls thrown get faster and when the games get played at night, but he likes being part of the team and never gave up working hard. He is an inspiration to someone like me who usually only chooses to do things that play to my strengths.  

With those blasted stickers to force his eyes to cross.

Pre surgery

5th grade champions!

Sam also earned his Webelos and Arrow of Light, pretty much all by himself.  Well, Jay and I helped him but he only had maybe five actual meetings and then the Webelos leaders, whose own son had finished and turned 11, stopped having them.  It took forever for a new leader to be called, and by the time there was one, he was practically done. I wish I were more of a fan of the whole scouting program.  I do understand its merits but the way it is administered through primary and young mens doesn’t often work well.  Plus, my boys aren’t super motivated by badges, beads and belt loops so it can be hard to drum up any enthusiasm.  But, with four boys, I suppose we need to keep at it. 

I was bummed he didn’t get a cool Arrow of Light ceremony but glad he got it nonetheless.

Seth has become more private and distant the older he gets, which I have to remind myself is totally normal and thus not to take too personally, but I do know how much he has worked at becoming a better basketball player and have to celebrate his determination and effort.  Last year, which was really the first year I realized how interested he was in the game, he made C team at the middle school.  There were five teams based on ability and skill and C was right in the middle of the five.  There were boys better than him and boys worse, even on his own team. Over the summer and full, I don’t think a day passed where he didn’t handle the ball and work on his shot. He told me his goal was to make and start on the A team his 8th grade year and I admired and worried about his goal.  When tryouts happened, he had a really good day and a pretty bad day (according to him) and on the day the teams were announced, I picked him up from practice a bit sick to my stomach. He got in the car, fought back tears, and said he was on B. I tried not to give him any platitudes, because I knew he just needed to be allowed to feel disappointed for awhile, but as soon as we got home, he picked up a basketball and went down to the barn to practice.  It was like I could hear the Rocky music in his head! On the following Monday, the first day of practice, Seth came out of the school with a huge gash in his chin, one eventually requiring stitches, but with the biggest grin on his face. He said, “This is the best day of my life! I actually made A team but they forgot to call my name.” He bravely faced the stitches his dad gave him on our own dining room table and started every game.  He also ran extremely well in XC.  I hope he continues on in that sport too.

Flying.

One our summer trip date with Ansel:)

First Day of School

So brave getting his stitches!

Daniel receives props for sheer survival. He has three siblings who mug on him at every opportunity and spent an abundant time strapped into his car seat while attending his brothers activities.

Look at the bump on his head. Ouch.

In addition to the mugging, the older brothers are also incredibly kind and helpful. He can pretty much get any of them to do anything.

Walking the boys to the school bus in the morning.

Glad daddy is home after the cattle round up.

Henry has nearly mastered his “S” sound (I’d say he is about 80%) and his last sound is “R” which, according to his speech therapist, is the hardest sound and different depending on which consonant or verb it is next to. He sometimes gets lots in the shuffle, but he has started piano and is the master of entertaining himself. It usually means there is a mess involved and, sometimes, the destruction of property, but he is creative and has the best imagination in the world.  He also learned how to ride a bike (though he won’t try anymore) and even tried a week of karate to see how he liked it (he didn’t).

He did it!

He did like putting kids in head locks and bring his knee up for a blow.  Unfortunately, he didn’t like the discipline of following every instruction from a very strict teacher.

His teacher is impressed by how quickly he is understanding and learning the notes of the scale and staff.  His ability to read music exceeds his coordination at playing it, though. He has some fine motor skill delays too.

I am also really, really proud of my four nephews out on missions. Scott is in Florida, Derek is in North Carolina, Michael is in Columbia and Jacob is in Russia. As the oldest cousins on either side of our family, I am so relieved and proud of these boys and the examples they are setting for my children and hope they choose to follow in their older cousins’ footsteps.


13.  Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

I think Miley Cyrus is an abomination.  Oh..I’m sure her fame and riches have caused some psychological problems that should garner up my sympathy but her attitude and behavior in public appalls me.

14.  Where did most of your money go?

Every year, there seems to be some sort of house catastrophe that needs repaired.  This year, it was our well pump. For 9 days of December, we had no running water and that experience was really eye opening. For starters, I realized how unprepared I was. It wasn’t really an emergency, as there was water elsewhere (we showered at Jay’s folks and bought drinking water at Walmart) but I saw how desperate it could quickly become if EVERYONE suddenly went without water at the same time. The disaster in the Philippines had happened only a month earlier and I read news accounts about the looting and crimes to get drinking water. It was totally inconvenient and emotionally challenging to be unable to do the things I need to do to run the household but we were safe and served by loved ones.  But, it was dang expensive to fix. It’s not where most of our money went (taxes, mortgage, new car) but it’s where a lot of money went that I wished had gone elsewhere.

15.  What did you get really, really, really excited about?

I finally got a Toyota Sequoia! It was crazy how it all eventually worked out but I have one and I like it. I don’t like the company I bought it from but I try to separate the emotions from each other and focus on the gratitude for the space and comfort in which I spend my days on the road.

16.  What song will always remind you of 2013?

My kids really like pop music and I’ve even noticed Daniel singing along.  He can time that gasp for air in the song, “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons almost perfectly.  I think that is definitely the song of the year but I also really liked “Sail” by AWOL nation, “Berzerk” (only the clean version) by Eminem, “Say Something” by A Great Big World (I prefer it without Christina Aguilera, whose voice drives me bonkers even though it isn’t bad in this song) and “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk.  I was feeling bad about listening to “Get lucky” because it’s pretty much about getting lucky but when Sam told me that he thought it was about a bunch of friends staying up all night playing games…I let the guilt go.  I wish I could listen to songs with kids’ ears.   We can all sing along to Wrecking Ball, though I loathe Miley Cyrus and I changed the radio station every. single. time (which was a lot!) Blurred Lines came on.  I get the good beat but I don’t enjoy songs about rape (at worst) or infidelity (at best).

17.  Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

a) sadder.  Same answer as last year.  I wish this wasn’t true.  I don’t know what’s going on.
b) fatter. Ugh.
c) the same. Poorer. These answers are depressing. But, the expenses went up and the income did not. Still, we are blessed with Jay’s secure and good job.


18.  What do you wish you'd done more of?

Everything I love.  I wish I spent more time with friends.  I wish I found the time and desire to sing.  I wish I had read more, even though I read a lot.  I wish I had spent more time at the lake and more time on the mountain and hiked more and exercised more and danced more and served more and read more books with Daniel and blogged more.

19.  What do you wish you'd done less of?

Feeling sorry for myself.  I have some really good friends going through horribly hard times and I hate when I throw myself pity parties.  The truth is, everyone is fighting a battle, public or not, and I need to focus on my blessings and not my trials.

20.  Did you fall in love in 2013?

I fell in love with Caitlyn Connley’s art.  I have never had an eye or taste for art but found this Utah artist through instagram and almost all of her sketches and paintings speak to me. I bought one and would like about 50 more.

This is the one I bought. It is called, “But If You Look At It This Way.”  Yes. 

21.  What was your favorite TV program?

SYTYCD.  Of course. I even went up to Salt Lake for the tour, which was so great. These dancers are really talented.

22.  Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

No.

23.  What was the best book you read?

Best Book.  Hmmm.  I feel like it should be one of the books I gave 5 stars to on Goodreads, because those are the ones I thought were amazing, but I’ve decided that the book I have enjoyed thinking about the most is Me Before You by Jojo Moyes.  I really liked Heft by Liz Moore and A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra too.

24.  What was your greatest musical discovery?

I pretty much stick with what the local radio stations feed me as I do not have XM radio but I’m a sucker for buying the songs used on SYTYCD.  If there is a visual I love, I want to repeat the image in my head as many times as possible.  Still, those are not my discoveries.  I recently bought an album from a duo out of Provo called Mideau that I really like.  Check it out: “Way With Words”  Good stuff.

25.  What did you want and get?

Second chances to be better.  Every single day.

26.  What did you want and not get?

My pre-pregnancy body. My own fault.

27.  What was your favorite film of this year?

My favorite was “Saving Mr. Banks".  It is such a moving picture and I love the complicated emotions embedded into the making of such a beloved and well-known film.  Plus, I cried. I love movies that move me. I laughed and laughed (particularly at the end when the minions did the white tux BoysIIMen spoof) during “Despicable Me 2" and loved the music and conflict in Frozen (I can listen to Idina Menzel all day).   I thought “Austenland” was a hoot, even if it was a bit over the top and "12 Years a Slave" felt like the most important movie I watched.

28.  What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?

Boo for Sunday birthdays! As a yes day believer and birthday diva wannabe, I hate that neither are really possible on a Sunday (because I would never, ever choose to cook on my birthday).  It was a busy day at church but I got some nice gifts and cards that always make a girl feel good.  I turned 38.

29.  What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

I’m feeling stumped by the word “immeasurably”.  I want my answer to justify such a big word. I think more temple attendance.  I am embarrassed to admit that I believe I only went to the temple 3 times in 2013.  There is definitely room for improvement and I think the blessings would be immeasurable.

Me and Emily in front of the Mt. Timpanogos Temple.  I also went to the Draper temple with my sister, Sarah, and the Monticello temple with Jay.

30.  How would you describe your personal fashion concept for 2013?

This was the year of the necklace for me.  I got a long one, for when I wore tops with higher necklines, and several shorter ones I could wear with lower tops.  Almost all of my shirts are from Kohls or Sam’s Club so there is no real high fashion going on here.

My favorite metal knot necklace. 

31.  What kept you sane?

I don’t know if I am! Sometimes, I think I am losing it. Humor keeps me sane and I seek it out whenever possible.  I like to be around funny people.  A trip always keeps me forging forward.  Honestly, most of my bad days can be made better by a hot bath.  Go figure.