Taking the L

You know what happens when you accidentally turn your alarm OFF in the morning rather than hit snooze?  Your whole day takes a hit and it's not pretty.  You want to know how I know this?  Well, let  me just rewind several hours here and I'll walk you through my day.

After Isaac climbed in bed this morning around 5:20 and promptly demanded that I cover him up with the comforter, I had a feeling I was in for a long day.  My alarm went off at 6:15, and I know I hit snooze the first time, but after that, things get a little fuzzy.  I think I was vaguely aware that Scott had left for work and that Alex and Jane seemed to be awake and buzzing around, but I was so tired and so falsely reliant on my alarm to ring again and get me up on time, that I let myself drift back off to sleep.

Next thing I know, I've got Alex in my room asking if they're going to school today because it's already 7:10, and I realized rather quickly that there was no way to scramble fast enough to get Sophie, Jane, and Alex to school on time.  Especially since Sophie wasn't even awake yet.  Doh!  Hahaha.  Well, the wrenches kept being thrown because when I took Isaac's temperature at his request this morning, I realized saw that his crankiness from the night before might have been due to the fact that he had a very low grade fever along with his runny nose.

As they so often do, the hits kept coming.  Jane insisted I take her temperature, too, and she registered the same 99.6  that Isaac did -- which isn't really all that high and she probably should have gone to school, but I thought she probably could use a "sick" day to rest up.  Well, as soon as Alex heard that Isaac wasn't going to school and neither was Jane, he ran and locked himself in the bonus room and exclaimed that he wasn't going to school either and I couldn't make him.  Ugh.  (Mind you, all this happened before I had even left to take Grace and Sophie to school and we were already running late.)

Long story kind of short, I brought Grace to school {she's the only one who made it on time} and then checked Sophie in late.  I wasn't able to pick the lock to get in the bonus room and Alex has REALLY been struggling lately with behavior issues, so I let him know that if he didn't go to school he would have to stay in his room all day and he couldn't have any screens.  He said he was fine with that and proceeded straight to his bed with a Diary of a Wimpy Kid book in his hand.  I then spent the rest of the day making my life more difficult by forging ahead with my plans to finish painting the trim in the dining room with three little kids plus a dog underfoot.  That was not smart, that was not smart!  Hahaha.

But seriously, though.  That was not smart.  At the end of the day, I was exhausted, the house was trashed, I had Ethan and Grace yelling at me for not keeping Isaac out of their rooms because apparently he wreaked some havoc in there while I was stubbornly painting, and poor little Maxwell has a white streak on his ear where he walked too closely next to the door that I had just finished painting.  Ugh.

At least tomorrow is another day, right???  And if I go to bed right now, maybe I won't need to hit snooze more than once on my alarm tomorrow morning.  Hahaha.  I'll be sure and keep you posted.

Puppy School

Tonight was Maxwell's first Puppy Training class!  It was quite the experience.  Grace thought it felt like a dog group therapy session, but I thought it was great!  Hahaha.  It's a nice, small class -- there are only two other puppies -- and we got a lot of great information and training help while Maxwell got to play with some friends.

Honestly, it was hiLARious to watch Maxwell (a 4 month old Weimeraner mix) play/wrestle with one of the other pups who was only 6 months old, but quite a bit larger.  The other dog was a pure Weimeraner and I'm kind of grateful for Maxwell's partial miniature poodle heritage, because otherwise he would be HUGE when full grown!

Grace felt a little awkward being the handler (I'm pretty sure), but she did great.  She worked with Maxwell on walking with a leash, sitting, and laying down and -- I may be biased -- but he did amazing!  He's obviously star puppy material.  Hahahaha.  Other than practicing commands, the only other homework we have this week is to take him to one new place on-leash.  Apparently, dogs on leashes are allowed in Home Depot, Lowe's, Hobby Lobby, and places like Petco and PetSmart (obviously).  It will be an interesting experiment.  Hopefully, Maxwell (and Grace) will be up for the challenge.  ;)

(I saw this shirt at Target today and texted a picture of it to Grace asking if she wanted it for Valentine's Day, but she said NO.  Hahahaha.)

Let the Painting Begin

There's almost nothing I love more than a good before and after.  So you'd think that I would have tackled painting the dining room 6 months ago!  However, I lost steam last summer after painting the library and the shelves in the family room and the leftover 5 gallon bucket of white trim paint has been sealed up and sitting in the garage ever since.

 The Before...

 During...

One coat done.

Over the weekend, I decided enough was enough and it was time to just DO IT.  So after getting everyone off to school this morning, I dug out all the painting gear and got to work on the wainscoting.  A few hours in, I realized WHY I had been procrastinating this project for so long.  Hahaha.  It was such a pain.  And usually I love painting!  Trim is a slightly different story, though, and especially when it's taking up a third of the wall.

Two coats later.

I was hoping 2 coats of paint would do it, but now that it's all dry, I'm thinking it will need at least another coat.  Ugh.  But I'm a woman on a mission, and I will be getting all the trim done in the dining room and piano room before this week is over, so that next week I can get to the fun part -- painting the walls!!  Hahaha.  Seriously, though.  I really do love painting.  I find it oddly therapeutic along with being SUCH a satisfying before and after.  Stay tuned for more of the makeover.  ;)

Side by side comparison -- although the pictures were taken at completely different times of day, so the white balance is off.  But the Before color really was a much more yellowy undertoned off-white.

Benjamin Moore "Simply White" mixed up in Sherwin Williams ProClassic line of paint in semi-gloss.

The wall color will be going "Mindful Gray" by Sherwin Williams (that's the sample on the wall).

Dreaming of a Summer Road Trip

One of my personal favorite parts of Christmas break was planning for this summer's Road Trip out West.  Admittedly, most of the planning had already been done over a year ago, before we knew we'd be moving, but that didn't make the planning any less fun.  Once we realized a relocation would be happening in the summer 2018, we decided that the timing probably wasn't right for an epic road trip out to Utah.  Never fear, though, because I saved all those plans in my handy dandy google doc itinerary, and with a few minor tweaks, we were able to plan out the entire route for this summer.

Several of my 40 Before 40 list will be checked off as we cruise out west for the second time, and I'm super pumped!  See the Grand Canyon?  Boom!  Attend a family reunion?  Double Boom!  Go camping, visit a beach, and build up my bumper sticker collection?  Boom, boom, and boom!  Hahahaha.  Thankfully, the kids are just as excited about our epic adventure.  :)

I had so much fun planning for this summer, that I got a little ahead of myself and started preliminary planning for the next few summers as well.  We've only got three more summers with our little family before kids start leaving the nest, so I want to make sure we cover as much of the country as possible!    We may be trekking out west for THIS summer, but for next summer, I'm thinking we'll hit up the MIDwest.  And THEN, for the summer of 2021 -- after Ethan has graduated high school and before he goes on his mission -- we've planned an epic road trip down the west coast, complete with a visit to the land of his birth.  We've never been back to Oregon since we moved when Ethan was 3 months old, and I thought it would be the PERFECT last road trip with our first born in the wilderness before he leaves home.

But all of that is WAY in the future.  For THIS summer (which Ethan tells me is 17 weeks away -- because yes, he is counting down the days for school to be out), we have the following to look forward to:

• Doing some graffiti at Cadillac Ranch 
• Old Town Albuquerque 
• Petrified Forest
• Grand Canyon
• Hiking at Zion's National Park
• Family reunion with MY siblings
• Bear Lake with Scott's family for his parent's 50th anniversary
• Bonneville Salt Flats {I've been trying to make this happen every time we've been to Utah for the last few years.  Maybe this will be the year it happens.  Hahahaha.}
• And visiting with good friends along our route

To finish the post off, I had to include some pictures of Isaac deep in dream land himself.  Hahaha.  It's always entertaining when I check on the kids at night and see the positions he falls asleep in.  

 {Obviously not Isaac, but Scott and I were laughing the other night at the stretched out "comfy" position Maxwell got himself into while sleeping in his little bed.}

{Clearly not slumbering, but this picture I managed to capture of Isaac this morning while driving Grace to school makes me laugh out loud every time I look at it.  Hahahaha.  Poor little lamb was so dazed and confused after waking up later than usual this morning.}

#GOALS

Perhaps it's quite fitting that as I'm attempting to start a blog post about last year's reviews and this year's goals, I'm being completely sidetracked and distracted by Netlix's newest show -- "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo."  Hahahaha.  Let's just say that getting our house in order is rapidly rising to the top of my list of things I'd like to accomplish this year.  

But this post isn't ALL about me.  This past weekend, we finally got around to filling out our year in review sheets.  The kids consistently love looking through the past year's surveys and filling out the new ones, too.  There were a few common themes running through this year's batch of surveys, but the thing that I always get the biggest kick out of is how very true to themselves they ALL are in recapping their past year and looking ahead to the future.  Without further adieu, here we go!

A LITTLE ABOUT ME 

Name: Ethan

Age: 15

Favorite Color: Orange

Favorite Food: Pizza

Favorite activity: Fortnite

Favorite Book: Harry Potter

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2018

Greatest lesson learned: I don't know

Hardest thing of the year: Moving

Favorite Memory: New phone for Christmas

What I loved most about 2018: Honestly this was a pretty crap year The End

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2019

Want to learn: Time management skills and note taking skills

Want to get better at: Driving

Biggest Goal: Get a 5 on APUSH Exam

 A LITTLE ABOUT ME 

Name: Grace Elizabeth

Age: 14

Favorite Color: Gray, Gold, White, Light Blue/Green

Favorite Food: Mac and cheese/Panera salad/ U.S. Pizza

Favorite activity: Binge watching Netflix; Hanging out with friends

Favorite Book: Hunger Games, Selection, Divergent, etc.

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2018

Greatest lesson learned: _____ is NOT as good as ______  :) *FACT*  {let's just say she still prefers the state we moved from over the state we're currently living in}

Hardest thing of the year: Moving from my favorite place we have ever lived; Social Studies tests that are IRRELEVANT to what we have learned

Favorite Memory: Going to Hannah's house almost every day after school -- my little banana; last day of school; getting a DOG *gotta love Maxwell*; New Year's Eve (bashes)

What I loved most about 2018: Moving houses not places; Katie's graduation with Hannah, Kacey, Kamryn, Morgan, and Sophie; Bashes

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2019

Want to learn: How to drive  *skirt skirt*

Want to get better at: Cooking; saving money (still); writing neat but fast at the same time

Biggest Goal: To get my permit before I turn 15; get A's rest of year

 A LITTLE ABOUT ME 

Name: Sophie

Age: Pretty much 12 (11 and 11 months)

Favorite Color: Yellow and Lilac Purple

Favorite Food: Mashed Potatoes

Favorite activity: Singing

Favorite Book: The Selection series and Wonder

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2018

Greatest lesson learned: ?

Hardest thing of the year: ?

Favorite Memory: New Year's Eve party

What I loved most about 2018: New friends!

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2019

Want to learn: How to cook better

Want to get better at: Singing (Perhaps some singing lessons *hint*hint*cough*cough*) MOM!

Biggest Goal: Get singing lessons (and High Honors, of course!)

* You're welcome for the cringe*

 A LITTLE ABOUT ME 

Name: Jane

Age: 9

Favorite Color: Yellow

Favorite Food: Mac 'n' cheese

Favorite activity: Riding my bike

Favorite Book: A Wrinkle in Time

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2018

Greatest lesson learned: How to ride a bike

Hardest thing of the year: Going to school

Favorite Memory: Christmas and getting my bike

What I loved most about 2018: Riding a bike

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2019

Want to learn: How to ride down hills on a bike

Want to get better at: Riding a bike; not waking up early on Christmas

Biggest Goal: Finish the Book of Mormon and learn French

 A LITTLE ABOUT ME 

Name: Alex

Age: 7

Favorite Color: Red

Favorite Food: Pizza

Favorite activity: Pokemon

Favorite Book: Pokemon

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2018

Greatest lesson learned: Multiplication

Hardest thing of the year: Division

Favorite Memory: Making friends

What I loved most about 2018: Making friends

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2019

Want to learn: Algebra

Want to get better at: Math

Biggest Goal: Get the Pokemon card called {?} Rainbow Rare

 A LITTLE ABOUT ME 

Name: Isaac

Age: 3

Favorite Color: Green

Favorite Food: Pizza

Favorite activity: Toys

Favorite Book: "The Poor Hangry Book" {I honestly couldn't understand what he was saying.}

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2018

Greatest lesson learned: Preschool is fun

Hardest thing of the year: Coloring pages

Favorite Memory: Trampoline park for my birthday

What I loved most about 2018: Christmas

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2019

Want to learn: Potty training

Want to get better at: Sleeping

Biggest Goal: Learn how to do a double back tuck on the trampoline

 First day of Sunbeams!

 That kid!  When I picked him up from preschool yesterday, the above note was waiting for me:

We had a rough day with Isaac.  He was going from friend to friend taking their toys, knocking over their towers, or calling them idiots.  We talked about using kind words with our friends, then at snack he starting pointing at our friends and stating "kill", "kill."  I removed him from the table and we talked about what is appropriate at school or anywhere to say.  When asked why he did this he replied "I just want to."  After our talk I had him sit in the quiet corner away from friends for a few minutes.  This is not normal behavior, he is such a good friend.  Any thoughts?

Well, my first thought is that Alex's current attitude is rubbing off on him, but that doesn't seem fair.  Hahaha.  I'm hoping this deviation from the norm can be chalked up to a terrible night's sleep and being extra cranky.  I guess time will tell?

And now, for the moment you've all be waiting for -- here is my complete list of 40 things I want to do before I turn 40 next year!  {I'll be sure and keep everyone posted on my progress.}

Jessica's 40 Before 40

1. 5K
2. 10K
3. Half Marathon
4. Submit something for publication
5. Illustrate a children's book
6. See the Grand Canyon
7. Visit a beach
8. Attend a family reunion
9. Hike the Y
10. Go camping
11. Do a pull up
12. Read 40 books
13. Visit my 40th state
14. Finish the Old Testament
15. Relearn spanish
16. Develop a new talent/skill
17. Unpack all the moving boxes
18. Finish painting the whole house
19. Work on our landscaping
20. Build up the bumper sticker collection
21. Learn a new classical music piece
22. Nail some yoga poses
23. See Hamilton
24. Complete a new 100 things list
25. Explore our new surroundings
26. Back blog our family record 2002-2005
27. Marie Kondo our house
28. Take an art class
29. Decide if I wan't to get a Master's
30. College roommate reunion
31. Go to the temple 4 times
32. Save up my pennies for a Canon 6D
33. Print out digital pictures
34. Take a professional family photo
35. See the Northern Lights  *probably a long shot, but I like to reach for the stars
36. Write a thank you note each month
37. Watch 10 (new-to-me) classic movies
38. Re-read To Kill a Mockingbird
39. Get a new license plate/driver's license
40. Finish all the kids' baby books

 Unrelated, but here's what happens when you're grounded from screens and you've discovered a new book series.  Hahaha.  Alex made an unauthorized purchase of a Pokemon movie on Amazon the other day, so I told him he can't have screens again until he pays me back.  It still hasn't happened yet, so Diary of a Wimpy Kid for the win!

And finally, a couple of pictures from the Youth Temple Trip on Saturday.  This was an extra special trip because it was Sophie's first time (along with all the other brand-new beehives and deacons).  Scott is in the Young Men's presidency and helped drive one of the vans EARLY on Saturday morning.  {SO early -- we're talking 4 AM.}  He managed to get a great shot of Ethan, Grace, and Sophie and a friend of mine got such a sweet shot of Sophie's beehive class.  They were all so excited to be there!  Not too shabby a way to start of the year -- am I right??  :)

And that's a wrap!  I'm always so excited for a fresh start in a new year.  :)

New Year's With the Cousins

We are back!!  It's been a fabulous and fun week in Indiana with Kristin and her crew, and I actually have some pictures this time around to prove it!  Hahaha.  We're usually so busy chillaxing while with the cousins that I'm too lazy to play photographer when all the fun is going on.

We headed out last Thursday morning (after dropping Maxwell off to board at his doggie day care -- or puppy preschool, as Isaac kept calling it), and made the trek up to Indiana in really good time.  Once we were there, the kids and their cousins were basically inseparable.  Adding to the fun this year was that Sam (their oldest cousin) and his new wife were in town as well.  Maddie was a delight and humored my children with kindness and bemusement and even gave Sophie a haircut after Hannah decided to have Maddie chop her hair off.

As usual, Isaac was a stinker with regards to the whole sleeping situation, which in turn made MY sleep situation less than optimal, but I think we're slowly but surely inching our way towards a stage of life where we no longer have to worry about keeping an eye on a toddler at all times.  ;)  Highlights of our New Year's trip include playing LOTS of card games (mostly Euchre -- Ethan is a bit obsessed) and going all out with party decorations and celebrations for New Year's Eve.  A trip to an indoor playground, some Orange Leaf, and a couple of outings to the movies rounded out our delightfully chill family vacation time.

We left early this morning and made AMAZING time driving back (we shaved almost an hour off our journey thanks to not making any long stops) and now that we're home, it's so nice knowing that we still have a few more days of break before it's back to the grindstone.  :)  We still haven't gotten around to our Year in Review surveys with the kids, but we should have plenty of time to do that tomorrow.  I, for one, am super interested to see what will make it on their highlights for this past year.  As for me, I've got ALL kinds of ideas for New Year's resolutions when it comes time to share that.

 Alex and Scott worked on 4 or 5 different puzzles together this holiday season.

 (Just a little sneak peak of what I have in store for this coming year+)

 "3-2-1 Happy New Year!!!!"

I almost forgot!  One of my favorite moments of the whole week was on the morning of December 31st, when Jane wanted to finish reading the Book of Mormon with me.  She read the very last chapter out loud and when we were done, we had a sweet little discussion about gifts of the spirit.  My precious little moonbeam feels certain that she has been blessed with the gift of tongues, since she's learned so many languages already.  {When I looked at her rather quizzically, she clarified -- "Well, I've been learning French on Duolingo."  Hahahaha.  I just love her.}

Don't let his face fool you -- Isaac was super stoked about going on a walk with me and Scott on New Year's morning.  :)

In the meantime, I'll close with what I'm sure everyone is dying to know -- the puppy may have been potty trained and crate trained while he was at the shelter, but now that he's in our humble abode, it's been a slightly different story.  Womp womp.  Hahaha.  He IS still just a puppy, and it hasn't been terrible, but he certainly needs some more practice under our watch.  I'd say his success rate with making it outside versus letting loose in the house is about 50-50.  Or maybe 60-40.  But I'm feeling confident that everything is going to work out great!  I was surprised at how much I missed him while we were out of town and I've already signed him up for some puppy training classes starting in a couple of weeks.  Here's to a fantastic 2019!

Cute little pup pup.