UVU

At the beginning of the week Brandon accidentally left his lunch at home on the counter when he left at 7am. So, we decided to make it a "picnic" at papa's work day. While we were there we also decided to have a personal tour of the new classroom building. Holy moley, this thing is huge. It's 5 floors of office/classroom space. By far it's my favorite building on campus because of the incredible views and the multitude of windows. I told Brandon it makes me want to go back to UVU and start taking classes.

UVU is honestly so good to Brandon. I'm so glad that campus feels just like an extension of our home. We have so many good friends that work there and I especially love his assistant Carole Ann. She picks up his phone when he isn't as his desk and chats with me like my own mother would. It's great. This picture is the board/conference/party room that overhangs the building to the west. I told Brandon it would be a great place to have a wedding reception...too bad it wasn't built 9 years ago :-)

Occasionally it happens

Sundays are difficult for the two boys and I. We struggle to maintain some sort of reverence during the first hour of church every single week. This particular week I had to take the naughty 6 year old out and the even worse 3 year old was left alone. He managed to find my camera, take it out, and snap a few pictures before I came back and snatched it away from him. I found these pictures on the memory card and I think they are hilarious.

Random stickers on the floor with a hymn book in the first, colored bench and air vent in the next, and one shoe on and one shoe off in the last. Makes sacrament meeting seem not so serious. One of these days I'm not going to be so mortified at my horribly behaving children.

Sorrow x Two

Early this week our dear friends and neighbors lost their sweet 5 year old boy Jack to a stroke. Jack was a favorite in our home, and he is already dearly missed. His death was unexpected and his life was taken away all to soon. We frequently had Jack over for play dates and he was such a happy kid - especially when I would feed him. He would always walk in, take off his shoes, and head straight for the fridge. He knew where I kept the chocolate milk, and he always knew there was plenty for him. We will miss his happy attitude and smile around this place. Heaven got lucky when this kiddo passed thru the gates.

Also, on Thursday January 8th my Grandpa passed away. As a little girl I always wondered what it would be like to have a Grandpa. My paternal grandfather passed away when I was 2 and my maternal grandfather was not a part of my life due to a divorcee that happened before I was born. This amazing guy - Buckley Christensen - became my grandfather when I was 16. We quickly became friends since we both love gardens and anything to do with them. He also dearly loved my Grandma and made her so happy. Instead of sadness, I feel peace because I know he desperately wanted to be done with this earth life. He almost made it to his 92nd birthday. Just a few weeks ago he wrote this cute little note to all the extended family:


I’ve been trying to think of a way to thank you for your love and concern for me and my family.  I know I will never be able to thank you each personally because I have lost my power to think, reason, write, and speak. 

I feel as though I’m on a slippery slope, headin’ down straddled on a pole fence—nobody falls up!  I’m hoping for the best. 


Please know that I love and appreciate each one of you and recognize your concern and love.

What a great Grandpa. I hope he is having a great time up there with Grandma and Alex. He will always be in my thoughts and I'm so thankful he took the time to develop a personal relationship with me, his step-granddaughter.

Peter's 1st piano recital

Peter started taking piano lessons from Brandon in September. He has enjoyed it and made consistent progress. This was his first recital in front of "people". I am so thrilled with his calm composure. I hope he continues to enjoy piano as much as he does now.

Dancing around the tree

This is just one of the fun and different traditions we do on the Davis side. We started this tradition only a few years ago....but it's quickly become a favorite. It was fun to see the happiness and mischief gleaming in the eyes of Peter and Luke as they danced. I hope they will always be able to maintain a little pure Christmas delight as they grow to manhood.

Our Wisemen are so funny

Where did the last half of December go? I wanted to get so many more posts on here, but it just didn't happen. Alas, but here was something fun that we did for the first time this year. We had a special time with the wisemen from our nativity set. They decided to surprise us with a silly things every morning. It was similar to Elf on the Shelf, but we didn't have to ask Santa for an elf. The boys really got excited by the silly things they would do. One morning they were sliding down the stairs on toilet paper. Another morning they were eating cold cereal together, and yet another morning they were doing homeschool. We really loved this new tradition and we plan on having them back again next year.

Dealing with the sickies

The past week has been difficult for me and the boys. It started out with coughs, fevers, and runny noses and it got worse from there. We ended up in the Dr. office with an ear infection diagnosis. Poor Luke. The last time he got an ear infection was 2 years ago so I knew what was coming. The poor kid was miserable for a good 5 days. Thankfully, modern medicine is now kicking in and helping him to feel much better.

Letting Go

Last year Peter and Brandon brought home this Christmas ornament from Disneyland. Although it's just a simple ornament, it represents something so much larger to me. When Peter was born Brandon told me that he would be taking Peter to Disneyland when he was 5 years old - just the two of them. I thought he was crazy. Mostly because I am a penny pinching scrooge and I didn't want him using his hard earned money on such a frivioulous trip.

But, here's the thing, I was wrong; so wrong. As Peter's 5th birthday approached, Brandon started making plans and booking hotels/flights. Peter was thrilled and so excited to go. I watched him eagerly countdown the days for their departure. The day Luke and I dropped them off at the airport is a day forever frozen in time for me. Watching Peter hold Brandon's hand as they walked to the boarding area is a frozen picture in my mind that time can never erase. 

Within just a few hours of their departure I realized how important this trip was for the two of them to do together. It provided them extended bonding time with each other and shared experiences they can treasure together without mommy tainting their memories (not in a bad way).  I'm glad Peter had a chance to be alone with Brandon. I'm also glad that Brandon had a chance to be alone with Peter. I'm especially thankful that Brandon was able to see Peter in his most vulnerable moments up to this point in his life.  Needless to say, Luke and I are both starting the countdown for his trip to Disneyland with Papa (13 months and counting).

Yoga, I Love Thee.

Our local library started hosting free yoga classes in February. At the time I was desperate for something to help me improve my health. I immediately started attending and I've only missed 3 or 4 times since. I used to think that yoga was one of those "weird" things that the naturalists do in the middle of a forest without many clothes on. Since then, I've learned that yoga isn't that at all.

To me, yoga is an intense workout that requires slow movements, deep stretching, and intense concentration. Oddly enough, it has become my own personal way to relax and unwind from the stresses of being a wife and a mother. Each week I feel my body become stronger and able to do things I never thought I would be able to do.

This year my goal was to master an arm headstand. I am so close to getting it down without support. This goal has been a work in progress for 6 months. It has taught me that even baby steps are progress. I've also learned not to be intimidated with what other people are doing.

This means my yoga practice is for me, and only me. If I am not able to do a specific pose the teaching is calling out, then I modify it to the needs of my body. On the other hand, if I am able to do a more difficult pose then the teacher is doing I will also modify.

One of the surprises I've discovered is that I am more flexible then I ever imagined I could be. Here are just a few of my favorite poses.

Bound Extended Side Angle Pose

Mermaid (or King Pigeon) Pose

Wheel Pose

Triangle Pose

Sadly, we aren't able to do all my favorites every week, so I just go to class and hope that the teacher will throw in a few that I really like. In addition to the weekday class at the library I have also been taking a class on Saturday mornings. It's made a huge difference in my flexibility to practice yoga twice a week. In my ideal reality, I would be able to attend a class three times a week. But, I'm too cheap to drive further away then a few blocks to attend a class.

I've already decided my goal for next year is to be able to do this by December 2015. Wish me luck anytime you see me and ask me how it's going 'cause it will probably take that long to master this difficult pose.

My own little painting project

This is my own little painting project that I did all by myself when I was a little girl. I remember going over to my Aunt Heidi's apartment and painting this little fellow with my Mom and sisters. This little guy represents all that was happy in childhood. All it took was a patient Mom, giving Aunt, a couple of bottle of craft paint, and a night to remember. I hope my boys will have many similar memories of childhood.