Life Through Our Eyes

I was in Provo for a doctor's appointment so I also went to the Asian food store too because who knows when I'd be in that neck of the woods again. I needed Chinese 5 spice for what looks to be a delicious pork rib recipe (I haven't made it yet but I'll let you know how it turns out.) I've been to Hispanic food stores before but I was a little in awe that a store can sell so many varieties of vinegar. I also liked the cultural experience of walking down an aisle and not being able to read a single label. Is it soda? It is fish sauce? Am I in Hong Kong? It was hard to tell and that's so exciting! I don't get out much.

I know some parents are super particular about letting their kids use their phones. Well actually I don't know but I imagine those that pay $1000 for their phone may be. I will always let my kids take pictures with my phone because I love seeing the world through their eyes, seeing what they value, and seeing how they can use up 20% of the battery  and all my storage space so darn quickly.

Henry took these of Erica.

James wanted a picture of himself so we all joined in. Erica was in the middle of licking cookie dough off the paddle.

Henry was super proud of this block building. "It's super strong, Mom. I bet it in can survive an earthquake. Can it stay up until we have an earthquake?"

Okay, this one is mine. I was having a weird out of body experience eating a Worther's caramel. I was transported to another time eating another sort of caramel, kind of like a tootsie roll but not. Different flavors, not fruity but vanilla, maple perhaps. What were those??? Several days later I came across these in the bulk candy at Ream's. Yes!!! Brach's royal caramels! That was it!

Siblings, when did we get these? Did Mom buy them? Grandma? Were they for special occasions? I was so excited to see them at Macey's too. I'm sure they've been there all my life I just forgot about them. All that excitement and I didn't buy any though. I'm excited but not that excited.

Erica's selfies devolve into pouts. Every time.

If she doesn't become a doctor I think she'd be a good photographer. She's got family posing down pretty well.

Oh wait, there's more. 16 more to be precise.

This is my Pro Pot. My sister gave this to me as a joke when we were teenagers. It makes it's way out of the storage room every Superbowl Sunday and one time in December to melt chocolate. Everyone assumes it's Justin's but it's mine from before he was even in my life. But I don't like football. I just want to reiterate that and highlight the irony of me owning this appliance.

Speaking of relics from my teen years--this cardigan has been in my closet for awhile. Well it's been in a lot of my closets as it is from 1999. This sweater predates my ability to drive. To vote. To date. I wore it often until maybe 5 years ago then I bought a similar cardigan so it didn't get pulled off my closet shelf so much.

I tried it on today and decided it brought me no joy. I hugged it, thanked it for it's service and for seeing me through a very eventful 20 years but my house is a working house, not a museum.

I *think* it's the last item of clothing I had from the 1900s.

Anyone recognize the tag? It's from a store that's been out of business for 10 years. I miss Mervyn's.

Januariness

While we've managed to stave off any dire sicknesses around here, it seems we are on the booger cycle, nonetheless. One child gets it, passes it around and once it seems to run it's course, another strain is picked up and around we go again. Erica had it pretty bad last week, running a fever for a couple of days. She's a good little patient since it means setting up her bed on the couch and watching dvds on the laptop.

This, my dear readers (hi Mom!) is a favorite place of mine. It's a bed and breakfast in Salt Lake City. Justin and I went a couple of years ago for our anniversary and then went again last week because of a discount and I'm always looking for an excuse to go.

It was formerly an 11,000 square foot residence built in 1906 by some rich doctor or something. Now it's a 12-room B&B.

I took all these pictures because I basically want to build a 3,500 square foot version with brighter lightbulbs (a lot of the rooms were dimly lit for coziness I guess) and a garage.

 Wood wainscoting in the dining room? Yes please.

But maybe not red carpet.

But definitely lion corbels. 

 Fruit and muffins for the taking.

 This is the view from our window.

I like sconces. And the word sconce.

Hey look another fireplace.

 Seriously how much do you think it would cost to trim out everything in gorgeous wood?

 In the billiard room with a lead pipe and Mr. Dye did it! There is also a library, drawing room, dining room, kitchen, carriage house and hall so if anyone wants to play a real live game of Clue....

We totally fit in, right?

 If nothing else, I'm going to build this window seat alcove in my next house and that's where you'll find me reading or binding a quilt.
 We ate at the Copper Onion which was delicious!!! We opted to sit at the chef's bar which means we got dinner and a show.

These guys were fast, precise and full of cool cooking techniques that fascinated us.

 I got the whey braised pork shoulder.

Justin got the lamb shank.

 The fog obscured our view a little but it still looked so pretty at night.

And of course, since this is a bed and breakfast, here's our breakfasts. Justin got the omelet and I got the waffles.

We didn't want to leave. We'll go back soon.

I haven't watched the show or read Marie Kondo's book but I've heard I should be throwing things out that don't bring me joy.

This stuff doesn't bring me joy.

I took a box of stuff to DI today.

But what if I need it but hate it?

These also don't bring me joy but I must hold onto them until I buy replacements. Is that how it works?

What about the squeaky uncomfortable couch in my basement? Can I throw it out and buy a new one because it doesn't bring me joy? Does she answer this in the book??? 

Justin turns 35 and we begin a new year

Justin turned 35 on December 31. I always feel the need to state his age since it means he is now the same as me again. He sure likes to live up being a younger man these past 14 weeks. We started out the morning with a deluxe breakfast that I actually made this year--cheese blintzes. Basically make a crepe, put a delicious ricotta/cream cheese filling inside, roll them up like a chimichanga and fry them in a little butter. Mmm boy.

Then he and his brother and Sarah went shooting for like 5 hours. When we they came home, we took the kids to my parents' house and met Justin's parents at a Korean bbq restaurant in Springville.

We had a seen an episode of Worth It (super fun show, btw) all about Korean bbq and wanted to try it since. I asked my Korean neighbor about it and she suggested E-Ga in Springville. It's all you can eat and includes 11 kinds of meat! Cooking 11 kinds of meat right at your table sounds like the best birthday gift I could give Justin.

Dinner and a show! The cooking kept the men so busy we barely spoke of anything other than what we were doing and eating.

I like this guy. I got tired of using chopsticks. I started stabbing food with them.

After dinner, we picked up the kids and came home for presents and dessert.

Papa and James in their twinner coats.

Justin got a new lighter for the grill (and birthday candles).

Some new wool socks.

And a lap tray because his laptop overheats easily so maybe this will help???

This is where things kind of start to blend with New Year's celebrations.

The girls got party crowns and Henry had a fancy top hat but he wouldn't wear it for a picture.

Justin wanted ice cream for dessert so I made homemade Oreo and peach ice cream (two kinds, not together) in waffle cones.

I think it's the first time I've ever done just ice cream for a birthday. I liked it.
While I put James to be, we let the kids stay up late for one game of Blockus then we put the middles to bed and Sarah got to stay even later for a game of Ticket to Ride.

Here are some cute cards the kids made for Justin.

The word bubbles on this one crack me up.

New Year's day we went to Justin's parents to play games then I spent the afternoon getting the house and my mind ready for back to school and back to normal. That meant lots of laundry, homework finding and an early bedtime for all. It was a great break and I loved having Justin home for all of it.

Tuesday night we had our first FHE of the year, Come Follow Me style. We plan on having our Monday FHE lesson introduce the week's reading with an activity and week's challenge, discuss the challenge each day at dinner then Sunday during James's nap have a primary-style lesson. Family Home Sunday seems to be the title of choice. (Runners-up were Family Church, Home Church, Home Primary, Sunday Home School and Scripture Study) This is when we we are in the scriptures more and they share what they learned about it in primary that day. We'll see how the plan goes.

That Saturday we took the kids to the BYU v. USU hockey game. I taught James to say "Go Aggies!" earlier in the day.

A house divided.

I forgot how much I like watching live hockey. I hadn't been to a game since I was a college student. Only having to drive to Provo and $14 for all 6 of us to go was at the commitment level I was willing to put into a sporting event.

James alternated between "Go Aggies!" and "Go cougars!" depending on who whispered in his ear.

The other 3 kids wore their BYU shirts but Henry wore his USU shirt to school the next day. I think he felt guilty.

Fun fact: Justin can't see the red letters on this scoreboard. Due to his colorblindedness, they don't contrast to the black background.

The kids did pretty well considering we stayed up past their bedtime. Popcorn and having Mason to play with on the railing helped. We left after the 2nd period because USU was up by 2 but we should have stayed because BYU won in overtime. Or maybe it was good we left.

So there you have. Happy New Year from the Dyes. I didn't make any resolutions other than to keep working on my 35 things while I'm 35 and starting the Dessert of the Month Club. I'm the president and I forced Justin to join. It's to help us (me) eat less sugar without being too sad.