2022, January 10-16

We had a little COVID scare, but it all worked out. Landon stayed home from school on Monday as he still felt ill and we weren't sure if it was COVID. We played Mandalorian Monopoly. The way these kids talk smack. . . .  

Wednesday was the last day for make-up work, so Landon kind of had to scramble to get some late work done. Here's a sample of his drawings for his art class this term. He really likes drawing but complains that it takes a long time. 

Eliza went riding three days this week making up for lessons missed over the holidays. She rode Juneau on Tuesday, Jett on Wednesday, and Juneau again on Thursday. 

Hallie and friends from the neighborhood celebrated a birthday at Red 8 Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar in Spanish Fork. 

Here's Eliza back at it again. She's learning to jump while trotting and cantering. 

Mike went up to work early enough on Friday that he caught a beautiful sunrise. One of his doctoral students successfully defended her dissertation. Congratulations!

Although a rapid test Landon took earlier in the week came back negative, the slow COVID test he took Sunday came back positive, so (because they had both felt under the weather this week) Hallie and Eliza jumped in the car and got tested too. Results came back negative. Mike has felt fine all week, and he wears a mask for work. Strange times. 

After work, Mike set to work on installing some overhead storage in the garage so we can get our floorspace back and Hallie can park the van again. He finished installing the second one Saturday morning. They turned out pretty well! 

Hallie had bought Mike a linocut stamp set for Christmas, and he finally got a chance on Sunday to start playin around with it. Challenging and fun! Also, they need to provide a left-handed straight knife. 

2022, January 3-9

 A week of firsts marked the first week of the year. 

"Hello, there," says the kitty.

Landon spent the week preparing for his first meet on Saturday. 

We have yet to take down the tree. Mike put the fancy Disneyland candy can we haven't eaten yet on it. Note the regular canes for scale. 

Eliza loves her boy. If you look close Fergus has his paw on her lip.

Mike caught this beautiful sunset outside Sam's Club while getting groceries. Spectacular! 

Eliza has had to dress more warmly to ride, even with the indoor venue. Eliza rode May on Thursday but part way through another rider and Eliza decided to play switch your horse. So, Eliza also rode Tilly.

Mike taught the first of his two classes of the semester. Things are off to a running start. 

Landon competed in his first gymnastics meet of the season at USA Gymnastics World - Woods Cross. He did pretty well for himself, including scoring first place on rings despite doing it with two left-handed grips! Most of his events he scored quite a bit better than last year at this same meet. Landon is competing Level 9 again due to his injuries last year. 

Yes, it is. 

The kids were very wound up upon arriving home. The parents were not. Landon and Dad played with light sabers (before Dad fell asleep), and Eliza and Mom watched veterinarian videos (before Mom fell asleep). Everyone eventually went to bed too late.

Landon may have overdone things or otherwise fallen ill, because Sunday morning he woke up feeling ill. It got to the point where he was throwing up, and Hallie took him to instant care to get tested for COVID, flu, or whatever else might be floating around. Poor guy.

We received a surprise gift in the mail: A Mandalorian version of Monopoly from Grandpa O.!  It was quite entertaining, and Eliza beat Mike twice, because Eliza is amazing at games like that. 

2021, December 27 - 2022, January 2

We ended 2021 and started 2022 (or is it 2020, too?). It seems like 2020 is the year that never ended, and we hope for better things in the new year. 

Fergus still seems happy that we're back. 

We bought these special candy canes on our last day at Disneyland. Apparently they're kind of a big deal and a "time honored tradition." We still haven't indulged. They're so pretty!

On Monday, Mike put together his old timey truck. 

We also got more of the snow we missed on Christmas Day. 

Landon is amused by his new flashlight. He is a teenage boy. Can you tell?

Hallie got a CPAP machine to help her sleep better. Hopefully it works this time. She can hardly speak when she's using it, and it monitors how long she uses it each night. 

Landon had gymnastics practice in the mornings this week. Hallie also got to visit practice, which she has missed doing with her new job. As an added bonus, she got to see Lily and her new brother! 

This was her view from the hospital where she went for a doctor's visit Thursday. Brrr! Yet beautiful. 

The girls got to see Sarah and her kids again in the afternoon for a movie and shave ice. 

We celebrated Grandpa's birthday with German chocolate cake. 

Snow started again not long after they went home. 

Fergus is not amused. We think he doesn't like the snow. 

Friday morning, Hallie broke out the new waffle iron which we got from her favorite store, ALDI in California (Thanks, Granny O., for getting it and holding on to it for us!). 

It flips over and cooks on both sides. Very efficient, and very tasty!

Several inches of snow fell overnight. Some drivers forgot to clear off their tops.  

We stayed up past midnight celebrating the new year. Some of our neighbors really go all out well past midnight.

We woke to bitter cold and flurries New Year's Day. We had temperatures in the teens and twenties over the weekend. 

All this snow has led to some beautiful sights around the neighborhood. Look at the fluffy ponies and frosted trees!