Working on my family history

Interestingly, there has been a lot of talk in my world lately about family history. Our stake president has really felt like we should focus on family history and searching out and connecting to our ancestors. It has been a powerful experience, especially for Aubrey and Bailey, both who have spent a lot of time reading about ancestors and searching to find those who might have not been identified yet. I've heard some great talks about how engaging in family history strengthens children and families.

But the family history which consumes me is a different sort. I feel a constant pressure to keep a readily accessible history of our immediate family. There is so much involved in documenting a family. Taking the pictures. Uploading, naming, editing and organizing the pictures. And then putting the pictures into some sort of format that we can look at and refer back to. It's a perpetual process and I'm always behind.

Here are some of the facets of our family history and the ways it looks for us/me:

• I am usually the picture taker in the family. Mostly be default, not because of any skill. In fact, Dan is a better photographer than me, but I'm the only who remembers to snap a photo. I love how easy it is to document things on my phone now. I wish that photos and video would have been this easy to take when my kids were young!
• This blog is one way we have documented the happenings of our family since 2009. I believe a few family members (mostly Bailey and sometimes Joseph) are the only faithful readers, and that's just as I like it. I've found the blog works well to organize our events for immediate family and keep family who live far away updated. I've also liked using it to document some of my other thoughts I wanted kept as part of my own history.
• I have in the past downloaded our blog to make a hardbound "blog book." The last blog book I completed was 2010, so obviously I am WAY behind. But lately I have begun anew, and now as I do a blog post I immediately format a page with the same info in my Bookwright program. At the end of 2017 I will upload to Blurb a book which includes all the blog posts from 2016 and 2017. Last week I did a big project in which I printed out a list of all the blog posts since the last blog book, and I plan to chip away at creating pages for each of the posts in order to eventually print out more blog books.
• I keep a few journals, mostly erratically. I journal a bit on the computer because I'm much faster at typing than handwriting. I keep a daily scripture journal with the thoughts and impressions I have while reading scriptures. And I have a few other assorted journals, some which are pure therapy.
• In ancient times (like up until 2005) I scrapbooked, and I found a lot of joy in paper crafting the pages. It fulfilled a crafty side I didn't know I had. Plus, I liked the social aspect, as my sisters often scrapbooked with me. My scrapbooking days are probably over, although sometimes I entertain the thought of catching up some of the more important events in past years, as the kids like to look through the scrapbooks. But, mostly now I do digital books. They aren't nearly as much fun to create, but they have a lot of advantages. But they are definitely time consuming. I've tried it a number of different ways. I do a book for each big vacation, although I'm missed a few here and there. For awhile I did one book for each kid per year, highlighting the events of their year. The idea was that the book would be theirs someday as their own personal history. But, that got too tedious to complete so I stopped. Now I just try really hard to catch up on vacation books and the blog book. I've recently been working on a book of the Europe trip Dan and I took with Mom and Dad in 2013. This has been a very overwhelming project hanging over my head and creating a lot of guilt. But I knew I couldn't tackle the book until I had gone through all the pictures I have from the trip. I spent a few months early this year editing and categorizing the pictures, and now I am able to working a little most days on the Europe book. I have two of the ten days of the trip finally documented. Woo hoo!

Keeping up our family history really does feel like a job to me. One I like, but one which can suck me in and take up all my time if I'm not careful. So moderation in all things. I'll keep working a little bit whenever I can squeeze it in, and try to not feel guilty about that which I can't do now.

Friday thoughts

The sun came out today.  Did you hear me? THE SUN IS OUT TODAY!! It has been a brutal winter. Snowy and icy weather gave way to nonstop rain. We are on tap for the 2nd rainiest year in recorded history. We are something that 15 inches above normal for rainfall. It is feeling oppressive, and I am actually quite acclimated to the weather here. But, when the sun does come out, we are all so incredibly grateful and happy!

The sun was NOT out yesterday for Joseph's first track meet. We all stood in the pouring deluge and got completely soaked. Dan and I didn't even bring umbrellas. Around here, only wimps use umbrellas. But I would have liked to have been a wimp yesterday! A half hour into the 2 1/2 hour track meet my fingers were all white and it took me until this morning to warm up. Joseph, on the other hand, claims that he wasn't really all that cold even though he was just wearing the school-issued shorts and jersey uniform. That has to be male bravado, because it was chilly. Joseph's events were long jump, high jump, and shotput. I taped a lot of his jumps, but missed recording his very best high jump. Believe me when I tell you that his form was spot on and he looked great!

This weekend I get to battle a particularly nasty weed called horsetail, which has taken over my pathetic little garden. And this is the year I had planned to give vegetable gardening in the NW one more try. I probably made the weed issue much worse by all the tilling I did last fall, trying to improve the soil. I have been reading up on this weed, and apparently prevailing wisdom is that it has existed since the days of the dinosaur. It thrives in any condition, including anaerobic and poor soils. And it's almost impossible to kill. I do not think I have the patience to administer roundup via paintbrush to every single pathetic stalk of the weed in my garden, but if I don't then it will likely take over all the available dirt in our yard. 

It's a weekend of meetings. We have stake conference, so in a few hours Dan will get off early and we will attend stake temple day. Tomorrow Dan has a priesthood leadership meeting and we have an adult session in the evening, and Sunday is stake conference. Sunday I also have a scout meeting and an Activity Day Camp meeting. So much for day of rest, right? Aubrey made that comment last week, after she had BYC in the morning (she is Laurel president) followed by church and then a YW song practice she was in charge of. She said that it's hard to have time to do Sunday-ish things like read scriptures when she needed to rush from one things to another. Yep. That's the way it goes! Strangely enough, SLC scheduled a special stake conference for our stake the very next Sunday, with a general authority in attendance. So we will have two stake conferences in a row.  I have had a bit of a respite from big Sunday stake primary duties (namely ward conferences), but those duties pick up again in earnest the end of May.

I'm really looking forward to a trip I'm taking with my two girls in May. We are going back to Boston! This time we are hoping for flowers, blossoming trees, swan boats, and absolutely no snowstorm.

Aubrey decided recently to re-start piano lessons. She took lessons from kindergarten to 8th grade, but then stopped to focus more on theater. This last school year she chose to back off on some things which were consuming her time. Doing this seems to have been a great decisions for her to make. She has re-discovered how much she loves to learn, and seeks out learning opportunities. She is making lists of things she wants to know before going to college in a year. And she has decided she wants to get better at the piano before leaving home for school. She also is going to start art lessons again this summer.

Scholar Aubrey

Aubrey received a special recognition for her excellence in Science from the AAUW - a group which recognizes young women for their studies in STEM-related subjects. We attended an awards presentation in downtown Vancouver. Students from two districts were there, representing their respective schools.

This was fun - these four girls were in the same Challenge elementary school class every year and now they attend three different high schools, but they were all recognized for their excellence in either science or mathematics.

We are so proud of how hard Aubrey works and her enthusiasm for learning!

Easter Peace

Easter was peaceful, happy, and relaxed this year. I have to admit that I really like holidays which not only have profound religious significance but also require minimal work on my part!

We started the day with the 11th annual neighborhood egg hunt. Our kind neighbors across the cul-de-sac always host an egg hunt in the back yard of a few of the houses, along with a potluck breakfast. We love the chance to connect with neighbors.

Joseph wasn't too old to hunt eggs, even though he was embarrassed by his Build-a-Bear Easter basket.

We brought orange rolls this year, which were a hit. This was my first time experimenting with the recipe.

After church we spent some blissful hours listening to Motab, reading scriptures and other books, and preparing for late church. This year our meetings start at 1 p.m. I really thought I would hate that schedule, but I'm okay with it. I find that my Sunday mornings are more centered and focused. The only challenge is pulling off dinner shortly after we return, so this takes some forethought and planning.

All the meetings at church were inspirational and enriching. Afterward we took a few pictures.

Then we pulled together Easter dinner, which was entirely non-traditional but which put something on the table which everyone liked. I call that a win.

It is such a privilege to spend a day with my family remembering the incredible gift of the Savior's atonement. This gift helps me and my family through all the dark places we are called to walk and gives us direction, peace, and hope.

I asked Bailey to send me a picture of her dressed in Easter attire. She and her friends took some pictures after church.

All about Proms

Formal dance asking/answering/attending has been a theme of the last few months.

Spring Formal

First, Aubrey was asked to Spring Formal. I guess I didn't take a picture of it, but the boy brought by flowers and a card, which I accepted because Aubrey was in the shower. Aubrey answered back with the most hilarious legalese document. She worked so hard on this and was so delighted by it. We delivered it to his home late at night, after getting lost in Ridgefield for awhile and dissolving into laughter at the prospect of sneaking into a home which has a gated driveway.

Then, a few days later, I put together some chocolate and flowers and took our "Trek Son" Hunter to ask his date to Spring Formal.

Then, the day of the dance, Aubrey got ready with some other girls in the ward at the McDonnell's home, and her date picked her up there.

I love the back of her dress. So pretty! We actually have had to sew Aubrey into the dress each time she has worn it, because I tacked the cap sleeve shirt she wore under the dress at the shoulders. She ordered the dress online and it arrived in a few weeks from China!

 I took these pictures of Aubrey and her very nice date, Jacob Neal. 
I volunteered to help set up for the Spring Formal, and it was so pretty!

This was Aubrey's spot at her assigned table for dinner.

I also volunteered to help with the dinner that night so I could spy and see how things were going. It was such a treat to see Aubrey having a great time at the dance. She is truly a "dancing queen" and danced her heart out all night. I have some great video to prove it!

LDS Prom

Next up, Aubrey's friend Seth Harrington asked her to LDS Prom. He brought over her favorite Panera macaroni and cheese with a note that said "I hope this isn't cheesy, but will you go to prom with me?"

She answered with a really fun scavenger hunt which sent him to different sites around his house and yard and finished at his favorite teriyaki restaurant, where I had purchased his favorite meal for him to pick up. Attached to the meal was a note that said "Yes, of course I will go to the dance with you."

Last Friday was the Prom, and this time she got ready at our house with her friend Alayna.

She and Alayna doubled with two guy friends to the Prom, which was held at a Hilton near the airport.

Birthday month

Every late February/early March we break out the crepe paper, buy helium balloons, and plan lots of parties and celebratory traditions.

First up, Aubrey had an early birthday party with Emma and Maria. We went to an Escape Room which was Revolutionary War themed. We weren't sure what to expect by the experience, but it was AWESOME. So fun to solve the myriad interlocking puzzles and mysteries in the room in order to beat the clock. Working together as fast as we could, we barely made it out of the room in the hour time limit!

Then we ate a yummy Italian dinner at Pastinis.

Next up, a few days later we celebrated the birthday of our Hunter, our"son" from Pioneer Trek a few years ago. He spends time with our family every week or so. We invited over the Harringtons to add to the festiveness of the party.

And then, Aubrey had another party and invited kids from her seminary class. She wasn't sure if it would be fun, but the kids really had a great time together, and played games and talked until late on the Saturday night! We made some delicious treats, including an amazing coconut cake and her favorite chocolate marshmallow cookies.

 I feel bad that this is the only group picture from the party.  Oops! The kids were having so much fun that I hated to stop them for a picture.

 And, then we celebrated her actual birthday with breakfast in bed (after seminary), and a few presents to open. Her favorite birthday presents were a new iPad, some cute clothes, and Woven Pear socks.

And then I picked her up from school to go to Panera for a birthday lunch.

After school she had several friends (and her YW leader) drop off birthday treats and gifts

 And at night she opened up the rest of her gifts.

 Brotherly/Sisterly love . . . .

And then, it was Joseph's turn!  

As soon as Aubrey's birthday ended we switched out the girly purple decorations throughout the house for more manly colors.

The day after Aubrey's birthday he had a big birthday party with all his friends.

Joseph did a great job planning the games himself

 They ate pizza for dinner

 Opened presents

 And ate white cake with chocolate frosting, Joseph's request. I found a recipe to doctor up a white cake that was delish!  I'm not sure if Joseph is blowing out the candles or preparing to eat them??

 Then, we loaded up to go to Skyzone, a trampoline park, for the Glow in the Dark bouncing from 8 - 11 p.m. Dan and I were very tired waiting in the dark for the kids to finish, but they had a great time.

The next day was Joseph's actual birthday, and it started with his requested menu for breakfast in bed: donuts, strawberries, grape juice and bacon.

 Aubrey's gift to Joseph was this amazing picture she drew.

 Next he opened all his presents, because he didn't want to wait until later.

Joseph's favorite gifts were his headphones, xbox controller, a book he had been waiting for, and a new fitbit. Oh, and some cool Nike clothes. This boy is a walking billboard for Nike!

Later in the afternoon Dan and I took the birthday boy to Portland to exchange his Nike shoes.

Checking out the new shoe options in the Nike store

Now that's happiness for Joseph. Walking with a Nike bag in hand, gazing in at the Apple store.

We got his favorite Mod pizza for lunch. 

 For the evening of his birthday, Joseph invited a friend over to check out his new birthday stuff. 

And thus concludes Birthday Week 2017.  Well, except for the fact that Brandon's birthday was a few weeks later. But he wasn't here for us to party with!