New Favorite Show, Light at the End of the Tunnel

I've had several recommendations in the past to watch The Great British Baking Show (or Bake-Off, in the U.K.), but I never tried it until Monday. I usually can't stand reality TV, but this show is different. One huge difference is that the people are actually NICE to each other and not tearing each other down as they scramble for a giant cash prize. I always feel bad when they send people home. Obviously, I love baking, so that's the main reason I got sucked in. They make a lot of things I've never heard of.

For the first time since March last year, I actually feel like making an effort to eat healthier foods. James also got us a new alarm clock that works with gradual light to mimic sunrise. Maybe I've turned the corner on feeling gloomy. I suspect that the Covid numbers going down has a lot to do with it.

We're taking a short trip this weekend to Salt Lake. I've been a bit anxious about it since we haven't traveled since July. That wasn't the best trip, either, since I'd just had surgery and didn't feel great. I have a good feeling about it, though. We have an Air BnB and tickets to the zoo. It makes all the difference now that Samantha will wear a mask. I think it will be stressful, but a good escape.

Anna's Visit, Frosting

James got his first Covid shot last Friday. I'm really happy, but I'm also jealous. I know that I can wait a few months, though. I wish things were more consistent among states so I'd know when I'd be getting mine.

Anna came last Friday around noon, and we had a wonderful time. She and James went fossil hunting a few times near our house and found some pretty cool stuff. We played many games together. Anna won her first game of Starfarers, so James made sure we had a rematch. We set up the cabin for her to stay in, and it worked out great. We were really sad to see her leave on Monday to get back to student teaching in Ogden.

I made baklava for the first time ever when she was here. It was delicious and eaten up within 2 days. I made a blueberry cake with a kind of frosting one of my FB friends recommended: a Swiss meringue buttercream. It was so delicious that I decided to explore more kinds of frosting. I have a list of 4 more types to try, and I look forward to it. I need to come up with more cakes to go with them.

Other than that, not too much is going on here. The snow is melting pretty quickly, but winter is barely halfway over. I really hope we get some more so the kids can go sledding.

James's Birthday, Projects

I really don't know what to think of 2021 so far. I wasn't optimistic enough to think that it would magically be better than 2020, and it definitely hasn't been. I wish I could just quit social media, but I can't look away.

We celebrated James for a couple of days. On Saturday, he brought home Burger King for dinner since he loves it. It's growing on me, I suppose. Sunday, we ate ice cream roll cake with fudge sauce and James opened his presents. Since I already gave him Starfarers, he opened just the smaller presents. One of them was a collage I made for him of pictures he's taken of nature in Vernal. It's now hanging in our living room, and I hope to add many to it in the years to come. On Monday, a former student (who happens to be in our ward) brought him a Mjolnir he'd welded. It looks awesome and is really heavy! On his actual birthday, James had Mutual, so we didn't really do anything.

I didn't find tons of projects after konmari-ing our house again. For now, I've finished all the sewing projects I can think of: a few masks, a rice bag, and some drawstring gift bags from this amazing metallic fabric I found at D.I. The drawing class is going all right but isn't always "fun", at least not yet.

I wish Lewis still napped because I don't really know what to do with him while Samantha is asleep.

James should be getting his first vaccine soon. It's stressful to think about how long it'll be before I get mine. It makes me feel like I'm not important, but really I'm just not "at risk" like someone who actually leaves the house and interacts with over 100 students every day. Many of them aren't old enough to get a vaccine at all. I am not angry at James, just frustrated at the long wait and inconsistency in everything. I wish there could be enough vaccines NOW for everyone who wants one.

I really miss my yoga class. My teacher opened her new studio and it seems like it's really fun. I also really miss eating in restaurants. By the time this crap is over, James and I will have a child old enough to babysit, so that's something. I know everyone else is pretty much feeling the same. I'm just tired of it all.

Christmas Break Pt. 2, Back to School, New Year

Well, I completely spaced last week. It's probably because it was New Year's and I wasn't paying a lot of attention to the days. That week between Christmas and when school starts is always a little weird.

On Christmas Eve, we did a Zoom call with James's parents, siblings, and grandparents. It was a little hectic, but we managed to act out the Nativity story without too many technological problems. It was also really nice to see everyone.

We had a wonderful Christmas morning. I love seeing my kids get excited about new things. The most popular was Samantha's shopping cart and kitty cat backpack. She plays with both constantly and didn't take the backpack off at all for the first few days. So cute. The boys have been really excited about their Minecraft books as well. James's theme for my presents was relaxation, so he gave me a weighted blanket, a book, and lots of chocolate. I'm still working on it right now. I've been reading The Far Side since I gave him the complete works (3 giant volumes that came in a box). I'm on the 3rd one now.

I gave James his main birthday present early (Catan: Starfarers) so we could play it over the break. He was so excited, and it's a really fun game. Each day of the break, we played games, watched movies, and enjoyed yummy snacks. It was mostly relaxing. I did retreat to my room some to hide under my new blanket and read. It REALLY helps.

We enjoyed New Year's Eve just relaxing, reading, and/or playing games. I kept my family's tradition of eating sub sandwiches. We also did eggnog shakes (not my fave, but everyone else loves them) and Chex mix. I was kid of "treated out" by the end of the break and just haven't been that hungry since school started back.

The first day back was hard, but we've settled into a good routine. I've started to "konmari" my house again. I just can't help it. It gives me something to do and helps me find projects to do, which is a good thing. I have a drawer full of fabric that I've started working on. So far, I've made two pairs of pajamas for Lewis and 7 cute masks. I don't even have plans for all of it yet, and that was stressing me out. As I thought about it, I realized that I don't need to rush through anything. I have a bad habit with hobbies where I go all out and get overwhelmed over something that's supposed to be fun. I have a list of blog posts to do and recipes to try, but I don't need to rush into those either.

As for New Year's resolutions, I only have 2 so far. One is to learn to truly accept change, starting with myself. I need to quit putting myself down, even if I'm not saying those thoughts out loud. My other goal is to work on learning to draw. I'm doing a class through Great Courses and will probably take a long time to finish. I loved art when I was in elementary school but didn't like it as much in high school and never did anything with it after that point. I think it would be fun to draw comics and collaborate with James. Humor is one of the most important things for coping with unpleasant things. 2021 is already somewhat unpleasant, unfortunately. (Attempted coup on the Capitol, anyone?)

I want normal life back.

I'll finish this monstrous post with a tender mercy. I've been studying a little about winter weather phenomena and decided to try to get pictures of certain things that don't happen too often. January 2nd and 3rd, one of those events happened: the most beautiful rime ice appeared on our trees, fence, and many other objects outside. I took some awesome pictures that can barely capture the beauty. Taking pictures has helped me appreciate this place a lot more because I have to pay attention.