Sweeeet! Sixteeen! March 2023

Still hitting it hard with the snow. Mal texted me a photo she had seen online of her XC coach (in Heber) with snowbanks above her head. Mal asked, "Is this for real?" I went outside and took a video of the snow in our front yard to prove that it was indeed real. Snow by the yard!

I admired the way that the arborvitae clung to the ice sickle as it dislodged, "Just where do you think you are going? We aren't done with winter just yet."

The poor privets bend under the constant barrage of heavy snow. At one point, the branches were so laden with frozen chunks that their bend looked permanent. I kept the shades half drawn so I wouldn't see it till I got the gumption to go outside and hack the iceberg away with a shovel. 

March 2, 2023—Graham is SIXTEEN!

I was torn when Graham said he wanted to go to Top Golf for his birthday because it was during the day on a Thursday when I serve in the Provo Temple. Matt said they would have a guy's day. But then Callie wanted in and I had FOMO. I got a sub and we all spent the day together. 

Another reason I wanted to be there is because Graham made an apt. to get his driver's license AND drone license that day. He had made his appointment for the Salt Lake City Driver's Dept, which none of us had been to before. We arrived at the State Fair Grounds, "This can't be right." Matt circled the block but it was right. So, for whoever needs to know, the SLC DMV is at the Fair Grounds. Got all that?

I also realized that no matter which county you go to (I've been to three) all DMV employees are a little grouchy:/ We had better luck at the airport offices where he took his drone test. 

PASSED!

I wanted to get some baking supplies at Orson Gygi and The Food Nanny stores. We also went into Sam's Club for Graham's favorite treat, brownie bites!

It caught us off-guard to see the Taylorsville Temple (under construction) right off the freeway. We loved it! I'll include the pic because Graham's middle name is Taylor.

Mainly, we were him-hawing around SLC till Ava's flight came in. We picked her up at the airport and headed to UT County to borrow Grandma's truck for Ava to take to a wedding in Logan. But first, we stopped at a reception in Highland (Graham was a good sport.) Ava was reunited with her besties for the first time since their missions!

It put us late getting home for gifts.

 

What do you get a boy who orders all his wants and wishes right to the front porch? Candy and personal hygiene items.

Check out the new airsoft gun HE ordered.

Happy Birthday, buddy! We love our Graham so much. We marvel at how driven and focused he is on his goals. He is constantly learning and sharing interesting things with us. He listens to talk radio and Hans Zimmer soundtracks (and Olivia Rodrigo!). He ends phone calls with, "I love you" even if he is calling from school. 

He left for St. George the next day to compete with JROTC for State. They placed 2nd!

And he's never too cool for momma's rainbow Jell-O on St. Patty's.

(In case you are thinking that I have too much time on my hands, I made the rainbow Jell-O to keep myself busy while I listened to my three-hour Abnormal Psychology textbook; It's been a decade since I've made it. Might be another decade before I make it again.)

Graham was able to take Callie to school in the truck while we had it. I have watched Kat and Mal drive off to the high school, then A and Gray, but the babies???? Just wow.

I asked Graham how he liked driving the truck. Other than the obnoxious beeping when he backed up, it was fine;) He went from the frying pan to the fire the following Sunday. Because of a snowstorm after the wedding, Ava had to leave the truck in Logan and get a ride with the Bride and Groom! Matt and Graham went to Logan on Sunday to retrieve the truck. I was not up for a three-hour drive, so I was thankful to have a brand-new driver in the house. Even though he had only had his license for three days, he said that he loved the drive.

Traveling Gal

We enjoyed Ava's short visit (she never even spent a night here). Callie helped do her nails for her stint as a bridesmaid. 

At the end of the month, Ava flew to Arlington, TX where she and Katrina went to Taylor Swift's Eras Tour!!!!!! Oh man, so amazing. Look at these cuties. 

Ava and Katrina dressed as the mirror ball and Reputation respectively. We got a chuckle at all the people living their best Eras' lives.

We cried right along with their video at the beginning of the concert. 

March Miscellaneous and All That Jazz

Those are the highlights amidst the regular, such as,

"What in the world?"

I'm still working away on my Bachelor's. This semester, for my Business Law class, I have to record a Zoom session where I teach that week's principle to someone else. I rotated between Graham, Callie, and Matt. One evening, when it was Matt's turn, he was randomly watching The Bachelor. I hollered, "Turn off the Bach and come help me with my Bach!" I do make time for fun as well. Matt had Jazz tickets through work. We sat in one of the new suits, where dinner is provided!

And these rascals celebrated one year!

(3.15.23)

He's My Bruthuh

Callie asked Matt if she could make the programs for Sacrament meeting. She was called and sustained soon after. She did a good job designing them each week on her iPad, then taking the church key, making copies, and then folding them before placing them in the chapel. Sometimes she would have a fellow young woman illustrate the cover. She put in the missionaries' addresses with BROTHER Bocanegra for Grayson. I had to laugh because, hey, he is her brother. It reminded me of when we used to always feed the sister missionaries and Grayson asked, "Are we ever going to feed the Brothers?" BTW Brother Bocanegra is doing just fine in Chicago.

Good Knight.

I Sea You! February 2023

I don't need no groundhog to tell me there are six more weeks of winter. 

Life-long Learning

I was listening to a podcast where the question was posed, "What kind of family are you?" Answers included "an outdoor family, a bookworm family, a movie family." As I thought about my own family, I hoped that we would all acknowledge a life focused on the Savior's atonement and gratitude. Right now, in addition, I would say, "We are a family focused on education." I am engulfed as a full-time student, Katrina is teaching, Mal graduated in education, and Binnie is a full-time student. Callie is rocking Middle School, Grayson is a steward of the Lord, and Graham is studying to pass the exam to get a drone license. 

As I took him to school one morning, I had him take a picture of yet another gorgeous sunrise. I asked if the cold weather was what was making the jet stream last so long. He proceeded to tell me how a jet engine is 2,000°and other facts. As I drove away, I mumbled, "The equilateral biplane intercepts at approximately the third equinox...."

Super Bowl

We went to Shafer and Lindsey's for a Super Bowl party, which they are Super great to host! I got to meet baby Blair for the first time (Raegan and Tyrell's sweet bebe girl). Shafer had been experimenting with making bread (with gluten;). I told him how I do it in 45 min from start to finish. He was intrigued. I sent some pictures the next week of the process.

 

Nothing quite like slicing into hot homemade bread!

Add some homemade chicken noodle soup and now we're cookin'.

He sent back his results. Lookin' good Shae!

Flying Colors

Callie joined me to watch Graham present the colors before a WHS basketball game. Graham executed with precision and I was impressed with the flag!

Graham also passed his driving test with flying colors.

Nestled

Putting holiday decor away always leads to a spruce up of the house, which is really just rearranging my same old stuff, such as putting former pillow covers back on the couch cushions. I did add a funky rug to the living room and a green lamp to the dining room that I thrifted. Yes, I am going for a busy pattern, fussed-up, overdone, almost cluttered vibe.

Such a different feel from night to day.

I also found a blouse that still had the tag on it. I learned why. It is missing a buttonhole at the neck. When people sit behind me they try and button it for me to no avail. Hi, Gray Gray.

Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark

Callie's concert. Sometimes they play with other schools. I love hearing Callie's group play. During the other schools I will admit that in the shadows, I had my earbuds in listening to a podcast:/

 

Not long after I was back to hear Graham in the band. There is something full-circle about hearing him play a childhood favorite theme song that gets me choked up. Here is Jurassic Park.

St. Valentine's Day 2023

Both Graham and Callie worked on V-Day, so Matt and I had dinner and a Mexican place we hadn't tried before and enjoyed the hot tub and a movie at home. 

Days like this make me feel we will be just fine as empty nesters eventually. You will notice the next-to-nothing effort of my table—my energy is with school right now. But I did write a Valentine to all my Bocies. Some arrived by post.

That weekend Matt and I did steal away to the All-Stars Game at the U. Man, it was a mile walk just to get to the Huntsman Center, but once inside, we saw the likes of Shaq!

Another Missionary!

The day after Valentine's, we drove to Provo to watch Adren open his mission call. He was calm and collected, at least on the outside. We held our breath till he announced, "Syracuse, NY!" 

I shared the photos I took with Lins; she has them on her blog. All the feels for here on this day. All the feels. Elder Geertsen reports in May!

More Church Lady

Temple trip to Provo City Center with G&C. February 18, 2023. Graham's first time being a baptizer. I loved seeing him document the occasion.

The YW stopped by while on a scavenger hunt. They were looking for pictures of Jesus. I found enough for each to take one home. 

GALentines 

Callie proved to have a lot of me in her. She set the party up and made the food all by herself. She said that she re-did the table a few times till she was happy with the result. A mini-me. The two of us were surprised that neither Matt nor Graham had ever heard the term GALentines. I guess when you think about it, why would they have?

Her party was on the Thursday following Valentine's, which is my long day; I am gone for most Thursdays. That particular day, I had my early morning swim, my temple shift, my plasma donation, and then a Costco run. As I headed up University, I realized, "I'm so sleeeeepy. I'll never make it." I pulled over across from the Riverwoods into a floral shop parking lot and reclined my seat. I ZONKED. When I awoke, the sun was nearly set. I hustled home to add my fruit platter to the table. The friends were enjoying her homemade Fired-up Mac n' Cheese and baguettes.

Ava was in Kauai spending time with Mal. Loved seeing both their shining faces as we Face-timed the following Sundee.

Love from sea to shining sea.