Owen and I spent last Saturday (the 9th) up at bogus for his last race. There had been over 70 inches of new snow this month at that point. So if you like powder...the skiing was great! Unfortunately Owen and I prefer nice groomed runs. We must both be lazy skiers! But he got in his last race before the finals on the 22nd so he’s good to go. We had caravanned up with the Demars…but they are much tougher than we are. So that afternoon around 3:30 Owen and I decided we were beat and ready to head home before our friends. Sadly there was an accident on the road at about that exact moment. So we spent over an hour stopped on Bogus Basin road. We should have relaxed in the lodge and maybe gotten in another run that evening. Oh well.
Owen is officially entering his teenage years. I can tell this not only by the slight change and crack in his voice, but by his pleasant attitude as well. He’s become very knowledgeable and likes to share his opinions on everything that he is right about and that we know nothing about. It’s wonderful! He’s losing some of his childhood spunk and more and more things are becoming lame. He used to be able to ski all day (happily) regardless of the conditions. Now he can’t seem to make it through an hour with out complaining if conditions aren’t to his liking. Have I mentioned how much I love teenagers?! They’re so fun!
The remainder of our last week can be summed up with one word….sick. John’s sickness still hasn’t left completely. I missed 2 days of work last week and felt sick and tired for the remaining three. Ainsley has had a cough and been congested. And on Friday I picked up a sick Owen from school. I even went to the doctor on Friday because I was so miserable. It was completely embarrassing because I had been taking antibiotics from Mexico. The nurse laughed at me. The doctor was clearly irritated. They tested me for mono and when that came back negative just gave me a stronger antibiotic to try for 10 days. I’m actually feeling better…just super congested.
All of the sickness put a little damper on Valentine’s Day this year. Luckily I was on the ball and we had made Emmie’s valentine box and valentine’s to pass out to her class weeks ago. It’s amazing how much more money I’m willing to spend on Emmie than I was for Owen and Ainsley. I’m sure this is partly due to the fact that I’m only having to buy valentine’s for one child, partly because money isn’t quite as tight as it was several years ago, and mostly because I’m lazy and ordering toys and goodies online and buying partially made boxes at hobby lobby is easier than starting from scratch. Sadly, on the day of the big event I was sick. So instead of going to Emmie’s class party this year I came home from work and slept. Then I attempted to make dinner, and the kids attempted to help me, but I ended up just being annoyed. I feel bad that I was crabby with them when they were trying to help. But I felt horrible and kids “helping” in the kitchen was just making more work for me. And I snapped. So we had an awkward and quiet dinner of Thai peanut noodles and potstickers. And mini cupcakes for dessert from “nothing bundt cakes”. And then I went back to bed. Maybe next years Valentine’s Day will be better?
I mentioned that Owen was sick this weekend, and I even complained about him becoming a cranky teen, but that kid is a trooper! On Saturday the stake held a kick-off trek activity where there was a devotional and then a simulated Sweet water River crossing in the Boise river. Owen took some DayQuil and braved the cold waters to be a part of it. I’m glad he did. I think he and Ainsley enjoyed the activity and I hope it gets them thinking a little more about church history as they prepare for trek this summer.
Owen rested the rest of Saturday and Sunday and then we made him get up and go skiing with us on Monday since it was Presidents’ Day and the kids had a day off of school. We spent a bit of time skiing with our friend the Ball’s. Owen finally had crazy and daring boys to ski with! Unfortunately by lunch time he was too tired to keep up with them. He rested for a bit and then came and skied with us a bit more in the afternoon. It was the best ski day I’ve seen in a while! The sun was out, the snow was incredible, and it wasn’t insanely busy. Emmie and I even conquered our first black diamond! Without falling! I was so proud of us! I’m glad Owen toughed it out for a day, and he says he was too, Because it was totally worth it! Now we just need to get everyone rested for the upcoming week!
And finally on a bit of a sadder note…Right before Thanksgiving my good friend Heather told me that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. I was heart broken for her. She is legitimately the most positive person I know and has taken all of this bad news in stride and with an incredible attitude. She will be traveling to Salt Lake for a mastectomy on Tuesday. So in celebration of her we had a girls day with a few close friends on Friday. We went to lunch and then got pedicures and gave her a basket of comfy clothes, treats, and magazines to keep pass her recovery time. On Sunday John smoked her family some meat and we took over dinner and visited with her family for a few hours. The Demars have become family over the years and it’s hard to watch this and feel like there’s nothing we can do to help. But hopefully they know we love them and would do anything for their family. I’ll be driving her back to Salt Lake on the 25th for her follow-up appointment where she will find out if chemo is part of her future treatment. We’re praying surgery goes well and that it is not.
We were too lazy to take our shoes off to show our pretty toes...so dirty shoes it is!
