January- Let it Snow

 This season has gotten us a bit stir-crazy as the snow just keeps right on coming. Matt is growing out his beard for warmth, much to my great objection. My brother-in-law, Coltan and my father-in-law keep expressing their encouragement, so the beard is here to stay for a while. We went out for breakfast to Black Bear Diner with Megan and Coltan before the new school semester starts and we won't see Megan until she graduates in May (not literally, but she will be busy).

 We have managed to make the most of our time shut in the house while the storms rage and the snow drifts pile up. I call it a good work-out if I can get out and shovel the driveway. I continue to teach art lessons in Brigham City every Thursday. When do you suppose every storm has hit the worst? That's right. THURSDAYS! I usually pack an overnight bag for me and Otto in case we have to camp out at my parent's house for the night and wait for the snow plows to clear the roads.

 We have also made special trips to the local aquarium where we have a pass. On the week before our good friend and cousin, Evelyn had to move away to Alabama (major sad face), we brought her along. It just so happened our cousin Ryan Poland and his little boy were there on that day too! We had a cousin party!

 Matt has been unbelievably busy at work this past month. We had to make concessions for a later bedtime just so Matt and Otto could play a game or two and spend some time together in the evening. It has tested Matt's stress levels as tow-in after tow-in of cars that met their fate from the weather. He is exhausted every evening and often works a few hours on weekends to catch up.j
So, we try to relax and be silly at home whenever possible.
While I am so grateful for his hard work and dedication at work, it makes for hard times for the whole family when he is working so much. I have pushed myself to get involved more in local groups, social media, community, and neighborhood activities to socialize and gather support. It can be a lonely life to be a stay-at-home mom, new to the area, and kept inside out of the weather.

 We took some family-time-out to go to the aquarium together with daddy. Otto is over-the-moon happy whenever daddy gets to spend a few hours at home with us. Since we go during the weekdays at least one day a week, Otto got to show Matt all of his favorite spots.
















While we were visiting Brigham City on one of our over-night Thursdays, we had the privilege of watching Papa in rehearsal for Peter and the Starcatcher. The scene they were practicing was the pirates shouting and abandoning ship so Otto had fun shouting at the stage with them. Matt and I saw my dad in his role after the show opened. It was a riot!

 I have been participating in a New Year's fitness challenge group on Facebook for 12 weeks. I joined to motivate myself to complete the Candida/Liver cleanse diet for 12 weeks again as it has been much needed. I have had digestive issues and sugar addiction for many years and it greatly effects my hormone, health, weight, skin, and overall happiness. The challenge group goal is to lose 8% of your starting weight. I was sure that if I did the cleanse, I would lose the weight as a byproduct. It has proven to be more challenging than that. The group has been a wonderful support with weekly challenges and has put me on a regular exercise regime, increased water intake, shared healthy recipes. We have all eaten better, and felt better.
I wasn't thrilled to miss out on birthday cake for Papa's birthday, but Otto loved helping out in the kitchen. Sugar is more addictive than heroine and I believe it every day at 3 o'clock when I crave it!

 Adoption Story Update: We are still working on background checks, paperwork, and Home Study renewal. Switching states has been the equivalent of starting over. However, we expect to get our certification soon and it will be a matter of networking to help find the right fit for our growing family. We encourage all of our family and friends to keep an ear out for any potential birth-moms looking to place their baby for adoption. They can be directed right to this page to get to know us better.

Potty Training Update:
None. Zip. Not going to happen.



We had our first, semi-successful, Story Time this month!
Two couples (mothers and sons) made it to our January Story Time event reading the Puppy story "Lucy Goes Walking". Otto and I dressed up like puppies. Otto slept through the entire event and had to catch up after everyone else went home.
Oh well. We hope to see an even bigger turn-out for February since Elsa is coming to read.






It is no secret that we have not been happy with the current political climate. I have resolved to do everything in my power to stand up for what I believe is right. Therefore, we committed to attending the Women's March at the Salt Lake City capital building on the first day of legislation.  I was proud to make a sign that represented my beliefs on feminism and education. I want to do everything possible to close the wage gap for women and minorities, and push for improvement of our education system by supporting teachers. I believe teachers are the first line of defense against generational poverty, drugs, racism, and our society and economic system does not support their hard work enough.






If I want a better world for my son, I am proud to be the kind of mother he will see fighting for what is right. Art, beauty, love, kindness, are the fundamentals I plan to teach my children.

 The memory of attending the women's march with thousands of other men, women, children, and my own mom will stay with me my whole life. I will get to tell my grandchildren that I was a part of such an important event. The work is not nearly done, but I will continue to make signs, phone calls, emails, and do whatever it takes so that our voices are not ignored.