Nothing like a new year to inspire you to do the things you've wanted to or meant to be doing all along! Hence this blog post.
We had the most beautiful wrapping up of 2022 with a visit to Jenn and Scott down at mom and dad's house. Joe joined us with most of the kids but Lori and Hope stayed home due to a nasty cough. It was a delightful visit, full of playing games, laughing at the Manning's yearbook, super yummy food, and lots of chatting. Joe followed us home and the kids had a blast playing games, working on the snow fort, eating snow cones, playing at the church, and sleeping under the galaxy projector. Dad came up to play as well and watch a World War 2 movie with the brave souls. The rest of us stayed in the basement and watched Flora and Ulysses. It was the very best of times.
We started 2023 off with a bang when Alex injured himself playing at the gym early in the morning with some buddies (a resolution of his). He has been to the chiropractor every day this week in search of relief. We are all relieved to report that he is feeling better and even managed to gets some hits in at a Spikeball practice yesterday. We are not used to seeing him down and out for an extended amount of time so it was a week of confusion and sadness for the rest of us.
Or it would have been if there wasn't so much other stuff going on! We got to hang out with the Nilsson kids a couple of times, sans Ruth and Dane, sadly, who are still trying to kick a terrible cold that has swept through the whole family but decided to linger with Ruth and Garrett. It's nice that Addy can drive them over all by herself!
The boys are back at soccer practice (Jack), rehearsal (Ian), and parkour (Peter). It makes for busy evenings. We are also slowly moving back into our study time in the mornings. It is the mom's very favorite time of day. So many neat things to learn and great books to read!
There have been lots of football and basketball games to watch and that has helped Alex pass the time while he is lying on his back. His brother comes over to keep him company and watch the games and that give the boys some fun cousin time.
I don't know about where everyone else lives, but here, in Idaho Falls, winter signifies the spawn of bottomless potholes everywhere. If you're lucky you can dodge them in the daylight but at night it becomes quite a bit trickier. On his way home the other night, Ian hit one that was deep enough that he basically disappeared into it and emerged with a blown tire and dented rim. He had quite the experience the next day talking with mechanic shops ($840 for a new rim) and then searching the salvage yards for the right part ($63 for a rim). He learned a lot and saved a LOT of money with a little extra effort. Alex was pleased because the tires that he had just put on the van were under warranty and so we got everything repaired and replaced at the tire shop for only $20. A good example of a scenario that could have been so much worse but that we walked out of with very little stress and expense compared to what might have been.
The community gardens are gearing up for their lecture series so meetings and tasks for that have taken up Elise's time, along with registration for our homeschool co-op's Spring semester which is an all hands on deck scenario for us board members. It went really smoothly this time around which was a boon.
Our house is currently littered with seed catalogs and garden plans. I am trying to reign myself in this year, but it is so hard!!! The pictures and the mouthwatering descriptions always suck me in. I will be strong!!! It reminds me of the Frog and Toad cookie story. "What we need is will power!"
Things are moving along much the same as they always have at the Hart house. We are looking forward to what this new year holds and hope that lots of time with family is in the cards!
We sure love you all! And are hoping that Chet is healing well and rapidly!
