2023 ~ February Recap

 

February 2023 for a shorter month with only 28 days, there was quite a bit going on with the Blackham Bunch...

• Travel: Grayson was gone at the start of the month for the International Builder's Show in Vegas. He also did a quick weekend getaway to Seattle to visit his brother (he ran a loop around the lake there). Landon had two work trips, a quick weekend away mid-month, then off to Reno for a few days at the end of the month. Callahan spent a couple days at Bear Lake for work. 
• Sickness and Injury: Colton was sick one day and missed school. Jen came down with a "cold" a couple days later and took a test ... Covid. First time the WJ Blackham home has been hit. This coincided with Gray's Seattle weekend, which was actually good timing (in addition to not wanting to be close to germs, there has been serious snoring going on). No one else in the family got sick ... but Jen got sick AGAIN a couple weeks after she recovered (very similar symptoms/sore throat, stuffiness but the Covid test was negative at that point). Colton had some feet issues, planter fasciitis and then a nasty blister. Cal's knee ballooned up, he's had bursitis before, but this was much worse, making him unable to walk, adding a fever. It was diagnosed as septic bursitis and the infection was perhaps from a floor burn during a basketball game (I'd even taken a picture of that little owie). Jen made a housecall to drop off the crutches (and told Cal he could just keep them, he's the only one who has ever needed them!) After antibiotics and continued weeks of rest, he's finally back to work, although the knee is still swollen. 
• Basketball: Cal is playing in a men's league but with his knee has missed most of the games this month (I did get out to see him on Feb1). Colton's high school season wrapped up as well. They finally got a win in a great game against Herriman. Colton had 30 points. The WJ Jags also had a super close game against CopperHills, only losing by two points. Then they were knocked out of the state tournament. Now he'll start playing with Metro for the off-season. When it was our turn to host the team dinner (I was still Covid-ish) Gray took all the Varsity boys out to dinner at Spaghetti Factory.
• Birthdays and Valentine Love: Olivia dropped off some cute Valentines for the boys. It was a basketball game night, and that was Jen's first outing out after Covid. Happy Valentine's Day! Callahan had his 24th birthday. We had a family dinner at Tepanyaki with cake and ice cream at the house after. Feb11 was Sweethearts and Colton had been asked by Abby ... and he now has a girlfriend. Abby ... but it's a different Abby!
• New Recliners: Gray, Coop and Jen went out to shop for some new recliners, a good replacement for the ones we had there before (the cats had torn the backs up on them something awful). The new ones are leather, and they swivel and rock as well as recline. 
• Cars: Gray cleaned out the 3rd car garage, which freed enough space for Keaton to be able to park there. Nice for him to not have to scrape off windows in the mornings, and nice to have an extra spot on the driveway (he's home before Gray, so the truck parks behind, and K takes the Tesla in the evening if he needs to go somewhere). Colton's Charger got spoiled ... as the spoiler on the back went missing. We weren't sure when/how it happened, but finally figured it out. It was the carwash! Colton went back for another wash and they had the spoiler there for him. Not sure if it's able to be reattached though. Currently it's sitting in the back seat of his car.
• Big Snow: The forecast said big snow starting Tuesday night (Colton was out in it going to watch the girls basketball game, and Grayson had a long commute home). Many places cancelled plans for Wednesday morning (schools said they'd be virtual, rec centers/libraries said they wouldn't be open at the regular time) and Jen cancelled her Zumba class. Colton's basketball game ended up being pushed to the next day as well. There was SO MUCH snow, Keaton worked hard to clear the driveway, but it was hard to know where to start, or where to put it! The wind worked interesting drifts several feet high, or drifting off the Durango (see the pic). 

Here's a "live" look - one second every day.

https://youtu.be/CWDq0JpELTg

February 2021

 

February ... a short month! There was a lot of basketball, and a birthday, some snow and a little rearranging. Girl scout cookies were delivered .... mmmm, Tagalongs! The folks finished up their two Covid vaccinations and felt like they could leave the house, so we had them over for dinner and games. Here's a closer look at some of the happenings this month...

• Basketball: Colton and the West Jordan Jags had their second round of region games (Hunter, Kearns, Tville, Granger & Cyprus). Colton played Sophomore and JV, and got a few Varsity minutes too. The folks tuned in to some of the games, as they were streaming on YouTube. Colton also played with the Freshmen team, who hadn't had a great season, but ended up winning the championship in the President's Day tournament. Then there were two games for the State tournament, and WJ got eliminated playing the #1 seed. Time to turn in all nine jersey sets! Can't believe the season is over. Colton will be playing with a WJ Freshman team, and back with his Wolves.
• GetAways: Landon and Sol had a week in Mexico, and Gray had a few days in St. George for RZR riding. Closer to home, Cal and Kate took advantage of the snow for some sledding, and snowmobiling.
• Weather: The "dirty snow" that fell in early February will be remembered for a while. Catching dust and dirt as it fell, cars were coated and the car washes were overwhelmed for days! Then there was a storm warning mid-month, and there was a lot of snow (but our schools didn't cancel ... Zumba was canceled that day). 
• Eating Out: Gray and I got out to Mountain Mikes for Valentine's Day (a little tradition, as it's generally not as booked as most places) and then the whole family got out to Olive Garden for Cal's b-day celebration.
• Birthdays: Cal turned 22. In addition to dinner, Landon made a cake - completely vegan!
• Cooking: Definitely NOT vegan ... Gray tried out a few new types of beef, and shrimp and scallops and chicken. Bacon-wrapped a few of those items (bacon-wrapped chicken is a new family favorite). The folks got to enjoy some of Gray's cooking when we had them out at the end of the month.
• Basement Rearrange: With our TV going out last month, we replaced it ... and then after contacting the company, they replaced it too. We had an extra TV now. Keaton moved the smaller TV that had been in the big basement room to his room, and we got a new console for the bigger television. Getting rid of the old entertainment set, we moved things around ... better for ping pong, without so many obstacles for the balls to hide behind. There has been ping pong playing almost every day. 

Jen joined the eating/exercise train back mid-October ... with IMF (intermittent fasting), calorie control (quantity at least, quality is always an issue) and working out, she's down 35 pounds. Coop has been wearing his Fitbit and getting his steps in and has seen some success on the scale. Grayson got inspired and started improving his food and fitness and has already seen and felt a change. We're all still working on it with a ways to go, but February was good for Food and Fitness. Even with Girl Scout cookies coming *Ü*

One Second Every Day - https://youtu.be/qQE2ViSzvF0

 

Monthly Moments ... One Second Every Day

I've been SO BAD at keeping this blog updated, I know. I have blog posts in my mind, but just don't seem to find the time to sit down at the computer and make them happen. I bought a fun new app though, that captures life "one second" at a time, and I've been keeping up with my mini-monthly updates, which I post on Instagram and Facebook. They are a fun, quick (about 30 seconds) way to remember each month. I had links to all the individual months, but decided to just include the entire year here ...

... it's an easy little app. It automatically connects to your photo album to show you what videos are available for each day. The latest Apple products and their "live photo" feature come in as videos, but you can use still photos as well. If you take video on a camera, and can transfer the file to your photo, that can be accessed and used as well. While the videos show up according to date created, you can play around and manually move things. The app is called "One Second Every Day" and that's how I've used it (showcasing each month's memories) but you could do a year at a time, or multiple seconds in a single day ... the app is very adaptable and I love looking back at my memories one second every day ;)

Miscellaneous March

I'm really trying to stay up to date on the blog, but I've gotten a bit behind. So instead of individual posts, I'm just going to do a March wrap-up ...

Grandparents Lunch

March 13, 2014

We've switched schools, but there is still the annual "Invite your grandparents to lunch" day. I always feel a little guilty putting them on the spot, but we've had some fun memories the past few years as both Grandma and Grandpa and Maga have made it out (last year 2013, and the year before, 2012). I sent out the invite and both my folks and Gray's mom said they would come. My dad ended up at the Instacare that day with a medical issue, but the boys were happy to have Maga come and eat lunch with them. Maga got to see the boy's new school too!

"Pi" Day and Girl Scout Cookies

March 14, 2014

I'd ordered some girl scout cookies and as I wrote the check, I couldn't help but notice the number fourteen. Repeated three times right there in the corner (a check earlier and it would have been four times). But THREE times also happened to tie into "pi" day ... 3.14. Certainly serendipitous! I SHOULD have taken a picture of the girl scout cookies ... they were gone SO quickly I'm not sure they were ever really around! Thin Mints, Samoas, and TagAlongs. Yum!

It's Is Actually Easy Being Green

March 17, 2014

We're not a big "St.Patrick'sDay" family. I see a bunch of stuff on Pinterest, leprechaun tricks, etc. I don't really do that. I did buy some foil chocolate coins one year (St.Pats2010). I had picked up the shirt Landon is wearing ... I made sure I pulled it out for one of the kids to wear. Callahan was actually looking for it, but Landon had it on already. Keaton went on a search for the green glasses ... I was a little surprised we were able to find them. He and Colton both wore green basketball jerseys and the glittery green hats.

Miscellaneous Memories - The End of 2013

I was looking through the folders of photos on my computer and came across several events I never got around to blogging back in 2013. I usually throw together a "catch all" post for these types of miscellaneous memories, and just hadn't gotten around to it. Better late than never! Right?

Maga bought Cooper and Colton a new set of scriptures.

They were quite into them!

Daddy and the boys went to a Jazz game!

The boys attended Uncle Clay's "Leg Lamp Lighting" party.

Have you seen "A Christmas Story"?

This was Colton's shoe after he came in from playing outside.

That has to hurt!

I'm always finding a bunch of rocks in his room.

Dough Boys

It says right on the package ... do NOT eat raw dough.

They eat it like ice cream. 

I'm not sure we ever actually baked any.

... and speaking of ice cream.

Kong Kones!

Maga had tickets to the Children's Museum.

Daddy took the boys up to meet cousins and Maga.

Fun photo memories!

I'll be backdating this post in a bit. 

Sticking it in 2013 where it belongs!

Miscellaneous Memories

Like Father Like Son

As I've tried to update the blog, I found a few photos that hadn't ever made it onto their own individual blog post. So here's a little catch-up collection to get them in ... In the picture above, Colton came out and proudly announced "I look just like Daddy" and he did!

Gray and I went out on a date and tried to capture the moment with a photo. It took a few tries. That man makes me laugh.

Sorting Socks. As the odd ones come out of the dryer, I just put them in a drawer, and then every couple of months we'll go through and try to match things up. It isn't so much that the dryer eats the socks ... it's the Cooper takes them off all over the house and leaves them laying around.

Tag Trouble

Cooper does NOT like tags.

We moved some of the older boy's shirts into his closet, 

and I had to cut off all the tags.

 A Collection of Cousins

General Conference Sunday ... Addie was the only girl!

Red Ribbon Week ... Nerd Day. Landon fully took part. It was crazy hair day for the munchkins. We added a little color, which made baths that night a little interesting! The middle school is having theirs this week, although I'm not sure Callahan and Keaton will participate (where is their school spirit?!)

There's just a few of the random photos that have been happening at the Blackham home lately!

Miscellaneous May

Bruised Boy

Time for the random pictures post ... Miscellaneous May stuff. Keaton had to show off his bruised and banged up leg. I guess it's pretty par for the course with a house full of boys.

Cutting Crusts

While we're concentrating on Keaton ... shall I admit to cutting off the crusts of his sandwiches? And not only do I cut off the crusts, but I actually cut them into cute little dino shapes with a cutter made just for such a purpose. When Keaton takes cold lunch, a PB&Honey Dino Sandwich is always in there. Many days he has one for breakfast too. 

Memorial Memories

Gray went with his mom down to Granny Goose's Grave.

Cute picture of these two!

Sibling Sandwich

We also went up to Maga's for a family party (Adrian's birthday) and I caught this on camera. Gray and Clay catching Ana in a loving hug. 

Bird Babies

And while on the topic of loving families ... starlings have once again nested in the cinder block pillar in the backyard. I've posted about this a few times in the past. They are very noisy little birds. This year more than most, I noticed the fledglings make it up the pillar and come out, waiting for their parents to return with yummy bugs. 

I tried collecting on my "Frustration Free WakeUps" coupon from Callahan ... the mornings were often better, but still not completely frustration free. School finally ended though, so now the kid can sleep in.

... and that's May.

April Extras

LOTS of  odds and ends when it comes to pictures this past month. Those photos that are cute, but don't really have an entire story behind them to really deserve their own blog post all get bundled up here. I LOVE the photo above *Ü*  Colton had been to the dentist and his whole left side was numb. It was so cute to see him try and smile! He was very brave at the dentist ... and I tried to be brave as I paid the big bill!

Conference weekend, the boys attended the priesthood session, then went to Macey's for some ice cream cones. Yes ... Grayson was getting a little bit bushy!

 Colton got dressed for church all by himself ...

Maybe we need a tweak or two ...

Holey holes! Cooper's shoes were worn right through. We made a trip to Payless to get him a couple new pairs.  I don't really worry about buying them big enough to grow into at all, because they usually fall apart long before the kids outgrow them.

 Callahan got a Life ...

Keaton is a D.A.R.E. graduate.

Callahan went to work with Dad for "Job Shadow"

Colton and Cooper (and Bradley) convinced Daddy to take them to Maverick for treats. The little boys rode their bikes, while Dad and Cooper rode our tandem. 

My little boys have kept up with their recent reading trend. Grayson has actually been reading too. In fact, this spot is THE reading spot, and Colton was a little put out when he found Daddy sitting there as he went to get some reading done.

I thought this picture of these three little troublemakers was so cute. These three boys play together a LOT. They just started soccer, and are always hanging out. Minecraft is still a favorite game.

That's the April odds and ends ...

MiscMemories (Mostly March)

It's been a while since I had a Miscellaneous Memories post ... some months have a lot of extra pictures, some don't. These are mostly from March, maybe one or two from Feb/Jan. So just catching up on 2013 thus far.

In the picture above ... can you see Callahan? He's there, under the chairs.  Why you ask? I don't know. Landon loves to do things like this to his brothers. I'm just not sure why Callahan let him!

Four-Square has been popular at the elementary school, and Cooper decided he wanted to play a little at home too. He took some sidewalk chalk and drew the four squares on the driveway and for a while there, it was quite the popular sport, even with the bigger kids.

Colton got to go to the Energy Solutions Arena to watch a Jazz game (they receive tickets as part of the Junior Jazz program). It was on a night that the rest of the family was busy, so Colton hitched a ride with Randon. I was glad they grabbed this picture of the boys with the Jazz bear. The Jazz even won that night!

Messy mirror! The bathroom has JUST been cleaned and then I walked past and saw splotches all over the mirror. Seriously? How do the boys do this? I really shouldn't complain, compared to some of the boy bathroom horror stories I hear, I am pretty lucky!

Fractured Finger? No, just jammed. Keaton hurt his finger playing basketball. It was swollen and ended up bruising a bit.  I was taking him in for a physical (those immunizations for 7th grade) so we had the doctor check it and got an x-ray just to be sure. 

Random October ...

Ah October ... it's been cooling down. We had to turn on the heater for the first time (Oct.7) and get that lovely "first time you turn on the heater" smell. Hopefully this will help out with the electric bill (although we've still needed the a/c from time to time too). First snow (Oct. 25) ... first experience for Landon to drive in it! The frost killed the flowers, so I finally pulled them out and updated with the autumnal decor ...

I didn't catch Landon in the "ninja" photo from last month ...

 but here he is for October!

With the little boys off-track for Halloween, we had a little fun at home with balloons, turning them into a jack-o-lantern and a spider. Then Keaton POPPED the spider and little legs went flying everywhere!

Halloween means COSTUMES ... I didn't buy anything new, just had the kids look through the current supply ... which is a LOT. I still need to go through this and get everything put back away!

 Um .... still not sure what happened here ...
It's not like we weren't already "touch"ed

With the new devices, there's been a lot of THIS going on.

 The latest game craze is MINECRAFT.

... and just a funny update to the FAMILY scrabble names ... yes, Jacob and Travis are here so much they are pretty much family! And yes ... we need a couple more letter "C" tiles. We did get another Vat19 order this month too, more spitballs and a HUGE gummy WORM).

Misc. Monthly Memories

   I didn't get my regular "Miscellaneous Monthly Memories" post for August ... I think almost all the pictures had their own post. I did look through my photo folders and found a few pictures that are blogworthy, although maybe not enough for an individual post. The "Ninja Boys" in the photo above was from August ... the boys have pulled this pose several times. It always makes me laugh.

Cute Cooper ... ala Spiderman

He got facepainted at a friend's birthday party.

The boys pulled out the big chess set and it got a LOT of use over several days. The bigger boys taught Colton how to play. Colton loved it!

When I cleaned out my purse, I found all these old passes to JUMP ...

The Blackham Boys are bouncers. 

We'll be back in Oct (when the little ones go off-track).

Callahan fell asleep on the couch, 

and Landon took the couch cushions right out from under him!

Over on the Westra side of the family, Grandpa fell while working at Chris and Kim's house. His arm bruised up beautifully! I was out visiting (Mom and I went out to lunch, Dad and I played some tennis, yes, he beat me even with that arm!) and I insisted they take a picture while the bruise was so colorful! As the arm continued to bother Grandpa, he went in for an x-ray and there was a fracture at the wrist. So he's in a wrist brace now. His pinky finger is still bothering him, so hopefully they'll check that out at his next appointment.

... I don't really watch the news, but caught this story about flooding in St. George after my sister emailed that they had just barely been missed (their neighbors were not so lucky).  Here's a link to her post and more pictures ... (The Jensen Journal). 

Well, that's just some of the random happenings from August and September ... can you believe it's October already???