January 2022

 

Whew ... feels like a LOT happened in January. Basketball is in full swing, Covid continues complicating everything and, well check out the collage/video and details of the days from January 2022.

• Starting off the year with Family ... The Grandparents came over for games on New Year's Eve, and there were more of the kids than  expected (Keaton and Colton usually have plans, but everyone loved having them here). Played Progressive Rummy and Pirate (Grandpa won!) and managed to stay awake until midnight ... then it was time for bed. New Year's Day there was the traditional pastry wreath on the Blackham side. Clayton even made a cinnamon version (no almond per nut allergies) and it was really yummy too.
• Working Where? As I don't drive freeways, and Grayson works in Davis County ... well, there was a "kinda like a date" tour and I finally got a peek so I can picture where Grayson spends so much of his time working so hard. Keaton finished up his temporary time at Nike and is back to working just one job, but is adding some school (starting up the electrical classes).
• Home Improvement and Oven Issues ... the oven stopped heating up. Maybe I burned out the unit with all my sourdough? We were without the oven portion (stovetop was fine) working for a week while it was diagnosed and repaired (I had four sourdough loaves ready to bake ... so I borrowed a neighbor's oven!) The oven seems to bake a little hotter now, still figuring it out. Grayson had also had the pantry scheduled for an overhaul. The original installation date had to be pushed (contractors had Covid) but we're very happy with the finished product. Honestly, a lot of the improvement was just going through everything and only putting half of the things back, but the adjustable shelves and storage are nice.
• Skin Stuff ... Coop has been dealing with eczema on his hands for a few months now. After trying everything over-the-counter we made an appointment with the dermatologist. A prescription seemed to improve things for a bit, but then has been getting worse again, so we'll need to follow up on more treatment there. Skin issues do run in the family.
• Married Mingles ... L&S and C&K had a couple get-togethers, at a newly opened FunPlex and then a celebration for Sol's birthday (22, Keaton was there for that too). Glad L&S got over Covid in time to partay.
• Covid Complications ... Covid is still here, and impacting as much as ever! I'd picked up a couple of the home quick tests to have on hand, just in case (after C&K had it in November) and Landon asked if he could use one when Sol spiked a fever. It was positive, and it was later confirmed as correct, and Landon got sick too. Cooper got sick around the same time ... I put off using my last test as he was pretty much home for several days regardless (he's always online for school anyway, but Jordan School District moved online Jan 19-21 which meant he didn't have his cleaning shifts at the elementary). When I got some extra tests (some additional tests came more quickly than originally indicated, I found some at the local Smiths Pharmacy and then got the government ones in the mail too) Coop took a test, and it was negative, and no one else in our family seemed to get sick, so our immediate household still seems to have lucked out (knock on wood). The grandparents came down with Covid about this same time.
• Utah Driver's License Division ... I went twice in one week! First with Cooper, getting him a Utah ID (while we continue to work on getting him more comfortable with driving). Being 18 and "adult" now, he needed something official for identification. Then Colton was finally able to find a moment to fit in his driving test, passed it and he is now officially licensed to drive. Callahan hasn't needed his Dodge Charger, so now that's what Colton is driving (lucky kid! But the timing of the car/license worked out well ...)
• Jen goes Boom ... Sunday, Jan23 as the day was winding down and I was cleaning up the kitchen, I blacked out. Woke up in an ambulance and spent several hours in the ER. Staples in the head but happy to get home and rest. It has really impacted my step count! (read more about it HERE). 

... and of course, basketball! Pre-region wrapped up (West Jordan swept Murray/Grandma Margie's Alma Mater, Jen dared try the drive to Westlake, where WJ got demolished) then the official season started up. Cal and Keaton came to the Copper Hills game (their Alma Mater). Some of the schools streams games, so I was able to watch via video after my accident. We also hosted a team dinner (parents take turns, Thursday Jan 20 was a busy day with the oven repair, Colton's license, the homemade pizza for the JV team ~ 10 boys and one coach, then pantry prep for that installation the following morning! Whew, glad that was all before the big boom and no Covid complications!)  Cooper totally surprised me by saying he had signed up for "Junior Jazz" (which is really "SENIOR Jazz" literally, as the kids are all seniors. Keaton had turned to rec ball back in his day and had fun). Coop is playing with his same buddies from his elementary/middle school days. I went to his first game (Jan8/Hunter High School) then didn't feel like attempting the drive to Magna for the second one, but will hopefully hit some of the ones still coming up.

I think that recaps January ... Here's the 1 Second Every Day video.