February 2022

February 1st Nick got his own bay at work.  This means he does not have to share with the other techs and is on his way up the ladder to becoming a mechanic. He was so excited he went out and bought himself some new tools to go in the new tool box that came with the new bay.  

February 2nd, Steve, Bishop Arias and I went over the Sandra's house to give her a blessing.  We had a great visit before the blessing and she felt much more confident about the surgery by the time we left.  I love seeing the gospel bring people peace.  

February 5th Avian and I went to the fabric store to get some dinosaur fabric to make pillowcases and pillow covers for Nick's room for his birthday.  When we got back I helped Nick cut out and start to sew his first pair of pajama pants.  We got him both sushi and car flannel.  He was super excited.  

Steve spent the day in the garage working on a scout project for the upcoming camp.  He loves working in the garage.  I would love to get him a shop one day so he can use all his tools the way they are meant to be used.  

February 7th I took the day off work to drive Sandra to and from her surgery.  I was able to run a few errands during the day while she slept.  She did amazingly well and her recovery has been quick so far. 

February 8th Avian had their first appointment with the chiropractor.  We found that they have a displaced C1 and a compressed C7.  Dr. Blitstein said that would explain the jaw clicking and headaches.  Avian is excited to get back on Thursday for the first adjustment.  We will see how that goes.   

February 9th Jeremy wanted to make Brazilian lasagna for dinner.  We looked up a recipe and got all the ingredients.  The surprise ingredient is sliced deli ham.  Jeremy said we nailed it.  Nick and I liked it, but Steve and Avian were not fans.  We might try it again, but this time we will chop up the sandwich meat so it blends a little better.  

February 10th I tested positive for Covid.  I had been feeling slightly off since Tuesday morning and had gotten a negative result the day before so I was hoping it was just allergies or a mild cold.  NOPE!!  They immediately called Avian over from the high school and tested them - Negative, thank goodness.  Steve also tested negative. I was so relieved because the two of them are leaving for Orlando next week.  I packed up my stuff, left a few instructions with people who were running the parent meeting the next day and headed home to be blockaded in the bonus room until Sunday.  AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGG!!!!!  So frustrating.  

Steve took Avian to their chiropractic appointment.  Dr. Blitstein was able to adjust their neck and jaw so there is no more clicking and the headaches are better.  Steve is being a super husband.  I am not allowed to leave the room other than to use the bathroom so he brings me whatever I need.  He has been taking Avian to school and bringing them home.  He baked Nick's birthday cake.  He did all the dishes.  He has been so amazing!

February 11th Nick turned 20!!!!!  Steve, Jeremy, Nick and Naomi went to Outback Steakhouse to have Nick's traditional birthday meal.  They zoomed with me so I would feel like I was there.  When they got back home we zoomed again so I could be part of the present opening and cake cutting.  It was the first time I had seen the kids in two days and it felt really weird being on Zoom with them, but I am so grateful for technology so I could be there with them.  

Eating a bloomin' onion at Outback Steakhouse!!

February 12th - Steve went to a Woodbadge meeting in the morning and then he and Avian did the grocery shopping.  Steve worked in the garage the rest of the day.  Jeremy went to work and Nick attended the single's ward Valentine's Day dance.  I was in the bonus room feeling really cruddy!

February 14th - I got to come out of the bonus room (double masked so the family did not get sick).  It was a crazy day at work.  People did not know I had been out with Covid and were really upset that I had not completed some of the tasks I needed to get done.  I got everything caught up and placated those that were upset.  I don't like being sick and missing work.  I was really grateful for Steve during this time because he held the fort down when I was out of commission.  He found out that they are getting a benefits package at work so we don't have to use the insurance was purchased anymore (hallelujah!!).  We started the process to refinance the house (why not take advantage of the incredibly low interest rates and consolidate all our bills into one payment while still lowering our monthly payment?!!)   He also collected all the tax information and got new tires for the truck.  He seemed to really enjoy getting everything together.  Jeremy and Avian made dinner that night.  

February 15th - Nick's court date got pushed back to September 21, 2022.  Our lawyer says he is trying to push the date off as far as possible in hopes that the DA will start taking plea bargains which will allow him to reduce the charges and help Nick out.  Although Nick is relieved, he is also upset because the count down to the new date starts up again.  The rest of the excitement centered around getting Steve and Avian ready to go to Disney with the band.  

February 17th (through the 20th) - Steve and Avian left for Disney at 5 am.  They flew this time instead of the long bus ride.  One of the band moms is a travel agent and helped arrange the whole thing.    Steve sent me pictures periodically throughout the trip.  I have bundled them all right here for your viewing pleasure.  

Avian went on this one.  Steve hates roller coasters.  

Exhausted and taking a nap after a cold drink (day 2)

Fancy, authentic, Mexican dinner one night

Steve loved this ride.  We are just the opposite - I love roller coasters and cannot do the drop rides!

The last night there was a Bare Naked Ladies concert on the green.  It was a great way to end the trip.  

February 18th, Jeremy and I met Nick at the church to help him clean up after the dance in preparation for a wedding.  Afterwards I treated them to pizza and they wanted to watch Encanto.  It was a fun night.  

February 19th, Jeremy is 23.  We had cinnamon roll waffles and spent the day sewing pajama pants.  The boys wanted to learn to sew.  This day kind of reminded me of sewing at Wasatch Mountain State Park on our summer trips.  Mom would set up a sewing station and we would take turns sewing our school clothes between hikes and bike rides.  It was so much fun.   

Nick's sewing his two pair of pants.  One has race cars and the other has sushi.

Jeremy chose flannel with cats on it so he could say he had some cats.  

I made Avian and Nick a soft pull-over for Christmas and Jeremy said he didn't want one at the time.  He changed his mind when he saw theirs and asked for one for his birthday.  We found some material with birds on it.  Perfect for him!!

Nick also got a lesson in internet security and how not to fall for a scam.  His Instagram was hacked and we spent a good amount of time researching what someone can do with an Instagram account.  Thank goodness there is not much, other than annoy the people who are your friends.  He will be more cautious in the future.  

February 20th - Steve and Avian are home again.  We went to dinner at Yoshi's for Jeremy's birthday.  

February 21st Steve got a new windshield for the Xterra.  His old one was so scratched and sand blasted that it was hard to see through when the sun was shining right at it.  Avian also started their Behind the Wheel portion of Driver's Ed.  

February 22nd - Nick was out riding his bike and was gone a long time.  I was starting to get worried when he finally came in the door with a great story.  He saw a woman with a flat tire and stopped to help her out.  He told her he was a mechanic and changed tires all day.  They talked while he was changing the tire.  By the time he was done she had offered him a job at her restaurant.  When he politely declined she told him the offer was open anytime he might need it.  That's my boy!

February 24th we refinanced the house.  We have two months before our first house payment will come out.  We will pay off the beach vacation and another smaller bill with the money.  This refinance will also allow us to pay off Nick's school loan (with a much lower interest rate) and put in badly-needed new flooring on the main level.  Avian did her second Behind the Wheel.  Almost ready to go get the learner's permit.  

February 26th - I worked in the morning to catch up on things that had fallen behind while I was sick with Covid.  Steve finished a hand carved sign he had made for a friend.  

Avian went to a party while Steve and I shopped for our new flooring!!

February 28th - Everyone got their taxes done!  Steve and I went in and the boys uploaded all their information so Donna could process it.  February 2022 is in the books!