Avoiding Winter Doldrums!

Jan 30, 2011

Dear Family,

Happy New Year! And to keep your year exciting, we've decided to share our top 5 ways to stave off the winter doldrums:

#5-Have a Party! We have 2 birthdays this month: Brian turned 41 (got a dehydrator, some basketball shorts, and a special edition of McCollough's 1776, and Anne made it to 3 (all of her birthdays seem somewhat miraculous so far!). 

We've eliminated milk, eggs, wheat, soy, fish, nuts, and most recently, corn and sugar from her diet, so for a cake? A Mouse (adapted from a “Bunny Salad” from the Priday cookbook) made from half a pear, kiwis, raisins, and fruit leather. She was THRILLED, and kept calling it her cake (thank goodness). Though she still looks awful (is the food even working???), she was blessed to have a “good day” on her birthday, and even 2 more after that, so we were grateful she could enjoy some special time.

Though she still looks awful (is the food even working???), she was blessed to have a “good day” on her birthday, and even 2 more after that, so we were grateful she could enjoy some special time. She loved getting her doll crib and high chair. She found them in the back of the van (I bought them from someone on KSL), and was excited to help me get them out, but I told her they were a surprise for her birthday, so for 2 weeks, she'd keep saying, “Almost my BOODday and my KIBB!” Some surprise!--she didn't seem to mind, though. She also got some Little Pets from G&G, a princess show (Beauty and the Beast), and a few days later, a ballet tutu from G&G M (made by Carrie!!). Such fun! I've had my own little parties too—w/ a day to go visit w/ Amanda (and commiserate over our struggling 3yr olds!!), and bookclub here at the house. We also celebrated that Cosmo is now a happy outdoor cat again! by getting her a collar and laser-engraved tag! Hip Hooray for 9 Lives!

#4-Get Braces! (or as Anne seems to see it, JEWELRY for the teeth!). Maddie did a great job on her first talk last Sunday (on “Having a Christ-Centered Home”). Anne was so excited to see Maddie's mouth, and next thing we knew, was searching the halls of the orthodontist for her own! Maddie now has an “expander” running between her top molars, that we have to turn w/ a little key to keep growing. In just a couple of weeks, it's created a good gap in her front teeth, so that the Dr can now surgically bring down her canines stuck in the roof of her mouth! She's a great sport!! (not crying at every new development like I would!) and is surprised it doesn't hurt more—she just needs a little more ice cream now and again.

#3-Get a makeover! (or give one to yourself) We're painfully aware of how sad Anne looks w/ her dreaded eczema, but add her own makeup to the picture, and we realize things could be worse!! She LOVES putting on eyeshadow and lipstick, and Mom is wishing her makeup drawer were a little higher off the ground. We took her to another homeopathic Dr. this last week, and are trying a few new attempts. She meanwhile, keeps being a good sport through all of this, and gives Mom more practice at being easy going about schedule changes—even middle of the night ones!

#2-Play Peekaboo! Lucy is at SUCH a fun stage—we keep thinking it can't get any better than this, and then she adds to her fun repertoire things like folding her arms for the prayer w/ all of us, 

waving “Bye” as Dad leaves for work (and saying, “BYE-DA!!”), and quite adorably, playing peekaboo. You know she's good, when she can melt her 11 year-old brother, who's always telling her how unbelievably cute and delicious she is.

1-Get a New Hobby to go w/ the New Year! Brian's been doing origami at night w/ a new book he got, and he's been putting his dehydrator to good use, making delicious beef jerky!--He's even working on a batch right now that we can take on our trip to GA this# week!! Family is the best! We've had some good visits w/ Nate and Stacey the last couple of weeks, just dropping by here and there, and Brian spoke so well today w/ the rest of the bishopric, on Facing our Homes Towards the Temple. It is the 24^th anniversary for when his Mom died today, so he had very tender feelings to share. He also included the experience of dropping me off @ G&G Priday's house at the end of a semester while we were dating. On the way, he was still in turmoil of whether or not to move to SLC for the next term, where his seminary classes were. We had only had 1 or 2 dates, and he would've been gone when I got back. After just having dinner w/ G&G, and feeling the spirit in that home, (which he said was so like the temple), he thought if I came from that kind of a family, it may be worth commuting for a while. Sure enough, he was still in Provo when I got back (much to my surprise!), and look at all that has come from that! I had forgotten the timing to some of those things, and it was quite a reminder of the impact our homes can have! Even with the bumps in the road (or maybe because of them), we are SO blessed, and I am regularly overwhelmed at the abundance of joy our little family has. It is exciting to think what this new year can bring—I am having a new appreciating for January—which has dragged along in the past. After the busyness of the holidays, it is nice to have an empty month with the full 31 days, and so nice to have a fresh start—the hope of spring really does feel around the corner—even as we shiver! Have a great week! Love, The Duncan's