Another day at BYU

There might be hope for BYU and I yet! Today's activity was really cool. We woke up and headed to Provo where the boys (minus Dallin who was at a scout PowWow) were able to participate in a football clinic with the BYU football team; after which, we watched a BYU scrimmage. The stadium wasn't packed at all. There was plenty of parking and plenty of seats. Granted, it wasn't a real game, but it was still fun to watch the plays. I may deny I ever mentioned this, but this may be something we do annually. (I will still never be loyal to BYU, but since it's the only university I have to work with...I guess I better establish a cordial relationship.)

Danny and Carson 

Dallin and Grant (with Danny doing a photobomb in the back!)

After the game, we headed to Dallin's basketball game. His season is finally winding down. He only has a few more games left. He has played another good season. It has been fun to see his progress (and the progress of his team). He still struggles with that Southwick competitive mentality (where if he doesn't win or if someone is guarding him to aggressively or basically if anything doesn't go his way, he will get upset to the point that it starts to throw off his game instead of just learning and loving to play the game.), but he is quickly learning to simply enjoy playing the game while doing the best he can - win or lose.

That evening we had everyone (Jeff's parents, Stan's family, Katie, Trudy and her boys) over for our first BBQ on our new deck! It's still a little too chilly to really enjoy it, but Spring is in the air and I'm excited for the warmer weather!! After dinner, Katie, Penny, Kristi, Laurin (Amber is on choir tour) and I watched the General Women's Meeting followed by a little indulgence - shakes at Wildflower Grill. Yum! I truly enjoyed the evening. I feel so blessed to have the mother-in-law and sisters-in-law that I do. They are great examples to me in various different ways. I have appreciated all their love and support (and heaven knows I've needed it at times!). I am such a lucky woman to have married the amazing man I did...and to have his incredible family too. It was a fun weekend with the Southwicks.



Visit from the Southwicks

This weekend, Jeff's brother, Stan, and his family came to visit! It was their Spring Break and, being the avid BYU fans they are, they decided to come down to take advantage of some BYU activities going on as well as visit with us. (Although secretly I think Stan just came down for the BYU activities!) As many of you know, I am not a fan of BYU, but I still enjoyed hanging out with Stan, Kristi, and their kids...even at BYU. Today was kind of a chill day. The boys ditched school and we all hung out at Jeff's parent's house for the morning. Later in the afternoon, Stan and Kristi took all the boys to Seven Peaks Fun Park in Lehi while Jeff and I attended a marriage sealing of an amazing couple we know, Dave and Angalyn Peterson. After the sealing, Jeff and I met up with the rest of the bunch and off we went to our first BYU activity - a men's volleyball game. I have to admit I was impressed. First off, they are TALL!! Secondly, it is a fast paced game and fun to watch (although at times I couldn't actually keep up with the game and all the rules). All in all, it was a fun evening with family.

The crazy crew! 

Sunday at the Veterans Home

Recently, a Veterans' Home was opened in Payson. It is a beautiful facility that serves the men and women who faithfully served us. Last December, our stake incorporated a branch that provides church services for those men and women. A few weeks ago, Laurin was contacted and asked to sing a musical number during Sunday service. (Amber actually sang a couple weeks before that. We are blessed to have talented daughters!) She was asked to sing A Child's Prayer and roped Dallin and Danny into helping her. They did a great job! We arrived at the start of the services and after about 10 minues, Danny leaned over to me and said, "I feel really happy here Mom". Tears filled my eyes as I helped him see it was because he was serving that the Spirit was giving him those happy feelings. Dallin and Laurin echoed Danny's comment in their own ways. I too felt a tender feeling of gratitude and love for these amazing men and women. The Spirit touched my heart and I wasn't even necessarily there to serve. My father and grandfather are veterans. They have instilled a deep love of country and sacrifice into my heart. I couldn't help but think of them as I sat there looking at these men. I was so grateful for this opportunity for the kids and me. It was a good reminder of the value of service and the great reward we receive (e.g., feelings of love and happiness) as we serve.

Phantom of the Opera?

Now before you think I'm too spoiled, due to the fact that Jeff thought he was not going to be able to get tickets to Les Mis at Hale Center Theater, he found a back-up date for Saturday (our usual date night is on Friday) - Phantom of the Opera at Desert Star (a comedy dinner/show venue). So this week, I got two dates...although the second date was a double-date with another couple from our church congregation. Jeff and I were both a bit underwhelmed with the production value of this performance. We knew it was going to be a spoof on Phantom of the Opera, but even knowing that didn't detract from the subpar performers. However, there were funny moments and at the end of the evening, the performers did a Broadway Musical review that was hilarious! It really saved the evening for us. It was a fun experience though and a great time with good friends.

Les Miserables

Have I ever mentioned how amazing my husband is?! Recently, Jeff and I have discussed why date nights are so important to me. We both immensely enjoy these nights together, but sometimes, as of late, we have gotten stuck in a routine of "dinner and a movie" (so to speak) instead of tapping into the other fun activities that are out there. It seemed to become more of an item on a checklist (date done - check!) than the continued courtship it's meant to be. Jeff has always kept his promise to take me out at least once a week, yet as I explained to him the importance of having time with him  - not as his business partner or co-parent - the dates have taken on a different meaning. That's not to say that there won't be dinner/movie dates in the future or that I expect elaborate adventures each week, but it helps to put the meaning behind the activity. It also helps us to put aside those business or family discussions for another time and simply focus on each other. After all, as long as we are making things work, everything else will fall into place. Well tonight Jeff planned a perfect date night. He discovered that the Hale Center Theater in Salt Lake City was putting on a production of Les Mis. However, when he went to get tickets, they were sold out. Undeterred, Jeff called the box office and was able to buy two tickets that were just given up by a previous caller! What luck!! On top of it all, they were GREAT seats! Prior to going to the show, Jeff found an Ethiopian restaurant near by. I have been raving about Ethiopian food for quite some time, but there didn't seem to be any restaurants in Utah County. Since, we were going to be in Salt Lake, Jeff figured this would be a good time to try it out. He was a little nervous, but pleasantly surprised once he tasted it. I don't know what it is about it. I just love the seasonings they use and it's fun to eat with injera (a crepe like tortilla with a sour dough taste) instead of normal utensils. My favorite is yesimir wot - pureed lentils with berber spices.

After we ate, we headed to Hale Center Theater. I have seen Les Mis twice before (Jeff has never seen it in a play production, but he loves the music) - once in London and once in Tempe. I was a little worried about being disappointed by a community theater's rendition, but I was totally and completely in awe of the performance! The performers were quite talented and the props were amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed the production. I loved the intimate feel due to the small theater setting. I would even venture to say that it was just as good as the big Broadway-esque productions I've seen. It was the perfect date night...especially because I had the perfect date.



 

St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Today started off with a fun treasure hunt for Tyler and Kate. Lucky the Leprechaun left clues that eventually led to a pot of goodies! There was Lucky Charms for breakfast and Shepherd's Pie with green beans for dinner.

I was glad I was able to join in their festivities since I was away from my own little family; however, I made sure Lucky the Leprechaun still remembered to visit my kiddos with green apparel and some sweet treats! (The cereal was quickly consumed!)

 

Spring Training

Today my parents and I went to a Spring Training game (the real reason I went to AZ). My dad and I have had this traditions for quite a few years and the past 3 years my mom has joined us. It was such an awesome day! I don't know how else to describe it. The weather was perfect (upper 70s/low 80s) and our seats were in the shade. For full disclosure purposes, I don't absolutely love baseball, but I love the fun and almost patriotic atmosphere of the games. I love watching as everyone removes their hats and stands to sing the National Anthem. I love that baseball season ushers in Spring and Summer. But most of all, I love hanging out with my parents. Thus, it was an awesome day!

Me and my daddy 

My cute parents! 

You can't go to a baseball game and not have a hot dog! 

ARIZONA!!

Today I flew down to AZ for a few days to continue my Spring Training tradition with my dad and to spend time (alone) with my family. It was a much needed break! Please don't misinterpret that. I love Jeff more than I have ever loved anyone. He is the rock I lean on and the wind in my sails, but even he will admit that he sees how difficult the past year has been for me. I didn't enter into this marriage with any delusions that it was going to be easy. In fact, logically, I have been able to predict (with fairly good accuracy) which kids were going to struggle more with the transition and how those struggles would be made manifest. I just couldn't predict how much of an emotional toll it would take. It is hard being the bigger, more mature individual when you feel vilified and misunderstood. It is difficult to take the punches and know that you have no where to punch back because you're supposed to be the "parent"...but you're not. You're the step-parent. I wish it wasn't socially acceptable to despise or vehemently dislike a step-mother (I guess the same could be said for mothers-in-law as well), but it seems to be. I know I will never have that biological parental connection with these kids. I feel it is impossible to love them "as if they were my own". I think anyone who says they do is simply fooling him/herself. That's not to say you can't deeply love and care about them because I do!...but it is a different kind of love. I will, however, admit that things are exponentially better now than they were a year ago. This is a difficult thing...and not just for me. It is hard to be faced with emotions that you can no longer avoid. It is hard to deal with situations that you have skillfully evaded for years. I do sincerely feel that everyone is trying their hardest to make this work. Some days are just easier than others. Luckily, this year there appears to be more easier days than last year and I know that is just going to improve. I know the kids need to "prove" me. I know they need to see that, despite their behaviors or their undesirable moments, I will still care for them and be there for them. I know they haven't always had that in a maternal figure, but it can be draining at times...so I escape home to my own mommy! It was just what I needed. I had a blast spending time with my parents and my nephew (Tyler) and niece (Kate). (Nichole and Ryan had an escape of their own so I got to help watch the kiddos while they were gone.) We did everything from going to the park to having slumber parties. Here are just a few pictures of our weekend adventures!

Kate loves to sleep in the cubby under the stairs at my parents' house. 

Tyler got hooked up with a huge air mattress and a huge TV for video games! 

I was so glad there were still oranges to pick! The last ones are the sweetest ones! Plus there was the intoxicating aroma from the citrus blossoms! I was one happy girl!! 

While I was in AZ, I also had the chance to visit my aunt and maternal grandmother's grave. It's been almost 13 years since I lost my aunt (the woman I am named after) and 3 years since my grandmother passed away...and I still miss them. I guess that's a good thing because if there was no love, there would be no grief.

On my last day in AZ, my mom and I headed out on a little shopping spree. I wasn't really looking for anything in particular but I found a few items that only an AZ girl would appreciate.

I didn't get a chance to go into the new Gilbert Temple (maybe next visit), but I did get to walk around the beautiful grounds. I am so excited for the Payson temple to be finished! All in all it was a great trip!