Rio de Janvier

When I was in high school French, we learned a song (I don't know why) called "Rio de Janvier"—which was about the Brazilian city Rio de Janero—both of which, I suppose, mean River of January? I found it very odd to sing about a foreign name in a different foreign language! Anyway, that is neither here nor there—except that we were there—January, I mean—and aren't we all glad it's behind us? Don't get me wrong—it wasn't a bad month, it's just that I'm always so anxious for Spring! Still, let us pause to recall some good things about the River of January.

We had a great New Year's feast—one of our best, I daresay. Deviled eggs, pigs in blankets (homemade roll dough for the blankets), cream cheese wontons, chips and salsa and guacamole, artichoke dip and fresh bread, deviled eggs, apples with caramel sauce, and…much, much more, as people always say when they can't actually think of anything more. Ha ha. It is so much easier making all this with a lot of people to help! I told the kids that soon I'm just going to be able lie in bed while they make all the food! (Hasten the day. Although, I admit it's pretty fun when we're all working in the kitchen together.)

During January this little squish got cuter all the time. Sam has been saying to me every few days, "I know you love the tiny and helpless stage best, but this is my favorite stage!" It really is great. Lots of getting into things—but also so much learning and funniness. Gussie walks everywhere (shakily—were all our kids so wobbly at first?), and tries to repeat words, and laughs when everyone else laughs at him. He makes a beeline for the flour bucket whenever it's opened, and gleefully empties out cupboards, boxes, bins, and bags (often stuffing himself inside in place of whatever he emptied).

I found Goldie asleep under the Christmas tree late one night after she had had a bad dream. It IS very comforting to see Christmas lights in the dark, so I don't blame her. I would be quite sorry to take the Christmas decorations down every year, except that it also always feels so fresh and nice to have everything taken down.

There were several pretty sunsets in January. Sometimes the light was pretty even when the sky wasn't.

This one was in American Fork on our way to piano lesson.

January had a day warm enough for a picnic! Well, for about five minutes. Once the kids got outside, they realized they were too cold and had to move their picnic indoors…

but that was fun too!

January was a disappointing month from a "playing in the snow" perspective. (Which means a wonderful year from the "driving anywhere" perspective!) We only had a few small snowfalls—a couple of them on Sundays, with the snow mostly melted by the time the kids get to play in it on Monday! How sad. But, there was this one pathetic little one-inch accumulation, which the kids did their level best with.

When things get noisy, Ziggy likes to cover his ears with anything that is close to hand, apparently. The oven mitts were to block out a barking dog in the neighbors' yard (which was still a source of great joy to him, and he couldn't stop going out to see it and talk to it), and the ear-blocking-books were when the blender was on high. It does get very loud.

Help! A terrifying pair of Darth Vaders! Oh…wait…it's just cute Daisy and Ziggy.

During January we had a family home evening activity where Sam described a Far Side cartoon using words alone (we couldn't look at it) and then we all had to try to draw what it looked like.