Other January Highlights

This January, we had a lot of sunny days and not too much wind.  I did lots of walks and a bike ride or two.  When Kaide came over, we were able to go on the swing or play outside.  Aubrey took up running for a week.  It really was an impressive week.  She ran a mile a day, but then decided she saw absolutely no benefits and quit.  We might need to go over the "law of the harvest," but I have no desire to run, so I'm not going to bring it up anytime soon.  I think she did enjoy being outside.  Sometimes I feel bummed because I'm still living in Odessa, but when I think about this month's weather, it's definitely an Odessa perk.  

We have moved on to the phase where it is more fun to push the car rather than ride in the car....more fun for him anyway!

This January we sold our Honda Odessey mini-van.  I have LOVED this van, and it wasn't an easy decision on my part.  Also, I have been driving a mini-van for the past SEVENTEEN years, so I wasn't sure if I should even consider something else.

I did a lot of research.  I wanted something with good reviews on Consumer Reports that also had a quiet ride and a heated steering wheel.  Brian wanted to have a third row.  We ended up buying a 2022 Buick Enclave, and I am really loving it so far.  We purchased it online from Ruby Car.  It was so nice not to have to haggle, and it was delivered from NJ to our front door.  The delivery fee of $1300 was waived due to a year end sale.

I've been making valentine's shirts.  Sometimes I'm pretty sure I am not making much money with the amount of time I put in to the process: making mockups, advertising, confirming orders, shipping etc.  I know a lot of times I do, but sometimes I shoot myself in the foot by doing things the hard way.  It's a learning process for sure.  

This was my most popular adult print.  And by popular, I mean I sold maybe five or six of this design.

An update on the out-of-town college kids.  Brinley is finishing the last semester of her undergrad.  She applied to three grad programs in Speech Pathology in Utah.   She is working 12 hours in ABA therapy as a tech and 5-10 hours at BYU as a T.A. for one of her professors.  

This girl is always busy.  I LOVE how she excels in school and works two jobs but makes sure her evenings and weekends are open for lots of social time with friends.  She enjoys playing sports (ultimate frisbee, racquetball, water polo), going to BYU sporting events, hosting/attending game nights, helping put on "family dinner" in her apartment, hiking and really pretty much anything were she can be with friends.  

Also, she has been dating Derek for a few months.  They seem to come up with lots of fun and creative ways to spend time together.  We are looking forward to meeting him at the end of February when we head up to Utah.

Parker is enjoying his 2nd semester at BYUI even more than his first.  I am happy for him.  Rexburg has had some bitter cold days, so I was worrying about him feeling trapped indoors.  No worries there.  He has embraced the outdoors.  He bought a snowboard and has a season pass to one of the ski resorts nearby.  He went to a friend's cabin recently and had a blast snowmobiling and riding a motor bike attached to a ski. (Or something like that!)  

He is also taking a sports refereeing class and now makes good money refereeing basketball.   He has had a job since he was twelve, and I know he appreciates the money and staying busy.  

I have been impressed with how goal oriented he has been as a young adult.  He is working hard in his classes and making very good grades along the way.  He is attending the temple often.  He is training for a half marathon.  Last week he told me he had a goal to go on at least one date a week.  I love that he is making friends, having fun and doing good things.

And now I just have to worry about his underdeveloped frontal lobe and if he can keep himself alive the next few years.  I think he feels invincible. 

More plumbing problems....shoot me now.  We had major plumbing repairs done this summer.  To re-read about that joyful experience, you can go back to May and June 2023 blogs.  We relined the pipes in the majority of our house, but shortly after they left, we started having problems with Aubrey's bathroom.  THE Worst.  This time it took about a week (and one billion more dollars) for them to repair.

So grateful for Tanner and his willingness to bust out the bathtub.

 

The plumbers were hoping to work through this hole but eventually had to jackhammer to the toilet.  Aubrey's bathroom has needed to be remodeled since we moved in eleven year ago, so this will give us a good jumpstart.

Bri was able to fly to California for 5 days this month and enjoy a visit with his parents.   Keith met him out there and they worked on several projects inside and out: plumbing, computer issues, and yard work.  I know he enjoyed being home.  He loved the calm time with his parents and getting visit with a few of his siblings: Scott, Karol and Keith. 

Cute Grace, our grand niece, was in town staying with her grandparents while her parents, Megan and Griffin, went to Hawaii.  Bri said it was a lot of fun on Sunday night when she came to visit for a bit.

Keith and Grace

It wouldn't be a true Gwilliam blogpost if I didn't include a few pictures of our one child home and her friends.  Life would get boring really quick if our Aub Daub wasn't still home.

I thought her slime days were over.   Making, perfecting and playing with slime was all the rage when she was in 5th grade.  Well, the girls proved they still had the magic touch and enjoyed an evening of slime making.  It was really nice for me because I didn't have to buy the supplies or clean up any of the mess this time around.

Macy, Parker, Aubrey

Well, To Be Honest, It Looks Like Poo

 I bought my mom some new pajamas and decided to order the same pair for myself.  Twins!

I spelled "dearbereth" because that is what Aubrey calls me.

It was nice to play with scrabble tiles with my mom one Sunday afternoon.   She usually doesn't stay focused for long.  A lot of times she is on the move.  It is like her mind does not allow her body to slow down.  She will be wheeling from room to room shuffling/moving things around.  It usually doesn't make sense to anyone but her.  The pillows will get put in a big pile on the ottoman.  The papers on the table will get put in a bathroom cabinet.  She will take things out of the pantry and move them to a different room.  My dad is really patient and understanding. He lets her do whatever she would like as long as she is safe.  He quietly says, "It is her house.  She should be able to move things around if she wants to."   

Last week she was frantically moving things to the backyard.  There were plumbers there using loud machinery, and my dad/the caregiver thinks she thought the house was going to explode.   I was on a walk and when I put Buttercup in their backyard, I noticed this pile by the back gate: a poinsettia, a picture of Nate and Beth, the knitted dolls of Nate and Beth, a little peacock and her meds.  I think eventually Julie was able to redirect her attention.

But back to Scrabble...it was really nice that she was able to sit still for about 20 minutes and play with the tiles.  When I can convince her sit for a few minutes, I feel like it is such a victory.  I know she has to be exhausted from being in constant motion for hours and hours.

Also, for the most part, what my mom says doesn't make sense.  She is almost always saying something but mostly her words come out as gibberish.  

Anyway, maybe once or twice a week, when I am with her, she can communicate a sentence or two that I understand.  

Well, I LOVED the short conversation we had about dinner.  (Several fresh sides are prepared along with a "Complete" microwave meal for lunch and dinner...inserting this so I will remember that this was not her full meal.)

I asked her if she was ready for a bite.  She looked at what I was offering, sighed, and quietly stated, "Well, to be honest, it looks like poo."  I about lost it!  She had a point!

I sure love my sweet momma.  This disease isn't easy, but I am so grateful for the love we can still share with each other.

Vore Family Fun

Sunday Night Gatherings plus Taco Villa Mondays on Wednesdays....I'm so glad we have these family traditions.  They keep us connected every week.

John Martin (Ang's dad), Aub, Kaide, Erin (not me.  Erin Flores Gwilliam), Shari Martin (Ang's mom), Adam, Chris, Adam (We like lots of people to have the same name.  It keeps everyone on their toes.), Ella and Hudson

Hudson, Ang, Tanner, Pepper the dog, Braddock, Brit and Char

Heading out to put Kaide to bed.  Aren't they the cutest little family?

Taco Villa Monday on Wednesday at Fudruckers...and Gram was even able to make it.

Chris, Gram, Tanner, Brian, Ang, Erin, Grandpa & Julie (Proctor  She is a friend and one of my mom's caregivers.)

When these two both got bored during lunch, it worked out pretty great to go to the playground.

Great Grandpa with Gracie (from another Taco Villa gathering in January.)

Life is good.

Aubrey's 17th Celebration

We celebrated Aubrey's 17th birthday a few times: her actual b-day, a Sunday night family party and a friend party.

 We sure love this girl of ours.  She adds a lot of spice to our lives.  Just a few ways she adds the spice: "griddies" from room to room, attacks me by the throat &/or pushes me to the couch at the slightest perceived offense, hangs out loudly & often at the house with her group of friends.  Life would be pretty boring without her. (Although my neck and back might be in better shape!)

I stayed up super late and designed/printed/weeded/applied this surprise on her car.  She seemed pleased and that made me happy.  On a side note, the paint on the roof of the kid car is declining quickly.  Many years ago, Brian and I heard a parenting tip that a teen car should be "old, ugly, and slow," and I think we've done a great job in following that advise.😆😆😆  It is a 2014 Honda Civic though, so it definitely has good bones.  But back to the b-day girl...

She's a silly girl and is always making these dramatic noises and faces.  I loved her fun reaction when she opened up her body pillow.  We also gave her a few treats and plane tickets to fly to Utah and visit Brinley and Lauron.  She was surprised and happy about that gift.  Brinley and Parker planned ahead and left b-day gifts here before they headed back to school.  Bryn gave her Dr. Pepper socks, and Parker gave her makeup brushes.  She was a fan of both!

We invited Tanner & familly to join us for a b-day dinner in Midland at Chuy's.

Tanner and Erin gave her a $25 gift card to Sephora, and she was giddy!  We had to stop by on the way home for her to check out the makeup and decide what to buy.

When we got home, there was a surprise on the front porch from Hannah Conner, her very sweet and cool Young Women's leader.  It made Aubrey's night.  I could tell she felt seen and loved.  Just thinking about Hannah's kindness makes me teary.  

A Crumbl cookie and a gift card to Target to buy a book.  Wow!  Thanks Hannah!

On Sunday, we had the family party during at the Birds.  Chris and Ang (and La...in Utah) gave her card with the promise of a b-day lunch and shopping trip to buy jeans.  Finding jeans when your 5'10" is tough and expensive.  It was a thoughtful and fun gift.  Aub and Ang went the next Saturday.  They had a great time together, and Aub came home looking so cute when she modeled her new jeans.

The Birds gave her a crochet starter kit.  She was thrilled.  Now she has a little Fred of her own to make.

Fred

Brit was the cutest and came over late on Sunday night when Aub was a little confused on getting started correctly.  She is excited that Aubrey is wanting to learn, and they have had some other "Fred" meetups since.  Brit and Ang are her seminary teachers, and their love for Aubrey and hers for them is even stronger due to the past year and a half.  I seriously love these amazing women in Aubrey's life.  (Brit, Ang, Hannah)

A picture from their lunch and shopping date.

She was grabbing something from her top cabinet and I had her model her new jeans. 

If this is seeming like the post that never ends, it is because Aubrey had the 17th celebrations that never ended.  She celebrated with her friends a week after her b-day because they had the day off of school for MLK day.  Aubrey made and carried out the plans which made for a great party for me.  We ordered balloons and a backdrop for a photo shoot.  I bought pizza, made a cake and set out snacks.   Other than that, it was all Aub and friends creating the fun.

Her besties: Maiya, Parker, Nissi & Macy

Parker is always good to help set up/clean up in the kitchen.

Of course, I made the family favorite candy bar cake.  It is a yellow cake mix with chocolate pudding and a cool whip/powdered sugar frosting topped with crushed Butterfinger.  Delishs!

Happy Birthday Aub Daub.  We love you!