The Other Wiseman

This year, our office decided to support a prospective client and go to his husband's play as an office Christmas party with dinner beforehand. The dinner was so fun and lots of laughs were had, the play, which was called "The Other Wiseman", not so much. It was more of an opera then a musical (as advertised) and at the last minute, Kevin and Trace got to come along, so they got to see it too. Kevin and I didn't care for it, the vast majority of my office hated it and Trace was just trying to figure out what was going on. Despite all the words being sung and the message pretty hard for an eight year old to figure out, I was really proud of Trace. He was respectful, quiet and paid attention the entire 90 minute show. It even was way after his bedtime and he still behaved like an angel. Such a good boy!

Left to Right: Diane, Darla, Kim, Allison, Liz, Megan, Kristi and Trace

Play All Day

With Trace attending the same school for the last three years and our attendance at church becoming more of a regularity, Trace is making friends "hand over fist" as they say and now has almost as full of a social calendar as his dear Mother. He's still hanging out with Matthew Palmer and some kids that he's known since Preschool, but he's now making new friends from both East Sandy Elementary and the 6th ward. He plays at school with "Kalob" and "Sophie" and just this year he discovered he is in the same class this year as Wesley Nichols who lives just down the street from us and they love to just pal around the neighborhood. Of course, when this happens, they are soon joined by Liam Barnes on the corner, Will Childs, Brooklyn, Riley and Chloe (twins) and Wes' older brother Logan. We discovered that in our same cul-de-sac is a boy that is the same age as Trace named Ray and although he goes to another school, he and Trace are in the same class at church and get along really well. It is fun to watch Trace grow and change and make new friends at the same time he maintains old ones. Such a great kid, I find so very many things to be proud of him every day.

Left to Right; Trace, Wesley, Logan & Matthew

Babysitting Boys

Since I happened to have the day after Thanksgiving off, Rob and Ivanna asked if I wanted to watch little Liam for the day. Trace and I thought that sounded like a great way to spend the day! When he came over, they both asked for a snack so I pulled out the squeezable apple sauce and they snuggled together on the couch to enjoy their treat. So cute! Then, we played around and wrestled on the ground while Raven jumped around us and licked every part of exposed skin possible. Then at lunch time, I put them both up to the table and fed them frozen pizzas. I was amazed! i) They were both so quiet as they happily stuffed their faces and ii) They ended up eating two full pizzas between them! Little Liam had 2/3rd's of a pizza himself and Trace ate 1&1/3rd himself as well! Hungry boys! When Liam had a bad diaper that resulted in pants that needed to be cleaned, I just HAD to give him the Christmas present we had bought for him early and dressed him in corduroy pants, a long sleeve tee and a bomber jacket with fleece at the collar! So sticking cute! I think he knows it too. Something he shares with his older cousin. Watching Trace with Liam was just so amazing! He is patient, kind, sweet, protective and everything you could want in an older brother. Well, I guess we'll have to try to do something about making him one right? Right.........

Thanksgiving

Since we had just spent time with Kevin's family in Park City, and Tamara would be heading to Atlanta for Christmas, we decided to spend Thanksgiving with my family. We invited everyone to our house and Kevin went all-out with the food, as usual. He smoked the turkey in his smoker, made all the traditional favorites and generally spent the whole day in the kitchen making the most delicious of messes. Trace grabbed the whole drumstick leg from the turkey and started to eat it. I thought about asking him to mind his manners and maybe CUT the piece down, but then I thought; "What the heck, let the kid each the enormous turkey leg, you're only a kid once." Thank heaven Trace and I are so lucky to have such a great chef for a Dad and husband and Thanksgiving is just another chance for us to enjoy and share his talents with others.

Boy Scouts

Kevin and Colleen were recently put into their wards scouting program. Although Trace has no participated in our ward, he had a good time joining in with the boys when his Grandma & Grandpa were the instructors. During this meeting they learned how to use a screw driver, hammer, pliers and hand saw.

Christmas Cards

This year for our office Christmas card, we decided to have an artist create a caricature of our office. It was a really unique idea and we got tons of positive feedback from it. Merry Christmas from US Title's Sugarhouse Office!

Left to Right: Kristi, Diane, Kim, Liz, Megan & Mcinsy

Left to Right: Megan, Mcinsy, Kim, Kristi, Diane, Darla & Liz

Park City

Much to our surprise, Kevin's parents told us a few months ago that we were invited to spend the better part of a week with them in their time share at the Park City Marriott in November. They've done something like this before, but usually they invite their other kids and we just head up for a day or half day to swim with the others etc. This year, we were the only ones of Kevin's siblings that were invited and we had such a blast! It was so nice to just get away and relax and enjoy each others company. These are the memories that Trace and his parents will have to remember when Kevin and Colleen leave this earth. I love that my in-laws are so kind to share what little they have with those they love and I will never forget the great times we have together now.
We did things like, build a Lego Chess set, play the resorts extra large chess set, watch movies, finger paint, air hockey, participated in a taste-test of "create your own cupcakes", made candy sushi, went to a Mexican Restaurant on Main Street, made a stuffed Snowman for Trace to take home, saw a magic show, (which we had seen before and Trace was the only kid at that one too!), went shopping at the outlet mall for Christmas presents, and swam and swam in the resort heated indoor/outdoor pool. Trace was making me laugh because when we were swimming, he kept saying things like; "Mom, are my friends in class right now?" "Are my friends doing math right now?" and "I bet none of my friends are swimming right now". Correct Trace. You are spoiled. That's for sure. We all are this trip.

Candy Sushi

Cupcake Flavors were; Smore's, PJ & Jelly and Cheese (pretty good!)

Named his Snowman "Frosty"

Primary Program

This year we are Trace's team teachers in Primary and as the annual program was approaching, Trace started to get really nervous. He would say that he didn't want to participate and was expressing real anxiety about not being able to read his part like his classmates can. I told him not to worry and that we would help him learn the songs and practice his part. We got a CD with all the songs on it and we started to play it each night before bed and sing and dance to each song. He definitely had his favorites and sang those with more gusto, but he learned them all pretty well. When the day arrived, Nana and Papa came to see the production. While Trace was sitting next to us during the sacrament before they called the kids up to the stand, he leaned over to me and told me that his tummy was "going crazy". He said he felt like he needed to throw up. I told him that was normal and he was just nervous. He continued to wring his hands and ask to go home. I was starting to get nervous for him. The presidency had decided that the teachers would not sit up on the stand with the kids like I am used to, so I knew he would be on his own.

When the time came, he tucked in his shirt of his new outfit and walked right up to the correct seat. (They had practiced the week before) While it wasn't his turn to be up at the pulpit, he sat still and paid attention. I was worried that when the time came for him to talk, he'd mumble or freeze up, but when his turn arrived, he stood strong, leaned in to the microphone and delivered his part perfectly! He was the only one in his class that had to quote a scripture and he did it so well! There were a few in his class that were a little hard to understand, but Trace spoke clearly and loudly. I know now how it feels to have your heart swell with pride. He then returned to his seat and sang well and tried hard to remember all the words to all the songs. His part was;

"My name is Trace. 2nd Nephi Chapter 32, Verse 5 reads, 'the Holy Ghost will show unto you all things what ye should do."

After it was all over, I rushed up to give him a hug and he was beaming. He hugged Nana and Papa and took the compliments from other adults around him in stride. I asked him if he talked to his friend Talon that was seated next to him and he said; "No, I was following the rules and being reverent." How cute is that?! He also made a special effort after the program to tell the primary choir director; "I love the Primary Program". She was so touched and I was so proud. I sure do love this kid!

Camping Conundrum

I was just sitting at my desk at work one Friday afternoon, minding my own business, when I get a phone call from Kevin. (Who happened to be off that day.) He said to me; "Ask Melanie how much she wants for her trailer" What?! I found out that Kevin had been looking at my Facebook page and saw a post from one of my clients about how they were selling their much-loved camping trailer because they had gotten a new, fancy 5th wheel as a present. I called my client and she told me they were going to list it online for $18K, but they would sell it to us for only $15K if we wanted it. It is a 2015 31' bumper-pull trailer with a 13' pull-out on the one side. These sellers are avid campers and take really good care of things, so I knew that this camper had been loved and cared for since it was built. We dropped everything and went up to North Salt Lake to check it out as soon as I got off work. We ended up looking at it in the dark, but we saw that it had two doors, a Queen size master bed, a pull out Queen size sofa sleeper, two Full size bunk beds and a ton of cool features. It has a fridge, freezer, microwave, stove top, and oven. It has a toilet with the door to the outside, bathtub, shower and sink. It has a kitchen table seating for 8, and even central vac system! What?! Sold!! Anyway, long story short, we wrote a check and bought it that night! Of course, it is getting colder so it had already been weatherized, so we haven't used it yet, but we are SO excited to do so! It's going to fit our family just perfectly and I just can't wait to make memories and have great times in our new trailer! Now, we just need to sell the old one.......

Harlem Globetrotters

This year for my Mom's birthday, we really wanted to do something with her instead of just buy her a gift. I checked on the events that were coming into town and the only things that looked entertaining happening in/around her birthday were an opera performance at Abravenal Hall, or the Harlem Globetrotters basketball game. Since I thought Mom would like a basketball game more than an opera performance, I booked the tickets.
We had never been before and Trace was not in the mood. He had a full on breakdown and did NOT want to go at all. It was being held on a Saturday night and I image he had too much fun with friends that day and was truly just exhausted and upset that his friends had to leave. Anyway, much to his chagrin, we headed to the game anyway. During the first quarter Trace was pouting and wanted to go home, then the players started to do their special moves and really do funny things on the court. All of a sudden we had a basketball fan on our hands! He got into the game, talked his Dad into buying him popcorn and made his Nana and Papa laugh a lot. I think it ended up being more enjoyable for Trace than my Mom, but nevertheless, we all had a good time.
After the games conclusion, the offered the stands to come down to the court and buy a basketball and get signatures from the players on it. He and Kevin descended onto the court and made their way through the crowds of people. They ended up getting almost all the players signatures, and even a couple of pictures! All in all, an entertaining way to spend a Saturday night.