Ch-Ch-Changes

We have lived in Utah for 5 1/2 years. That's half of our married life, most of the kids' lives, more than we have ever lived any place for one time in our adult lives. For the last year or so though, we have been feeling a bit restless, feeling like it's time for a change. It has gotten progressively harder to live so far from our families. Sometimes it feels like we are on an island 2000 miles away. We were initially hopeful that someone would move closer to us, but that never happened. We are alone out here and that would likely never change. The visits from family are fewer and farther between.

So we decided to do something about it. We are going to move back. Well, not necessarily all the way back to where we grew up but significantly closer. A few hours drive instead of a few hours flight. An opportunity for a transfer with my job is going to make this happen. For the first time, we will move somewhere for my job not James'. He has tendered his resignation to the U and what will be next for him is unknown. We will leave in May after the kids finish the school year. We will be moving to Virginia, right outside of D.C. This will not be the first time we have lived in Virginia and it's a bit like going back home. We know the area, I went to college in DC and James visited me often. We grew up there in a certain sense.

The kids are mixed about leaving Utah. We all are. We have everything here...great friends, a great school, a great house. It will be sad to leave. Keely is most excited. She has only known Utah as home (since we left AZ when she was less than 2, she doesn't remember it). She is excited for a change, ready for a new adventure. That's my girl. I would expect no less. Quinn on the other hand has been slow to come around. He does remember living other places, but truly he only knows Utah as home. He has his friends, loves his school and classmates, and plays on a great soccer team with all of his friends. He is a little more reserved than Keely, and tends to get a little more nervous about change. He's gone from not wanting to leave, to resigning himself to leaving, to moments of excitement about the move. I think we are getting there with him. He just needs time to process and the fact that we have given him several months notice is helping.

I am excited, and nervous too. A lot of things still have to be done and while May seems far away I know it will be here before we know it. We have a house to sell. We have a family to pack and move. We have to find a place to live. Sometimes I am wistful for 2003, when we moved to Tucson with one week notice and two weeks later were living in our new home. There was no time to think, no time to plan. Perfect for an over-thinker and over-planner like me!

The start of 2011 marks the beginning of the end for our time in Utah. We are excited about the possibilities and the changes on the horizon.

Book Review: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

I am a bit behind on book reviews. I actually read this one in December, mostly on a plane to Washington, DC for my last business trip. A few weeks before that, I heard the author on NPR and thought it sounded like a book I would like. Boy, was I right! The book is the true story of one man's entanglement with nature and how he manages to survive. I wasn't living in Utah at the time of this story, but it happens in an area of the state we have visited since living here so that provided an extra bonus to me. We've also hiked a slot canyon, which is where he gets stuck. I was so scared in that canyon, thinking about the possibility of flash floods but never imagining the possibility of dislodging one of the large boulders we were climbing on as Aron did in Little John Canyon.

This was an excellent book. It alternates between current time when Aron is stuck in Little John Canyon, trying to survive with one arm stuck and little food and water and Aron's past experiences with mountaineering and other aspects of his life. He really was a strong accomplished hiker and outdoorsman at the time of the unfortunate incident that nearly took his life. But as you learn from his past, it's not the first time he has put his life in nature's hands. He writes the book with such vigor and vim that you really feel that you are there with him. I rode his emotions as he determined himself destined to die in that canyon to his elation when he finally freed himself and the long hike out of the canyon to help and safety. I recommend reading this book and I am excited to see the movie that was made out of it, 127 Hours. As I have said before, I normally do not like the movies based on books but I am curious how they depict such a dramatic situation. It was also filmed right here in Utah, mostly in a Sugarhouse warehouse not more than 15 miles from our house.

I am now in the midst of reading the January Book Club selection, 100 Years of Solitude and will have a review of that next week. As is typical from Christmastime, I have a stock of books to read in the New Year. Lined up for me next are the first two of Stieg Larsson's trilogy and two books that James got me for Christmas, Where Men Win Glory by Jon Krakauer (one of my favorite authors and one who was quoted quite often in Aron Ralston's book) and Lord of Misrule, a book about life in the horse racing business. Let's hope I don't fizzle!

Sick Days

We're having a whopper of a start of 2011. We just get Quinn's report card and remark at how he had perfect attendance in the 2nd quarter - Keely did too, actually I don't think they've missed a single day this year. It must have been a jinx!

It started with me actually. I was working as usual on Thursday afternoon, when I stood up from my computer to go get the kids and felt a pain in my neck (literally!). I thought I must have been sitting funny and that it would go away. Well, it didn't and only got worse. I had a horrible night's sleep and was in pretty bad pain Friday morning. I could barely turn my neck. James and I (with our expert doctor opinions) believe it is a pinched nerve in my neck. I decided to treat it with rest, ibuprofen, heating pads, Tiger Balm (like Icy Hot but without the bad smell) and more rest. It has gotten progressively better, but there is still pain. At least I can drive and function (I couldn't even fold a load of laundry) but it seems like it will take more than a week for it to go away completely. Ah, the joy of life in the 30s.

So I took a sick day on Friday and then Quinn began to get sick over the weekend. He ran a fever Saturday night off and on until Monday morning. He had a cough and sniffles to go with it. I kept him home on Monday and swore he was going back to school yesterday but then he woke up with a bad sore throat. So off to see Dr. G we went. He was swabbed for strep - negative. Today he is back to school and all would be normal but...

Keely started running a fever last night. She got what Quinn had, but of course not at the same time. She's hacking pretty bad and the fever was still there this morning although lower. She's home from school today.

So I'm staring down a week where I am wondering if I will get one whole day of work in. On the bright side, I have a lot of sick time built up. And since I work from home, I can still get a portion of work time in. Plus it's actually probably good for my neck pain that I am forced to stay off the computer and take care of the kids.

So that's the update from the Donovan household. Let's hope that we get these sickies out of our system and can enjoy the rest of 2011 :)

Halfway

The conclusion of school for 2010 on December 17th also marked the end of the 2nd quarter, or roughly the halfway point for the school year. Along with that milestone, the kids received their second quarter report cards last week.

I'll start with Quinn. He got a very good report card, with all C's and 3 S+ grades in his subjects. His conduct grade was noted with an improving self control, definitely a good thing. He continues to ace 3rd grade. I am a little concerned that it is not challenging enough but when I asked about the advanced program at their school, I was told that it does not start until 4th grade and there is no budget to include 3rd graders. Quinn would definitely be a candidate but I'm not going to fight it any further. He's doing just fine, and may not be all that challenged but still loves school and loves to learn so it will work out for now.

Now, Keely. She got good marks, mostly in the S range. A few C's in there as well. Her comments from Mrs. C were pretty detailed which I like since we don't have P/T conferences again until March. Keely is improving in her reading and language, but still needs to practice memorizing the sight words she should know. She still sounds out even simple words that should come naturally to her at this point. Her reading level is not 1st grade yet, but I think she's on track and she really shouldn't be reading at a 1st grade level until the end of the year. Her behavior needs some improvement too. She needs to work on being nicer to others and not talking so much. She's definitely a social butterfly and needs to learn the appropriate times to be social. And if she doesn't start acting nicer to her friends she won't have anyone to be socializing with! One more comment that we talked with her about -- she rushes to be first to finish her work. She says she just needs to be first, and I explained why that is not important. Because of her rushing, she gets things wrong and often skips part of the work. I think she feels like she will miss something if she doesn't finish first. So most definitely a work in progress with her, but overall she did well and continues to improve.

So now we are in the midst of the second half of the school year. The kids will be in school for 100 days at the end of next week. That means about 80 to go and this school year will be history. Crazy!

2010 Wrapup

Phew. I think we are finally back to "normal" at the Donovan household. More than two weeks have passed since I last wrote. The family has come and gone. The kids are back at school. The house is quiet once again. I've been meaning to chronicle the holiday time but once again, it became an overwhelming task as the events and time started to pile up. So here I go, attempting to remember everything. My pictures are non existent too, so I've scrounged up some of Nana's pictures from Christmas morning.

The few days before Christmas were pretty uneventful, at least for me since I was still working. The kids made a gingerbread house and train with Nana & Papa. They also went swimming at Nana & Papa's hotel. James and the kids went with Grandma & Grandpa to the Utah Museum of Fine Arts at the U. We have never been and they all enjoyed it...even Quinn, who swore he wouldn't like an art museum :)

I planned the menu for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Christmas Eve we had Penna a la Vodka, crab cakes and asparagus with hollandaise sauce. Christmas Day we had a spiral ham, stuffing, homemade rolls, carrots, sweet potato casserole, and lasagna -- in other words, too much food. We ate it on Christmas and then again on Monday night. It was so much better the second time around, at least for me since I didn't have to spend another day preparing it all. Christmas was great for everyone I think. We had 9 people in the house plus Callie and Rudy. It was crazy but fun. The kids were most definitely spoiled. Quinn got a ton of Lego Star Wars and Atlantis sets, a Knex roller coaster (with 1100+ pieces!), a few books, and more I know I cannot think of right now. Keely got her own dry erase calendar with markers (so she can stop writing on my calendar), red Converse sneakers, Barbie shop and scan, books, a cupcake making & decorating set, and again more that I cannot think of right now. The adults received some gifts too (and I was way too spoiled by Santa!) and I think everyone reveled in the joy of a Christmas morning seen through children's eyes. Quinn still isn't sure about Santa, but he still kept it quiet enough that Keely was thoroughly enchanted with everything.
For the rest of the family visit, here are the highlights:
--The kids went to see Tangled with Annie & Nana.
--We visited Park City, seeing the Mining Museum and going out for lunch.
--We visited Hill Air Force Base Museum with Annie, Grandma & Grandpa then went out to Wingers for a late lunch. I can't believe we have lived here for 5+ years and had never been to this museum, it's free and really worth the trip!
--We went bowling with Grandma & Grandpa. Actually, just Grandpa because Grandma just watched and read her book.
--We went ice skating with Grandma & Grandpa. Actually, Quinn and Grandma did not ice skate. Keely loved it once again and I am going to sign her up for another round of lessons this winter.

Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011. More on the upcoming year soon...