We made it through!

We somehow survived January!  It seems only fitting that the sunset last night was incredible.

It's only going to get better from here on out.

30 day yoga challenge.

Mommy got me to join her on the "Yoga with Adriene" 30 day yoga challenge on YouTube.  I have to admit, it's been rather enjoyable and it gives me something to look forward to every evening.

Part of the appeal is her dog Benji is on nearly every day.  Maizey has been joining us each day.

Mountain View Trail.

We've been exploring the Mountain View Trail system lately.  It's wider and much less crowded than the Parkway.

Great views of the valley on Sunday.

TRAX train!

Skyler loves to wave to the TRAX operator in order to get them to honk at him.  It worked again on Saturday!

Even Mommy gets in on waving.

Sunny Saturday on the Parkway.

Hard to believe it's still winter with days like we had Saturday.

Deer!

Spotted on our walk yesterday during the brief appearance of the sun.

Throwback Thursday.

 Five years ago today!

Remember when Grandpa built Skyler a wooden crane?!

And now for something completely different!

I heard this on KUAA yesterday.  You can stream the station here.

Train cruise!

Skyler and I took advantage of MLK day yesterday and rode the Frontrunner train to Ogden and back.

SO Excited!

A year ago.

Today is the one year anniversary of losing Mom.  I think about her every day and even though it's been hard, we somehow made it through the year.

Model train show at Thanksgiving Point.

It was a letdown!  Not much to look at or purchase.  At least we got out of the house.

He was invited to run the "American Flyer" train.  He wasn't too impressed.

Back at Grandpa's, finally, a real model train!

Delicious!

Homemade beef rice-a-roni last night!  Recipe found here.

Easy to make too!

Halfway there!

January (the shittiest month) is halfway over.  Altair and I have been doing the 30 day yoga challenge and that's possibly the only thing getting me through the month.

Still true!

Old dog, still likes to play.

Last night was "red popper" play for Maizey.  She still gets so excited and love to play until exhaustion.

SO happy!

Faster than a CNC machine!

Ninja foodi.

It's like an Instant Pot meets the air fryer!

40 minutes under pressure an 10 under the "tender crisper" and you have the most delicious rotisserie chicken ever made!

Musk Rat!

Spotted sunning himself last week.

Once the dog spotted him, he dove into the water and swam under the ice!

More art!

The school is having an open house for prospective and current parents today.  Part of the open house is to have an art show featuring the various classes artwork.

Complete with a picture of the artist!

His class theme was a "piece of the puzzle".

The artist checking out the exhibit!

Winter.

 Skyler did this cute snowman art in school this week.

Very detailed.

Phase 3!

Of the model railroad at Grandpa's!

Phase 3 will have a turntable with a roundhouse.  Skyler getting a firsthand view from the future turntable pit.

Checking out the new control panel wiring.  Look how many switches!

Porch sunshine.

Skyler asked to let the cat out on the front porch Saturday afternoon.  Of course the dog had to go out too.

We were a little concerned that the cat wasn't going to make it through the weekend.  He had some sort of balance issue that started the night before.




Happily, the cat seems to have recovered and is still alive as of this writing.

Beacon Knob part 3.

Remains of the original antenna.


Original antena piece?


He was delighted to see a solar panel up close.

We think this complex it for the radio collars for all of the bison on the island.

Filling out his Junior Ranger book at the knob.

This was really cool!  We were almost back to the car and a DWR Ranger stopped us and thanked us for leashing our dog.  She gave each of us one of these pin!

Beacon knob continued.

Rangers stopped to warn us about the 3 bull bison just over the next ridge.

Waiting for Mommy and Skyler to see what we want to do about the bison.

Bison!

He was NOT happy!!  Crying and whining about every little thing on the trail.

Looking South toward Frary Peak.  Remember when we hiked that trail in 2018?

Looking West.  Beautiful!

The former beacon station on Beacon Point.

Checking out the former house of the beacon operator.

Enormous bird nest inside the house!

Final photos tomorrow...

A hike to beacon knob on Antelope Island.

We headed up there Friday.  Nearly perfect conditions despite it being January.

View to the South.

Northeast view showing the causeway.

Panoramic view to the West.

2 F-35 fighters!  We could hear them forever it seemed.

Trailhead.

More tomorrow...

Winter break arts and crafts.

Skyler and Mommy made some snowflakes for the mantle.  Maybe this will help cheer up the month of January suck!

Air spray marker!

Final products.  They turned out really nice!

Happy 40th birthday Karen!!

Today is my only sibling's birthday!  I remember when she came home from the hospital when I was 3 and getting to hold her for the first time in the living room (there's a picture somewhere).  She's incredibly intelligent, crafty, outdoorsy, independant and loving.  I must say, the last 21 months have been shit, but, I feel the loss of Mom has only brought our little family closer.  And that's a good thing!  Happy Birthday Karen, I love you.

She's also a really incredible Aunt to Skyler!
(Photo courtesy of Matt).

New Year's Dinner.

We switched it up a little this year.  Reverse seared prime rib!

Rare on one side, seared to perfection on the reverse side.  Welcome 2020!

Welcome 2020!

Goodbye to 2019, the worst year ever!

Like my sister said, we made it through somehow.  Here's hoping we can turn this shit ship around in 2020!