A Center for Grieving Children

I must share my new favorite thing/place/people; A Center for Grieving Children.

My children's dad has started working a new shift which has resulted in the kids seeing him less often than they are used to. This caused some issues for my oldest. That is when I realized she needed more help than what I was giving her (I probably knew it sooner but being overwhelmed, I put it off.) I had a good chat with my children's school counsellor (something else I should have done sooner) and she gave me a list of resources including A Center for Grieving Children.

I called them and they scheduled a time for me to bring the kids in. At our appointment, one person showed the kids around and told them about it, and then they played. Another person talked with me about the center and walked me through the paper work. They were so welcoming and kind and made it all very easy.

This place is so Amazing! They have groups for children who have suffered loss through death, and groups for kids who are struggling with their parents separations and divorce. We were there for divorce. The kids are split into two groups by age and get to play with and talk to other kids who are going through the exact same thing. They have many fabulous volunteers who facilitate this. My daughter was amazed that every child there had parents who were divorced. It made her feel like she belonged instead of being different.

While the children are playing, the parents meet with a facilitator in another room where they get to discuss their current challenges and support each other.

I am so glad my children and I get to be a part of this.

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas and happy holidays everyone!
This year the kids get to spend the first half of Winter break (and that means Christmas) with their dad. Because we wouldn't be together for the holiday, I decided to make the entire month extra special. We put up the stockings early and every now and then someone would find a note or a little gift in theirs. We watched a bunch of our  favorite holiday shows. The kids were bored to death with "It's a Wonderful Life." I'm sure if I force them to watch it every year they will eventually come to love it as I do. When I put on "Miracle on 34th St." the kids were wary of another old black and white, but they quickly fell in love with the little girl who didn't believe and the charming Kris Kringle. A true highlight of the season was going with my kids and my BFF to see "Scrooge" at Terrace Plaza Playhouse. It was the very first live play I've taken my four year old son to. It was incredible to watch his eyes light up and sparkle as he watched Mr. Scrooge change and become good.
On the Winter Solstice we lit a yule fire (really just flipped a switch and our magic gas fire came on all by itself). We talked about nature and the seasons and all the different ways people celebrate. The next morning the children awoke to discover that Santa had dropped off a few of their presents early.
Now the kids are gone and I'm lonely as Hell.
Special times really are about the people we share them with. I am so glad we were able to have such a wonderful holiday season together.

Topper Bakery and more pictures

I stopped in at Topper Bakery the other day for one of their famous big-as-your-head donuts and what I found was quite delightful.

They had the most wonderful gingerbread cookies that I gobbled up before I even had a chance to take a picture, and this marzipan that was just too cute to eat (almost).

I did finally convince myself to eat it, and it was wonderful.

Here are some other pictures I took:

UP844

The steam engine UP844 was the last steam engine built for Union Pacific. Today it rolled into the Ogden Union Station, and it will head out to Evanston Monday morning. It was so amazing to spend the morning with my little son in anticipation of the moment when the train would arrive.  The platform was crowded with excited, train-loving Ogdenites. We saw the big puffs of billowing steam first. Slowly it inched closer and closer. Then we heard the whistle. Finally, the train appeared. It was big and loud and had fire in it's belly. It was so amazing to stand so close to such a legend.

random pictures

I just wanted to share some pictures I took today.
First, the morning after the storm at my parents' house.

I've always thought it would be fun to just take pictures of all the buildings around town that have caught my attention over the years.  Especially the ones I remember from my childhood. When I drove past this...

today, I realized that some dreams(even the little ones) can't be put off forever. So, here is the first of what I intend to be a series of photos of just whatever catches my fancy in O-Town.
Do you recognize these places?

Out of town

I could stay in Ogden all summer and not feel like I've missed out on a thing, but we did manage to leave town twice this summer.
First, a weekend at Bear Lake.  My BFF has a trailer in Fish Haven and has generously invited us to stay there as often as we like.  Look at her view:

The beach was nearly non-existent, but we enjoyed the ever-present perfect breeze, the company of our best friend, and a famous Bear Lake raspberry shake.

Our other trip was for a family reunion in Southern Utah.  I was so incredibly nervous about making that drive on my own with three kids.  About three hours into the drive I knew i could do it and was amazed at the realization that I really could do anything I set my mind to.

On the drive home, we stopped to see Cove Fort.  It was fun to see how people lived a long time ago.

 The highlight for the kids was watching a man make clay pots on a wheel.  He gave the kids a pot which we managed to get home in one piece, but broke the next day.

Now I am perfectly contented to stay right here at home for the rest of the year, but I am making plans for a couple longer trips next year.

Weber State

For the longest time I thought that when I finally finished school I would return to Utah State where I started, but it hasn't turned out that way. 
I am finally back in school, but I'm at Weber State.  I will be able to get my accounting degree with all my courses being on-line or evening classes.  My employer is paying for two classes a semester so I figured it was time to finally finish. 
I have never given Weber State much thought.  It was always just there.  A place to see the symphony, attend county conventions, catch a marching band competition, and go bowling.  Now I know what an amazing place it is.  It is a great place to get a degree while continuing to live my already established life in a community I absolutely love. 
So, here are some pictures of the place I will call home one night a week for the next six years or so.

I'm not a horticulture major anymore, but I couldn't resist adding a plant picture.