February 2020

The month of February will always invoke thoughts of Mark's grandmother in Taiwan.  She passed away February 11, 2020. Her birthday was also in February and we took Brian to Taiwan in February of 2010. February equals Nai Nai in my mind.  She lived to reach 108 years of age. Amazing.  I am so grateful for her story and her legacy.  Without her I would not be a part of the Hsiao family and my boys would not be Hsiao boys. Mark was going to go to Taiwan with his mom for the funeral services, but the trip was cancelled due to coronavirus concerns.  We hope it dies down and we can travel there to pay our respects.  

Mark did a lot of fishing in February.  He is on a roll with the big ones even though he could not quite net the biggest of all and didn't get a picture.  This picture will have to suffice even though the one he couldn't net was supposedly twice as big.

 
The boys played some ping pong.

We had a MASSIVE snow storm at the beginning of the month.  Big enough that school was delayed and we took it as a snow day.  It took most of the day to dig out.

The kids got some sledding in too.

Basketball season finished up.

We took Brian to the temple for baptisms for the first time.  It was such a nice experience!  Mark baptized both of us and we completed family names from his mom's side of the family.

Timmy stayed with Mark's parents while we were at the temple.

The chickens have been too bold in spending time in the yard.

We spent a Friday off school at the ranch.  I love it up there even in the winter.

Brian and I went running at Wheeler Farm and Timmy played around.

The youth prepared flags for the fundraiser.

Timmy learned how to solve the 5x5 speed cube.  Not an easy task!

Back to the ranch for cross country skiing and a Valentine's/birthday party for Clara.

Early morning check up on the farm.

More fishing for Mark.

This bald eagle may be eyeing his fish.

 Mark organized an amazing stake youth activity.  It was a super fun sledding activity with games and food in the lodge at Camp Tracy.  I stayed out on the sledding hill to supervise. The girls (and Timmy) got me on the hill too.  It was so fast!

Mark replaced the oven in the house across the street.

The boys still love to read.

Brian and I ran after school a few times.

Lots of piano practice for their piano recital.

Another day of fishing!

January 2020

Welcome 2020!  Time just keeps moving forward. We finished out Christmas break with some snow.

And a little relaxing.

 We went to Korean BBQ for New Year's! Our favorite!

Kids started school and Brian and I started running.  He was all excited to be my running coach and then he gave up about the third time out.  He said I was beyond help. Guess I'll have to do it on my own.

Brian was ordained to be a Deacon by Mark and started passing the sacrament at church.  He was also called as the Deacons Quorum President. How is he that old?  I do enjoy having him at YM and YW activities with me.

Both my ancient ovens killed out and Mark found an amazing deal on new ones and got them all installed.  He is amazing and so are the new ovens!

The boys started practicing ping pong.

We had a day off school so we spent it playing outside at the ranch.  It was a beautiful day! The boys learned they actually enjoy cross country skiing. That makes me so happy!

We also did some sledding in our own backyard park.

Saturdays have been full of basketball for both boys.

Mark had to take a work trip and got to stay with these two and take them out to lunch and dinner.  We love them!

Timmy participated in the Chinese New Year celebrations at school.

My mom took us to see the Pompeii Exhibit at the Leonardo Museum.  We also saw the rest of the museum.

Saturday wrestling.  Mark is under there holding both boys. I wonder if one day the tides will turn?

 We invited friends over for Hsiao traditional New Year's dumplings.  Of course we had to make a trip to the Asian store for supplies.

Other things that happened:
-Lots of YW meetings and activities.  It's taking a bit to get all the changes worked out, but I love how the girls are stepping up to the plate and doing so much more!
-Piano lessons are continuing and federation songs have been chosen.  We have made a renewed effort in practicing.
-Once a month cello lessons start at the end of January and orchestra started up again too.
-I have rebuilt the bottom of the horse feeders and tried different solutions for minimizing the mud around those feeders without much success. This winter has been wet, but not frozen, which makes for a muddy horse paddock.  Horses seem pretty good. Ahab is looking pretty old but still has spunk.
-Airbnb is busy with skiers.
-I have made it to the temple every week this month.  I finally figured out how to get and print family names.  Why did that take me so long?  It is so simple.
-I am fully into studying the Book of Mormon with the boys.  I am finding that it helps to have them read the chapters on their own (usually while I help the other practice an instrument) and then discuss our journals and thoughts together.  I hope we can keep it up all year.
-I am still enjoying the Don't Miss This podcasts and their devotional book.