Another one bites the dust (so to speak).

Tuesday, July 27

She couldn't have chosen a more appropriate shirt for the day!

$3 t-shirts + tie-dye kit = SOOO MUCH FUN

I've been feeling kind of guilty that I haven't done many projects with the kids this summer because I've been so busy with my own. So during one of our trips to the craft store I picked up some white tees and a tie-dye kit and let them create.









I know it was torture leaving the shirts alone for 24 hours to let the dye set, but they were very patient. And didn't they turn out AWESOME?!

Back In New Mexico Again!

I got to go to New Mexico again this summer—this time Dad got to come along! We left after I got off work on Thursday and stayed overnight in Farmington, NM, which is halfway. Today, we surprised Mommer by showing up at the mountain house at 3 o’clock this afternoon!

It is pretty wet on the road up to the house; at one place, we felt like we were fording a small stream because of the runoff from all the rain lately! Mommer says that they have been having daily torrential rains here—more water than some locals say that they have seen before! Here are some photos that Mommer took the other day of some ‘waterfalls’ around the house here… Do you recognize where these are pictures of?

It didn't rain today and was quite pretty, actually. The picture below is one that I took today of the pond. The water was running over the road in the storm that Mommer photographed! The water has also backed up behind the small dam that Popper built behind the house. This is a lot of water!!

There is still a steady flow of water running down the mountain, so we have our own natural ‘mountain stream’ white noise to listen to! We are enjoying the cool weather and hope that we don't have to come home in a canoe!

Mom

Latest Update!!

So we're officially moving down to Orem on the 24th. We found an apartment right by campus (UVU) and we're both way excited for the change. This is short but we just wanted everyone to know where we're at with it.

Our Wittle Fif is Gwowing Up!!

I don't have a lot to write so I'm going to let the photos do the talking for me about Fif's big day.

I want to congratulate you again sweetie. You da bestest!!

Moving Plans

Just a little update for those of you who haven't heard, I recently was told that my residency status has been changed in Utah so I'm going to transfer down to Utah Valley University. This last weekend we took a trip down to Orem to look at apartments and for Kristen to interview at the plasma center down there. She got the job and we may have found a good apartment next to campus. We're planning on moving down there either the middle or end of July. We'll keep ya posted.

Pretty Time of Year

Just thought I'd share a few pics of the wildflowers that are going crazy around here right now. We had a good wet winter and the results of all that ground water are starting to show. Hope you like them.



I also wanted to thank those of you who were able to make the trip here for Jennifer's graduation. Mom and I do so appreciate the support you all have for each other and the fun we have together. Makes us feel good. Dad

Dear Family

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone that came down/up/out for my graduation last week. It really meant a lot to me that you came, and I had SO much fun! I hope you all thought it was worth it, because I sure did. (:

And also: I love you!

Family reunion

Just in case some of you haven't heard, there is a family reunion for Grandma's family scheduled for July 17 in Provo. We are planning to go up there for it and hope some of you can make it as well. Contact me and I'll give you the details (if I know them). As of right now, it sounds like Grandma, Cheryl, Ryan and (hopefully) Jan will be coming out for the reunion and maybe spending a couple of days with us down here. Just thought I'd give you a heads-up. And maybe a picture for your enjoyment. Dad.

What the...?!

Hakan brought this in the other day from the field around our house.

He was trying to be sweet by bringing his Mommy a flower, but the first thing that flew out of my mouth was something like, "EW! What the crap is that thing?!"

First of all, this was the BIGGEST dang dandelion I've ever seen. It was a good 2.5" in diameter, about the size of a carnation. Second of all, well, LOOK at it! There's a dandelion growing out of a dandelion! It's a mutant!!


This is just wrong. I find it unsettling. Freaky things are happening around here, and I don't like it.

I don't like it one bit.

Just sayin.

I just wanted to celebrate with all of you the great news I got in the mail today. It's called: I just got a $5,000 scholarship to SUU, in addition to my Founder's Scholarship, which is $2,500 a year for 4 years. I'm just gettin hooked up in all sorts of ways! Hurray for college!

A Beautiful Day In the Neighborhood

It may be April 21st, but here is the proof that Mother Nature has a sense of humor! This amount of snow would have closed the entire school district in Lumberton!

This little unseasonable snow storm not only blanketed all the vegetation around the park, but about a mile and a half up the road (near the sledding hill) the snow fell so fast and furious that for a quarter-mile stretch, it was close to 4" deep and someone sent the snowplow out here! Naturally, the 'meadow' is a muddy mess--talk about your crazy weather patterns! This may be Old Man Winter's last parting shot, but you never can never be too sure...

Easter 2010http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RSFPAqRXE6o/S8FovcNI5jI/AAAAAAAAAGI/fX_Uff3kzq8/s1600/_MG_0498%232.jpg

I don't know about anybody else but Kristen and I had a BLAST hanging out with a lot of the family in Utah. Those little mugwumps were cute especially Rambo....I mean Pyper. She was pretty aggressive about getting those eggs. I can't wait until we get to hang out again. Here's a few pictures of the kids and a family picture with a happy Aaron.

Portrait failure

This WOULD have been a really good photo...

...except...

...Aaron thinks it's funny to be uncooperative.
I should be annoyed by this, but I still can't help but laugh.

Dad's California Trip

I’ve been wanting to do a post about my trip to California last month, but have been a little too uninspired until now to do it. So here goes. As most of you know, Grandma was able to go on a cruise with and old friend of hers and that friends sister. The sister lives in St. George, so they flew into Las Vegas and drove to St. George. I was able to get the week off, so I drove to St. George on Monday morning, picked up Grandma and we headed to San Lorenzo. I stayed ‘til Friday and came home. How’s that for a post? What? You want more? Oh, all right.
Ryan was able to come and stay Tuesday and Wednesday, so we did a fair bit of goofing around together, as well as a little bit of constructive effort. When we got there, Grandma’s magnolia tree in the back yard was in full flower, and lots of the petals were in full free fall, as well.

We cleaned it up for now, but there were more waiting to fall. In fact, some didn’t even wait for us to get back in the house. Oh well. We went and met Bart and Jane for lunch and then got to go see Issac and Becca’s new baby boy Aiden.

There was a pretty good fight to hold him, but we each got a turn.
Then on Wednesday, Grandma decided she needed to stay home and do laundry, so Ryan and I took a trip to the coast and Bean Hollow. The tide was high, so the rock pools were covered, but the surf was up and we got some pretty great waves coming in, as you can see from a couple of pictures.

There was foam all over the place.
Then we drove down the coast a bit and found Pigeon Point Lighthouse, so of course we had to stop and take some more pictures. Ryan and I can be bad influences on each other when it comes to cameras.

Then we went home, picked up Grandma and went out to visit Janae’s family, which was also a lot of fun (as usual).

Munchkins vs. Jolly Green Giant?

Ryan left from Janae’s to go home. Thursday was mostly spent relaxing and shopping with Grandma and then I drove home on Friday. It was a quick trip but lots of fun. I plan to do it again sometime soon, if I can get away with it. This year is Grandma’s year to have Thanksgiving dinner at her house for my brothers and sisters and we are planning on being there for it this year. I’m sure I speak for Grandma if I invite all of you to join us if you can swing it. Not sure yet of the exact schedule, but we’ll work on it as it gets closer.
The posts have been a bit sparse of late, so I’m going to encourage all of you to think of something and put it on here. A new post from one of you is the highlight of the day for us. Love you all. Dad.