The Visitor

The day Darin and the kids came home from youth conference, we had a little friend show up at our house.

It's some kind of ground squirrel, though one I've never seen before. It was big with a longer tail than I'd ever seen on a ground squirrel--though not a bushy squirrel-like tail.

We started to wonder if it had hitched a ride with them from Ephraim.

We've seen it twice now, but it disappears quickly when we try to chase it for a better look.

Anyway, I looked around on the DWR's website and THINK it might be:



A White-tailed Prairie Dog, which would mean he came from somewhere around here.

Cute, huh?

I just hope he doesn't take a liking to my garden veggies!

Facebooking

I'm glad to know people actually read this blog.

Just in time for me to join Facebook.

Weird.

Me and Darin have Facebook pages. We still need pictures. Mine will probably be one of feet. I like feet.

Look us up!

A Little Bit of Everything

There's STILL a hole in my carpet. But the painting is almost done.

My garden is growing nicely, though some of the plants are a bit pale--not enough sun lately, I think.

The lawn WAY needs mowing. We haven't had a dry day in two weeks!

We have no water today--the city was kind enough (THIS time) to tell us that our water was going to be shut off today due to water line repair and update. Hopefully it won't be off tomorrow, too.

We've had some pretty amazing temple experiences this month--three of them. First, some dear friends of ours had their third child sealed to them. They've adopted three children through foster care, and now all three are sealed to them. It was a neat experience. Second, my neice, Claire was married. It was a beautiful ceremony and a lovely day, with the rain holding off--literally--until we had the last table taken down after the reception! Third, another neice, Alison, was sealed to her husband and two boys. It's been very cool to see the changes they've made in their lives to make it possible. They're a great family!

The kids just came back from a bike ride, which means my hour of peace and quiet just came to an end.

Ian turns fifteen on Saturday. He THINKS he's going to get his learner's permit! Whatever!!

Darin and I will be celebrating our 20th anniversary on the 28th. He won't tell me where we're going or what we're doing, and he's sworn the kids to secrecy and warned me that if I even BUG them about telling me any details he'll hold me down so they can tickle me. They're all having so much fun with this. But just to get him back, me and the kids won't tell him what we're getting HIM for Father's Day! Bwahahaha!!

Hannah made business cards this week. That was weird. My daughter has business cards!

Darin, Hannah, and Ian leave tomorrow morning for youth conference. Me and Maren will be ALL ALONE!! I'm sure we'll find something fun to do. We'll post pics when the week's over.

The dog needs a bath, but we don't have any water to give her one today.

We're having grilled chicken legs for dinner tonight.

My car window squeals when you lower it--but only when the car is dirty.

I paid $2.49 a gallon for gas yesterday and the same price for a case of bottled water.

I'm thirsty.

Does anyone read this?

*shrug*

Hannah Got a Job!!

Well, sort of, let me explain.

My good friend Abby and I started a business, Canyon Wind Strings. Our plan is to spend the summer providing music for wedding receptions, family reunions an the like. We've only been started for a few weeks, during which time we put an add on KSL, and we already have a possible job.
Anyway, you can see our website (Yes! how cool! we have a website too!) at sites.google.com/site/canyonwindstrings.

Hannah

There's a Hole in My Carpet!! & We LOVE Airplanes!

Yay!!

Why do I say 'Yay!!'???

Because that hole means I get new carpet!!

After all we've been through the past couple of weeks, I DESERVE new carpet!!

But why is there a hole?

Because they had to take a sample of the carpet for valuation. It goes to some lab somewhere and they determine the worth of the carpet based on its quality, etc. Then that report goes to the insurance adjuster who then determines how much he's going to give us to replace it based on that report.

It's likely we'll be paying some out, but at this point we don't have much choice but to replace it. It's permanently stained and now has a hole cut into it. We're thinking, while we're at it, that we might carpet the bedrooms too. Then, if we decide to sell (and we're thinking about it--we even fasted about it Sunday), we'll have new carpet to add to its appeal.

Plus I'm getting a new paint job in the living room and hall. We're being bold and going with color. Three walls of the room are, even as we speak, a nice warm tan. The third wall will be painted today--a kind of dusty, ferny, green. Then the doorframes, window sills, baseboards, and ceiling will be the same warm white we have in the kitchen. We're also planning on painting the kitchen while we're painting and would like to paint the family room. But those projects will have to wait until the living room is done.
This is what's been done so far. Nice, huh? OK, so that picture's kind of dark. It's not that dark. I'll post more pic later.

One big dilemma with this whole affair is what in the world to do with the piano while we're laying carpet. It won't fit into one of the rooms down the hallway (it won't make the turn into a room), if we take it into the family room we'll have to take it down steps (besides, the family room will already be full of extra furniture), I'm worried that if we take it into the kitchen its weight will damage the ceramic tiles. We could take it outside, but we still have the problem of a) steps, and b) potential exposure to the weather (both rain and temperature change which is NOT good for tuning). If we end up doing the bedrooms, too, we might have to rent a PODS for a day or two and stow all the furniture in there.

At any rate, WHATEVER we do with the piano, we're going to need SEVERAL strong men to help us do it. Any volunteers?

THANKS! I knew you'd be willing!

Also, if anyone finds themselves in a position similar to ours, we're using a company by the name of ServiceMaster/Phipps Construction. They've been FANTASTIC!!

We also went out to the Air Show at Hill Air Force Base Sunday. We got there in time for it to a)rain and b)see the Thunderbirds! WOW! It is THRILLING to have those jets fly over and to feel the ground rumble beneath your feet and your heart pound to the rhythm of the jet engines.

It wasn't raining when we got there, and wasn't raining most of the time, but a swift moving rainstorm came over right in the middle of the Thunderbrids' show, so they had to delay the show, with the Thunderbirds flying around overhead somewhere, until the weather cleared. The storm was moving so fast it didn't take more than 15 minutes or so for the show to get going again.

Pics!
The Storm after it passed over. Beautiful!

The Thunderbirds' Chevron formation:

Me and Darin after the storm:

Standing under the nose of an F-16:

OK, seriously, we need to get some pics of me in the slide show of when I'm healthy. All, ok most, of the pictures of me are from Colorado, when I was sick, and exuasted from lack of sleep.

I promise I don't look like that all the time!

Ha-Ha