kitchen crashers

We went to look at kitchen cabinets on Saturday. Is this really happening? After 5 years in this house are we really going to renovate the kitchen!!!????!!! I am so excited at the thought I can't even see straight!.

Scott's birthday

We went to Midway, UT for Scott's birthday for a little SUBA diving. We haven't been in awhile and I thought that Scott might enjoy a quick vacation and an opportunity to get his gear out and float around in the crater.

The Homestead Crater is basically a big mound you enter via ground level tunnel. Inside the big rock crater (like a hollowed out egg half filled with water) is the natural hot spring water that is a heavenly 94-96 degrees.  

 If you don't want to see the whole video, skip to about 2:24 - 3:10 or so to see just a quick view of the crater and then to 5:12 to see a diver's viewpoint.

We stayed the night before our dive at the Zermatt hotel there in Midway. Midway as you probably know, has a lot of Swiss history. In the 1860's and 70's a large number of Swiss immigrants settled there. The Zermatt resort as well as many of the homes and restaruants all have Swiss architecture and cuisine. Scott served his mission in Switzerland so I found it especially fun to be in Midway. He's not sentimental like I am so maybe he didn't find that aspect to be an addition to the trip.

Maddy stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Scooter-ride on Monday night and grandma dropped her at school Tuesday morning so she could be there for the Valentine's Day party. It surely was a nice birthday trip and coincidently, also a nice way to jointly spend Valentine's Day.

McD's

Went to lunch with two of my YW Presidency friends the first week in January. Because we had kids with us, we figured our best bet to be able to socialize was to meet at a McDonalds where the kids could play. After a rediculously long time finding said McDonalds on the east side of the valley (seriously . . . drove all over) we found one and when I saw it, I had visions of myself having to climb up to save my frightened daughter. To my surprise, NOT SCARED AT ALL. I mean seriously! look at that big long, enclosed slide! The only trouble I had with her was actually getting her to take a break and eat at some point in the evening.

Kristi, Jamee and I had a wonderful time visiting and playing with baby PK and Maddy and her new best friend Logan had a great time getting in touch with their more simian sides. Well, that is until the other family showed up with the much bigger kids who were way less careful and kind to the little ones.

my daddy is my favorite pal

I come from a family of sisters. You all know that. Well, I always fancied myself the "boy" of the family. I loved to be out in the yard helping dad after school or on the weekends. I have fond memories of my "helping" which usually involved things like following behind him in the garden in the freshly tilled dirt in my bare feet or behind him in the mower tracks getting green feet. I remember holding branches over the garbage can so he could cut them into smaller pieces, handing over nails and screws and picking up tools from the ground so he didn't have to come down from the ladder.

Over the years this graduated into more substantial roles. I remember when her first let me paint a wall - I think I was only allowed the primer coat. I learned how to grill a decent medium steak on the back patio. I learned how to change tires, air filters, headlights, oil and filters. Eventually I worked my way up to my college years when I changed the breaks on my car and dad sat back and read to me from the manual and handed me tools.

He must have thought that I did a good job because it was around then that have gave me a nice, good quality Makita cordless drill for Christmas. I cried when I opened it. No, not because "what 20 year old girls wants a cordless drill . . ." I think it brought me to tears because I admire my dad so much and I want to be like hime and I'd been a "helper in training" for so long, this just seemed like his stamp of approval on my abilities.

I love my dad. I love my mom too and there is more than enough for me to write a post about her. But when I saw Scott and my Maddy out working together in the garage on Tuesday evening, I was flooded with memories and knew that I had to write a post thanking you, dad, for all you have taught me. You taught me to work, and to not be afraid of tools and so many other things. I love you oh so much.

Happy Birthday!

I am thankful today and every day that Heavenly Father gave me such a wonderful set of parents to belong too.

taking aim

Over the Christmas break Rat and Co. joined us for a trip to the shooting range. I think Rachel and I enjoyed shooting the handguns best but I think the boys enjoyed the AK best (do I sound like I know what I'm talking about? I don't - I think it's an AK47 . . .). We had a good time but learned that the Friday two days before Christmas is the day that everyone visits the shooting range. Next time we'll have to go on an off day.
Thanks for coming with us!

the great disposal

not my picture

As a follow up to the last post I just have to share a little bit more about my great visiting teaching partner. Saturday morning I arrived at 8am as planned. Sandra pulled in just after me with her husband (brought to carry boxes up and down the stairs) and a crock pot filled with taco soup for lunch. Sandra sorted through the storage room finding jars that had a date prior to about 2005, or just looked all around yucky, she sent them upstairs via her hubby, Diane opened the jars and put them on the counter, I emptied them down the disposal and washed the jars. I figure we did around 200-300 jars and that was only about half of what she had in her storage room.

At noon or so we stopped for lunch. Not only had Sandra brought lunch, but she also brought bowls and spoons so we wouldn't dirty any of Diane's dishes. When we were done with lunch, she packed all the dirty dishes (she wouldn't let me wash them) into ziplock bags and put them in her box to take home. Can you believe how thoughtful she is?

Right around 1pm we finished what had been brought upstairs and cleaned up the kitchen and we left for the day. It was quite the project, and still not done. The whole time I was washing jars I was thinking (1) I sure like wide mouth jars and (2) I should help mom go through her food storage, I wonder if there is a lot on her shelves that needs to be thrown out!

I'm grateful for good examples and for the service opportunity. Also, grateful that I have a job that allows me to sit in a chair all day rather than standing on my feet.