The weather has teased us with a couple of really nice days and then it got windy again.
Scott worked a lot on the site preparation and now we don't have gaping holes!! Our kind neighbor is letting us borrow his skid steer which has been such a blessing.
Robin, Rand and James are learning a ton and never cease to amaze me with the things that they can do.
That's all for us! Hope that you all have a great week.
Hello hello :) nothing too exciting to report around here. It’s been desperately cold the past week with a couple of tremendous snowstorms. Stetson really enjoys them, but we are not as excited about them. Luckily it’s supposed to start warming up this week, with a high of 63° on Wednesday! Cam and his brother should begin work this week which they are very excited about.
Cam has been working for his parents. They have a big stairway in their house that is a little outdated so he stained it and put new, metal balusters in it. It looks phenomenal and I am so proud of him.
We got a bird feeder and it is the very best. We hung it right outside the kitchen window and it’s my favorite thing. The cardinals really want to have some, but the chickadees and a little finch seem to be the boss. The first day we had it up, we had a blue jay visit a few times, but I think he was too big for it. I decided I need seven more at least.
Well I hope everyone has a lovely week :)
Well, I win for being off the blog for the longest time! I love reading your posts and hearing about your ordinary and wonderful lives! You are an inspiration.
The word around here is building, building, building, dust, dust, dust. We are getting to the end and we can feel it which is exciting. The dust has slowed down which I am so grateful for. The new carpet really helped that.
There is not much else to report. School is fun most days. At least I think. Chet and Wesley started swimming two weeks ago. They love it and they also love their ninja class. We are doing the very basics for school but it is going pretty well. Jane is the queen of the house and she makes sure everyone is doing what they should. Are all little girls bossy? She is cute though. Everyone is doing well although we have some colds right now but we haven't been sick much this year which is a blessing.
That's about all. My brain is a little tired but I love you all!
This whole week was so windy that we only left the house when we had to. But, despite the wind, we are officially done with excavation and we have passed all septic inspections!!
The best news of the week is that the first installment of the orchard (one tree) and blueberry bushes should arrive this week. In anticipation we went over to the orchard and dug a hole. It was moist and, dare I say, decent soil 2 feet down!! Scott tried to get his shovel in 15 feet to the east and couldn't get down 2 inches!! I am a believer in cover crops and mulching!!!
We had a nice Valentine's day.
Hello all. Life is good. A bit rainy this week and with a phenomenal snowstorm to close the week out. Our basement flooded. Our neighbor told us the river hasn’t been this high in 10 years so that’s exciting.
We got our car back this week which has been soooo nice!! Now I officially feel all moved in. We had a nice Valentines Day at home with homemade pizza as per tradition, then I made a brownie torte for dessert. It was pretty killer. Cam has requested it for his birthday cake this year.
Really not much to report on this week. Hope all is well with everyone!
Our weather seems to be confused and can't decide if it is winter or summer so the kids are suffering from colds and coughs caused by the ever fluctuating temperatures.
We got our official PASS for the septic system so we can now flush our imaginary toilets! Yay! We have been trying to get some water on the basement area and the fill dirt since, as my neighbor so eloquently put it, "it's like walking on the moon!" The quantity of fine powder dirt there is insane. I was not emotionally ready for the desolation that the big machines brought to an already desolate landscape. But, that makes it all the more of a blank slate for the beautifying, right?
The kids have been taking the 2 weeks swim classes offered by the town and they really seem to enjoy them. They are really excited about starting gymnastics again next month.
I have spent the last hour delightfully entertained catching up on all the blog posts I’ve missed over the last few months. Jenn wins for consistency and exciting updates and Emma wins for best photography and funny stories. Seriously Em, you have such a good eye.
I don’t think January even happened here. I woke up this morning and we are well into February and I don’t remember much of what has happened since Christmas. It was glorious to have so many of you here post Christmas Day. I loved visiting with the grown ups and playing with the kids. My favorites times were the snow days. Introducing Victoria to the outdoor snow cone tradition will be a favorite memory of mine forever.
Ruth, Lori, and I were able to attend a retreat for homeschool mamas in January was so much fun and very relaxing. We laughed a whole bunch and learned some really great things. Lori and I collaborated on a musical presentation one of the evenings which went really well. Lori is amazing!
We were sad to send Ian back to Utah Tech after Christmas break but we were so glad to have him home for a good, long stretch. He is working on a production of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder down at Utah Tech and sends me pictures of him painting sets. I should start a collection. He is really looking forward to wrapping up this semester and heading to Hale Center Theater for the summer where he will be performing in Footloose. We’re so excited for him.
Jack has become quite the socialite lately. He went on his first date a few weeks ago and when he got home from that there was a whole set up on our front porch from a girl he met once inviting him to the Sweetheart Ball at one of the local high schools. Emma and Ruth were here and were able to help us get a response prepared. He got home from Florida on Friday and then was gone all day Saturday to the date and dance festivities. He is taking and investing class at our homeschool co-op this semester which he is excited about. He got called to serve as the 1st assistant in his Priest quorum and is learning the ropes there. They have a huge (fun) group of boys. He loves being his own person, driving the car he bought from Grandpa for a dollar, and keeps us entertained with his quirky humor and escapades.
Peter started piano lessons at the beginning of the year and has become obsessed with playing the piano. He plays constantly. He also purchased a bass guitar and is trying to figure out how to play that. He also joined the local homeschool choir, alright fine, I signed him up for the local homeschool choir but he is a good sport and I think he likes it. It helps that Emerson is also part of the choir. He loves playing with our kitty or “killy” as Stetson calls her. He got set apart as the second counselor in the Deacon’s quorum today and is excited to serve the boys in his group.
Most of January was spent prepping for the big Spikeball tournament that Alex hosts in Florida. He and the boys along with his partner drove a packed van down and I flew out a few days later. The weather was glorious, the tournament was spectacular and we got to stay a few extra days to relax and play. We loved playing mini golf and going to Universal along with some pool time at our Airbnb that we shared with a whole bunch of really great friends. There are so many wonderful people in this world and we are lucky to know a lot of them.
Where do you begin when you haven't posted since September?! School started, we had Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years. Winter arrived and ever remains. Watching these house projects of the Mannings and Flakes is sure making me a little bit antsy to start one of our own. I haven't come up with a good enough excuse to start one however, nor the funding needed for one. I'm still looking. I have everything all planned out in my mind and it would make our house so lovely! This is the first winter we haven't had a house project going and I am going slightly stir crazy. Millie in fact asked me the other day, "When are we going to do a big project mom? Like, knocking some walls down?" A girl after my own heart.
I feel like the majority of my life is running the kids to their various activities and lessons. It's quite the time. Garrett is currently in Spokane for a work conference. He is really enjoying his job and the people he works with.
Sorry this post is oh so bland but maybe the pictures will be more enjoyable (in no particular order)!
