I have definitely been a less active member of the blog community but it doesn't mean I don't think about it every week! I was so glad for mom's email nudge today to write on the blog so here I am finally. The last little while we have had some fun times. First of all, our trip to Georgia was especially nice. We were invited to Nick's friend's wedding in Atlanta and we piggy-backed it with a spring break vacation. It was so nice to be in warmer weather relaxing and playing on the beach. The wedding was very simple and nice. While in Atlanta we went to the aquarium and it was unbelievable. Nick lived a childhood dream of seeing a real whale shark! It was huge! Quite the aquarium if you ever get a chance to see it. We then went to Savannah and enjoyed visiting parts of Thomas' mission. We particularly enjoyed the Spanish moss on the trees and the beautiful beach. We found a jelly fish that washed up on the beach and lots of perfect sea shells. One funny story was when we were walking in historic Savannah and we saw an older lady pushing a stroller and we thought it might be a grandchild. When we turned to look at the "baby" it was quite shocking to see a parakeet in a little bird cage! So funny! We also got to see a Civil War Fort and that was fascinating.
Since we got back we have been doing lots of school things and Nick is getting ready for his recital on April 26. Nick has been very interested in the current political events and we went to our Caucus meeting last week which was very interesting.
So excited for General Conference this weekend and the uplift it always is! Hope to see some of you!
Monday, March 28, 2016
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Hart Happenings
We enjoyed a visit from the Nilssons this week and had fun looking at houses with them. Kind of a bummer how things turned out but we aren't giving up. The perfect house is just around the corner.
Our homeschooling group also toured the local Museum of Clean, quite possibly one of the most fun museums I've ever been to. All kinds of cleaning paraphernalia from bygone days. So fun!
On Wednesday the boys were invited by some good friends of ours to come over for a science afternoon. Ryan, the dad, walked the kids through a bunch of experiments in chemical reactions that the boys got a huge kick out of.
On Thursday night Alex went to play basketball with the guys and about 20 minutes after he left I got this picture
Speaking of basketball, Jack is out on our tiny patio practicing every day on his little fisher price basketball stand we have. Alex asked him if he wanted to play basketball professionally and he said no because he doesn't want to get hurt by the big guys. So Alex asked why he was practicing so much, was it because he liked it or because he wanted to get really good? Jack said yes he likes it and he just wants to be better than Alex. I had to laugh. The competition is on.
I really enjoyed the General Women's broadcast last night. I can't remember a time when I heard the women leaders of the church come out and talk so strongly about things. I came away very inspired and motivated. You never regret attending meetings like that. They are such great opportunities and if you don't take them you never even know what you missed out on.
Hope all is well! Enjoy your week and revel in General Conference!
Flake Fun
27 March 2016 - Happy Easter everyone! We had a pretty good Easter, including a visit from all of the Flake siblings and niece. It was fun to have lunch/dinner and visit. Little Katelyn is sure growing up (she turned 1 this week).
This week at work was pretty normal. After 3 months, Scott was able to move back to his cubicle and have a desk instead of a folding table. When we arrived at work on Thursday, the facilities guys had unplugged his computer and put his folding table in his cubicle! It took a couple of days to get everything put back together. I hear that they should be close to finished with my office area in the next couple of days. Hopefully it will be the last move for a little while at least.
TJ and Kim received their certificate of occupancy so as soon as their permanent funding closes (hopefully Tuesday or Wednesday) they can move in! We are so happy for them! We had a little party on Friday to celebrate! Now what will we do with our weekends?
Yesterday we went on a young men/young women/scout hike in the Grand Canyon. It was a pretty hike which turned brutal on the last 1.5 miles. I believe it was about 13 miles all told. We haven't moved very fast today. It was easy to spot the leaders at church that were had done the hike. The youth didn't look any worse for the wear!
While I was trudging, the thought came to me that slow and steady doesn't always win the race, but it will get you over the finish line. It seemed fitting for the moment but also fitting for life in general. The Lord doesn't ask us to win the race, just to cross the finish line. We don't have to compete against our sibling/neighbor who is more spiritual, has better behaved children, is more charitable or the endless lists of comparisons we tack onto people. We just have to do our best, even if it is only an inch at a time during some periods. And it is much easier with a support network, some of which are at our side, encouraging, holding our hands and struggling with us; others who have already made it across the finish line and are waiting patiently for us to arrive, no matter how long it takes.
Love you all!
This week at work was pretty normal. After 3 months, Scott was able to move back to his cubicle and have a desk instead of a folding table. When we arrived at work on Thursday, the facilities guys had unplugged his computer and put his folding table in his cubicle! It took a couple of days to get everything put back together. I hear that they should be close to finished with my office area in the next couple of days. Hopefully it will be the last move for a little while at least.
TJ and Kim received their certificate of occupancy so as soon as their permanent funding closes (hopefully Tuesday or Wednesday) they can move in! We are so happy for them! We had a little party on Friday to celebrate! Now what will we do with our weekends?
Yesterday we went on a young men/young women/scout hike in the Grand Canyon. It was a pretty hike which turned brutal on the last 1.5 miles. I believe it was about 13 miles all told. We haven't moved very fast today. It was easy to spot the leaders at church that were had done the hike. The youth didn't look any worse for the wear!
This is Trinitee a cousin and neighbor
While I was trudging, the thought came to me that slow and steady doesn't always win the race, but it will get you over the finish line. It seemed fitting for the moment but also fitting for life in general. The Lord doesn't ask us to win the race, just to cross the finish line. We don't have to compete against our sibling/neighbor who is more spiritual, has better behaved children, is more charitable or the endless lists of comparisons we tack onto people. We just have to do our best, even if it is only an inch at a time during some periods. And it is much easier with a support network, some of which are at our side, encouraging, holding our hands and struggling with us; others who have already made it across the finish line and are waiting patiently for us to arrive, no matter how long it takes.
Love you all!
Hyde Park Happiness
Happy Easter one and all!! What a lovely day to celebrate springtime and coming alive again. It's such a blessing to know what it all means. I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father loves us so much that He wants us to come home and provided the way for us to do that. Celia Ashcroft spoke in church today and told about a conversation she had with her dad when she was a teenager. She was arguing with him about something she wanted to do that he didn't agree with. He finally gave up the fight and told her, "Just remember one thing. No matter what happens or what mistakes you make in your life, you can always come home. Please come home!" I think that's what Easter is all about - the suffering and sacrifice was all so that we can "come home." Let's be sure to help each other get there.
So, Emma is off to Arizona tomorrow. She's not very excited about traveling alone, but she'll have a wonderful time with Becca. I wish she could get up to see Jenn. Maybe next time. Becca has lots of plans like pedicures, the butterfly garden, a music museum, swimming at her friend's pool, and shopping. I'm trying to not be jealous! Of course, I'll be having fun, too, keeping the Nilsson children occupied while the packers and movers are at their house! That's about as fun as spending time in 70+ degree weather and sitting by the pool..... :)
Dad met with his family yesterday. They made more plans for our cruise to Alaska. If anyone wants to come help Lauren and Nick and Baby Manning take care of our yard, garden, chickens, Gem and tend Emma for the 12 days we'll be gone, I'm sure they'd be glad for the help!!
I do hope we get to see or visit with all of you soon! Love you all!
So, Emma is off to Arizona tomorrow. She's not very excited about traveling alone, but she'll have a wonderful time with Becca. I wish she could get up to see Jenn. Maybe next time. Becca has lots of plans like pedicures, the butterfly garden, a music museum, swimming at her friend's pool, and shopping. I'm trying to not be jealous! Of course, I'll be having fun, too, keeping the Nilsson children occupied while the packers and movers are at their house! That's about as fun as spending time in 70+ degree weather and sitting by the pool..... :)
Dad met with his family yesterday. They made more plans for our cruise to Alaska. If anyone wants to come help Lauren and Nick and Baby Manning take care of our yard, garden, chickens, Gem and tend Emma for the 12 days we'll be gone, I'm sure they'd be glad for the help!!
I do hope we get to see or visit with all of you soon! Love you all!
Monday, March 21, 2016
Hyde Park Happiness
We don't have any photos to post simply because I don't know how to get them from my phone on to the computer. But we had a good week, regardless of no pictures. Emma did well at the Hyde Park Royalty Pageant, as you've heard. That was a funny thing - I decided to send a text to all the sisters and sisters-in-law because I thought they'd like to know. Then I thought maybe the brothers ought to know too, so I added Joe and Thomas to the text. Boom! Immediately there were responses from.... the brothers!! It was quite humorous to me. The girls all responded in time for Emma to be touched by the support when she got home to read the texts. Thanks for making your baby sister feel important and loved.
It was fun to have the Nilssons here this past weekend. We celebrated Garrett's birthday, went for walks to see new baby twin calves (so charmingly cute), planted onions, pruned trees, played games, attended all sessions of the temple dedication and had some fun time visiting. We hope to still have those opportunities when they move to Idaho!
We've had interesting weather this week - everything from sunny, 60 degree days to snow to rain to hail to wind and back to sunny 60 degrees! It was nice enough for another walk today, but is supposed to snow tomorrow. At least it's not boring!
We are receiving daily phone calls with invitations to attend phone town hall meetings, encouragement to attend our caucus meetings, watch debates, and otherwise get involved in politics. Emma is getting fed up with it all. This promises to be an interesting year with some important decisions to be made. I'm trying to endure it patiently, but I really wish there were some dignified, wise, honest statesmen out there that I could feel good about voting for! Well, I guess we'll be off to the caucus tomorrow...
Have a lovely week, all!
It was fun to have the Nilssons here this past weekend. We celebrated Garrett's birthday, went for walks to see new baby twin calves (so charmingly cute), planted onions, pruned trees, played games, attended all sessions of the temple dedication and had some fun time visiting. We hope to still have those opportunities when they move to Idaho!
We've had interesting weather this week - everything from sunny, 60 degree days to snow to rain to hail to wind and back to sunny 60 degrees! It was nice enough for another walk today, but is supposed to snow tomorrow. At least it's not boring!
We are receiving daily phone calls with invitations to attend phone town hall meetings, encouragement to attend our caucus meetings, watch debates, and otherwise get involved in politics. Emma is getting fed up with it all. This promises to be an interesting year with some important decisions to be made. I'm trying to endure it patiently, but I really wish there were some dignified, wise, honest statesmen out there that I could feel good about voting for! Well, I guess we'll be off to the caucus tomorrow...
Have a lovely week, all!
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Hart Happenings
This week started with an unanticipated trip to Casper Wyoming to take care of some of Alex's dad's commercial properties. It was a very successful venture and we were able to resolve some problems that we hadn't been able to overcome for weeks before and left Casper with a dined lease and a down payment check. Yay!
On our way home we hit white-out conditions just outside of Jackson Hole. 
We found a hotel room there and holed up for the night instead of attempting the mountain pass. The next morning the pass was closed to anyone without chains on their tires so we took the long way home through the beautiful Wind River country. The minute we crossed the Wyoming Idaho line the snow disappeared. 
We enjoyed having Garrett over for dinner on Wednesday. The boys had fun wrestling their uncle and he and Alex made plans to see a movie this week so we're already seeing pi dictators of what it's going to be like having them up here permanently and we're huge fans!
Alex's brother Josh and his family came into town on Thursday so we got to spend some good time with the Hart side of the family over the weekend. We looked at some houses that we are considering buying to expand our vacation home rental venture. Alex has to turn people down every day and we are convinced that we could easily keep another property occupied. We'll see what we can find.
The weather this weekend was lovely so we spent some quality time outside yesterday working in the yard and today we drove up to Rexburg and wandered around in the gardens up there and reveled in the sunshine. Lovely!
Happy Birthday to Garrett today and happy first day of Spring! It's official!
Flake Fun
20 March 2016 - I failed to mention last week that the Taylor Wal-Mart opened. It is really tiny but is a good resource.
This week was fairly normal. My boss put in his 2 weeks notice so he can move to Gilbert. His wife got a job there a month ago so he has been going down there on the weekends. So, things at work will be changing...again.
We spent all of Friday and Saturday at TJ and Kim's house. It is so close! Scott spent his days on scaffolding putting up siding and I was busy helping with tile and grout. The carpet is scheduled to be installed on Tuesday. The appliances are waiting to be installed. The plumbing is nearly done. All of the little odds and ends but there is light at the end of the tunnel!
The weather has been nice and sunny. Our seedlings are starting to sprout. There isn't really much more to report than that. I hope that everyone in Utah enjoyed the temple dedication.
Love you all! Have a terrific week!
Here are some more wedding pics for your viewing pleasure!
This week was fairly normal. My boss put in his 2 weeks notice so he can move to Gilbert. His wife got a job there a month ago so he has been going down there on the weekends. So, things at work will be changing...again.
We spent all of Friday and Saturday at TJ and Kim's house. It is so close! Scott spent his days on scaffolding putting up siding and I was busy helping with tile and grout. The carpet is scheduled to be installed on Tuesday. The appliances are waiting to be installed. The plumbing is nearly done. All of the little odds and ends but there is light at the end of the tunnel!
The weather has been nice and sunny. Our seedlings are starting to sprout. There isn't really much more to report than that. I hope that everyone in Utah enjoyed the temple dedication.
Love you all! Have a terrific week!
Here are some more wedding pics for your viewing pleasure!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)