End Of Summer

I can't believe summer is over. I returned back to school yesterday, August 25, 2009. Summer went by so quickly. I enjoyed returning back to class but I truly enjoyed my summer this year. We of course had construction going on but there was also fun with my husband, children, and grandchildren. We started the summer off with going to pickup Jake from his mission, as posted earlier, and then celebrated his homecoming with family and friends on July 19, 2009.

We spent time with Whitney who took off the summer to play before leaving for med school in the fall, more information on this event to follow. She would get a bit bored and want to take hike in the mountains. There are so many hiking trails that I was not even aware of in Utah. We took a hike above Brighton Ski Resort to two lakes, Lake Mary and Lake Catherine, well we all made it to Lake Mary but only Whit and I went on to Lake Catherine. It was beautiful and nice to spend time with Scott, Josie and Whitney. It sure beat the weeding we were doing before the hike, and we met many friendly people and animals along the way.

We had a little help with pigeon control during the summer. They like to use our house as a nesting spot, and make such a mess, so my son-in-law stood guard and scared them away. It seemed to work because we have not had any return to disrupt the construction or make any new messes.



We also had the grandchildren visit a lot this summer. Shauntel and Ryan are so generous with their family and I am truly grateful to both of them for bringing the children so often. I talk with friends and they don't get to see their grandchildren nearly as often as we do and their grandchildren live in the area. One of the fun activities we did this summer, in July, was had a marshmallow roast in the back yard with the whole family minus Ryan. We had the foundation of the addition poured and I guess J.R. thought is was a giant fire pit because he wanted the roast. He went around the yard in the morning to gather wood for the fire and later that night we started it and roasted the mellows and made Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Smores. They were delicious. It was a lot of fun. Jacob also brought his new girlfriend, Felicia, over to spend some time with us. She was still very shy but has warmed up to us since then. Of course there were smoke bombs because J.R. loves them and Uncle Brad makes sure he has some to light. What a great night.











All in all, it was a great summer and I had a great time not taking any classes and relaxing instead. I just need to figure out how I can take the whole summer off work and school then that would be heaven.

The Construction Continues

The next stage of construction has finally been completed. On July 4, 2009, Scott braved the roof to tear down the chimney. It was quite the attraction because everyone came out to watch him. Brad and David even came over to watch and help. We needed to tear it down before the the footings and foundation were poured. We finally got them poured, it seemed liked forever. The cement contractor tried to pull a bait and switch with the price. After he started the job he tried to tell Scott that he had missed measuring 13 feet and wanted to charge 2400.00 more. Scott and I were good general contractors and had two other bids. We showed the cement guy that his bid was right in line and even a little higher than the other two. Nice try cement guy. We also got back the bid back from the framing contractor. We only got one bid for the framer because he worked on our friends, Scott and Becky Harwood, house. He was over 8000.00 high so it was back to the drawing board to find a new framer. We found one to start on Monday, July 20, we hope. We have learned that it is hard to believe what a contractor tells you. It is like the old joke "how do you know a contractor is lying? His mouth is moving. I have seen the layout of my finished kitchen with the new cabinets and it keeps me motivated to stay upbeat and patient. I can't wait to see the finished project.

God Bless America

The 4th was a slow and easy going couple of days this year. We started off with a BBQ at my mom's on Friday, July 3. It was a lot of fun. All my brothers and sister was there with their kids and grandkids. Jacob is home so all my children were there and also my nephew Jared. It was the first time we have all been together at one time in years. We had great food. Aunt Brian, we call him this because he calls my brother "sister," BBQ'd hamburgers and hotdogs. It was delicious with all the salads and pot luck that was brought.

The next day we spent most of the day in the pool. Shauntel learned that her dog loves water as did JR and Carter, because she kept diving in on top of them. Bell a even learned to jump from the diving board. Needless to say, we spent lots of time in the pool with a black lab. David and his family came over to help Scott tear down the chimney so an inpromptu BBQ came about that day as well. Ryan BBQ'd steaks, made potato salad and quacamole with chips. It was such a fun day. We ended it with a movie out on the back lawn, as we have no patio right now.

I say this often and I will say it many more times, I love when I have all my children home together. It was a great day and I have not been so tired in a very long time.

Return With Honor

Jacob was released from the Merida, Mexico Mission on June 23, 2009. He did such a great job and worked so hard while serving the Lord and teaching the Mexican people for two years. Missions are such a great blessing for all, for Jacob, the people of Mexico, and us at home whom get to share his experiences and are blessed by the Lord while he is away. Scott and I felt it such an honor to support him while he served and truly felt the Lord's love while doing it. We are both going to miss this time.

Jacob would have been released on June 16, 2009 but we had the opportunity to go to Mexico and pick him up from the mission. We were able to meet many members and friends who loved and cared for Jacob. We were also able to meet with his President and wife. They are truly two of the nicest people I have met and even though we did not speak the same language it was truly a special time for me. The President and his wife were lovely and you could certainly tell they loved Jacob. The mission home was beautiful and in a great area that reminded me of a Las Vegas suburb.

We also had dinner with Elder Nemelka and his companion. Elder Nemelka (Bo) is a boy from our ward who went to the same mission about 5 weeks after Jacob. I also had another nephew, Kellan Madsen, go to the same mission just over a year before Jacob. It is a small world after all.
We had such a great time with the exception that Jacob couldn't enjoy the ocean of the water and he did not like that much. Also everyone, except me, suffered from the ED (explosive dirareah). This was amazing because of my stomache problems and IBS. Scott and I know it was because of my prayers before we left that I would not have a difficult time while in Mexico so that I would not be a burden to the rest of the traveling party. One of those missionary blessings I was talking about.

First Quilt Done

I finished my first quilt top on June 09, 2009. I learned a lot lessons and techniques. In my quilting group the comment, made by a woman in our Stake, was quoted, "If your top looks goods to people driving past it in their car then it is beautiful." Well my top may only look good from a moving vehicle but I still love it and I love the fabrics. I am still working on my block of the month quilt with my group and I love the time I spend with them, their friendship and talent. It has been a really rewarding experience for me. Now I am starting the ever favorite black, red, and white quilt top that so many before have done. It is called Virtue of Neccessity by Remember When Designs. I am secretly making if for someone, I hope she likes it!

Catch Up Time

Summer has started and I haven't posted for such a long time. I am truly enjoying my summer without worrying about going to class or doing homework. My family didn't believe that I would not take any classes this summer but here I am with no classes or homework. The only problem is that time is going by too quickly.

I was able to spend some time with the grandkids while their parents went to Arizona for a business meeting for a couple of days. That was fun. J.R., Shyann and I went and enjoyed some delicious icecream at Maggie Moo's. J.R. wanted vanilla until I started to tease him by saying "Hi my name is J.R. and I am boring because I only like vanilla." He thought that was so funny that he actually ordered a marshmellow flavor that was bright yellow, not bad. Shyann shared with Grandma so she chose chocolate. Okay, I chose it but she is only two so she didn't seem to mind. We also celebrated J.R.'s birthday at our house with a pool party. We did it last year and he loved it so Shauntel and Ryan thought it would be okay to do it again this year. Fun was had by all. We did the traditional BBQ and the food was great and it was truly enjoyable to spend time with my family all together again. This is such a treat for me. I can't wait until Jacob is home to complete the family. He will be home in two weeks (I wrote this before we went to Mexico so he is home now). I can't wait to see him.

Whitney and I also were able to attend one of J.R.'s T-Ball games. It was hilarious. Let's just say there is not a lot of focus yet with my grandson. He almost didn't even play but his mom threatened him with no rootbeer from the vending machine if he didn't so he reconsidered and played. By playing I mean he hit the ball, ran the bases by himself, and then stood at the pitchers mound with the rest of team while the other team took their turn batting. It was cold so Whit and I decided to leave because Shauntel told us he wouldn't bat again. Well he did! He even hit the ball from coach pitch. We saw him hit it from the tee. He is a little stink.

Construction started at our home, which ends our summer parties. We are adding an addition to our home. We want our kitchen to be bigger and also on the same level as the garage and swimming pool so we are expanding. To do this we had to remove the patio cover and two big trees. I was not sad about the patio cover but I was sad about the trees and about the Rose of Sharons that will be coming out when the excavator comes. We will have a nicer patio when the project is finished so I have to buck up and enjoy the experience. The project is off to a slow start. We wanted to be much further along in the process by now but permits and construction workers slow you down. Scott and I are general contracting so it will be interesting. Let me just say I understand why my friend Becky had such a difficult time deciding things. It took Scott and I a few weeks to decide on the new floor plan and kitchen design. I will keep the progress posted.

I am looking forward to the rest of the summer and spending time with my kids and grandkids. Whitney leaves in July for California and med school so time is precious. Also my grankids better spend a lot of time with me this summer!