Wednesday Night

Last night Justin and Eric P. were able to work together and finish leveling the back yard. It looks so great!
{I promise pictures are coming soon.}
They are now working on fencing and building the back deck. Eric P. is actually going to try to finish running the electrical in our shop today.
You know what that means?
That means Justin’s black truck gets to vacate the garage along with all his tool boxes and such…and I get to take over the garage! I’m just excited enough, I almost want to paint it pink or something…
Haha..nah. We had this agreement that the shop is the designated man cave and since he gets the shop I get the garage. Might be an interesting negotiation, but it will work!

I bought some fabric and pillow forms to make some more new pillows for the couches about 1 ½ months ago (or more) and these last two days I’ve actually taken the time to sew them together. I was really excited. They turned out really nice. I was very surprised they turned out as well as they did because I’d never sewn on a zipper before.
They are cute though

(Insert pictures here)

After the guys finished working in the yard and I finished sewing, Justin’s Mom and Mammy and Pappy and Tyler, Amy and the kids all came up to visit. We had a good time just eating and watching Shrek. I LOVED Mammy’s warm tapioca! It’s one of my favorites for sure.
It was good to get to see all of them and visit with them!

Since I’m not all that incredibly helpful with fencing or building a deck my next project is to work on the fire pit area. We are building a 20’ x 20’ area in the back corner of our lot strictly designated for a fireplace.

I can measure and lay pit liner and haul gravel over to it. That’ll be no problem. I’m excited that we’re to the point that I can actually do things on my own without having to wait on anyone!

Although, it may be a while before I actually get to work on it. We have a very busy little while ahead of us:

• Today
• 4: Double dating with my buddy from Cedar who came to visit – bowling and Snobiz.
• 8:30/9:30 Softball games tonight.
• Friday
• Working ½ day so I can: Build Lei’s for Eric for graduation
• Going to Graduation @ 5:30
• Big family dinner in Jensen after Graduation
• Saturday
• Wake up SUPER EARLY to get Nichole’s wedding flowers put together before I go to
• Nichole and Taylor’s Sealing Session at noon
• Luncheon
• Then go put together reception flowers before the reception and
• Watch the food tables during the reception
• And probably helping clean up after the reception.
• Sunday
• I get to prepare my primary lesson and a talk all before church
• Give a talk during sacrament
• And teach my primary class

It’s a darn good thing Monday is a holiday because I’m going to need some serious cleaning/recuperation!
And then I get to start all over. Haha.
I don’t mean to sound like I’m complaining. I am excited about everything that’s going on around me and that I get to be a part of it all!

The Yard...

This last little while, our yard has totally consumed our lives. If it’s not fencing, or weeding or watering or leveling or planting or building, we don’t do it, lol. I can’t say how great it has been though. To see something that we own turn into something from nothing, is so rewarding! I have this picture in my mind of what a wonderful little yard it will be, with Justin out there throwing softballs with our kids and I’m out there making little lunches… I know that’s a long way down the road, but that’s just the picture that pops into my head.


We got the tractor up here from St. George so last night we spent all afternoon leveling out our side yard, which used to just be this huge sluffing-off rock pile. Then after we got that all raked out and got the sprinklers raised to the ‘new ground-level’ we started working on the back yard. Justin started spreading and leveling the top soil in the back yard. He got more than ½ of it finished last night, I was really surprised at how fast the work went.

I forgot to mention that two weeks ago, I got called as the new primary teacher for the 11-year old girls. I have taught their class twice now and I do enjoy it. I love re-reading the stories I have known and heard since childhood. It’s a good reminder of who came first and what really happened. Sometimes the girls have a fairly short attention span, but I have tried to involve them by having them take turns reading the different sections of scripture and asking as many questions as I can. Last week I had a bit of a rough patch with one of the more disobedient girls in the class. I have been trying so hard to be patient with her, but the way I was raised, that kind of behavior would NOT FLY!

I miss the days when children were made to sit quietly by their parents with their arms folded, with their feet on the floor – not kicking, hitting, pinching, spitting, or touching, each other and most especially NOT being disruptive. That is the kind of classroom I have been striving to posses and it has been okay, except for this one “fluke” I had last week.

This little girl is always glaring at me, like she thinks she can scare me. She will never answer questions with relevant information when I ask her things and when I ask her to read scriptures, usually after about 5 minutes of all of us sitting there staring at her – she gives in. I can handle that with a little persistence and a little patience. But when it comes to the point of this girl standing in the middle of the room practically yelling in my face about how awesome she is and something about snowmobiling and cabins…I just kinda lost it….I was not rude but…well…It went a little something like this:
“Look! I know it is hard for you to have a new teacher and I know I do things differently than your old teacher but I need you to knock it off. I work very hard to prepare these lessons and to involve you girls in them. I want to make things fun, because, let’s face it, these lessons are as much for my benefit as yours, so if you can’t be on your 100% best behavior and only say things that are important to this lesson, you can march your little butt outside and not come back.”

And…that was it folks…my grand embarrassing moment where I couldn’t believe I had just said those things to an 11year old girl let alone, we were in the church house…

Wow…Anyways. That’s what’s up with us… plus about a million other small things that make life what it is :D

Progress

This week we have been making a little {tiny} bit of progress around the house, so I have to share. {Be grateful for what you DO have...right?}

1. The load of topsoil was delivered (so now we just have to level it out)


2. We planned out where and how big we want our fire pit and garden areas to be (now we just have to buy the materials and actually build them)


3. Justin started to get the garage cleaned out (so now we just have to get his truck out so my new car can go in)


4. We picked up the white vinyl fencing for the front yard from Lowes yesterday (now we are just waiting for the rest of the pole jackets to come in, and of course, to put it up)


5. I also mowed the front lawn last night too. That was nice.


6. I got my new black book shelf put together in my office and loaded up with all my books. I love it!


7. I also got the new black matching DVD case put together and in the living room. Very nice!


8. Justin and Eric got one of the shelves Melanie gave us, out of the garage and into the basement so I can start organizing our food storage in it as well.


9. Justin did go and buy the 4x4x10's that we needed for the front fence too.

So I guess...in a few little ways here and there...progress is being made! haha.

P.S. I just got back from lunch...and Eric Pratt and Justin are digging the holes for the fence posts in the front yard! YAY!

Things yet to come

The rest of May is Jam-packed for me:

• Sunday 16th: First time teaching my new Primary Class of 11 year old girls. {This one could be challenging}
• Tuesday 18th: Sophie>>> Rabies Vaccinations
• Thursday 20th: Justin Softball
• Saturday 22nd: Nichole and Taylors Endowment session (YAY!)
• Thursday 27th: Justin Softball
• Friday 28th: Little Brother's Graduation!
• Friday 28th: Nichole's wedding flowers will also be delivered
• Saturday 29th: Nichole and Taylor's wedding and Reception {Which I will have to have the flowers put together for in time!} Then Trish and I will watch the food during the reception.
• Sunday 30th and Monday 1st: Justin and I are off work and we are Putting up the fence if it's not already up by then (which it won't be I'm sure)

"Wow life! Is that the best you can do?" :S

So many things to do, so little time....

This last year when Justin and I bought our house, we qualified for the $8000 tax credit, which we got back last month and are using towards putting our yard together.

We have already torn the grass out on the west side of the driveway and graveled it in, to make another parking space. We planted a new flower bed on the east side of the porch, so it matches the one on the west side. We also put gravel all around our new shed.

I planted two of my favorite trees:

Pussy Willow and Lilac

We have already purchased all our fencing

(this is for the back yard)(and this is for the front yard)

And our Decking

Along with the 4x4's, and quikrete. Now we are just waiting on a load of top soil to be delivered so we can level out our lot, then we're going to put up the fence. I'm so excited!

It's going to be a lot of work, but it will so be worth it.

Anadarko

I have been working for anadarko for a little over a month now, and I just have to say...I LOVE IT! It is such a relaxing and positive environment! I can't express how much I appreciate the opportunity I've had to come and work here. The hours are so much better for Justin and I! I work from 6am-3pm with a 1 hour lunch.

Typically they hire their new employees on through a contracting company, like SOS. I was fortunate enough to only have to be a contractor for less than a month. I was hired on company May 3rd, which means I now have benefits of my own.

I just love being able to do things at my own pace and having little to no pressure. I'm left to work on my own and to make the most of my time as I see fit, and it's great!!!

Loving it!

New Car

This last week, Justin and I had an opportunity fall into our lap that we couldn't pass up. Melanie {Justin's mom} got a new car, and she offered to sell hers to us. It is in such great shape and holds it's value so well, we figured we better not let this one go. So....

There it is....

I love the interior. I like the black and cream. I love it!!

Iron Man 2

We went and saw Iron Man 2 on Wednesday...I must say I wasn't 100% lovin it. It doesn't help that I absolutely can not stand!!! Scarlett Johansson...Other than that it was okay.

There were a few of other people there we knew and both of them told me they wouldn't give it any higher than a 6/10....

Glad I'm not the only one.

Red Canyon Lodge

To really celebrate our Anniversary, Justin and I took the weekend off and went to Red Canyon Lodge. Neither of us had every stayed or eaten there before. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. It was such a nice, fun, relaxing weekend! I just loved it. The weather was a little cold, but that didn't stop us from enjoying being outside.

We went up to the Scenic lookouts. It's so pretty up there!

We went fishing. We didn't catch anything, but it was still fun.

I think Justin had more fun watching me "fish" than him actually fishing himself. I have not been fishing in probably 10 years, so he thought this was all sorts of great :D

*It was a little windy*

This is us sitting by our fire {that was trying SO HARD not to get blown out} Getting ready to roast our beef dogs (it was the most stupid idea we've ever had to try one of these disgusting things) for lunch.

Justin couldn't even finish half of his...haha. They were pretty bad!

At dinner that night, we got to watch all these deer come and eat out of the bird feeders, and the whole time, the lady behind us kept calling them "he's".....Justin was about to yell at her "Do you see any horns or peckers? They're doe's you idiot,".....hmmm....

Dinner was super good though. We tried their Baked Cheese, Artichoke Heart and Sundried Tomatoe dip with toasted Baguette slices. SO YUMMY!

Thanks for the great weekend babe!

Our 2 Year Anniversary

On May 3rd, we celebrated our 2 year anniversary. There is not a day that goes by that I don't Thank my Heavenly Father for Justin. He is my everything and I don't know what I would do without him.

We have been so busy lately it seems like that for our anniversary, we both decided we just wanted a night off! Haha, so we rented a movie and got some take out and we vegged...

It was a great time.

I am so grateful for my wonderful husband and all he does for me!

April 30- May 1

Every year for almost as long as I can remember, my family has taken a trip to Salt Lake to Temple Square to see the flowers for Mothers Day. Since my mom has worked on Mothers Day every day since before I can remember, we always go the weekend before or after.

We usually take a big family picture on Temple Square, but this year it was exceptionally cold, so Tiffany and Jason decided to leave early, so the little girls didn't get sick from the cold. All the rest of us hung out for a little while after they left though and we got some pictures.

We all went to Johnny Carinos and went to the mall. We tried going to Leatherby's but they were closed :( Maybe next time though. We got my ring re-plated and bought Justin some new sunglasses. It was really great to go spend some good time with my family. I love them so much!

We also took some pictures of my little brother along the way, for him to use as senior pictures.

It was quite a fiasco at some points...haha

Dad was being so patient and funny! Love him!