New Kitchen-ish

So we've been working on our kitchen for about four months. Last week, we finally got the new flooring put in. I was so excited. It looks really nice. We went from this...

to this...

Looks so nice!

And the front entryway?................

Looks pretty good I think. I'm so excited, this stuff is finally getting done. Realistically speaking, the new carpet won't be in for about four months. We have to save up again for it. We used to have a savings, but a big $$$$ part went out on the Durango while we were vacationing in Bear Lake in July. We decided to use the savings on it, so the rest of the major stuff is going to have to wait. In the meantime, I'll be hopefully getting the moulding up in the kitchen; wash, fill holes in the wall and then paint the front room and then up the stairs and the rest of the house. When we are done with the painting, we'll then get new carpet. Yes, we should have done this 4 years ago, but, I'm okay with fixing it up to sell it. Then we can fix up a new place and stay there for a long time.

This is what we did last night...

pic. by Fred Bruenjes

After a quick run to the grocery store for some ice cream sundae cones, you know the ones I mean right?, we headed up the canyon to the dam. All six of us watched out the back of the SUV to watch for the Perseid's meteor shower. I know the best night to watch was the night before, but we didn't have the kids with us then. So we ate our cones, watched for the meteors, ignored all the cars' headlights passing us, and just talked. About whatever the kids had on their minds. Stephen even got to show the kids the Big dipper (Ursa major) and showed how it pointed to the North Star (Polaris) and explained how that was the tip of the Little dippers handle (Ursa minor). He gave little lessons on the stars when a question was asked. It was cool. It was fun. The kids enjoyed themselves and boy #2 ate his entire cone, he usually doesn't. We cleaned up the kids after a while and headed home.

On the way down the canyon we had to stop because a semi-truck that was hauling smashed cars had tipped its load. So we had to wait a few minutes for them do some cleaning up. We didn't have to wait long because the workers were taking turns with waiting cars and trying to move some things.


Then when we got out of the canyon, there was a ton of traffic.?What? We looked to the right and saw the mountain was on fire. It looked as though they had it all contained and had gotten to it fast, but whoa, what if they hadn't? We might have had to take the long way home. Everything turned out fine in the end and we did get to see some meteors flashing through the atmosphere.

School begins soon

So school will begin very soon for my children. I'm frazzled and torn, not because I don't want them to go to school, it's where they will be going. We unfortunately haven't moved anywhere-or even close to it but that's another post- and my oldest will be going to a jr. high that I do.not.like! I've been pleading with the Lord to let her attend elsewhere but so far, I've not noticed an answer. I would love for all three to attend a charter school close to home, but, no one has called me back and I've been calling almost every.stinkin'.day. I feel trapped. I don't know how else to help my children's education be better other than what we do at home already. At the jr. high G#1 will be attending, it's not so much the education as it's the attitude of the students attending there.

The attitude is...why should we learn English if we don't speak it at home? why should we care about your history if it's not ours? math will take us no where but to the welfare system just like our parents.

Do you see why I want better for my daughter? You do understand don't you? The teachers kind of give up and seem to act as if they don't care because the student's don't. We have had several conversations with our daughter telling her she'll have to work harder than ever so she can do better in school. not that she's had too much trouble with school but that she'll have to involve herself with the teachers to make sure she gets all the knowledge she can in the subjects they teach. She is a hard worker and she can be and is a great student, but I worry if, with the wrong kinds of friends, the attitudes of others, and teachers giving up, she'll get "left behind."

I know it's kind of silly, but my children's education is their key to having a better lifestyle than what they are growing up with. I'm not saying they have it bad now, but if they learn now to budget their money, learn that there is always 2 sides and sometimes a 3rd, have an open mind but know who they are, learn an occupation that will help with their own families (for the girls if needed,) I believe that they will be able to have a great life and not worry about if they'll make the next house payment without using line of credit or having to go into debt to fix a car. We are really trying. They don't go without the necessities.

This didn't end the way I thought it would. I'm just rambling.Sorry.

13 Years!!!!

Yesterday we celebrated 13 years of marriage. It hasn't always been easy, but I don't believe we had more or harder problems than others, but we have always worked it out. Always. Otherwise I wouldn't be writing about this. Stephen and I met in high school, he was a grade older. We were just friends and didn't start dating until after I had graduated from high school. Our first date ever was a hike up waterfall canyon, it was also our second hike thankfully. (I didn't finish the first time due to work, lack of sleep and food. I did redeem myself with the second date.) Many more hikes and dates followed. I kinda wiped all the other girls from his memory, or at least blew them all out of the water.

We married two years later on the day of our first date. The ceremony was under his parents cherry tree. We were sealed on our one year anniversary, having Girl #1 sealed to us. Being sealed in the temple was the.best.decision.ever! Because of our sealing, we have made it through many things and I know that we will make it through all things. We have been given strength because of this decision.

He is my life. Because of him, I have been blessed with 4 wonderful children; I'm learning patience; to have an open mind and to consider things when I don't know the answer; to budget better; to be more compassionate to others because I don't know their circumstances; to love easier and better.

I have truly been blessed by the Lord. He has given me an incredible gift in my husband. I am truly grateful for all that we can do and accomplish. I love my husband. What more can I say?

Can't help it

I can't help but love this face.

Isn't he all sorts of cute?

My good friends Amanda and Jared were able to adopt this little cutie. I got to see him on his one week birthday last week. His older brother is so cute helping out, I love it. He will totally be the bestest big brother to this little guy. Jared and Amanda will continue to be the best parents for these little guys.

Congrats you two! So happy many, many prayers were heard and answered! You deserve to be happy!

running this week with critters

monday. i went for a run with chuck. we did 4 or so miles going through a neighborhood. just as we passed a house three deer ran across the area we just cleared. it was kinda cool/scary. the hooves on the pavement sounded so different i was nervous, wondering what was following us. end that day on a good note.
tuesday. chuck, lesa, and i went for a 5 miler. we started out doing really well and headed for a hill. they are faster than i am so i wondered why they were backing down from the top of the hill. i looked at what they were looking at and saw the top of a yellowish furred body, walking along the front of a garage door. chuck said it was a mountain lion and decided she wouldn't run that area alone again. ;) (and she was so worried about a mountain lion getting her while running ragnar....nope, just in her own backyard) we finished our run without any other "critter" encounters. end that day on a flat note.
thursday. i went running with lesa for an easy 3 miler. on my way to lesa's house to run, i almost ran over a raccoon. almost. i'm pretty sure i didn't even nick it, but you never can be sure. i even swerved to miss it. i don't usually do that, it causes accidents. so on my way home, i drove the same way i'd gone. i didn't see any kind of greasy, hairy spot so i'm assuming one of two things: i never hit it; or i hit it enough to send it to the weeds past the sidewalk and there it lies.
later that day, stephen and i went for a drive to his parents place. a quail comes running out on the road. again. i swerved. stephen looked at me and said i "so could have had that bird!"
what is with all the critters!!?!! critters- stay where you are so you don't get hurt. i'm not responsible for anything that happens to you if you leave your areas. have a good day!

Hidden Valley...sooo not the salad dressing.

On Sunday after church, we went for a hike as a family. Stephen has been dying to hike to a place called Hidden Valley. The trail head you start from is at the top of 22ND st. in O-town. You start using the Indian Trail and about a 1/2 mile up there is a bunch of rocks that look like steps going S instead of NE. On one rock is painted Hidden Valley. Okay. The hike, according to one Internet source is 1.4 miles, difficult, the paths aren't recognizable (to anyone except my husband!), and the elevation increase is from 5080' to 6760'. What!??! yep a difference of 1680 feet. My kids hiked the whole way, except for boy #2, he gave up early. We ran out of water. Our dog was dying thanks to his black fur. Oh, it was a heck of a hike. But the best part of our total 5 hour hike, being together. The two middle kids just love hiking and were running often on the trail. The oldest griped, but she had me as an example when she was younger. What can I say? I don't enjoy hiking but I go anyway. most of the time. She finished the hike stronger I think. We took this opportunity as parents to explain to our kids that they were given strong bodies, healthy bodies, able bodies. We should be grateful we can hike this particular trail. There are those we know that are the same ages and wouldn't be able to hike it. at.all. Boy #2 enjoyed his ride on Stephen's shoulders, back, being carried in his arms like a little baby is cuddled. Yep, he has the easy life. We ran out of water, but were lucky enough to get into the trees. We made one major stop to eat a few snacks we brought, I thought we would turn around & go back home. Stephen scouted ahead, came back and told us we had less than 1/2 mile to go. We finished to the top. Looking at the pics now and remembering how everything was, it is gorgeous! Definitely a hike to do if you like to hike, and it's early spring/summer. It was Totally worth all the dust, dirt, bugs, bites, lack of restrooms, trips on roots, lack of water, and my fear of heights. We took pics of the scenery, kids standing on ledges, hiking the steepest parts of the trail, and us at the end of the trail. Totally worth all of it. I won't do that hike again, (probably,) but we are heading out to do Ben Lomand Peak in a few weeks. Tell me what you think, should we take our kids to Ben Lomand Peak starting at the divide? or should we leave them home so we do the full 18 miles by ourselves? Just wondering. Stephen is sure the kids can make it. I'll decide later.
Recap: Full afternoon sun. Ran out of water. One kid whining. Heights. Ready to give up. Finish to the top of trail. See tip of Mount Ogden across the valley. Beautiful views of valley and O-town. Seeing that my family and I can do what I think is impossible...Absolutely Better than anything I could imagine.