Another project ... at the property!

These pictures do not do justice for the work that was done at the property last week-end ... BUT because Dennis and I were so worried about all the details of the things we needed to bring with us for our 'work day' we forgot the camera!! On Sat. morning we left home about 8 a.m. pulling (not the quads this time) but a little tractor that we had borrowed ... so we could move gravel and clear an area to get ready for building our new 'little' BUNK HOUSE!! What I wanted to show was the work in progress!! Oh well ... we took Ryan and Alisa back out on Sunday afternoon so we could take pictures and so Ryan could get a look at the existing shed -- since he is going to construct the walls for us here at home - so the work will go faster!! The steps above are new - as well as the gravel behind them. The biggest part of the work on Saturday was to put in the plumbing -- (yes - our little bunk house will have a pottie!!) This area all had to be torn up - and a trench dug - and pipe laid ... It was a BIG job ... and all we have to show for it is the finished project!! (Which turned out very nice, I might add)

This is where the new shed will be -- if you look in the bottom picture you can see the steps leading up to this area. There is also a new parking space behind the little pile of gravel (that was left for leveling -- when the bunk house is actually put into place). We had a truck load of gravel delivered last year -- it was up by the road and had to be moved. If you can believe this ... I, Ruth Ann, actually ran the little tractor for several hours -- moving gravel!!! There was a bit of a learning curve, I will admit -- controlling the arm and the bucket and getting it to actually pick up the gravel ... but I managed to figure it all out. (Dennis was busy digging the hole and connecting pipe and digging the trench) Needless to say -- we were tired by the time we were done. The tractor moved the gravel -- but it still took a lot of raking to get it into place. Sore muscles!!

We raised the level of the gravel as you step out of the trailer about 6" -- so now hopefully the picnic table won't slope so much!! Dennis had the idea to insert a railroad tie as a retaining area - so there is a little step in our patio. (This side of the railroad tie is where we park the quads) You can see the door of the existing shed - and the bunk house will be up the other steps and set back a bit. It won't be anything fancy ... 8'x12' - rough finished and just 2 big bunk beds in the back ... but we are excited to be able to have company some times. It was a beautiful spring day out there ... we can't wait to be able to go back and relax instead of always WORKING!!! Oh well, projects are what keep us young?!?!? (so I've heard!!)

April Birthday Celebration

Wendy's birthday was on Sunday this year and Alisa's was the next day -- so it was fun for them to celebrate together. Dennis and I got them these 'funky' hats as part of their presents. They were good sports and modeled them. (Alisa's has a classy bow in the back!!) They look like they enjoyed the day!!

Here are all of the Birthday Girls --- (since it was all girls this month we got to decorate with pink as well!!) Wendy is holding little Claire Bear - (Jason and Janna's daughter), Alisa and Bailey - who turned 12 last week and had her first day in Young Women's on Sunday. WOW -- a granddaughter who is 12 ... time is passing quickly!!

Dennis and I were sitting on the floor - and Tanner came and joined us ... then a few more grandkids decided to pile on as well. They are (from l. to r.) Carter and Dallin (David and Michelle's boys), Tanner (Mike and Jodi's oldest) - then Peyton and Sydney (David and Michelle's younger girls).

A cute picture of 3 of our grown kids ... Wendy, Ryan and Jodi. Ryan and Alisa have moved in with us for a couple of weeks - they had to move from their Provo apartment (end of the semester) and Alisa isn't through teaching until the end of May ... then they are off on an Internship for Ryan -- hopefully in Minneapolis!! It is fun to have them all around.

Cutie Claire's Birthday Cake!!

I had to show this amazing cake that Janna (Claire's Mommy - my neice) made for her daughters birthday party. It is all made out of cake - from a mold. It was yummy as well!!! Janna is a very tallented young lady ... who really out-did herself with the party for Claire's 1st birthday. We all can't wait until she is 2 ... it was so fun. (She had help from her family - but Janna was the 'idea' person and she did a great job!)

The "WALKERS!"

Yes, I did get some new 'walking shoes' but that isn't why I am posting. Dennis and I have become addicted to walking! It started as a competition at work to get people more healthy by walking ... (which we were doing, but not as regular as we are now!) They gave everyone a pedometer and said --- WALK!! He records how many miles/steps he walks each day. We average 5-6 miles a day ... with some days as high as 10+ (on those days we are pretty beat the next day!!). On stormy days we found we can go to the mall and walk in the early evening and it isn't too crowded. On nice days we head up Hobble Creek Canyon and can go for miles. We aren't losing any weight as of yet, but are definitely getting healthier -- and that is the most important thing. It is great 'talk time' for the two of us as well. We LOVE walking!!

Tree trimming day -- The Cherry trees are coming down!

Here is a picture of the work in progress. Dennis has been trying to get these trees trimmed for weeks - but the weather has not co-operated. Today was the day!! We have been having lots of discussions about how much would come down -- and I lost!! He took quite a bit! I do hate dealing with the cherries that are too high to pick -- and the leaves are another issue ... so I know he is right. (I just keep remembering the saying 'Only God Can Make a Tree' - but man can cut them down!!) Now we have to wait and see if they survived the drastic pruning this late in the year ... and how they look. Only time will tell.

This is just a portion of the limbs he cut off. I had been hauling them out front and loading them into the trailer - and he just kept trimming. I kept saying to myself ... this means there will be less leaves ... less leaves!! (Also less shade, and that will be sad for awhile!) Luckily our back yard neighbor has very tall trees as well.

I know it is hard to tell from the picture ... but we have MOST of it picked up - and hauled away. Now we get to clean up the small branches and stack the rest of the wood to burn in a couple of years as firewood. I save 3 huge buckets of branches that were budding. If they bloom pretty I will post my cherry blossoms in a few weeks.

First lawn mowing of the season!!! Doesn't it look nice? I almost hate to see it start ... because it is an every week chore from now until October or November ... but it is part of living where the seasons are so defined. Many of our neighbors are out today working in their yards. It is a beautiful day for yard work!!

Here's the 'catch-up' entry ...

Feel free to skim the next few blog entries - I added quite a few today. It is my attempt at 'catching-up'. This past week I got my last year's blog printed in book form and 'I LOVE IT!' (fyi - I used Blurb-Blog books - Amy found them - www.blurb.com) Seriously, it motivated me to be better at keeping things posted. It is the only way I will ever scrapbook - as this is so much faster (at least it is for me). I am so grateful for modern technology. Now I have the pictures I treasure printed so I can keep them forever. I know that blogs are open for all to see -- and I don't think we have anything to hide ... but I do like having events documented and pictures of family and friends that we can enjoy for years to come. For any of you who visit our blog - please feel free to respond and let us know if you have a blog that we may visit as well. Blogging is fun - and we hope it doesn't become a bad thing. So far it has been great.

HAPPY SPRING to all of our family and friends!!

The "BLOG" Book!!

Amy suggested that I show a picture of my blog book - so you can see how it turned out. I am very pleased!!


Here is a sample of the pages. You can change the layouts and add additional script as needed. I found it to be a fun way to keep my pictures. Hopefully next year will be even easier!!

Happy blogging!!

Spring is trying to come!!

Here is proof that spring is really trying to come to Utah. I have lots of things blooming - and the tulips are coming up as well - they just don't bloom until a little later. (The daffodils can handle the cold and snow a lot better than the tulips) See my new turtle? He weighs at least 50# 's or so Dennis tells me! We bought him in St. George and then hauled him to So. Calif and back.

This is where the snow belongs now -- on the mountains and not in the valley. We are all officially through with winter for now. Hopefully Mother Nature will agree with us. 40 degrees isn't very warm - but we are supposed to hit 70 by Monday - so we are excited. Yeah Spring!! Lawns are turning green and the trees are budding.

After General Conference we had our first official Bar B Que - and we all LOVED it!! Here are David, Jodi and Dennis fixing their plates. I even made a potato salad - which we all enjoyed. Dennis didn't have BYU meetings today so that was another 'plus' for Conference, besides getting to hear the great messages and watch in our jammies if we wanted!

Jodi brought out a game that '4' of the kids could play at once. They had a ball trying to beat each other. It was pretty amusing. It is a kids-game and there are monkey's that laugh and hit each other when they lose. It was pretty fun!

Easter Celebration and March Birthday's

We had the March celebration at David and Michelle's home in Orem. They moved here about a month ago. It is a nice 4-level home with lots of room for the kids to play. Here the boys are chilling in the kitchen waiting for time for dinner. (We had a nice turkey dinner with all the trimmings - thanks to everyone contributions.)

After dinner we were going to have an Easter Egg Hunt - BUT ... Mother Nature decided that the end of March was not 'outside' weather yet, so we moved it to inside. This is a part of the prizes the kids were getting to pick from as part of the activity.

We played the 'dice game' - and every time they rolled doubles they got to pick an egg from the center. The ones with 'T' on them meant 'toy' - and they could each pick 5 of them - which they later turned in to pick toys from the toy basket. They seemed to have a good time. There were lots of eggs - and yes, many had candy and money in them.

Claire was content with playing with the eggs. She didn't realize there was candy or money in them and really didn't care!! What a cutie.

Look at the loot Talmage ended up with. He seemed quite pleased with his 'haul'. Each child had a huge 'loot' bag to carry all of their treats. This was the week before Easter - so they were just getting started.

We were celebrating Janna and Carter's birthdays as well. Carter was giving Janna her gift. How old are you Janna Banana???

Here's Carter with some of his presents and with David. He got several'Cars' gifts - (from the movie). He LOVES Lightening and Mater!!

Seth doesn't usually smile for Uncle Ryan (we are not sure why) - so when we catch them laughing we need to record it. He is usually off playing when Uncle Ryan is around ... but he is getting better!

February Birthday's

Before the party the boys were having some 'grandpa' time. They have a way of getting grandpa on the floor with them - it is pretty amazing!!

We celebrated Brenna's birthday. She is an amazingly 'photogenic' little girl. Happy 5th Birthday Brenna!

Grandma and Seth giving each other 'zerbits' -- he knows how to give them back as well!

Sitting around visiting!! (Dallin, Dennis, Ruthie, Peyton, Michelle, Sydney and Bailey)

Just chilling - (David, Jason, Tanner and McKay)

Alisa and Ryan came over after their church (they go from 2:30-5:30). None of us can complain. (Even though we did 3:30 - 6:30 for a couple of years - I don't want to go back) We are glad they come when they can.

Water Polo Games!!

Ryan and Alisa are in an inter mural Water Polo competition. Wendy went to a game earlier in the season and I finally saw one this past week (4/9/08). What an interesting game. They compete in these tubes and get quite the work out, I must add. Their team is called "Family First" and is made up of mostly Alisa's cousins (+Ryan) and a few friends. They will be playing for the championship this next week. They are undefeated. Yeah kids ... thanks for inviting me!!


In this picture Alisa has the ball and is about to shoot at the goal. Amazing what fun you can have in the water! Good Job guys!! They play at the Richard's Building on campus - so it was fun to go back and see where I took many PE classes 'years and years' ago.

January Birthday Celebration!

I realize I have been seriously 'slacking' in my blogging ... This was the January celebration - at the Crook's. David and Debra were the honoree's!! (See David's new WARM vest!!) Also pictured are Bailey, Michelle, Peyton, and Dallin (hiding).

Here's the birthday girl - holding Claire Bear!! It was a chilly Sunday night - but we were toasty warm and cozy!

Granpda was sitting on the floor with Seth. He is growing up fast.

The girls were enjoying putting puzzles together. Here's Abby, Sydney, Brenna and Peyton.