Jaron and Gus

We have a fish that miraculously, we've had for over a year and a half. His name is Gus or "Gustivous Fishtivous Maximous" according to Drostan. :-) I found Jaron "talking" to him the other day and thought it was SO cute!

For those who didn't understand his 2 year old talk, he was saying, "Gus. Look at me." "Hi Gus." "Gus, come on!" "Gus, look at Mom."

Yup, I love this little guy!

Catching up again

It's been a while, I know. Now that we are all moved and settled (well, most of us. Drostan has to finish out working until the 23rd of July when he can join us) I'm hoping to be better about blogging at least once every week or two. Stay tuned!

Memorial Day fun

Our dear friends Rob and Margaret invited us up to her parent's house to play on their farm and by the lake for Memorial day. It was a lot of fun! Dallin ended up being the best at milking the goat and Kyle even got brave enough to let Drostan squirt some in his mouth. I wish I would have gotten a picture of it all over his face.

Some unexpected visitors

I looked out the back window this past week and realized that 2 of the horses from the neighboring pasture had gotten through the electric fence and were in our back pasture area. We haven't figured out how to cut it down yet so they were really enjoying themselves. :-) It was a mom and a baby and it was so cute. At one point, they started coming into our landscaped backyard area but we just went out the back door and they decided they didn't want to come quite that close. Drostan says he wants to get a goat to keep back there so it can keep it down and then we could milk it too. ROFL Ummmm, we'll see what we decide to do. Also, here is a pic of one of the moose. This one wasn't in our yard, but the private wildlife reserve that is behind our house. We want to get a better camera that we can hook up to Drostan's spotting scope and really get some great pictures.

The first "Before and After" photos

We definitely didn't expect our renovations to begin the first weekend we started moving our stuff over, but our washer and dryer wouldn't fit in the space that was there for them, so we had to take out a cabinet that was next to the space. We were going to take it out eventually, just didn't think we'd have to do it so soon. What we found was awesome! lol The original linoleum and wallpaper from 1960, when the house was built!

The after for the laundry room will have to come later.

There are 5 closets in the basement that I've been redoing. I needed to rip out the old stuff that was in there and mud and tape the drywall, and then finish it off and install the new shelving systems that we had ordered. It was a LOT of work but so worth it. I wish I would have taken better before photos, before any of it had been ripped out but I forgot, so these are "during" pictures.

Megan and Jaron's closets before...

...and after!

Kyle and Dallin's closets before...

And after!

My niece Jayd has been here for the last 2 weeks helping. She has been amazing! She had some fun with Megan's hair.

Thank you so much for all of your help Jayd! I couldn't have done it without you!!!

Oh, and I think I've been watching too much HGTV. My boys keep asking what they get to demo next and if we're going to tear each room apart and start over. :-) Oops.

Last day of school for the boys

I ended up taking the boys out of school just a couple of days early so we could move over to our new place. We had stayed with my Aunt for almost 2 months and she and Ed were just amazing! Thank you so much!!!

Dallin and his teacher Mrs. Duke

Kyle and his teacher Ms. Rieth

Wasatch Back 2009

I was supposed to run the Wasatch Back again this year but because of a foot injury, that led to a knee injury, I was out. I got to be a driver instead and that was so much fun. I wish I could have run it, but I'm so glad I was still able to be a part of it. We tried to organize 2 teams and ended up with many people with injuries or unable to do the race last minute so I got 2 of my friends, Cynthia from my ward, and Julie from my aerobics class to fill in. I also got my sister-in-law Heidi and 2 of her friends, Shiloh and Kellie to join. We had a blast in our van and it was really amazing. It is an exhausting race, but really amazing when you see what your body can do. Here are some photos I got before my battery ran out.

It took us 32 hours and 23 minutes to complete the race. I even got my sister's 12 passenger van stuck in the mud but thankfully, about 5 guys and the girls from the van were able to push us out. It was a crazy and tiring and wonderful weekend.

Family women's retreat

For about 12 years now (at least) the girls in my family have gotten together for an annual Women's Retreat! We usually go to Park City and stay in a condo or a hotel suite or a cabin and relax and do projects or whatever we want (or don't want) to do. It is fantastic. This year I invited my dear friend Denise to fly out from Ohio and come with me. We haven't seen each other since we moved after dental school 3+ years ago. It was SO great to see her again and relax and laugh a LOT! It was like we'd never been apart. Don't you just love friends like that.

We found each other at the airport

This cabin was amazing! The views were breathtaking and so peaceful




We went and got some pedicures together.


One of the guys doing it was TERRIBLE so for a few of us, it wasn't the best experience, but at least we were together.
We like to go out to eat one of the nights. Here is everyone at the Snake Creek Grill

Aaaaaaahhhh, relaxation!

I have the most amazing mom in the entire world! Love you Mom!!!

Megan's preschool graduation

The end of May, Megan "graduated" from Miss. Nicole's preschool. It was so adorable! There was 1 poor little girl who was not happy that she had to put a cap on over her cute curled hair but other than that, they did really well. Megan had so much fun this year. Thank you Miss. Nicole!!!

Jaron turns 2!

I can't believe my baby is 2! I usually have another one by now. :-) No thanks. I'm good. :-D

We had just moved in to my Aunt Vera's home the weekend of his birthday (May 3rd) so Drostan's mom had us over to celebrate. She made the cake and everything. Thank you Connie!





My Aunt Vera wanted to do a little something for him too so she had some cupcakes for the kids. Thank you!!!

A few pics of the new house

We were originally going to close on the new house in early May but because of different issues, it ended up being June 5th. That's ok, we're here now! Well, most of us. Drostan needs to finish out his contract until July 23rd so he's been doing the long drive on the weekends to see us. Man we sure miss him. Love you D! Can't wait for you to come and STAY!!!

Here are a couple of pics of the house. I'm going to be doing a BUNCH of before and after pics as I get projects done so I won't do much of the inside yet. This house was built in 1960 and an addition was added of a new kitchen/dining room with 2 rooms below it in 1980. They've done a couple of things, like a new master suite but other than that, it needs a LOT of updating.

Front of home

Back views (the first one is from May, the rest are from March) :-)


Back of home (from landscaped area and then from corner of property showing outbuilding and undeveloped area)


Master



Dining/Kitchen

We've really loved it here so far. The ward has been really welcoming and the weather is beautiful! I'm still getting used to the idea of not having air conditioning but the nights are cool so I cool things off in the morning and shut blinds when I need to to keep it that way.

We've seen white tail deer, moose, sand hill cranes, a couple of fox, and a TON of birds out the back. It is so incredible here!