Playing in the Dirt

Here is Farmer Frank's newest (allbeit, used) farm implement. We picked up this riding lawn mower, had some work done on it and now it is our favorite amusement ride! We fight over who gets to mow the lawn! It really is a great blessing and helps us get the work done much, much faster and earier. Over the course of the Memorial Day weekend in Randolph we played in the dirt,mowed the lawn, weed whacked, tilled, hauled soil, painted the trim on one side of the house and watched as the plumber removed 40 year-old pipes and drains as part of a bathroom remodel project. Some how (surprise, surprise) we didn't get around to going to Bear Lake to RELAX (that seems to be a foreign word to us!). Beth even got to plant the beginning of her lavendar farm. Two varieties went in to the ground. We put in a soaker hose to keep them moist and hopefully alive until we get back up there in a week or so to check on them.

Our darling pet, Fred, wasn't sure how he felt about playing in the dirt. What do you think he is thinking about his wagon ride??

Mother's Day Moments

Mother's Day was delightful for me! A delicious dinner was provided by Katie and Jared preceeded by a two-hour nap. Ahhhhh!! Lovely and kind words were spoken and gifts thoughtful gifts were given. The weather was perfect for sitting out on the deck.

AJ's family came over for a visit and it is always fun when the cousins get together. The girls, Mia and Bridget, share a photo op.

Mia, Bridget, Cami, Ethan and Ty

Big cousin/brother Dallin gets some hugs too!

Cami, Ty and AJ

Thanks everyone for a WONDERFUL day!! Love you all!

An Anniversary Weekend

We spent a lovely weekend in Randolph as part of our 32nd anniversary celebration. Where has the time gone? How can we be old enough to have been married 32 years?! But we wouldn't trade it for anything. We agree that it was the best decision we ever made!!! Love you, Frankie!!!

We took our newest addition, Fred the Britney Spaniel, with us. He quite enjoyed his first trip to the "country"! Doesn't he look regal perched on his thrown?!

We might be strange but one of our favorite things to do while in Randolph is to work in the yard. Frank fired up the riding lawn mower and mowed the grass. We laughed and wondered if he reminds the townfolk of Oliver Douglas (played by Eddie Albert) from the 1970's Green Acres sitcom! You know, city folk come to the country. I wish I could be like his wife, Lisa Douglas (played by Eva Gabor)!!!!

We enjoyed wonderful weather on Friday but Saturday turned into a rainy, muddy day. It is always fun to be the country, rain or shine! We are in the middle of remodeling one of the bathrooms which will require many trips to get it ripped out and re-assembled. Oh, darn! Just means we have to go to our idea of "heaven" multiple times!!!

Frank and Fred

After months and months of searching for the perfect dog, Frank found him!!! He is a 12 week old Britney Spaniel. They hit it off immediately. Here he is riding home in Frank's arms. Fred was so comfortable with Frank that he fell asleep.

He has won our hearts!! We have yet to hear him bark (knock on wood!), he has been a perfect gentleman as far as potty habits, he loves to play at play time but is very content to lay around the rest of the time.

What a cute little face!!!

Asleep again on Frank's lap. We are so happy to welcome Fred into our home and family!!!

Chop 'Em Down and Grind 'Em Up

We have just completed a project that we have been wanting to do for years....the removal of several large trees in the front and back of our house. This is the "before" picture.......
....this is the "after" picture. No doubt, twenty years ago, when they were planted, they provided a nice little grove of saplings. But then they grew and grew and grew into a very large, very leafy, very messy forest! They were Cottonwood Trees...you know the kind that give off that very fine, very allergenic, very annoying cotton-fluff.
We hired "Pete", our Tongan landscaper, to chop the trees down. We think he got more work than he bargained for. He took three loads to the dump!! Usually he yanks the stumps out but these would not budge! We decided we would deal with the stumps. This was the largest of the three. It was about 2-1/2 feet in diameter.

All it took was a rented Stump Grinder and Jared's muscle power (as well as his strength, strong back and determination) and three hours of continuous grinding to get the job done! Well done, Jared!!!

Now, we are faced with the BIG decision on what would be best to plant in our newly tilled soil!!! Any ideas?

Miss Mia - ON STAGE!!

Mia's Kindergarten Finale was today. (look for her in the attached pictures. She is dressed in a Red Jumper and White Blouse and her hair is in pigtails. Grandma Brown and I got to attend. This little lady belongs on stage - she really lights up when she is there. She sang and danced with the other Kindergarten students. It was fun to notice what great rhythm she has!! Thanks for inviting us to your program, Mia. It was WONDERFUL!!!!! YOU are WONDERFUL!!! YIKES......I CAN'T GET THE IMAGES TO UPLOAD. I will try again later!

Love those shades!!

Silly Katie!!

So, Katie went to watch a Utah JAZZ game at a friend's house last night. She offered to bring treats and this is what she took. Can you recognize the cookie that is Carlos Boozer? Andri Karolinko? Darin Williams? Kyle Korver? What a hoot this girl is!!

A few days ago, while Katie was making some Rice Krispie treats I looked over and saw her practically standing on the stove to stir the marshmellow/cereal mix. I couldn't figure out what she was doing! Then I realized that she is too short to get the right leverage to stir the sticky stuff in the pot!! There is never a dull moment when Katie is around!! But we sure do love her!! Thanks for the laughs, Katy-did!