Construction Zone!

Okay, so I don't know if I have much to say about this one. I will just let you look at the pictures! Ta-Da! It is the kitchen! Wow! At this point it is at the phase where it gets worse (or bare) before it gets better. Actually it isn't that bad. You can see we have a little work station in one corner (that picture was taken from the closet under the stairs) and we proudly admit we have cooked at home a couple times this past week. The ceiling with all the pipes is what I took while sitting on the couch in the family room. All of those pipes are the upstairs plumbing. With the pipes exposed, it sounds like Niagara Falls when someone is taking a shower. It's almost relaxing-you know people pay big money for machines to make running water noises-it is not necessary for us! =) Today "the boys" (aka constructon workers) put up 2 more walls, that is what you are seeing in the middle of the family room. I saw it and said, "I thought we were getting more space, not losing it!". Mom said, "I like how they built themselves a storage room to keep all their tools!". Dad said, "I think it makes a great fifth bedroom!". Truth be told, the original wall they are removing is low bearing so in order to prevent the second floor from caving in, they put in "support walls" so they can remove the original wall and install the beam. The beam alone is supposed to support the second floor. You may wonder how a beam can support what two walls has to hold up. I don't know the answer to that one but what I will say is the contractor knows what he's doing! We will gladly live with some extra framing as long as the upstairs never becomes the downstairs! So I guess I had more to say about this than I originally planned!

The best water you will ever drink . . .

is at the Hill family ranch in Daniels, ID! A couple weekends ago we went up to Malad to help Grandma Hill with yardwork. We spent one afternoon at the ranch mowing the lawns (Dad did the mowing) and watering them (I give Dad as well as Aunt Renae props for the watering and weeding as well!). Don't get me wrong, I did help too. I got the extra chair, set up the sprinkler and read . . . anyways, it was lots of fun to visit the ranch. It is so beautiful up there I couldn't help but snap some pictures. One of them is even the spot where dad proposed to mom at the hay derrick (which is no longer standing but that doesn't matter, we know the general vicinity!)! Precious! Since it is year #30 for them, it is always fun to reminisce! So about that drink of water. Before we turned the water pump off, Dad turned the hose on so we could all take a swig, he told me it was going to be the best drink I ever had in my life. I must say, it was refreshing, amazing and delicious! Nothing beats perfectly chilled water fresh from a well. (From what I hear that is fresher than some bottled waters I have had!) Yum! So next time you're at the ranch, grab the hose and take a gulp, I promise you will love it!

Greetings from LA

I went and saw Great Grandpa and Grandma and Aunt Linda on Wednesday -- it was so fun to see them all again and they say hello to everyone!


PS - Last Saturday was Grandma and Grandpa's 74th anniversary! Isn't that awesome?!

Wicked!

I was going through my pictures on my camera and I came across a few pictures from our trip in LA to see Wicked!

The Bunker

With Pioneer Day over, I have successfully completed my 4th summer of work at the fireworks bunker! Although it was hot, busy, long hours, and stressful, all of the shows went off perfect! The Salt Lake Tribune did on the company. If you want to read it (since I can't get the link to work) go to www.sltrib.com and search Lantis Fireworks. The reporter offered to take our picture but we graciously declined since we all looked like we had been outside in the 100 degree desert all day packing firework shows! The picture shows a 12" and a 16" shell. The 16" is the largest shell (it weighs over 40 lbs) we have and is now illegal and considered to be dynamite. Needless to say everyday at work was like taking a weight lifting class at the gym

Hole in one!

Nancy and the kids came to visit last week! After a lovely meal at a McDonald's Playland, we all went miniature golfing. I was successful as a labrador retrieving hand-thrown balls all over the course by Emma. Using major engineering skills, Ben and I even managed to save Sarah's blue golfball from a pond complete with bright blue water that also had been thrown in by none other than Emma. Luckily, we convinced the kids that one time through the course was ample fun for one evening. (Thank heavens for that last hole which keeps the ball!).

I want to live at Disneyland...

We went to Disneyland on Saturday and had lots of fun:) There's a piece of prime real estate at the end of Main Street that I am trying to convince Brian we need to move in to (its the big pink pointy one).