If I could Hie to Kolob

Last weekend was a great time. We took the kids went to Solitude renewed our ski passes and went for a hike. Looks like we will ALL go skiing this year, well minus Sadie. I
was able to get passes for Rachel, Zander, Keagan, and myself for all of $50! Rachel and I were very excited about this seeing as how I don't have any steady income. After we got the tickets, we noticed the sunrise lift was running so we walked up to it and decided to get on a go for a ride to the top of the ridge. On
ce we got to the top, I thought it would be fun to walk to Solitude Lake — it's more of a pond than a lake, but whatever. Away we went! Sadie in the backpack and Keagan, Zander skipping along. Rachel and I held hands as we walked down the trail and explained to the boys, "this is where we go skiing." As we walked down the hill toward Summit lift I recalled the great points off the trail that I would haul off and do some trick like a back scratcher or 180 to land on off the trail in the trees and take the short cut. Ahh...good memories!

Zander was paid particular attention — and made sure we did too — to the sounds of nature around us. He recognized woodpeckers and a doe. There was a large mole thing that we saw and took pictures of that we had no idea what it was, but it was sure fun to observe!

We had hopes to picnic at the Lake once we got there, but by the time we got there we only had like 25 minutes to get back and it took us 20 minutes to hike up there. We did take a few more minutes than we should have to look at the ultra clear pond and look at another part of the mountain where we all congregate after skiing down Black Forest and then race (shoosh) to the Summit Lift. The crazy thing on the way back was Keagan was too tired to hurray so I put him on my shoulders and with Sadie and Keagan on my back I ran a portion of the trail to make it back in time. We were all out of breath by the time we reach the lift down. What a work out!

At the bottom we enjoyed cold cooked hotdogs, apples, goldfish and water. What a great time! We plan to go up again this Saturday.

Keagan sings—next American Idol

Okay, maybe not, but it's just so dang cute. Keagan is the macho boy and doesn't sing much. In Sunday School he barely does the hand signs to the songs. But, being home every day can be so entertaining. I found out on my first day at home that Keagan loves Super Why. Check this out.

Batman is coming to town

Wait a minute I thought it was Santa is coming to town? Heck no! Not in this family.

Halloween is just around the corner and Batman is in full swing. Keagan is bugging me for a new batman costume. I guess he deserves it since he has completely worn his mask out. It's broken so bad that is barely fits on the face anymore. To go with this fetish I painted his room with a HUGE batman on the wall. Zander was jealous because he's not so much into batman anymore, and he wanted ninjas on the wall. So, like any good Dad I had him and Mom cut out stencils and I put a bunch of Ninjas on the wall too. They look like they are sneaking about buildings getting poised to strike on the dark knight.

The painting isn't the best, but it was sure fun.

There she goes again

So Sadie is on the move and she's not slowing down! Since September 3 I (Michael) have been unemployed. I lost my job due to a reduction in labor and now I'm playing Mr. Mom while searching for something—What I don't know but I'll know when I find it. Back the real topic...Since 9/3 I'm constantly chasing after Sadie and then consoling her when she falls, which she does fairly often. That's just the way growing up goes. We fall, then we get back up again. I wonder if I'll ever be done growing up.

We were sitting down for dinner one day and Sadie decided that her sitting in the chair wasn't going to cut it. She wanted whatever was on the table and nothing was going to stop her! Ever since then she continues to astound me; getting braver each day. A few days later she startled me as I was sitting at the computer searching for a job by starting to climb the stairs. WAIT!! Little people that are not even 8-months old yet are not supposed to be climbing stairs and standing up on their own.

So, here's some fun Sadie pictures.

Following her figuring out how to successfully climb up the stairs she has decided her favorite place to play is...YES—on the stairs. She chases the toys up the stairs then sits on a stair, usually the third one. After a minute she likes to scoot over to the railing, grabs hold and pulls herself up. She pretty well stands there until I come get her, or falls down. She's fallen twice, nothing serious. Since standing at the base of my chair screaming doesn't get my attention much anymore, she has resorted to climbing the five stairs the main level then crawls around the dinning table to in front of me. Grabs hold of the bars and smiles at me through the bars. This is really quite funny and convenient for me. This way I can watch her, she can watch me AND I can continue my online search through network contacts and postings.

Ahh...my adventurous baby girl.

From the mouths of babes

My kids say the cutest things. I wish I could just carry a tape recorder around with me all the time. Here's a few snippets from the last few weeks; at least the good ones I can remember.

Zander was emptying the dishwasher and to put the plates away he climbs up on the counter, then to put the cups away, he walks across the narrow part in front of the sink. Today as he crossed it he said to me, "You know what you have to have to do this?" or course I'm thinking balance or something like that. But Zander responds, "It's the same thing you need to do everything." I'm a little confused now. Then it comes, "Faith!"

Zander comes in the door from school out of breath. He tells me his friend was trying to beat him home, but he was too fast. "I'm getting faster and smarter! It must be all the work I'm doing at school!"

I was driving in the car with Keagan and Sadie when we had to stop to let a train go ahead of us.

Keagan: Mom, I like trains. Does Sadie like train?

Me: I don't think Sadie knows what a train is, buddy.

Keagan: (laughing) Choo-choo! That's what a train is!

Zander got an invitation to our neighbor's birthday party. It's a friend that he plays with, but she is a girl...When I asked him if he was excited to go he said, "Well, I'm going to be working on my books so I'm going to be having a busy schedule."

Where do kids come up with this stuff???

Our backyard

I've been promising pictures of our redone backyard for a long time, so here you have it.

[Drumroll, please....]

Here is Michael with a jack hammer tearing out our old, pitiful cement block.  He was really excited to do this project not only because he got to put in his dream patio, but because he got to use lots of big tools and machines.

Like this bobcat.  And Keagan being our little man's man was right there wherever his dad and all the tools were.  Here they are clearing away the rubble from the old patio and other places in the yard.  Notice the work gloves, work boots, and ear protection, just like his dad.

Then he framed out the new curved patio.  We can't have anything so plain as a rectangle one.  Where's the fun in that?

This is the cement truck with the "boom" that pumped the cement over the house and into the back yard.  Michael was fascinated with this one.  He said it made the job 100 times easier using that than having to wheelbarrow and shovel it back there!

Here is the work in progress.  One is smoothing the cement and the other is following behind doing the stamp work.  Michael was helping do the finishing work, but these guys were so efficient he ended up just being in the way.  So he made me proud and got lots of pictures!

Here is the finished product...almost!

And this is after Michael put the color wash and antiquing on it.  And of course he beautified it by adding huge pots and planting flowers.  No detail left undone.

Honey, you did a great job with our new patio!  And of course thanks to those who came and helped.  My brother Kimball was here as was our friend Matt.  Thanks guys! 

Let me clarify...

Michael was cut from the trip to Brazil, not from his job.  Thank heavens!   He actually got a promotion not too long ago from Events Coordinator to Events Manager.  His actual job hasn't changed (nor did his pay unfortunately) but he has a manager title, which is always a better thing for seniority.

Sorry for the confusion...and thanks for your concern!!