Sunday at Grandma’s

Mom, Dad, Ruth and the twins are visiting from Alaska so we go together to have a family get-together.  We had fresh red salmon and grilled halibut with mango salsa.  The halibut with salsa was crazy delicious!

We ate under the awning and on the back porch.

  

Leonard and Kit came to visit (pictured with Brent) and I snuck a picture of my Grandma when she wasn’t looking.  Melanie and Heidi (not pictured) were able to come, too.

Saffron and Makenna had fun on the trampoline, and the boys enjoyed the swing set.

Hope and Elizabeth. 

 

It was pretty hot, but it cooled off quite nicely later in the day and we had fun hanging out on the trampoline.  I even got Zak to smile!

 

Here’s Ben.  Saffy tries valiantly to push Ben and his car through the grass.  We all had a fun time.  All of my parent’s grandkids were there together; fifteen cute kids!

Harry Potter and the Out-of Control Remodel

Tuesday we were all enthused about the next cinematic installment of the Boy-Who-Lived chronicles.  Connie bought a big section of seats for the midnight premier, and Melinda, Lisette and Miles were excited to go.  I however got bragging rights because Ian and I got to go see it at 9:00 because a software vendor with too much money on their hands invited me to go (customer appreciation.)  It was really cool to just stroll past the people camped out waiting for the midnight showing.  Plus, they had an open snack bar which was way cool.

The movie was fun and exciting movie and it had quite a few funny scenes in it as well: it didn’t disappoint.  However, I had the sneaky feeling that watching movies in the morning was not quite as fun as in the evening. Though, I had to admit it was better than being at work.

Looks like besides the replacing all of the plumbing, electrical, upstairs heating and cooling, we will also be replacing the main wastewater line out to the sewer.  It has several small breaks and one big one. We thought we were just making a small snowball, but somehow it has rolled down the mountain and turned into a veritable avalanche.

But we’ve made great progress and things are moving along very well.  Our pile of refuse was reaching epic proportions (if you notice it literally has everything AND the kitchen sink). Melinda loaded it all into the dumpster with a little help from Saffy.

Digging.  Filling.

Carrying.  Dumpling.

   

Scott and I got the window wells installled.

Arden and Kevin raised the threshold at the bottom of the stairs so I don’t have to duck anymore.  In case anyone wonders, sawzall saws do cut through galvanized pipes.  Ian took all these pictures in case you couldn’t tell.

Our formerly finished basement is unfinished again, but we are taking some space out of the furnace room to expand the living room.  Here is the installation of one of the windows. 

 

Arden and Scott have worked really hard this week getting these projects done, and I just try to keep up.  Kevin helped us one night and Lorraine cooked us yummy food, too.  Thank goodness for families!

This is the Place

A few weeks ago I took the day off and we all went to This is the Place Monument.  Here is one of Brigham Young’s homes and a view of the grass field, apple orchard and the Wasatch mountains.

We enjoyed the printing press demonstration.

   

Ian was talking in the class room and had to be reprimanded.  Nose to the wall and holding books behind him.  At least he didn’t have to wear the dunce cap like the other boy in class.

Miles learned how to card wool in preparation for it to be spun into thread

  

Ian scrubbed clothes on a washboard and then hung them out to dry.  The weather wasn’t too hot, but we were all ready for a break.

We were hungry so we headed to the Chilean Deli.  We had baked empanadas, fried cheese empanadas, a lomo palta sandwich (pork and avocado) and alfajores (pastries with dulce de leche).  ¡Qué rico!  Very delicious!

 

Saw Jockey

Today the Saw Jockey team came to cut out our windows. They did an outstanding job; I would highly recommend them to anyone. They were very professional and efficient.

They use an amazing water cooled saw to cut the concrete.

Goodbye small basement windows!

Hello sunshine and fresh air!

The kids love their new perches. We’ll really enjoy the light and airy feeling that it will give the downstairs rooms. Melinda is a little scared of creatures sneaking into our home at night, but she’s only scared of cougars, raccoons, skunks, mice, rats, cats and dogs so we should be in good shape.

Celebrate good times

Melinda and Saffy came home today!  Yeeaah!!  They had a good time in California, enjoying the beach and the pool and the sunny weather and spending time with family.  Saffron had so much fun playing with her cousins, but she was very glad to be back home and see her Daddy and siblings again.

Many thanks go to Sunny, Dejah, and Marsha for babysitting the kids, to Arden for keeping us on track (and sane) during the remodel, and Kevin, Scott, and Lorraine for driving safely on those dangerous California freeways.

As well as celebrating their safe return, we also celebrated Independence day with family a few days ago.  Here are some pictures of us with family at South Salt Lake’s firework show, which is held and Granite High School (which is now closed for good.)

 

Melinda enjoying an orange popsicle in the crowd.  Karen and Miles hanging out on the grass.

Lisette always love fireworks.  Here’s a big group enjoying hanging out.  Connie found us a great spot, as usual.

 

Here’s Joy!  A little oldies band named “Crash Pontiac” played for us.

 

Ooohhhh!

Aaaaahhhh!