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!

The Amazing Human Backhoe!

Scott has been an amazing worker for us! We’re so glad we can depend on his strong young shoulders and back to do the heavy lifting. It’s incredible how much earth he has managed to move in such a short time.

Kevin’s Birthday

 

Today Kevin took matters into his own hands and organized a birthday party for himself.  Sometimes a mans gotta do what a mans gotta to do.  He invited us over for a nice spaghetti dinner at Grandma and Grandpa’s . 

 

Brian and Dejah came, and so did Nate, Lindsay and baby Craig.  Kevin can still blow out the candles with one breath.  Karen and Wendy were here as well.

Lisette, Ian, and Saffron with spaghetti.

 

Marsha was here and so was photophobic Connie.  Scott came up for the long weekend and took the role of executive pasta chef.  We had a great time.

New camera and Chinese food

I got an early Christmas present today; a new camera! We ordered a Canon PowerShot SX10. All I can say that it is fabulous! I still haven't got the hang of all the features, but so far it has performed admirably. I'm especially impressed with how well it's done indoors at night with bad lighting.

Our intrepid intelligent instructor
My evil twin; aka 'skinface'


Our reluctant blossoming math genius

Our future video game designer


Mr. publicly taciturn privately loquacious
Shirley Temple has nothing on Saffron

Melinda went with her parents and most of her siblings to the temple this evening while I stayed home with the kids. They dropped by after with Chinese food and we had a little impromptu party.

Wendy and Arden
Karen, Kevin and Lisette

Colorful Brian, Dejah, and Saffron Ian, Scott, and Miles play Blokus
Lisette and Marsha

Home Sweet Homes

Saturday night Arden hosted a birthday party. Almost all of the relatives in the Salt Lake Valley were there. It was really fun to have so many people there. Saffron even found some kids to run around with. We counted afterwards and there were almost 80 people there.

Scott had baked gingerbread virtually non-stop for a week so that everyone could make gingerbread houses. The garage was cleaned out and setup with long tables and everyone was swarming around decorating sugar cookies and constructing gingerbread houses. There was frosting and candy everywhere!

Miles and Ashton were working on one together, but somehow the gingerbread they had was too soft so it kept falling down. It looked kind of like a condemned meth house. They gave up, but afterwards when most people had left, Lisette and Miles made their own from the leftovers, and Ian and I decorated someone's abandoned house. We ended up taking 3 of them home.

Today is Monday and two are left standing, albeit with some candy missing, and one looks like it got hit by Hurricane Ian. Ian is practical and doesn't want to let the candy and gingerbread go stale. Needless to say, we helped him out.

Scott's mission report

Melinda's brother, Scott, came home from his mission on Thursday. He spent 2 years teaching the gospel to the Spanish speaking residents of Ft. Lauderdale Florida. We went to his ward to hear him speak today.

He started out directly with his testimony of Jesus Christ and of His Atonement. Wow. Scott used to be this precocious, opinionated kid, and now he is a man who during 2 years of service really gets the heart of the gospel. Through his blood (bicycle accidents), sweat (Miami heat), and tears (this one I'm just assuming) he has seen the hand of the Lord in his life and in the lives of those he has served.

I liked his mission stories, but seeing his love and gratitude for Jesus Christ is what was really moving. He has changed in 2 years, and all for the better. Is their anything better a nineteen year-old could be doing with 2 years than serving Jesus and getting to know Him?

Scott "El Cubano" regresa

Melinda's brother, Scott, came home from his mission today. He went to the Florida, Ft. Lauderdale Spanish speaking mission. He looks pretty much the same, albeit a little older and a little wiser, but still the same old Scott we love.

We had dinner up at Grandma and Grandpa's house with some extended family and the kids got reacquainted with Scott; they are glad to have him home. Saffron even gave him a kiss. When we left for the evening some of us cajoled him into giving the family prayer in Spanish. He finally did once we counted in the room and about half of us there speak Spanish (there were two Portuguese speakers, which is close enough.) So he gave the prayer with a great Cuban accent. Most of us (5) learned Chilean Spanish and two of us (Lisette and Melinda) learned Mexican Spanish, but Scott sounds completely different than any of us. He sounds great and I was so proud that he knows how to use the subjunctive and past subjunctive!

Of course his work teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, and all the people he helped to live a more righteous life is more important than his command of the language, but it's great fun having another hispanohablante around.