The porcupine

"Tomorrow there will probably be a skunk and the next day a wolf and then a Lion, I think", Z.

" But it doesn't have any pork in it, and it probably used up all its spikes", T.

It really was unexpected to find a porcupine at the gate that morning, we live quite a ways away from the canyon where it came from.
I can just imagine its little spiky body waddling down the sidewalk running into the neighbor kids riding their bikes to school on its way to our house.
That would have been a funny sight.
The Animal control lady didnt find it one bit funny, and although she looked as tough as they come, she was sure shaking in her boots, trying to get it out of our bush and into a cage .
I've never seen an adult in uniform jump so high just talking about quills going through bullet proof vests.
Glad the puppy is still curious and silently fearful, otherwise she may have ended up like the cousins dog and eaten a mouthful of quills. Ouch!

"It's a DIRT BIKE!"

Time flies whether we want it to or not (okay maybe not when you are doing a lousy sleep study or have chronic pain, that kind of thing) .
I could have sworn it was just a week ago I was about to post this blog.
In reality a whole year has gone flying by.
It's still worth the telling a year later (unlike sleep study and pain stories).

The kids enjoy riding their bikes to school.
Yes there is a reason I emphasize to and not the rest of it.
Mom makes the kids walk home from school most days weather depending.
If I drop them off in the morning in the van then they have to use the old fashion version of transportation and walk the whole mile+ to get home.
Whining starts here.

Last school year N. was blessed to win one of 2 prizes at his school for riding during a set week.
He won a sweet new bike of his choice from a giant retail chain(I guess they did give him a bike so I can show a little grattitude by using their name, Nah, I changed my mind, still despise the place)
Because he had already been given a great bike that year by cousins (Thank You!!!!!) he asked if he could give it to someone who didn't already have one.
Chin Drop.
Wow, what a kid.
He has always been like that, so giving!
We determined that T. could probably use a bike.
His was handed down thru 2 previous siblings, rusted, seat missing, girlie training wheels and a chain that just would not stay attached no matter how we begged and cried.



The great part for N. is that the bike payment came in the version of a gift card and that kids bikes are much less expensive than tween bikes.
Left over balance therefore went toward his most favorite thing ever invented, Legos!
Win-Win.
N. surprised T. with the bike on his birthday.
For a year he has let everyone know that it isnt just a cool bike, "its a DIRT BIKE!"
I'm wondering if Uncle T. had anything to do with that, unknowingly influencing him, of course.

The new "Harley"

She's fast and can be surprisingly loud.

She is also the most fun we have had in a while.

A man at the vet office asked if she would give us rides when she is fully grown. I hope she doesn't get that big!

We all think she is beautiful. The kids wanted to name her Misty. Pretty name for a pretty dog, unfortunately for them we want the ghetto hoodlams who sneak around at night in the neighborhood to fear her, at least a little, when she grows some.



Her excitement for D. almost explodes out of her, just like the kids does when he is around.
She isn't Izzy, except when we call her that by accident all day long. Her middle name is Izzy of course, but she is soft and pretty and sure heavier than she looks. We love hearing padded paws on the floor again!


FYI:
She is an American Bulldog/Lab Mix.
9 weeks old.
Working on potty training.
Sleeps all night but whines all day about wearing a collar.
Found a porcupine her first week in the yard (but that's another story).

"Fambily" Reunion time, lets check the weather report next year!

Payson Lakes is a beautiful area, as long as you avoid the rainy days.
I guess that's true for just about any mountain camping.
Problem here is that it is so awesome you have to make reservations a whole year in advance.
No one can predict the weather that far ahead!
I actually forgot to upload the drippy, soaked , even drenched pictures of "smore time", but it was short lived anyways.


We love that the kids are old enough to explore the nearby marshes for "Poisonous" snakes and frogs.
Also that they all have a cousin or 2 near their age to explore with.







A big Thank You goes out to the Great grandparents for all of their time spent preparing this wonderful reunion.
We are so very blessed.
I know, you get tired of hearing me say that in so many posts, just get used to it!
Anyone else with such a fantastically loving, giving family would do the same.


I just couldn't resist taking this shot. D. acts like he is hating life when he is with the in-laws , wearing his most drawn out mouth and ferocious eyebrows. I think though, that in this moment, he forgot he had to act like the "Outlaw" and, is that a smile I see?! Sure seems like it!!

Whirlwind visits

We all were Very Exited(!!!) to see Uncle T. and his girlfriend R. last weekend.
Its tough to make a trip between states, so we are glad they did most of the traveling for us.
We met them several hours away from their home but less than an hour from ours.
Perfect!
The most exciting part for the kids was seeing the dogs.
I wondered how the dogs could stand so much excitement and commotion.
Fortunately T.and R.s friend they were hooking up with was late so we even got to talk over lunch.
We sure miss them(dogs included) when they aren't around.


(Its a little tough to get good pict's during a whirlwind you know!)



The next most exciting thing(in time order not in importance, we don't order importance) was to see Grandma and Grandpa A talked into a quick visit to our house!
They are more the staying types, so we are still expecting a real visit another time too.



Maybe now T. will go more than a few days without asking when they will be coming to his house. We dont leave a lot of options open for them to do so,especially in the summer, because we are at their house every other week!

"Our family is the focus of our greatest work and joy in this life; so will it be throughout all eternity." Russell M. Nelson, Liahona, Jan. 2002, 80–83

14 Years wrapped up by a Swiss trip!!

Well maybe it was Switzerland and maybe it wasn't, that's not the point.
The point is that we have been married for 14 years, even if some relatives think that has to be a lie.
You can tell we stayed in a foux version of Switzerland in the US, (Donny is the only one around here that can tell for sure since he has been there in person) because most of the shoppers are obese and not smoking.
Happy 14th Anniversary!!

Things we do because our kids ask us to....

...not necessarily because its a good idea.
Ever done it, or is it just us?
For example tying a sled to dads bike and riding around the yard.
Harmless enough, and something has to be done with the sled since there isn't any snow yet.


"Ready Buddy?".
Yeah!" "Uh," "Dad wait!"


Kissing the owie better after running him into the cherry tree.
Who put that tree there?!