Stomach Pains and Gunny Sack Racing

It sure is nice to have Wynn and Phyllis home from their 3 ½ week trip. We were all excited to see them last Sunday evening. My trips to the flat increased this past week tremendously. On Monday evening we went to Adam’s Grandpa & Grandma’s place referred to as “Grandma’s” for a potluck with the Manwaring family, Adam’s aunt’s family who was having a family reunion there for the week. It was fun to get to meet and get to know more of his cousins, especially ones I’ve never met before. On Tuesday afternoon Tyson started getting pains in his stomach, which after having Phyllis check him out she suggested that we take him to the InstaCare to see if they could figure out what these pains were, since we thought maybe it could be his appendix, which that proved unsuccessful. Wednesday he was fine as I ran errands all day in St. George while trying to gather together a scout uniform for Adam for a scout meeting that night. By Thursday afternoon he started having the pains again, which I just took him home and then Friday I focused on him only spending a short time outside and then coming in to cool off and drink water more, in case the pains were related to the heat. That proved well, but then mid morning Saturday Lincoln started having the same pains, so we have concluded that it must be some type of stomach virus. Also on Saturday Adam helped put the flags up in the morning and since Tyson went with him then Lincoln and I got ready and walked down Center Street to go watch the LaVerkin parade. Lincoln enjoyed picking up candy and it was nice to be at a parade that he could have a chance to pick it up since when we are in Hurricane at their parades there are so many kids to quickly gather it up that by the time my kids catch on to the concept it has vanished. Afterward we met up with Adam and went to the city park for the boys to enjoy the playground and Adam and Tyson to participate in the 3-legged and gunny sack races. Tyson tried the gunny sack race that didn’t really have an age group section and so as I came up in front of him to record it he had tears rolling down his cheeks and had this look like he just wanted to quit since he wasn’t doing very well. Little did he realize that he was ahead of all the little kids that were his age and was only left in the dust by much older kids. It was a pretty funny site to see. Since Lincoln started having those stomach pains we decided to put everyone down for a nap when we got home and took advantage of the time to get some rest ourselves. It was a pretty relaxing day as we spent the evening out at the flat. While Lincoln slept on the couch, Tyson enjoyed riding his bike around that Will had given Lincoln. I had purchased a new tube for it and Adam put it back together for them earlier in the day. Something interesting to see was when Tyson went cruising down the little slope in the driveway and hopped off to follow g-pa over to check the water on a fruit tree and then as g-pa went back over to the pump at the pond Tyson got back on the bike and rode it the rest of the way and parked it right in front of g-pas truck. I watched as he headed over to g-pa and as he approached the door of the truck he quickly turned around and moved the bike into the weeds away from possible destruction. I was impressed at his quick analysis of what could happen if he left it. I substitute taught another primary class on Sunday. This is the third week of substituting a range of ages from Primary to Sunday School.

Swimming

This past week was busy as usual. Adam left at 5:30 Monday morning for the 50 mile Scout hike. His pack weighed about 50 lbs, but when I talked to him on Tuesday he had collected a few more things from some of his boys so he said his weight jumped to 60 or 70 lbs. He hiked out on his own on Wednesday afternoon, since being gone for a whole week during the busiest roofing time would be somewhat of a challenge. A couple other men from the ward hiked in and met up with the group to finish off the week of their hiking. The bishop and his family invited Tyson, Lincoln, and I along with the wife and two children of one of the other leaders gone on the hike, over for Family Home Evening. We had tacos for dinner, a FHE lesson, and then all the kids enjoyed playing/swimming in the pool. I don’t own a swimsuit (since I next to never go swimming) and so I warned the Bishop that Tyson had probably been in a pool about 3 times in his 4 yrs of living and that would not give much experience for judgment in water. As we both tried to point out the diamonds that were in a semi-circle and that after crossing over those would drop you into the deeper part of the pool and then asked Bishop’s daughter Halli to walk that pattern with him, it backfired as to our attempt to help him out as he started to walk towards Halli and instead of turning and following the diamond pattern he walked right off the drop off into the deeper end. All I could do was gasp and Bishop jumped in and reached down and grabbed him. Halli and I were just in shock at what just happened, but Bishop was quick to react (I wonder if he has had to do that before). Tyson was definitely not happy and in fact it was only until the end that he would step back in the water. He spent his time loading and re-loading a water toy and squirting Halli and the Bishop’s wife as well as taking a bucket of water and tried pouring it on them. He tends to have crushes on pretty girls/women. On Tuesday I went with our Webelos to another pool in our ward and we worked on the Aquanaut badge. Tyson and Lincoln did very well to play on the swingset and keep their distance from the pool. On Wednesday evening Shelley and I celebrated Tyson and her twins, Jace & Jenna’s birthdays as Tyson kept asking me when it was going to be his birthday even though his had come and gone. I realized that he has reached the age to notice that it is your birthday when you get to have a cake and be sung to and blow candles out. Susie encouraged me to make this dozer cake that she saw online, but I managed to talk her into putting it together if I bought the stuff for it. So that is what we spent Wednesday afternoon doing and it turned out very well as you can see. Great Job, Susie! Tyson loved it and shared it with Jace. Sorry Jenna, boys’ ruled on this one. On Saturday Daniel and Susie had watched our boys over night and they took the kids to a splash pad/pool at Susie’s friend’s place in St. George. I think Tyson just doubled his pool/water experiences in just this one week. I have registered Tyson for a couple weeks of swim lessons in July, so I am looking forward to having him learn a little more about water and how to act in it. Friday was our Anniversary and so in the afternoon we dropped the kids off at Susie’s and headed to St. George (Hey, this is a big step since this is the first time we have done anything for our anniversary in the 5 yrs we have been married). I had a list of options of things for us to do but no set plans so it was fun to do whatever we felt in the mood for. We went to Shade and I finally used a gift card there that Susie had given me last year for my birthday and I bought a swimsuit (imagine that). We then went to a couples massage that I was able to schedule on our way over to St. George. It was a first real professional massage for both of us. We then went down a couple blocks to Texas Roadhouse (Adam’s favorite place to eat), and then went over one block to Stadium 10 and purchased tickets to Knight and Day, a comical/action movie (not Adam’s favorite), but it was showing in 15 minutes so it worked out great. We then went over two more blocks the other way and got a hotel room at Country Inn & Suites. Saturday morning we had plans to go to the temple, but Adam had this dry cough that seemed to come on after descending on the return hike earlier in the week and didn’t want to be in the temple coughing, so we found a movie on the television in the hotel room and watched it until checkout time. We ate breakfast over at IHOP and then headed home to change into work clothes and go to the flat. It sure is hard to get out of relaxing mode, but it was a break well needed and enjoyed.

He Did It!

Adam passed his trade and business management tests for his Nevada roofing license on Saturday. We already have the application turned into them so we just have a few more things that need to be done and we will be set to do roofing projects in Nevada. On another good news note, we found out on Friday that we are all set with our Arizona license, so that was exciting news for us as well. To finish off recording about the rest of our week's adventures the boys and I met up with Wynn and Phyllis at Smith's Mesa on Wednesday and finished helping plant tomatoes, corn, and some zuccini. It took us a little longer to get up there than I had planned as I ended up making a lunch that we all shared and enjoyed up there. I snapped a few pictures of these hard working boys. Tyson and Lincoln thoroughly enjoyed packing water in little buckets for grandma and grandpa. Wynn had a good little system rigged up for getting the water out of the tank in the back of his truck since you have to haul it up there in order to water. On Friday the boys and I walked over to the church to help with the cleaning and then we went out the flat that afternoon and I cleaned up the floor of the meat shop so that it would be closer to being ready to put the sealant down. It was a hot day to be out there working but I didn't mind it too much and Gage came to help by picking up the nails with the magnet. At around 6 p.m. I went to the church farm and participated in our stake's peach thinning assignment. Since Adam was in Vegas for most of the week then I had to keep us busy with things to do. On Saturday we watched Stuart and Heidi's kids, which Tyson and Lincoln enjoyed having them here. We drove into Hurricane to Snokaps and enjoyed that treat at a picnic table under a shade tree in the heat of the day. Lincoln went to a birthday party for a little girl from his nursery class and wowed everyone with his dance moves and his conducting ability while singing the Happy Birthday song. He is quite the entertainer. After that we all went out to the flat to kill our pig, skin it, and get it in the freezer (Well, Adam, Ben, and Daniel did all of that and I'll spare us all pictures of it).

It looks like a Building

This past week Adam and I took a quick trip to Las Vegas, but not for a vacation or getaway, but to get our fingerprinting done and turn in our Nevada roofing license application. It was a there and back sort of thing. Phyllis was very kind to watch the kids for us as we knew they would not enjoy the trip one bit. On Friday Adam paid his workers to clean out and organize the shop. Heidi had come out to do some riding lessons for some girls and so Tyson and Addy hopped on for a return ride. I think was still taking a nap during all of this which he would be very upset to have missed it. After taking the pictures of the kids on Di, I came in the house and Susie asked me if I had seen Addy while I was out there. She did not know that Addy had found herself wedged in between the kids on a horse ride. On Saturday we spent the day once again working on the meat shop (The project that seems like it will never end :). Today was quite the day for progress on the project. We sheeted the walls and then continued on in placing the trusses. It was a team effort by Daniel, Ben, Adam, Mark, Zac, Susie, and myself as the wind started to pick up during that part. It really looks like a building now.

Loading Hay

This last week on Monday evening we unloaded the metal break that we hauled all the way from Oregon. I worked on sweeping and cleaning up the shop so that Adam could some how maneuver the piece of equipment into its designated spot, which there is not much option for. It was tricky to get it in through the shop door, but we were successful. On Saturday evening I watched my neighbor's boy while her and the rest of her family went to her graduation. We went out to the flat and helped in loading the bales of hay out of the field. I drove the truck while Josh and Jarom rolled the bales into a line so that it was easier for Ben and Daniel to load the bales on either side of the trailer to Adam and Jared who were stacking on the trailer. Tia kept an eye on Lincoln and Tate in the back of the truck and Tyson hung out on the trailer. I tried to snap some pictures of our load afterwards but it was too dark. On our second trip out to the field I made Tia drive since she had never done it before (neither had I), and we both had a great experience. It was funny because Tate was being such a busy body that while the guys were unloading the first load, Ben put Tate on these big bales that Wynn had there and he was stuck and couldn't go anywhere. We thought it was pretty funny.

Bitter Sweet

Monday and Tuesday I watched my neighbors boy most of the day while she studied and had her class for her Nursing Degree. We worked on getting Adam’s truck cleaned Monday night and then on Tuesday Adam took an overnight trip to Winslow Arizona. The rest of the week was bitter sweet. Susie and I loaded our kids up on Tuesday afternoon in her car and traveled to Sondra’s house in Pleasant Grove where we stayed the night. Her and Spencer were so hospitable to us, feeding us dinner and a yummy crepe dessert and Sondra waking up at 4:45 to make us some sandwiches and a bunch of yummy snacks for our trip as we headed out early to Oregon. Thank you Sondra for those snacks, we didn’t have to stop for any the whole way as they were sufficient to tide us over. We arrived to Oregon only to find everyone gone to school and work and found Thursday to be the same. We celebrated Logan’s birthday with pizza and a cake. On Friday we attended the funeral of a very dear friend to the family, Ruth Oxford. This sweet lady has pretty much been a part of our family since I can remember. I was told from one of my sisters that when my mom was in her car accident and had to receive care at home which involved some enema’s and such that Ruth was there to provide that for her and that when Ruth’s health failed after a tumor caused her to collapse and she was now in that similar situation that my mom returned the care and that is just how the relationship between these two was. When I had some issues after giving birth to Tyson and Lincoln, Ruth would offer her bedroom for us to stay in when we came to visit so that I could have my own bathroom. She has always been a very giving and selfless person. I am glad to see her be able to leave this life from the condition she remained in after her tumor and happy to know that she is with her dear husband (Big George). She is much happier where she is at now and someday it will be a great reunion with both of them. My Mom and sisters MaryJane, Lillie, and Susie sang at the funeral (found out that morning that we were singing) and some close friends to Ruth gave the life sketch and spoke. It was a good service which I was glad to be home for. Originally the main reason for us traveling this past week to Oregon was so that we could listen to my sister Lillie’s farewell talk today. She is leaving on Tuesday with Susie for Provo and will enter the Missionary Training Center (MTC) on Wednesday afternoon where she will begin her missionary training before going to the Olongapo Phillippines mission where she will labor in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ for the remaining of 18 months. She did a great job on her farewell talk and although we didn’t get to see much of her as she was the closest to Ruth and was very much involved in planning the funeral service, I am glad that we made the trip to support her in her decision to serve the people and the Lord. We left right after sacrament meeting as we had to hook on to a gooseneck trailer that we spent most of Saturday loading (as Adam arrived late Friday night with Daniel and the trailer to take home equipment he had purchased from an auction in Nampa the week before) and travel the soon to be long trip back to Southern Utah at a steady 65 mph. (not excited about that). On Saturday evening we did go out to eat in Nyssa at a small dining place to celebrate Susie’s birthday on Friday as we didn’t get to do much to celebrate it then and then Adam and I stopped by Alan and Tami Peterson’s place and had a relaxing, enjoyable visit with them (although we did interrupt their movie they were watching, sorry about that, however it was nice to visit and get a break from our kids).

Bidding Online

The main event this week was Adam bidding online for some metal break equipment, a few heavy duty tables, and some heavy duty finger racks. He was pretty successful on his bidding and came away with what he wanted. Tarek and Vaughn were kind enough to pick the stuff up for us as we hadn’t planned on going to Oregon until next week for Lillie’s farewell. Adam spent some time on some injectors on his ’95 truck and then on Saturday I had to assist my Webelos on their Day Hike while Adam took the boys with him to Smiths Mesa to check on the cows.