Be Our Guest

We had our first house guests in our first house! That was exciting. Zach's nephew Roger and his friend Lee (a.k.a Bologna) breezed through here for one short day on their way to BYU in Utah. We enjoyed them while we could before they hit the cross country trail again. We didn't let them leave however, without a few rounds of Dominion and some rough housing with the boys. Payment was chocolate cake and something softer to sleep on than the camping ground. Come again soon!

The Black Needle

This labor day our family participated in our very first pinewood derby race at the "Harmony Mormon Motor Speedway". I helped the boys draw out a design and paint their cars but Zach did the actual construction and weighting of the cars to get them to the proper 5 oz. It was a team effort. David and Gabe opted for "fast" cars and Mac stuck with a "fun" car. Zach, as the ward assistant mission leader, was appointed to be in charge of the race and did most of the foot work for the event including setting up the tracks, helping with weigh-ins and being the MC. He did a great job and I think everyone enjoyed themselves. Well, that is, until the end when there weren't enough prizes to go around. David was heart broken he didn't get a prize since Gabe's car won fastest and Mac's car won 3rd for creativity- a Waste Management Truck. Sorry David, maybe next year. 

The "black Needle", winner of the pinewood derby races. A fragile design but apparently a fast one. 

Mac's garbage 

Pretty sure Mac told her to put her name sticker on her head. She was all too happy to comply. She was very disappointed we didn't make her a 'tractor' to play with but otherwise a happy little girl. 

Yes folks, that is a live lizard on the car to the left- "Smog". I feared for his life every time he raced to the bumper with some of the other unstable cars that would flip. He made it out okay though. Definite win in the "Creative" category. 

The Black needle strikes again. 

Yeah Gabe! 

Happy 30th ZACH!

Dear Husband of my heart,

I love dad because...

1. he wrestles with us- Gabe
2. he's nice- David
3. he is the job doer (like the one who makes the money)- Gabe
4. he does all the jobs in the house- David
5. he just wanted to serve on his birthday-Alana
6. he reads to me- Gabe
7. he's a good muffin man- Mac
8. he helps the missionaries be more effective-Alana
9. he lets us play bubbles with him- Mac
10. he is a good singer- Ruth
11. he is a great builder- Mac
12. he helps us do rocks-Gabe
13. he swings me in the air-Ruth
14. he plays with us- David
15. he is wise for his buying choices- Gabe
16. he is a good washer of the clothes- Mac
17. he is building me a beautiful dinning room table- Alana
18. he bounces me when we sing, "Jesus wants me for a sunbeam"- Ruth
19. he swings us on the swings-David
20. he lets us climb trees- David
21. he lets us turn on and off the lights in our new house- Gabe
22. he donates unselfishly to those with less-Alana
23. he likes to dance- Mac
24. he gives good hugs- Ruth
25. he is a good teacher and speaker- Alana
26. he takes us to fun places- David
27. he loves to tickle me- Ruth
28. he is a good piano player- Mac
29. he is his own person- Alana
30. he puts the Lord first and his family close behind- Alana

love,
your adoring family

Work in Progress

    One of Zach's many summer projects is building me a farmhouse table for 10. (as if moving, school work, lawn, finishing floors, and popcorn ceilings weren't enough)It was my wish from last year that got postponed because we were still in the apartment. I looked online a while back and didn't see much in the way of large dinning room tables that weren't formal. I did find one online however that had instructions on how to build it yourself. The guy who made the original post actually ended up selling it for $2000 and building himself another one. The table is coming along quite nicely. Zach still needs to make the bench and the extensions and then do all the finishing work but I think it is going really well. Hurrah for Zach and a table that can fit guests! I'll show you the finished product when he is all done. 

Legs of the table 

Top of table without side extensions.
It looks pock marked because you are looking at the underside of the table with the screw holes. 

Dancing in the Rain

           We have had a wonderfully mild summer here in Fort Collins thanks to the afternoon rainstorms that have been happening for the last few weeks. I love them because we don't have to water the lawn and it keeps the house cool, the kids love them because it means more puddles to splash in! What makes it even better is they have only been coming late afternoon so we can work outside in the morning, go to the park etc. and then enjoy a little R&R inside later on. Ruthie's dress was pretty dirty after this storm but it was well worth it. (And don't worry Grandpa, no one got sick. I'll put boots on her next time.)

One of my Favorite Things

One of my favorite things about our new house is that I can look out of my kitchen window and see this. All four of my kidos sitting together on the swing enjoying the shade and eating a snack together. Just enjoying the lazy days of summer.  

A little bit of Change

Zach has been under the BYU honor code for the past 3 years NOT to grow facial hair, but now that we are in the land of free spirits (Fort Collins, CO) he's decided to try out something a little different. Actually I am the the one that wanted to see what he would look like with facial hair, I will admit it. I like it too, but I don't think it is a permanent change. I think he will keep the goatee  just long enough for his mother to have a heart attack and then shave it off.  Just be grateful it's not a tattoo mom! Could be worse.