Check out this Fire (or, "Jon is Really Cool")

Sometimes, when I decide to post something on the blog, I can't help but feel I'm just doing it so I can brag about how cute my daughter is, or some other selfish pursuit I want everyone to know about. This isn't always the case, but sometimes it's spot-on. Now on with the show...I'm pretty good at lighting fires.



Other people are good at things like making money or saving money or skiing or running or biking...those are all great things to be good at, and I wouldn't mind being skilled in any of those areas...but making a fire...well I can really make 'em well. Here's how it's done:

First, you need some wood.

Then, you need a match.

Stack your wood in a pile.

Light it with a match.

Owen thought we could use some pine needles, which I thought was an EXCELLENT idea.

Close-up of the flames

There it goes...

Put more wood on it

And now you have a fire.

My fire-building skills are pretty much indisputable. Check out Marcella's relaxing skills. I might know how to make a fire, but she knows how to use one.

First, find a chair. I don't know who she stole this from, but she showed up at the fire with it.

Open it up

Scoot back...

Chill by the fire!

FIRE!!!

Sweeet........

We went to the cabin in August to help Jon's dad with a few things. He bought a smaller cabin right next to the other cabin, mainly so he could own the whole land there and no one else would build on it. Anyways, this is Marcella, she would say "mama, tats loud, pwug ears"

My first chain saw lesson. I had a lot of fun cutting a lot of trees for fire wood. After we were all done, my hands still felt like they were vibrating for an hour or so, but I really had a great time.

Jon got a two man saw and an iltis oxhead ax for his Birthday and he was dying to try them out. So there was this tree that we all agreed needed to come down. I have to say it was really fun watching them ax away and then watching it fall. who knows, maybe if Jon decides he doesn't like school, he can become a lumber jack. ;)

They make a pretty good team I'd say.

Well, that should last us through the winter. Which I am really looking forward to going to the cabin this winter. We haven't been able to go for about 2 years and I can't wait to get out there and ski. If anyone wants to come with us let us know, it is going to be so much fun this winter. I promise you will have a blast!

Ramblings from a tired Lady

So here it is almost another midnight, and I am sitting at the computer with nothing to do. Going to bed might be a good option, but I just can't seem to get past the getting ready to go to bed part, so I am still awake. I am wondering when my life will get back to normal and then I realize it has never been normal so no wonder it will never get back there. I am sitting at the Wallins, yet on another trip i guess you could call it that. I am staying with Lizzy and Kristin as Rick and Katherine are in Europe. I feel as though I haven't even left Davis county yet. Since we moved on the 1st of Sept, I feel like I have spent more time up here than at my own house. It will be interesting to see what next month brings.

Have you ever wondered why we have to exercise to lose weight when we never seem to get past losing the 5lbs? I swear I have been trying to get past the "I lost 5 lbs" mark for a long time. To make matters worse Kristin and I made Sinful Brownies tonight. Let me tell you I am glad that they aren't good until the next day or we might have eaten the whole pan while watching the Cosby Show. Speaking of which, I have always loved this show. I think it is because it is so funny, I love it. If you haven't seen it in a long time, let me know and I will send you a season.

Life down south hasn't been too bad. It is really different that is for sure, and not a day goes by that I don't miss Salt Lake, but I am learning to like it. If I could only be there for a whole week I might even get a better feel for the place. Well, I guess tiredness is taking over. Sorry no pictures tonight, I will try to post some tomorrow or next week when I am done babysitting. Have a good one y'all.

More Summer Fun!

Marcella loves going to the park, and I admit, I don't go as often as I should (which reminds me, I was suppose to go today...well better luck tomorrow). She has now started doing things on her own when we go, which is nice. She loves to climb all over the place and go down the slide. Her all time favorite thing is the swings, even though they make her fall asleep every time she is in them. It's quite funny to watch.

This is when we went to Layton Park. What a Cutie Pie!

This one explains a lot.

This is in Colorado. We went there for Jon's Cousin's wedding. We drove in, went to the temple and two receptions, then drove back. It was quite a whirlwind trip with no time to spare. Jon did their wedding video. It was sooooo much fun. Marcella really enjoyed just running around all the time.

Jump! She had a lot of fun playing with Grandpa as well.

This made me really surprised. Marcella, usually, will not eat frosting, or even cake for that matter. She will look at it and say, "That makes me sick" (which comes out more like "dat me sik"). So I was amazed when she said she wanted some cake at the wedding. I thought she would take one bite and then be done, but two entire pieces later, she was still loving it. I can't say that I blame her. I still think about Christina's cake, and how much I want to eat it. It was an almond-poppyseed cake. It was sooo good. We were lucky to get to go to both receptions (She had one in Greely, CO and one in Colorado Springs) and have a lot of cake. YUM! (If anyone would like to know I am going to have it at my Birthday party in December, if I can find the recipe. Man...it was good. So if you want to try it come on over, great, only it isn't until the 19th.)

I think this is funny. The Crowthers have a lot of wildlife come into there yard, and yes there were about 5 deer there waiting for the reception to start. Only...poor Christina...It started pouring rain at 4 pm, right when the reception was scheduled to start. It didn't stop until 7pm, the end of the reception. What a coincidence.

Well I am sitting here thinking why in the world aren't you in bed., but I just can't seem to pull myself away. I just have to add a little thing, because I know I am going to forget this and then never remember to write it down to tell Marcella when she is older, so here goes. Marcella watched my mom's cat, Socks, throw up one time. it was about 2 months ago, and she still to this day remembers it in detail. When we are driving in the car she will say, "Mama?" and I will say, "What?" and she'll say "The cat threw up...like bluh bluh" (sounding more like..."Mama...cat frew up...buhk...buhk...yukky") and put her hands by her mouth to show you how it happened. What a silly girl. She'll talk about it at completely random times, and sometimes go on for 15 minutes about the cat throwing up. I can't believe she is obsessed with it. It is so funny. Have a good day!

The County Fair

One of my favorite times of year is when we get to go to the county fair. Every time we go I want to have a small farm. There is just something that appeals to me about going back to the day when things weren't as busy as they are now. (Well I know things were busy then, but not in the same way) Anyways, we went to the fair this year with My Mom, Owen, Hannah, Jon's Dad and Caroline.


This is Marcella when we went to the fair last August. I really can't believe how fast kids grow up. I knew it was fast, but when it is your own, man time really flies by.

This is her now, any big changes?

Ever heard of Kissing a Frog? Well I am hoping that kissing a goat will give us millions, I will let you know if it worked.

This really is one of my favorite pictures, well this one and the next one. When you are looking at the pictures in order it makes me laugh every time I come to these two. Even though it is a little sad.


That poor goat scared the Dickens out of Hannah, Poor Girl, I really felt bad, but I can't help but laugh.

The petting area is by far my favorite. I tried to get some good shots of Marcella with the animals, and I didn't get as many as I would have hoped, but here are a couple.


Marcella loves Charlotte's Web. (the cartoon) So she was so excited to pet a pig. Until we got to the really big ones, they scared her so bad. It was pretty funny.

Looks like Hannah recovered from the scary goat. What a cutie!

This is also one of the sequenced ones. This one make me laugh every time. Little kids are the best.

It looks like these guys are having some kind of meeting. Caroline, enlighten us, what did you guys talk about?

Well, Time to head out. Thanks for the Kettle corn Aunt Caroline. It was YUMMY!

Lagoon

I thought that I would try to catch up a bit from all of our summer adventures. Here are some pictures of when Marcella and I went to Lagoon while Jon was backpacking. I think that some of them are pretty funny.

This is when we first got out of the car.


This is Marcella watching the new wicked roller coaster take it's course. She was sooo excited.


First ride: The Boats. I think Marcella had more fun watching what Owen was doing.


Next Stop: Airplanes. The girl in front informed me when Marcella got on that I probably shouldn't put her in back of her because she was going to be going high. I said I think she will be ok.

(ok? This is the girl who whenever she gets on a swing all she says is higher Higher HIGHER, then under doggie mama, under doggie mama.)


The Helicopters. She loved this ride. I think this was one of her favorites.



So she can handle all of the high crazy stuff, but the cars? I was really surprised to see her so sad at the end of this ride. Although her all time favorite was still the train that we got to ride a few times, and I didn't get any pictures. Bummer. Every time we pass Lagoon now Marcella says "Mama, Look! LAGOON!" After our yummy corndogs, Marcella got her own this time, we went home. It sure was fun.

ps. I just wanted to let all of you know that we are enjoying our new place. We really live in the Ghetto of Orem, and if you don't believe me come check it out for yourself. Just tonight I think I counted 5 shopping carts on our neighbors lawn and I think someday I will take a picture to let you all see it, but for now if you want to see where we live you just have to come and visit!

Contact

(801) 226-1082
176 W. 930 N.
Orem, UT 84057

June Cabin Trip

We took this trip at the start of the summer. I have a few free minutes, so I thought I'd post these pictures. Marcella, Grandma, Kanien and I played in the river (Big Springs, Henry's Fork of the Snake) at the boat dock.

Marcella had fun floating in her innertube along the dock.

Here I am by the bridge.

I almost lost her here....

This is a butterfly. We were at the Spring Wayside point between Island Park and West Yellowstone.

We put Marcella in the trunk for the trip back

Here she is in Moose Creek...we like wading there.