Herriman Machine Gun Fire

Okay so this was a very intense experience for me. I felt helpless as was directed to turn away because the area was under evacuation.

Even though we had prepared for a day like today we were not home and so we were not able to reach our 72 hour kits.

We had gone to Jeff's mom and dad's for dinner on Sunday, September 19. We could see and smell a fire earlier that day but it appeared to be on the other side of the mountain. We didn't think too much of it.

As we hung out at Jeff's parents house we could see the smoke it seemed to cover the entire sky. It was time to go home and that's when Jeff's dad told us to call him and let us know we got home safely.

Well as we were driving along 13400 South we got a closer view of the fire. It had come clear down the mountain side - much like you'll see in the pictures below. I couldn't believe how far down the side of the mountain it came. It looked to me like it was next to the Black Ridge Reservoir.

Jeff noticed a lot of traffic heading out of Herriman and said I bet they are evacuating Herriman. I thought he was probably right. We continued towards our home and as we got closer we went slower. They were blocking off the street at that point. Making everyone go into the right hand turn lane. We couldn't turn left to go home. There was a sheriff blocking the way both south and west. It felt so weird.

Hayden started to cry. I began trying to call Jeff's dad to let him know we were being evacuated. No calls would go through. It just kept saying "CALL FAILED." That felt really eerie. This was like a movie. It felt like everyone was in a panic. It was a very tense situation to be in. We thought okay so we'll go west at 12600 South. It seems like it took at least 15 minutes to travel from 13400 South to 12600 South and as we got closer we saw they had that blocked off too.

We decided to go to the Peterson's to see if they knew more. They let us in and we were able to make a few calls from there. We confirmed that we couldn't get home tonight we'd have to try again in the morning. We called Jeff's dad and asked him if we could stay there tonight. He of course said yes.

This is one of the three houses that burned to the ground. :(

Here's one of the many houses that was saved. WOW! Enough said.

And here is an areal view of the damage. Wow it makes you feel amazed that not more homes were lost.

Baptism Day

Hayden was baptized on Saturday, August 28 at 11:30 am. He was SO excited!! He has waited for this day for a long time. Did you know that he has talked to me about getting baptized now for at least a year. He was super excited about it. He also waited an extra month because he really wanted his friend to be able to come to it. Isaac Peterson has a b-day just three days after his and he really wanted to see him get baptized and be able to have Isaac see him get baptized.

Hayden was the only one in our ward that was getting baptized from our stake this month. So he was in charge of the whole program.

He chose to sing Come Follow Me and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the opening and closing songs. He wanted Pam to lead the music and was excited that Wesley could play the piano and Haylee played the flute!! He wanted Grandma and Grandpa Quick to say the prayers.

Then I asked him who he wanted to give the talks. There was a Holy Ghost talk and a Baptism talk. He thought for a while and then said he wanted dad to do it. :) I told him maybe since dad was baptizing him and confirming him that we could ask someone else in the family to do that. I helped suggest lots of aunts and uncles that he could ask. He listened and then said, mom I want Josh to give the Holy Ghost talk - so we asked Josh and he said sure. Then he said, "Mom want you to give the baptism talk." Okie dokie.

I was so glad so many could come and Grandma Quick said in her prayer that she felt the spirits of those present and those unable to attend. I thought that was so special because I felt the same way.

Hayden, I pray that you will be able to feel the Holy Ghost directing you for good and that you will have the strength to follow through with those feelings and directions. I believe when you feel those promptings that they are coming right from your Heavenly Father. He loves you so much. I know because I love you so much too.

Charter Schools

Has anyone ever looked into charter schools. This has been on my mind lately. Next year Hayden will be in school all by himself and I thought it might make that easier if they were all on the same "traditional" schedule.

If I do it - I'd have to figure out how to get him there and pick him up every day though - and that part is a little overwhelming right now.

Just wonder about your thoughts on the subject.

http://www.schools.utah.gov/charterschools/School-Directory.aspx

To Maintain A Healthy Level of Insanity

1. At lunch time, sit in your Parked Car with Sunglasses on and point a Hair Dryer at Passing Cars. See if They Slow Down.

2. Page Yourself over the intercom. Don't disguise your voice!

3. Every time someone Asks You to do Something, ask If They Want Fries with That.

4. Put Decaf in the Coffee Maker for 3 Weeks. Once everyone has gotten over their Caffeine Addictions, Switch to Espresso.

5. In the Memo Field of All Your Checks, write "For Marijuana"

6. Skip down the hall Rather than walking and see how many looks you get.

7. Order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face.

8. Specify that your Drive-Through order is "To Go"

9. Sing Along at the Opera

10. Five Days in Advance, tell your friends you can't attend their party because You Have a Headache.

11. When the money comes out of the ATM Scream, "I Won!! I Won!!"

and the final way to keep a healthy level of insanity

12. When leaving the Zoo, start running towards the parking lot yelling, "Run For Your Lives!! They're Loose!! They're Loose!!"


This made me LOL today hope it makes you LOL too. :)

8 is Great!!

Around our house we think 8 is definitely GREAT!!! Today is Hayden's birthday and he just happens to be turning 8 years old which is a pretty big deal.

What a better way to start his day off right then with his presents first thing in the morning.

Scriptures

Hayden got to pick out his very first set of scriptures.

He's been wanting these for a long time.

He was very excited to finally get his very own set of scriptures.

He chose blue.

A New Tie

With a hope that he'll wear this on his baptism day.

Lego Harry Potter

He got to pick this out last night - it was so hard for him to wait play it until his birthday. Which I found him still doing when I got home for his lunch. LOL :o)

Is it just me or did his smile seem to get bigger and bigger with each present?

I wanted to make him feel special for lunch time too!! So I looked up a few birthday traditions from around the world. Jeffrey has some dutch on his side and so I looked up Holland and the Netherlands traditions and they decorate the chair of the birthday boy.

I thought that sounded like a great idea and decided to do that for lunch time. I also wanted to make him a fun birthday lunch - how could I make his lunch special.

I borrowed this great idea from Whole Foods - sandwich Kabobs - cute huh?!!

The Garden

Last year we did not plant a garden and I really missed it :(
So . . . . I was very excited this year to get one in. And, thanks to Jeff and his dad we did just that.

Jeff worked so hard at tilling it up and then his dad took Jeffrey to Mascaro's and got us a load of mulch. Mascaro's mulch is the best!!

We bought lots of different kinds of tomatoes, a tomatillo, squash, lemon cucumber, cilantro and two kinds of peppers. It's sorta small this year compared to in the past, but I love it and can't wait for a garden fresh tomato.

Jeff also built these super cool tomatoe cages for our tomatoes this year. The last time we planted a garden our poor little cages were not much help and he wanted something that would look great and work great too. I think they turned out awesome don't you?

Josh and Hayden helped us plant peas too. I had them start the peas about 2 weeks late but our efforts still paid off and we are getting lots of peas. The only thing is I don't really like the variety we got. What kind of peas have you planted in the past and loved? I usually love garden fresh peas.

FiNGeRnAiLs

Many of you know that I have had a horrible habit of biting my nails.

Well I'm very pleased to announce that I have had long nails now for over a year!!

Wow!! YAY me :)

New Use for a Swiffer - at Least it's New for Me :)

Okay. . . so something you might not know about me is that I am a horrible Spring/Fall cleaner.

I really don't enjoy it. One of the worst parts about it for me is walls.

I don't like cleaning walls at all. Well since it's almost officially summer now and spring is nearing it's end I thought I better be a big girl and get our walls cleaned.

So . . . . I decided I needed some motivation. I went to the store and down the cleaning isle. While looking at all the products that I could spend my money on, I had a little spark of what I thought was a grand idea. AND I purchased a Swiffer.

Have you seen these little babies?

Well. . . I've never owned one before and I must say I like the feel and look of them.

So far I really think they are built well and have lots of little extras I didn't expect.

Anywho. . . .back to my idea.

So why did you buy a Swiffer then - I thought you hated cleaning walls?

That's exactly why I bought one - to clean my walls!!! Yes, you heard me right.

To Clean My WALLS!!!

And. . . . it worked like a charm!!

I love it - it cut my time in half!! No. . . in fourths!!!

It's so easy to clean my walls now. Love it!!

So first I dusted all the walls with the dry cloths.

Okay this is gross - can you believe how dirty walls get?!!??!!??

Ewwww Ewwww Ewww!!

Then I used the wet ones. And. . .wahlah!! All clean for the summer!!

So . . my motivation worked and my walls are all clean ahhhhh!!!

Go try it - you might like it too and have to share it with your friends.

Just like I just did with all of you :)

positive thoughts

Today I'm working hard towards being positive. I am going to search for good - I know I can find it. I want to talk about the positive things in life - no more drama and working through frustrations (at least out loud). Okay so how do you do this when everything around you seems negative and drags you down??? Well - search for it. I looked up positive thinking techniques online and found a whole slew of ideas. Here are some of my favorites.

1. Fake it til you make it!! (this one is my favorite ;)

2. You REALLY DO have to count your blessings!!

3. Smile :) - you should try it. It's hard to feel ornery or grumpy when you smile.

4. Be Silly - Pretend - Act Like a Kid (look at pictures of kids - it will make you smile - promise)

5. Relax and let things happen. Don't dwell! Don't get caught in the THICK of thin things.

6. Exercise - get physical - dance

7. Associate yourself with those who think positively. You can benefit from attitudes of others.

8. Do something nice - look for the good in others.

9. Listen to something upbeat!! ♫ Music ♪ makes your mood - happy music=happy mood ϋ

10. Redirect your thoughts. If you hear something negative - take a deep breath and redirect your thoughts. (this one is hardest for me - it helps if you get help from those around :)

These were just 10 of the ones that were my favorite and that I'm trying hard to work on today - want more??? Here's the link http://www.rncentral.com/nursing-library/careplans/100_positive_thinking_exercises_to_incorporate_into_your_life

Faux hawk

Faux-hawk: "A fake mowhawk which approximates the style but without shaving the sides of the head."

The last time I cut the kids hair I said to each of them, "Are you sure you don't want me just to give you a faux-hawk? It would be so cool ! !" Then I leave a strip that's longer then the rest of their hair on the top of their heads on in the back. I proceed to take them to the bathroom and take their pictures and then have them look in the mirror. Then we walk in and show dad (who just laughs and laughs).

Zachary almost went for it. . .he thought about it for a while. Josh said no when I was doing it and said no again when he saw it in the mirror and he told dad I'm not keeping it dad we really aren't doing it.

Hayden on the other hand. . . . . . . said yes :)

Boy Oh Boy!! I like it. . . . it's fun and spunky but dad says he can only have it for a week then it's back to normal.

Deals to Meals

Do you want to find out the best prices on the items you buy at the grocery store?
Do you want help planing out your weekly dinners?
Do you need new recipe ideas?
Do you need a boost and encouragement on getting that food storage done at the best price?
Do you want to save money doing all of these things?

Well. . . if you answered yes to any of these questions, then I want to share this great company with you.

I love, love, love them!! I have been using them now for over a year!! It's so great to go to the website and print out a list of dinner ideas. I don't always use all of them but the ones we've used we have loved. It's so great to have your kids say, "Mom, I love this dinner!!" Wow!!

The other thing I have absolutely loved is that I have caught the FOOD STORAGE bug!! I know when I'm stocking up on something in my food storage I'm getting it at a great price too!!

So. . . . . feel free to check them out. http://www.dealstomeals.com/ and give them a try!!

A Spring Surprise!!

Guess What We Have???

I'm not sure if you can tell from this picture, but we have a bird's nest.

Right by our front door next to our porch light and the crazy man eating vine.

Anyway. . . I have seen a robin sitting on this nest from time to time. Well actually. . . I've seen a robin fly away from the nest, over to our neighbors roof and chirp and chirp at me.

So. . . when we saw this nest we thought - oh dear - guess we'll be going in and out

the garage this spring. I looked in the nest several times though

and didn't see anything but a nicely made little nest.

So. . . the other day when I was reading Kami's blog,

she posted about some new residents she has at her house.

Which reminded me that I hadn't looked in the nest for a while now.

Well I did today and here is what I found.

Can you see them??? Holy cow!!! It's so cool!!!

A Little Closer View - can you believe it??

Lookee, lookee!! - adorable :)

AWWWWW. . . . .aren't they just so cute?!!! :)

So I guess we have some new residents at our house too. Guess it's back to going in and out of the garage for sure - don't want these little guys to get freaked out and jump out too soon. It's so exciting!! :)

Music Makes Music Rocks!!!

SO. . . . .What Is Music Makes Music?

Music Makes Music is a non-profit organization that inspires the next generation of musicians. They rock it at High Schools and Middle Schools with tons of high-energy, motivational, full production rock concerts that motivate teenagers and inspire them to get involved with music in school and their communities. The shows are currently featuring Going Second who perform FABULOSO songs with no vulgar or suggestive lyrics. This organization was founded in part by a good friend Josh Alfaro who use to live next door to us. It was so fun to see him jammin' on stage as a big ol' rock star!!

His band totally rocks!! So . . . if your kids get the chance, have their administrators get in touch with Josh and get them a free concert at their school t0 promote music education.

I Love Spring ❀ ✿ ❁ ✾

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I'm so glad it's spring. Things have been crazy and I'm just so glad for the idea of new fresh starts. I hope things will get better fast. It's now been just over a year that Jeff has been without work. I know it's happened in the past but it's just so hard. We are looking forward to new things this spring. We ask for your prayers and to spread the word too.