Picking Peaches

I decided the boys and I needed to pick peaches. I found a local place to go pick an invited some friends & their kids.

We showed up and they actually take us out into the orchard on the trailer of the 4-wheeler with our boxes. The boys loved the ride & I liked not having to walk.

"When you are done, send someone down and I will come pick up the boxes. Don't carry them - they will be heavy," she said as she dropped us off.

Sarah Gets an 'A' Okay for School

At 7am Sarah jumped out of bed, dressed in her carefully chosen skirt and was ready to start breakfast by 7:30. Mom was just as excited and ready with pancakes, syrup & juice. The lunch & pack full of supplies stood at the door for the much awaited day.

Bells & whistles sounded at 8:05 as Dad kissed his brilliant daughter & wished her luck. Shutters flashed, but were not quick enough as the group sped out the door & through the streets. They joined other happy children journeying to Ft. Lee School #1. The crossing guards along the way guided them safely there.

Feeling the excitement in the air, Zach cooperated with precision. He wasn't about to miss the fifth most exciting day of his life. (Birth, sleeping all night, walking & his first plane ride are 1-4.)

Day over, 'How did it go?', Mom asked.
'Pushing, shouting & alot sitting' said Sarah.
'Maybe tomorrow will be just as fun,' said mom, with a great BIG smile on her face.

A Man & His Machine

What is it about men not wanting their picture taken? Is it their hair, do their clothes match or do they just not want to be bothered? It's the later.

After some arm twisting & promises to put an ad on KSL, Dad agreed to pose in front of his crane. Daily calls come in needing his help. We thank the Lord every day for the work.

A Hunting We Will Go

Three weekends of hunting by the Crosman family netted more that the intended animal via the bow hunt. Here's a run down of events & captures:

Week 1, Day one: Hunting Blind 5x5x4 desert camoflage set up by pond. Mauri dresses in camo, takes Hoyt state of the art bow & gets all comfy in portable chair. Waits 4 hours.
Day two: Siting & possibility to shoot, small antelope. Pass. Not big enough.
Day three: 8-10 hours of read one page of book, look out peep holes, read another page, etc.
Day four: Same as day three except a few animals drank in the pond, windy & took cooler of food.
Day five: Go home because your waiting for the big one, that you see off in the distance prancing around & shaking rack as you head for home.

Weekend 2, Day 1: Set up blind & read rest of book started last week. Spot 'the big one' again & name him Big Buda.
Day 2: Grams & Gramps arrive to watch kids while Aaron visits the blind. Kids decide to set a trap for a squirrel that's been hanging around. He checks out the crackers under the rock propped up on a stick, but is too quick to get caught. The kids reset the string that pulls the stick from under the rock each time, but no luck.
Day 3: A bigger rock is set under the stick. The squirrel likes the bait, hangs around too long going deeper under the rock. Bingo! it's trapped. The kids are jubilant & we are shocked they did it.

Mom & Dad come back empty handed, very frustrated. As they head for home, Big Buda is lounging in the grasses holding head high, but too far away to shoot. The family drives in silence, and the bagged squirrel awaits its fate.

Weekend 3, Day 1 Blind set up, a group of potentials sally forth, with the largest ones holding back to see if the water is worth it. Excitement reigns & kids left home for funner weekend with Grams & Gramps.
Day 2 or is it 3: More sallying, scrunching of two in the blind, waiting & not moving a muscle. Cramping of the legs, hard seat, no potty and fatigue as the hours tick away.

Finally they spot a cluster. The antelope get closer inch by inch, hour by hour. One is within range. She gets the bow ready, aims & fires minutes before the hunt is officially over. It's a HIT!! He jumps, runs a few yards & is down. Hunter & hubby are on it like a wild fire. Yeah!! Cheering, picture taking & packing up the blind are next. A good night's sleep is had by all.

Size: The same as the first one on the first day of the first hour. But who's measuring?

School Bound Kids

Noah, Brayle & Hunter start school this week. Who is more excited, the kids or parents? Last week everyone checked out their school, visited the new teacher, bought a few clothes and finished up summer activities.

This week its go to bed & wake up early, get dressed, eat quickly and ready for new experiences. Oh, the joy of learning, making friends and having structure, it provides a great pathway for life. Have a great year, work hard & you will be rewarded.

Two Love Birds Together, Two Months

NOW
Today marks the two month, 1/6th year anniversary for Jory & Sarah. How time flies. It seems they just got married this summer. Oh wait, they did. We're glad the date was moved up so all the family could enjoy being together, but have summer left to do their own thing, too. Their pictures are back with great shots of every minute of the blessed day.

The happy couple also did many things together with the extra time. Sarah was busy keeping Dr. Foot Surgeon's patient's coming and going smoothly, while Jory tidied up their home, fixed meals and read all those books he skipped as a youth.

Now he's back to school heading up the fourth grade at Saratoga Springs. He & Dad installed a new starter motor hours before the bell rang. He was stranded a few times amidst meetings & such, with a dead car.
THEN
Marriage: Forgive quickly. Kiss slowly. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably.
Family: We can't live with them & we can't live without them.

Two on the Town for $20 + Me & $3

I hosted Brayle & Hunter a few hours this week, after begging Mom & Dad to let them come stay. Baseball games & 40+ miles has kept them away. Driving by after a few days in southern Utah, they couldn't resist a drop off & overnightter. I put them to work trimming & raking in the back yard jungle, when a hearty breakfast was finished.

After more than enough computer games, we headed to Target with Mauri's $75 gift certificate using only $10 on 2 school shirts for Brayle. Nothing Hunter's size met with his approval. J.C. Penney's had 2 tops for him & one for her, as I put my 2 $10 coupons to work with any $10 minimum purchase. My out of pocket was $13 for both kids.

We hit Arctic Circle with more coupons, walking away with three yummy chicken burgers and an armload of hot french fries for $6. 'Night at the Smithsonian' had it's $1 special as we enjoyed the afternoon movie for $3. Poverty generates creativity.

A neighbors swimming pool was all ours, as the kids took a cool dip chasing one another around & doing tricks from the diving board. We were all smiles at the rendevous point meeting Mauri & getting a nod over the clothes we got.

Please, come again.