Hello Summer!

Wow! Did summer hit us with a bang, or what?! It has been so mild and rainy and now we are in the fourth straight day of high 90 degree weather! I can't believe how hot it has been and how quickly June has passed. Tomorrow is the 1st of July! We have such a fun packed July. Our July is crazy with birthdays, both friends and family. I am hoping (hoping!) to do a little tribute to each on on their day of birth, so stay tuned, cause it's gonna be a lot!

We have been so busy with the garden and with Luke's interviewing/testing (which is going well, btw). Luke is currently testing and interviewing with Duchesne County, Lone Peak (Highland/Alpine), and SLC. He also has applications going into Bountiful, Woods Cross and Kaysville. Hmmm. Any guesses on where Luke hopes we end up? And any guesses on what I'm thinking? We are excited about all of the possibilities and hope something turns up soon!

The summer festivities start with, of course, Independence Day, which is always fun. This year we will be spending it at the farm again for a Merkley family reunion. Then, we were planning on going to Jackson, Wyo. with my family, but somehow the dates got a little screwy, and we aren't going to be able to go. We have too many other conflicts with Luke's testing and interviewing, among other things.

Then, we have another family reunion! My mom's family is in desperate need for a reunion, and so I have helped planned a fun filled time and hopefully we have a great turnout. It has been so hard to get this little family together recently! July will then be over and my baby boy will turn 3. I can't believe it is here so quickly. It really seems like he has been around forever, but also just yesterday that he was born. I love this little guy, and can't wait for a fun birthday celebration!

who knew?

Probably most of you. I am a little behind the times, but after Rachel's TESTING post, I figured I could probably blog remotely, too!

I am cozied up in what is known as The Adventure Room at my mom's house. Luke is on his way to Duchesne to test bright and early with the County Sheriff's Department. We will be joining him in a couple of days for a relaxing weekend.

Tomorrow night my mom and I are headed to a organizing extravaganza thingy that her Relief Society is having. It sounds interesting and I could definitely use some pointers. It takes me about a year after moving to really get settles and organized. Unfortunately, about the time that happens, we usually move again! I've moved about thirteen times in the last ten years and I am eager to put down some serious roots. So here's hoping we get a job somewhere amazing and I can stay put!

Silence

It's amazingly quiet as both my children are down for an afternoon slumber. This almost never happens anymore and I am just enjoying the silence. Especially since the kids have been fighting, fighting, fighting lately!

They have been fighting over toys, fighting over cups, fighting over who gets to sit on mom's lap. Fighting over tub duckies, fighting over blankies, fighting over fighting. And inevitably, someone gets pushed, punched, gouged, slapped, etc. etc. What is wrong with my beautiful angel children!?!?!

They are also getting very possessive. Everything is mine. Even other kid's toys, at THEIR houses, somehow belong to my children. And then they fight over them! AAAGGGGHHHH. I am exhausted and exasperated. I don't know what has brought this on! Is it an age thing? Noah is almost 3 (Aug.3) and Emma is 20 months. I am hoping they will grow out of this. I don't want to be doomed for a lifetime of fighting. Although, I know I really fought with my siblings.

So, Mom, I am sorry. Sorry for fighting so much with the others. Sorry, because now I really know what it meant when you said, "I am gonna knock your heads together!"

P.S. Help and advice is required for reading this post. Please leave your thoughts and comments or I'll knock your heads together.

Get downtown in your fwip fwops to taste... That taste!

Noah has been saying the funniest things lately and I never want to forget!

The most random of all... Noah has been stating, with much enthusiasm I might add, "Get downtown!" No idea where this comes from or why he says it. No pattern on when he says it. It is hilarious. Loud, boisterous, and full of spunk. That's right... get downtown!

He has a new pair of 4th of July flip flops and he loves them. Wants to sleep with them on and everything. The other day he says to me, "Mom. That's my fwip fwops. My fwip fwops are really cool."

Still loves food and is very complimentary to the chef, aka, ME. I love when he compliments my cooking and I always tell him how much I appreciate him telling me. Lately, his compliment has been, "MMMmmmmm. That taste! Nummy!" I love it. That taste! Where does he come up with this stuff?

Oh, I am sure there are more and I will add them as they come to me. Just be happy for now that my little guy makes me laugh. All the time!

Another painting

I finished this a little bit ago and am posting for all to see. This painting was a little different because of the "canvas" used. I found this skull and antlers on our farm in Duchesne and wanted to do something fun with them. When I found them there was still hair on the forehead and everything was bleached totally white. The idian painted on it was of a picture Megan took while we were at a POW-WOW in Fort Duchesne last year. I need more practice and there are some things on this painting I might change later..... Anyway, Enjoy!

Memorial Day 2010

I had a great, long, weekend. Just got home tonight and I feel like tomorrow should be Monday, since we generally come home on Sunday evening. I love the farm. I love Duchesne. There, I said it. I love Duchesne! And its quiet peaceful evenings. I love listening to the sprinklers of all the farm equipment as they hit the barn and swing back out. It's comforting somehow. I like being so close to the lake in the summer and close to hiking/four wheeling.

As you may remember from previous years, we always try to go and find something different and fun to do in Duchesne. This time we went to Nine Mile Canyon. We spent 4+ hours driving there (it is a slow dirt road) and can't wait to go back! We are planning a camping trip where we can spend more time hiking up the little canyons to see the petroglyphs and pictographs left by Ute and Fremont Indians. The Pioneer history and the Indian history in this area is amazing.

Monday, of course, we spent at the cemetary. And it is fun to take to the old folks in town and here the stories.... one in particular y'all might enjoy, now try to keep up... Luke's Great Grandpa Wilson's brother married the daughter of Sundance Kid! Isn't that funny? Last year, he was dug up for the THIRD time to try to identify his DNA and it has been confirmed. He is buried two plots away from Luke's grandparents. And, 'Aunt Connie' said, "Well, as a child, we all knew he was an outlaw. We didn't ask what kind and it was just not talked about." Then, they find out it was Sundance Kid. He settled down in Duchesne under the name of William Long. Check it out if you are ever there!