Noah's Preschool Graduation

Noah went to Waterford Community Center in Salt Lake City for preschool this year. He has learned so much from the Waterford Program and I am so sad that it has been cancelled. He had a wonderful teacher names Ms. Marj who he just loved. On his last day of school he gave Ms. Marj a tentative hug and she got a teary eye and said, "I hope all of his teachers see the amazing boy that he is and love him as much as I do." It was such a sweet moment! I am so grateful for good educators in the world. We will never forget Ms. Marj!

My last post was in April. APRIL!?!?!

It's been such a ridiculously long time since I have blogged, I don't even recognize the "new" format for Blogger! It's probably not even new anymore. I need to do a little catch up so I will be posting things from the last few months.

We have had a crazy busy summer, as usual. It has been wonderful, but I am so glad that it is over and we are headed to a calmer, cooler fall. Keep checkin' back for more updates, we've had a lot going on!

I'm prepared, are you?

Remember the crazy winds of December 2011? Here is how it changed my life (or at least my perspective)...

I had a hard time falling asleep on Wednesday night, the last night of November 2011. The wind was SO LOUD! I have never heard anything like it, but still didn't think it would turn out like it did. I am sure you all remember the news stories, pictures of fallen trees, downed power lines. A house burned down just two blocks from me.

At four in the morning, Luke's phone rang. Guess what? Things had gotten so out of control and crazy in Centerville, they needed all hands on deck. Even though Luke wasn't scheduled to work until eight in the morning, he was needed... like 5 minutes ago.

I don't know exactly what time the power went out, but it was out when I got up. Luckily, I didn't need to cook to feed the kids, and we spent the morning decorating for Christmas. Not too bad, right? Well, it started to get colder as the morning progressed. I looked out into our back yard and saw tree branches tangled in our power lines. I don't know what is what when it comes to power lines so I was a tad worried. I called Luke. I couldn't get a hold of Luke. Or the City of Bountiful. Or the power company. Or anybody. I felt very alone and a little powerless, but I was okay. Soon, my sweet brother in law, Jesse, came to our rescue, took us to my in-laws house where they have gas and so it wasn't as cold and there was hot food on the table. All things considered, we survived the power outage unscathed. I wish everyone was as lucky as me. My story isn't scary, but there are hundreds out there that are.

But... a couple of days later it hit me. Wait a minute?!?!?! My husband is a civil servant. He won't EVER be around in this kind of situation. I won't always have Jesse to rescue me. If something truly devastating happens I am on my own. So, instead of panicking, I started to prepare and I am feeling better about taking care of myself, my kids and maybe my neighbors more than ever before.

I have done a few things...

1. I have become a Shelf Reliance representative. I love, love, love these products. I have been receiving the Thrive Q products for over a year and nothing gives me more comfort than to know that I have delicious, healthy food that will last 25+ years.

2. I have become a Group Leader with Emergency Essentials. This gives me access to discounts that are only available to bulk orders. I send out a monthly email with all the specials and gather/place orders. There is nothing in it for me but the power to buy in bulk and good deals.

3. Educating myself. If the "big one" hits... we are right on the fault line. I have attended classes in my area and that my Relief Society has held.

4. I have started saving water in any and every water safe container.

5. I have assembled what I think is just about the most comprehensive and beautiful 72 hr. kit there is. I love it. I have used it and shared it with family already. Can't say enough about how important these kits are!!

I am not finished preparing. But I feel better than ever. So, here is my point in sharing this with you. I figure if I help even just one person be more prepared, I will be happy. If you are interested in any of the above information, please contact me. I am happy to share what I have learned, put you on my email list for updates on group specials, host a THRIVE cooking class in your home, etc., etc. etc. I don't want to be scared and unprepared. And I don't want you to be either. I'd love to hear from you and how you are preparing too!

Thanks for reading. Leave a comment, email, text or call. 801-403-2444

ants on a log

conversations with Emma usually go a little something like this:

Emma: Mom, what are you making?

Mom: Ants on a log

E: That isn't ants on a wog. That is celery, peanut butter and waisins.

M: I know. But I like to pretend its ants sitting on a log.

E: Are you seriously telling me you are pretending those waisins are ants on a wog?!?!?

M: Yes! It's kinda fun.

E: Mom. Don't ever tease me like this again. That is so silly!

Mini Me

Have you met my husband? I mean my baby? I mean my husband? Wait... who is that?!?!

When people see Zane, the first thing they say is, "Oh my goodness! He looks just like Luke!"

Or some similar variation. And I couldn't agree more.

I need to find a picture of Luke about this age so we can compare side by side.

Zaner is already four months old! I love this little guy like crazy. He is so sweet and calm and just the best baby ever. When he starts to cry, which is rare, I get so flustered and frustrated because it doesn't happen often and I  don't know what to do with it! He sleeps most nights at least six hours. He had his first applesauce on Thursday the 9th and absolutely loved it. He is always ready for more. He almost rolled over today, and every other day for the last week! If he rolls, he will be my earliest roller. In fact, he already is, because he rolled over in the hospital right after he was born and up until he was about 3 weeks old. Then, I think he got too chubby.

Luke can always make this boy smile by singing a silly song about a Zaner Tot. Zane smiled his first real smile on my birthday, but not for me! It was for Uncle Jesse. Zane always wakes up with a smile. He is so happy. Love, love, love this baby.

To my Valentines...

Noah... I love you. I love your readiness to learn. I love that you love your baby brother like crazy. I love your pinboard in your room where you pin everything special to you. I love that you never want to play in your room so you can keep it cleaner. I love that you look like me. I love those big brown eyes! I love your sincerity. I love that, sometimes, you still let me snuggle you. I love that you plan. I love that your favorite song is still "Rudolph" even though its February.

Emma... I love you. I love your craziness! I love that lately you started calling everyone a 'funny gooser.' I love your dancing. I love that you can't get enough of  "Moves like Jaggar." I love your smile. Sometimes I love it when you wake me up in the middle of the night for no reason at all, except to say, "Mom, I wuv you." I love that you love your hair and that you are upset that I cut mine. I love you because you are you. And nobody else. Because, sister, you are something else!

Zane... I love you. I love how sweet, sweet, sweet you are. I love you because you wake up with a smile. I love your chubby thighs and your blue eyes. I love that you sleep six hours a night. I love your intense desire to move! You are ready for the world! I love that you are trying to roll. I love that you want to sit up and watch your brother and sister all the time. I love your snuggles.

Luke... I love you. I love that you are passionate. I love that you love your job. I love that you take care of our family. I love that you are strong. I love that you sing to the kids and make up silly songs for them. I love that you love your hobbies... painting, taxidermy, hunting. I love that you laugh at my jokes. I love that you are patient with me most of the time. I love that you let me be me. I love your blue eyes. I love that Zaner looks just like you. I love that you are my best friend. I love that you love our kids like crazy. 'Cause I love you like crazy.

just a few notes on my kids... i love 'em and they are growing up too fast.

Zane grabbed his toes on Thursday night. Don't know why this is a moment, but it is. He is almost rolling over! He is such a happy and content baby. Happy and happy. He is half giggling! And slept eight hours last night making him my favorite child o' the day. He loves company and hates being left out of anything. In the morning, when I have to go to work, I wake him up, change his bum and get ready to feed him. He just lays on the changing table, stretches his arms up, opens his eyes and then he smiles the sweetest smile. He melts my heart.

Emma, oh Emma! She is a study in contradiction lately. She is so bouncy and flashy at home. I guess flashy might not be the right word, but I can't think of the right word. She is loud, she likes to be heard, she loves to dance and sing. Until you leave home. Then, she is quiet and reserved and all things that Emma is not. Thursday, my friend Darlene picked Emma up for "bring a friend to preschool" day with Andi, and brought her home 30 minutes later. Why didn't Emma want to stay, "Because, I was being shy!" At dance class, she dances her little heart out exactly the way she is supposed to, but when they have "free dance" she stands there not knowing how to break the mold. And insists on holding the teachers hand when they aren't dancing. I told her she didn't need to do this and she said, "I'm her friend. She needs me." Such a big, dramatic heart.

Noah has become somewhat of a planner. He has planned out his life and I fear, oh how I fear! how disappointed he might be if it doesn't turn out how he tells me it will. And his plans are so specific and detailed. (Brittany, if you happen to stumble upon my blog, please don't be alarmed). There is a sweet and gorgeous little girl in our ward/neighborhood/Noah's school that Noah has decided to marry. Her name is Dylan. He is not forward or kissy or lovey-dovey... yet. He is... matter of fact... decided to marry her. He has planned out their life. He tells me bit by bit as it is planned and the timeline goes a little something like this...

• Noah and Dylan will get married in the Bountiful Temple
• They will live in Zach and Melanie's old apartment on 1200 S. in Bountiful
• Noah will be a police officer and a teacher. Sometimes, he wants to be a Costco 'cooker' as well. Basically, he wants to pass out food in a hair net.
• Noah will work for Centerville being a police officer.
• Dylan will stay home with the kids and bring Noah his lunch while he is at work.
• Noah and Dylan will have 4 or 5 kids.
• He will buy Jelly Belly beans at Costco. And he will share them with his kids.
• They will move to Silver Creek someday

As far as I can tell, Noah has not told Dylan any of his plans. But Dylan's mom, Brittany, has told me that they are quite chatty in the car on the way to school. When I was driving carpool, it was the beginning of the year and nobody spoke too much yet. And Brittany tells me that Dylan has told her that Noah is pretty much the only boy she likes to be around. The rest are too loud, crazy, bouncy or what have you. Oh my! Don't try to argue with him about this. It just results in him being stubborn and upset that you don't agree. He has also informed Luke and I that there are 2 more babies that need to come to the family. One girl and one boy. This last week, he informed me that they are coming at the same time. Oh dear. We'll let you know how that one turns out!

January is flying by, but it seems Christmas was so long ago! We are super busy lately, as I have been working part time and now full time for a couple more weeks. Little temp jobs here and there help me keep my sanity and my family seems all the more appreciative of me when I get home :).

A few updates... One more week until I lock the blog for privacy. Please let me know if you want to be included.

My mother-in-law, Michelle, has started a blog with her sister, Robyn, to document her journey through chemotherapy at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Michelle was diagnosed with MDS Leukemia in November. We are praying for her and love her so much. Her blog can be found here.

Michelle's New Dawn

Goodbye 2011

Disclaimer: On the day we blessed Zane, December 11, Luke teased me that I needed to share my testimony in the obligatory, "mother of the child being blessed" way. It didn't happen as I am afraid of microphones and Zane was hungry. No worries, as it was a fabulous meeting and very much themed around the Great Wind of 2011 as I like to call it. Anywho... my teary testimony is what this has turned out to be. You were warned.

The first day of the new year is now over and I can't believe that another has come and gone. So much has happened to us this last year and it is hard to believe how quickly it all happened. I have spent some time reflecting over the past year and I have so much to be grateful for and so much to look forward to.

We have had such an amazing Christmas season and the highlight was definitely Christmas Eve with my in-laws. Michelle asked us to take turns sharing what the best gift that Christ gave us this year was. I knew immediately what my gifts were and couldn't keep my composure and started crying right away. Here is the extended version of what I shared with my family that night.

This is very near, dear and spiritual to me and it has taken me a....year... to be willing to share with the entire world wide web.

I spent the bulk of 2010 in prayer wondering why we were struggling with Luke finding the right job, in the right place and why wasn't this the right time? My prayers were answered, rather cryptically, it felt. The answer always came to trust in the Lord's plan and things will work out as it is intended. Well, that pretty much meant nothing to me so I prayed further to understand what exactly the Lord's plan was. My answer to those prayers and meditation in the temple came as a little spirit telling me that it was his time to join our family. I told the Lord that it wasn't possible! We didn't have a job, let alone the money for another baby! But, the answer was persistent.

Now here is where it gets personal and if you don't know me really well, you might think me a bit of a loon. That little spirit that kept telling me that it was time to join our family visited me. We didn't speak or anything, don't worry. But I could sense his presence and knew he was waiting for us. He came to me and sat near me and just let me know that he was there, who he was and waited for me to acknowledge him. It is hard to explain what this experience was really like and I am happy to elaborate in person. Just ask.

Then, each time we went to the temple I would have the overwhelming nagging feeling that I was knowingly not doing what the Lord was asking of me. I was not following the guidance to trust in the Lord and increase our family. Not good feelings, right? But how could I tell my unemployed husband, "Hey, I want to have another baby. You in?" Not a conversation I wanted to start.

November came and with that, Zach and Melanie's wedding. They will never truly understand the full impact of their temple ceremony on not just me, but probably ever other person in that room. After that sealing, I couldn't deny the Spirit any longer. I sought comfort and advice from my dear cousin and friend Kelly and she gave me the strength I needed to tell Luke what I had been feeling. And so I did. And his response was, "I know. I have been feeling the same way for a couple months but how is it possible?" Wha....? Not what I expected AT ALL! I was so overwhelmed with joy and now FEAR as we were accepting the assignment from our Heavenly Father to have that little spirit that had been bugging me (for over a year) join our family.

Now here is our miracle. We decided to go ahead and try to get pregnant and we did, rather quickly. But first, within 2 weeks of making the decision officially official, Luke received 4 job offers. Four! Centerville was the best choice at the most pay and the best part is that we didn't have to move and it is a small department with lots of growth potential so it all made sense.

And so began 2011 with all its twists and turns. Obviously, I got pregnant right away. Luke started working like crazy and life as we knew it changed. We moved in August and I can't believe the luck we had in being able to stay in our ward, on our street, with good friends and family so close. The highlight of our year was our little spirit who could not wait any longer to join our family. Our little Zane Christopher was born in October. Its strange to me still, but miraculous that his spirit is so familiar to me and I feel like I know him so well. He is a mover and a shaker, always has been, even when I was pregnant. He just can't wait to get going! I always tell him I know he has an important job in this life and that is why he couldn't wait any longer to get here and why he can't hold still. I don't know what it is, but I know he will do great things.

And for those who were wondering, Zane means God is gracious. And Christopher is not only a Merkley family name but means bearer of Christ. Fitting, no?

I truly have a testimony that the Lord will answer our prayers. We cannot forget the importance of heeding the promptings that we hear. We are continually being prompted and guided if we will just stay in tune with the Spirit. Guidance from the Spirit is not always life changing or earth moving. It comes daily, if we let it. We will see the hand of God in our lives if we know how to recognize it.

I read a sticky note at a house I used to clean that said,

How have I seen the hand of God reach out and touch me or my family today?

Did God send a message that was just for me?

What can I do to preserve that memory for the day I need to remember

how much God loves me and how much I need him?

At the start of this new year, may you recognize the hand of God in your life and remember how much he loves you and yours. I know we are loved as I cannot deny his hand and love in my life this past year. Merry Christmas to you and a joyous, happy new year.

Privacy Please!

Privacy has become a real issue in our house as I never get any! So, I am getting privacy where I can, MY BLOG! I have debated over the last couple of weeks wanting to share more personal, more journal type entries to my blog and have decided to put a privacy block on our blog. Please email me or comment on this post if you would like to be included. Thanks for understanding and hope you will continue reading.

Zane

Zane Christopher Merkley

10/18/11 at 11:38 am

9 lbs 1 oz

21.5 inches

We are so happy that our little boy is here!  Zane is already such a good baby. He is content most of the time and hardly makes a fuss. Noah is so excited to have a little brother and is already planning on teaching him to play soccer, climb trees, and go hunting. Emma isn't sold on him yet. She likes to help, but doesn't want mom or her grandmothers to hold him. She'll get the hang of it, we hope!

 Our Family Picture

Another one bites the dust!

So I've been trying to get my dad onto a critter to shoot with his bow. Animals finally started coming into my "honey hole". I went up last night, 10/14/2011, to try to shoot an elk. I went into my spot at about 1:00 pm and sat until about 7:00. Didn't even see a critter at all. Dad called me at about 5:00 and told me that he had made it up and would be coming in to where I was sitting. I had seen deer on the trail that he would be taking and was hoping that he would spot them and get a shot. There had been four decent bucks in the area and knew it was just a matter of time before I or my dad would fill a deer tag. Well, my dad finally came into where I was sitting and I was happy to see him. I met him not far from where I was sitting and asked if he had seen any animals. He stated that he hadn't seen anything and I could tell he was a little bummed. We started the hike back to the truck since it would soon be dark. The whole way back my dad and I were talking and shooting the bull, not really thinking we would see anything. Just at legal shooting light and about 50 yrds from the truck Dad stopped on the trail and peered out into the bushes. I asked what he was looking at and after a short while said "nothing". He started walking toward the truck and I looked to see what my dad was looking at. As I looked I saw a decent little 4x4 buck looking right at us. I told Dad that there was a deer there and told him to hold still and not to move. I thought the deer was going to take off. I ranged the buck and found him to be 52 yrds. The buck was broad side and provided a great shot. I knocked an arrow and let one fly.


Instantly I heard the "thunk" like I had just punch the chest cavity. The "thunk" was a definate hit sound and I knew my arrow had found it's mark. I nudged my dad and gave him the "how about that luck" kind of look. The arrow looked to be a perfect shot.

We waited about 5 min before going and looking to see if there was blood where he was standing. It was getting dark quick and I knew we had little time to find the buck. We found were he was standing but didn't find an arrow or blood. We continued to search around the area and about 50 yrds from where the buck was hit, I bumped him. It seemed as if he was not feeling well and bedded down. He jumped up real quick and took of like a bolt. It was too dark by this point and I could hear him run. It didn't sound natural. I could tell he was sick. We could hear the buck running off into the bushes then stop. I found a puddle of blood where he was beded and where I had bumped him. We decided to back out and come back in the morning.

After a sleepless night, morning finally came. I picked up my dad and we headed to my "hole". I went straight to were he was bedded the previous night and started searching. There was very very minimal blood so my dad, myself, and my brother-in-law started walking the grid. I decided to walk toward the bushes I had last heard the buck in. Not five minutes after walking toward the bushes....I found the buck. He was piled up and looked as if he was running and then collapsed over dead. My arrow was sticking through the other side with about 6in of fletching still in his side. While cleaning him out I discovered that the arrow took off the aorta right at the top of the heart. I couldn't have asked for a better shot. I was totally surprised that he lasted as long as he had.

I've never harvested anything while hunting with my dad and was so glad that he was there from start to finish. Not the biggest buck in the world but a "goodun" and it has a special meaning sharing it with Dad.
Enjoy the pics and happy hunting!

time is flying

I am behind again on blogging, mostly because we have been so, so busy. July, August and September have been crazy and now October is FINALLY here! We are anxiously awaiting our baby to be born. I am 38 weeks today and ready to have my baby here and my body back to myself. The kids are really looking forward to him coming too. Just today, I recorded Emma hollering at my belly, "Come out, baby! I wuv you baby. I told you to come out!" If I can figure out how to get it from my phone to the computer, I will.

Our quick recap:

July - we went to Mt. Rushmore and then did a quick turn around to Jackson Hole. Busy, busy two weeks. When we got home, we found out we were going to get the house across the street and be able to move by about the first week of August. So...

August -  we pack and move a whole 200 ft. Which I think may be harder then moving far. Everything was stuff and fluff and we still haven't recovered. The basement of our house is unfinished and functioning as a ginormous storage unit. The end of August brings some pre-term labor for me. I am in and out of the hospital, getting betamethisone shots and getting really freaked out by tests that say I could have the baby any time. The test, it turns out, is not very accurate and turned out to be a false positive as I am still pregnant. That sure was fun.

Noah started a preschool program two days a week and I am already seeing the difference in him. He loves to learn and is learning to write all his letters. He can already write his name, Emma's name and the baby's name, which may or may not stick.

Emma started tap and ballet lessons. It was a rough first month and she wasn't sure she wanted to do it, but now she is loving every minute of it. She gets a very proud smile on her face when asked to do first and second position and is glad to perform.

September brought the hunting season in full swing and Luke spends his time hiking all over tarnation. No success yet. I am sure he will post his stories once he has them.

I had another bit of a scare with the baby being breech and possibly being to large to flip on his own. My doctor was preparing to do either a Version (flipping the baby manually, OUCH!) or preparing for a c-section. However, our good little boy has flipped, and everything is great! I remember waking up in the middle of the night thinking I was having the baby right then because the pain and pressure was pretty intense. I am so glad that things turned out the way they did and I didn't have to try the version. It was painful enough to have the baby flip on his own, I can't even imagine someone pushing on him from the outside to try to make him turn.

I am back at the doctor on Friday to see how things are progressing. I am feeling as large as a house and very, very clumsy. Definitely not graceful. About 3 weeks ago, the doctor was guessing the baby was about 7 lbs. If this guy is large, I am hoping his head is at least in proportion. Noah's head was, AND IS, big and that was some hard pushing.

I am just working, slowly working, at getting the house ready and put together before baby arrives. Waiting for life to slow down a bit and I am afraid it won't. After the baby comes, it is Emma's 3rd birthday and the holidays will be here! Time sure is flying. Can't wait to see what it will bring!

I am sure our next post will be of our new little guy. Thanks for stopping by!!

Summer Splash

It has been HOT! And we were without swamp style AC for a couple weeks, so I took the kids over to Steve and Michelle's all the time for playing in the water in the backyard.

Emma hosed Grandpa...

               So Grandpa hosed Emma!

 Love my kids. Love them.

And one last one of Luke and Emma. So cute! Emma is a kissing monster so this happens all the time...

partial family picture

This post is just for Jocelyn, who has been begging me to see a picture of my belly. You can kind of see it under Emma's legs. This is the only one I have right now, as I try to avoid cameras at all costs. I have some pictures from our recent trip to Mt. Rushmore, but they are on Luke's camera and as I am in Jackson and poor Lukey is stuck at home working, this will have to do for now...

conversations with toddlers

Between Mom and Noah:

M: Noah, go find your flip flops and put them on.
N:  I don't want to.
M: Please go look.
N: Okaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy.
Short absence of Noah...
N: Mom! I can't find them anywhere!
M: Go look again, please.
N: How 'bout Emma goes and looks for me?
In the background, Emma says, "OKAY!"
M: Noah, how about you don't make Emma do your dirty work?
N: But Mom, Emma likes to do my dirty work!

Between Mom and Emma:

E: Mom.
M: Yes, Emma?
E: Mom.
M: What is it, Emma?
E: MOM!
M: What, Emma?
E: I don't know.
Exasperation...

Long Time Coming...

Noah and Grandpa Merkley on Father's Day. I couldn't do a post without a picture!

It has been so long since we have added a blog post that I am actually feeling a bit guilty. Guilty for not blogging? Yep, that's me. I'm kinda like that some times.

I havetwo reasons for wanting to get, and stay, updated. And that would be that two of my siblings moved far, far away and we have all promised to do better to keep eachother updated. Okay, so they really aren't far FAR away. But more than 4 hours drive for me, so I won't be seeing them as much.

Quick, quick, update on the last 5 (eek!) months so that I don't get overwhelmed and quit before I get started.

1. Luke is still working at the Centerville PD and really liking it since he got out on his own with no trainer. He has an amazing schedule for a rookie police officer which means that we get to have him home most nights and Saturday, Sunday and Monday. CPD does 3 month rotation shifts, so this won't always be the case. Next week, he switches to all days and he will be off Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We aren't complaining.

2. If you haven't already heard, we are expecting baby #3 in October and it is a BOY! We are super excited for Noah to have a little brother. Noah is excited to share a room, although that won't happen for awhile. I have been feeling pretty terrible and I blame the lack of blogging on that. But things are looking up for the 2nd trimester and hopefully it will be smooth sailing from here. My other two pregnancies have put me on bedrest and I am really hoping that doesn't happen this go 'round.

3. Noah is great! He has been super helpful lately and minds and hardly ever throws 3 yr. old tantrums anymore. I have even overheard him reminding Emma of some house rules (i.e. No eating in the car, No toys in your mouth, etc.). I swear Luke and I thank him daily for being so good lately. Love this boy. He has been planning his birthday party for months and has a quite detailed guest list and itinerary of what is going to happen. Should be a good time!

4. I guess Emma is transitioning into the Terrible Three's because she has been an absolute nightmare lately. Luke and I are wondering what has possessed our sweet, sassy pants. She has been so cranky and is exhausted/lethargic all the time. It has also been hard to get her to eat anything. My mom was out of town for a month, so didn't get to see her start this change, but saw her last week and definitely thinks something is wrong. We are going to have her blood sugar tested and iron levels checked and make sure everything is okay. We'll keep you posted.

5. We are moving too (I guess my whole family is in transition!). Except, we are moving all of about 250 feet across the street from where we are currently. We have to be in Davis County but we are SO DONE with the duplex we are in. The landlord doesn't give a hoot about this place and the list is as long as my arm with the things that need to be fixed. We didn't want to leave our ward and we are lucky to have found a rental so close that will be available hopefully in the next month.

6. We have a super fun, jam-packed July planned and I hope to be updating about our fun excursions soon.

That is all for now. Hopefully I will be back soon!

Centerville PD

Well, as of 1/28/2011 it is officially official. I will be working for the Centerville Utah Police Department. This has been a long time coming (which is why I posted pics....for all you non-believers) and can't believe it is here. I got sworn in on Friday morning at 9:45 am. and now look forward to the intense 12 weeks of "on the job training"....affectionately known as FTO or "Field Training". Unfortunately, my parents were out of the state in Hawaii and were not able to make it to my swearing in but, none-the-less, I thank them for their support and love. My grandparents were able to come and that really meant a lot to me to be there and offer their support. I also had my sargeant from POST come and witness the fruits of his labours. He was excited for me.

I am excited and anxious to start this new "adventure". I hope to be as good of a police officer as others I know and plan to work hard to accomplish this. Thanks to all that have worried and prayed on our behalf...we thank you for those prayers.

Enjoy the pics!


This is me signing my "swearing in".

My wife came.....she wouldn't believe it without seeing it with her own eyes!

Me and my P.O.S.T. Sargeant, Dave Attridge.

Me and the kids.....they didn't really understand.

Me and Cheif Neal Worsley.

Luke's 2010 Buck

Well, I am finally blogging about the deer I got this year. I have put off blogging about it in hopes that I would get a big bull elk and then I could blog about them both at the same time....maybe try to redeem myself for the deer I shot this year. But, alas, having been given 3, yes that's right T H R E E, shot opportunities on 3 DIFFERENT bulls I went home with tag soup.....anyway....


Here is the story: I left to go hunting one evening and as I was walking out the door Megan says, "Kill something this time, we need meat in the freezer". Perfectly fine thing to say....but not something I needed in my head when I saw this deer.

I had gone hiking above the Bountiful temple where I had previously placed a trail camera on a water hole I had found. After hiking up to the water hole and checking my camera I made the trek back down, hoping I would get lucky and stumble onto a decent buck. As I was walking down I did stumble onto a buck....but far from "decent". I had jumped a little two point that didn't have the sense God gave rocks. The little guy bolted from me and stopped at 30 yards. Just for practice I drew my bow on the deer. I had no intentions of shooting the small buck but I always practice just for good measure. The buck slowly walked off and I let down my bow.

The buck was gone about 1 minute before he came back, this time at 20 yards, trying to sniff the air and figure out what it was that was lurking just yards away in the tall grasses. Once again, I drew my bow. It was at this moment that I heard Megan's voice in my head telling me I needed to put meat in the freezer. I thought, "You DON'T want to kill this deer. He is just a little 2 point. You can get a bigger deer than this." So, as the deer walked away, I once again let down my bow.

The buck was gone about 1 minute before he came back, once again at 20 yards. He still couldn't figure out what I was and kept staring at me and sniffing the air. Once again, I drew my bow. Like the previous time I heard Megan's voice telling me we needed meat in the freezer. I thought, "You DON'T want to kill this deer. He is just a little 2 point. You can get a bigger deer than this........however, if were to kill this deer, you would want to spine shoot it to drop him in his tracks so he doesn't run down the hill making it a really tough drag back up." The deer walked away and I let down my bow.

The Buck was gone about 1 minute before he came back, once again at 20 yards. He stared right at me. I drew my bow as I heard in my head, "Shoot this deer. It will put meat in your freezer, Megan will be happy.....you can spend the rest of the season focusing on killing a bull elk. So, I took careful aim, aiming for a paralyzing spine shot, and released my arrow.

The buck dropped instantly and another shot to the heart sealed his fate. I saved myself the work of dragging him up hill but the hike out was far from "easy". I quickly cleaned the deer, took a few pictures, and threw the small buck over my shoulders. The 1 1/2 miles back to the Blazer with a deer on my shoulders is a pack-out that I will never forget. About half way through the hike out, I decided to leave my bow on the trail and I had to go back for it later. By the time I was done I was covered in sweat, blood, and dust.

Here are some pictures. Remember, I was all alone...kinda tough to take your own game pictures. Oh yeah, Sorry for the blood.....it is what it is, I guess.

P.S. Although he's not the biggest deer I've ever killed....he tastes pretty good!

the end of an era

Today is the end of an era. The end of Piderman. Today, Noah said, "Mom. I'm Spiderman!" I looked at my boy in astonishment. Spiderman? What happened to Piderman?!?!

Actually, it's okay. We work with Noah all the time with the soft S followed by a consonant so this should really be no surprise. But it is still sad.

Reminds me of the times when my niece, Taytum, called me Geman instead of Megan. I loved it and I think I may have cried the day that something in her brain clicked and she called me Megan instead. Boo.

Still, Noah is pronouncing snow as tow and stop as tops, so I still have some things to love.

Meanwhile, we are getting ready for Christmas. I feel a cold coming on which is a bummer because I was sick (with different ailments) the last two Christmases. I am overdosing on the VC and gargling with salt and baking soda (my mom's remedy). We'll see if I whoop this or end up in bed. I vote for whoopin' it!