Our first hike of the year.

We thought we would start the warm season off with a 3 mile hike up to Berch Reservoir. It's a perfect hike for five year old legs. At the top we will eat lunch and if it was warmer we would go swimming. We're going this Saturday, May 3rd. It's located on this side of Monti Cristo. Josh and Melissa are coming and everyone else are WELCOME TO COME TOO.
This Summer will be full of camping, hiking, swimming, and biking trips. Every time we plan one I'll post it and if you can come that would be even better.

SUMMERTIME
IS ONLY COMPLETE
WITH
FAMILY,
FRIENDS,
AND
LITTLE BARE FEET.

Marmalade house IS DONE AND RENTED OUT

We were are so very very blessed. Rachel's dad wanted to sale his Salt Lake City house. He gave it to us for a great price but it needed a LOT of work. Aaron and I love the area. They call it the Marmalade District. It is right down town, two blocks from everything. Two blocks from West High, Washington Elm, Trax station, temple square, the new down town development, a really big park, and the Gateway Mall. It of course is in the same ward we lived in before we moved to Woodruff. Ok are you all up to speed.

I personally have had a lot of fun painting and fixing the place. I've wanted to fix that house for 7 years. Ever since I met Rachel 7 years ago. I tried to start fixing the bathroom in February but Rachel's dad still lived there so I couldn't really do anything yet. At the end of March he moved out and I was able to pack up Mason and Cameron and spend a week there.

So for 5 weeks I have spend most my days there. I did one room at a time and started with cleaning the ceiling and mudding the holes and cracks in the ceiling. Then sanded the mud. Then painted two coats of paint. Then I could start on the walls. Next came the baseboards and moldings and last was the floor. Aaron did all the wood floors. He is so handy.

Sometimes I have Taylor with me too. Two of the last weekends Aaron came down too. Just this Saturday my mom, my younger brother Josh, and his wife Melissa come over to paint. A big THANK YOU goes out to them for staying so late and helping. Mike, Mom, Chad, Jessica, Ethan, and Stephanie have helped out so much by watching my boys for me. Work goes so much faster with out them. Taylor, Cameron, and Mason have been neglected and I hope it is not in vain. We hope to have it work out so that we have another income from renting it out. More money gives us more time with our boys, friends, and family. We have lots of camping and trips planned for this summer. Thanks everyone. Let's go camping!

Here are some before and after pictures.

Bella was blessed today.

boots

I got my very own snowboard boots yesterday. I am exited. Not that I want anymore snow this year, but next year I plan on getting up on the mountain more. This year when I went boarding I FINALLY GOT IT!!! I caught the vision of how to do it. I am exited to try some more and now that I have boots that fit nice I will control the board better. I really am so exited. Maybe I'll go up one more time this year. Anybody want to go?

My "cuzin" Jentry

We had a great visitor stop by today. Jentry. He is one of 5 cousins I have. That is it. I have only 5 from my mom's side and none from my Dad's. It's weird to me because Aaron has 54 cousin's from just his Dad's side and 6 I think from his Mom's. Here are some great shots from the evening. The girl is a friend named Andrea that he came with. She was a lot of fun to play with too. And I say play because we had pillow fights and running races and tug of wars while they were here. Just a lot of fun.

What a great day.

How was everyone else's day? Today is suppose to be in the 60 for Salt Lake City. Did anyone do anything out side to enjoy it. We are in the 50's today and loving it. Here are the pictures from our afternoon outside. I felt like I was back on the coast on the Alcatraz island in California. Windy enough to lay down and soak up the sun while holding on to a kit. All I was missing were the crowds of people.

DO YOU LIKE YOUR CAMCORDER?

Aaron and I are shopping for a camcorder. Our video camcorder is 8 years old and it broke 3 years ago. It's time for a new one. So I really really want to know what camera you own and what you like about it and what you don't like about it and WHY. THE WHY'S are important. The biggest question on my mind is do I get one with a little DVD in it or do I get one with a memory card I down load to my Mac.

CHECK IT OUT

Cameron and I have been working on getting our driveway cleared for over a week. Each day we are able to pound away a little more ice. In the low spots it's 4 inches thick. Some spots were 2 feet thick with 8 inches of that is ice. BUT it's warm outside and we have been inside all winter so we go out for a few hours each day and work on it. Yesterday we had the brillant idea of hot water. It worked like a champ. Cameron and I worked together on it. He would poor the hot water and I would chisel and scrape at it.

We were able to make a path the whole length of the drive way. Now when it melts the water can flow away from the house. I look out my front room window just to look at it all the tome. It gets me so exited for summer. WHO WANTS TO GO CAMPING?!!!

Betsy is in ASIA

Betsy is in ASIA. How cool is that! I've known Betsy for 9 year and she gets better every year. She is the apifanie of what a person should be. She makes everyone around her feel very important. That they are worth a lot in God's eyes. She loves to get down on the floor and play. She always seems exited about what tomorrow will bring. She has a lot of nice things in her possession, but it's the people in her life that is most important to her. When she gets involved with a task she puts her heart into it. She knows her heart might get hurt but knows "it's better to have loved and lost then to have never loved at all."

One of the great loves she has, is to travel. She has gone all over the world and loves home too. She keeps that great balance in her life.

I highly recommend you checking out her newest hobby, her blog. www.bettygrace.blogspot.com From this blog she has made a link to her trip to Asia. What she has done is blogged everyday on her Asia trip so we can ask her questions while she is there. Here is the link www.betsyasia2008.blogspot.com


I am so lucky to know her. We love you Betsy.

Taxes

I FINISHED THE TAXES.

Well I didn't actually do the taxes I compiled the information and totaled the amounts for each category. Then mailed them off to a tax women. It still took me two weeks to do may part.

BUT here is a little tid-bit maybe you didn't know about me. I would like to go back to school to get my degree in accounting. I am exited to learn how to do my own taxes and know ALL the laws and rules. I would like to work for an accounting firm just during tax season OR have my own little group of clients that need accounting advise and work done. I would love love love that!!! I'm exited just thinking about it.

I wouldn't stop there. The whole school plan is to get a double major. One in accounting and one in fashion design. I want to design highly functioning and very flattering clothing for the different body types.

I would love to hear what your number one personal goal is in life and have you accomplished it. Try and make it a personal thing.