We Like to Shoot Guns, Okay!

You know, I am getting so tired of all these evil, spineless, mass muderers being called "shooters"
Can we please call them what they are, disgustingly disturbed killers.
The media would love nothing more than to make it look as though anyone with a gun is a threat.
I am a "shooter" my family and Arron's family are all "shooters"
We know how to use guns, we have taken gun safety classes and hunters ed. We have a right to protect ourselves with guns, and we like to shoot.

I have been around guns my whole life. I was taught gun safety when I was young. I knew they were not toys and I respected them. Guns were not taboo, just part of our lives. We took them camping, hunting, and sometimes we would go out and target practice.

 

 

When I hear people refer to these killers as "shooters" I am going to use the opportunity to educate them. Most shooters are just like you and me. We love God, we love our country, our families, life is precious to us and we abide by the law. You want us to have guns. These low-life delinquents should NOT be refered to as "shooters" they really shouldn't be refered to at all. Their names should not make the news, and all the papers, with their head count next to it like a trophy.

 

VPV Garden

I recently told Arron I needed a garden bed...

I guess I should choose my words more carefully.

He even carved in a VPV in the headboard!

Topping it off with some compost.

A few finishing touches.
Two end tables and a bench.
Now it's a regular bedroom set.
Maybe I should have been more specific...
and asked for a queen sized garden bed?

Cabin Fever

Maybe it's because we didn't take a trip this winter

or because we decided to stay home for our Anniversary this year,

but I've been feeling ansy.

Like I need to stretch my eyes.

Ever get that feeling?

Well, a road trip was in order.

So, we drove out to CJ Strike.

No, you're right, it's doesn't look very exciting.

I haven't even mentioned yet

that it was freezing, and crazy windy.

We brought fishing poles...just in case.

Laiken and Jon took time out of their busy schedules to join us.

We brought Olive the Poodle along.

After baiting a few poles and swimming some worms...

...we decided we'd had enough,

and headed back to the warm cab of the truck.

It's not always about 'where' you go,

just that you 'go'.

It's also about having good company and

good road trip snacks! 

Painting 101

We are so ready to be finished with the Villa

 that we actually considered paying someone to paint all the trim.

We were not excited to do this job at all...

until the first bid came back!

What! They want how much!?

Laiken and I decided we could do it.

We've painted a lot and feel confident we can do the job.

She filled nail holes and sanded, while I caulked.

Several days later we were ready for the first coat.

We brought in re-inforcements to help.

My good friend Karen and her daughter Alyssa came to help.

Mom was there to help.

We all look like seasoned professionals right?

So, we pressed on all day, applying the first coat.

The next day inspection did not go very well.

Even though I bought new Purdy brushes and expensive paint,

It was too hot when the paint dried,

 you could see all our brush strokes!

I was so dissapointed.

We couldn't continue with the second coat.

Everything had to be sanded down.

I was tired and deflated.

So Arron... the man I love...

 the man I talked out of hireing a painter, stepped in.

With gusto, Arron and Skye sanded all the trim.

They bought an air sprayer, taped everything off,

and painted all the trim and doors.

The Villa was an utter mess for a week.

Several times Arron asked me to "just stay home today"

Needless to say the trim and doors look amazing now!

I feel so bad I didn't just let Arron hire someone so he could

have focused on all the other work that needs to be done.

All I could think about was the money I could save

and the furniture I could buy instead.

I usually know a bargain when I see it, but this time it took

two weeks of work and frustration to see that hireing that painter

would have been a steal.

General Conference 2011

This year we were given four tickets to the conference center in

Salt Lake so we could see General Conference live.

Although tickets are free, they can be hard to come by.

Our trip started early Sunday morning

and ended extremely late Sunday night.

We had a very memorable time!

Arron and Skye had never been to Conference live.

So it was especially fun to share that experience with them.

Here they are standing infront of the Salt Lake Temple

  the old tabernacle is to their side.

 

Although the new Conference Center is believed to be

the largest theater-style auditorium ever built, it is the

 message and experience received at each session 

by the 21,000 people seated inside that is so remarkable.

 We were at the Sunday afternoon session and heard talks

given about the eternal blessings of marriage,

  the miracle of the atonement, and what it means to be a Saint.

We heard parting words from the Prophet Thomas S. Monson,

who said, "To the very depths of my soul, I am grateful to Him,

 He taught us how to live, He taught us how to die.

 He secured our salvation."

 What I love about the conference talks given twice a year is that,

there is a message for everyone who wants to listen.

As far back as I can remember I have listened to conference.

I remember my mom doing housework while listening

to the Saturday sessions on the radio.

When Sunday Conference came around we all

 watched it as a family on T.V.

Mom made it a special day and would make us a yummy treat.

We always have wonderful conversations about 

what we learned during conference.

I think this year that was especially true

during our six hour drive back home.

I couldn't help but think of Lad.

He knew just where we were that day.

I know he was watching the same messages

at the same time we were.

We're never very far away from each other,

we share so much as a family.

I am truely blessed.

If you would like to watch or read any of the talks given during the two days of General Conference click here.

http://lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2011/04?lang=eng

Reflecting on Christmas

This year is almost over. I'm ready to say "Hello" to 2011. 

Don't get me wrong, 2010 has been great, busy, but great.

I'm ready to slow down...
(Those will probably be famous last words)

I didn't expect we'd have another Christmas
in this house but I'm glad we did.

It has been home to our family for almost nine years.

I love it! I know I will miss it... it is where we were all together.

One thing about this life is it is always changing.

I'm excited for all the new adventures our changing family will experience in 2011.

...Now for the big decision, when should I take down the tree?

Portland Marathon

Real athletes run others just play games

Laiken and I decided months ago, come hell or high water, we were running in the Portland Marathon.

It was fun, picking out matching outfits, adding logos,
and creating play-lists....

...then the day arrived. And it was in reality hell and high water.

When I say high water, I mean it never stopped raining.

Our shoes were like little miniature swimming pools for our toes.

Every inch of us was soaked through and through.

It wasn't too bad after we got started, until the wind picked up.

I told Laiken, (somewhere around mile 15)

that I felt like we'd been left stranded by the side of the road- no one would do this on purpose.

Here we are, just slightly wet at 6:30am. Pretty excited to start and get warmed up.

5-4-3-2-1-GO!!

At around 7:15 our wave, got the green light.

You can just see me in the blue, under the green light.

Thousands of people sporting hefty bags were on the move!

Laiken and I last saw Amy at mile 2.

Amy diligently prepared for this race.

(Not to say we didn't train,

we just could have done so much more.)

So it was no surprise to us when she made her move

and left us in the dust.

We often wondered through out the race, "where is she now?"

I know she didn't see us, but one other time that day, but we were cheering her on all the way!

I'm so glad the boys stayed out in the rain all day, looking for us at every turn.

They got some fun photos!

This must have been before the halfway mark, we're still smiling!

It really was a long day for the boys too. They were just as wet and pretty tired too.

Eric was able to see Amy cross the finish almost an hour before us.

Meanwhile, Arron and Lad were cheering Laiken and I on at the hardest part of the run.

The last 6 miles seemed to never end. Each step was painful.

Thank-You for the moral support!

 I always knew we would finish, but a few times I did wonder how.

Turns out, you have to have a good sense of humor, and guts!

I'm glad Laiken and I made a pack to stay together.

26 miles is a long dang way!

Like the guy sitting on the sidewalk said at mile 20,

 "Anyone that has made it this far deserves a round of applause"

We will continue our training and we plan on running another marathon soon.

"Human beings are made up of flesh and blood,

and a miracle fiber called courage"

-George Patton

Traffic Jam

No matter how far we move from the city,
we still have to deal with traffic jams.

Farm Fresh

Guess what we found...

Aren't they beautiful!

I'm not sure which three chicks are laying for sure, but I suspect the two barred rocks and the black sex-link.

 I was a bit surprised to find these in the nesting boxes, I wasn't expecting eggs for a few more weeks.

I figure when they are all laying we'll get about five eggs a day.

This is my nephew Liam, holding one of the Rhode Island Reds.

The older chickens are quite tame and will let you pick them up without running from you.

During the day while we are working at the Villa we let them roam free, they are adventurous, but

always come back to the coop in the evening to sit on their perch.

I know having the animals out at the villa may have been premature,

but it has been a constant reminder for us as to why we are doing all this work.

 Ya know, it's worth it!

Next... apricots!

4th of July Weekend

I Love the 4th. It may actually be my favorite celebration!

I mean, come on... when else do you get beautiful weather,
great food, parades and fireworks?

 It was hard to narrow down my photos for this post so
 I hope you enjoy all of them.

Arron and I started the morning off by riding our motorbikes to Melba for the parade.
The kids wanted to sleep in this year so we just took the dog.

Small towns are the best when it comes to patriotism.

I admit it's a little bit redneck,
but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Okay, I have to stop the 'parade of photos' for a second to say...

 when I saw this group of Mexicans on these beautiful,
well trained horses,

proudly holding the American flag, I teared up.

We fell in right  behind the last of the parade participants.
I felt like I was in the parade.

 Olive was such a good girl, following at Arron's side.
She didn't even mind when people asked,

"can I pet your Labradoodle?" 

I could see Arron just cringe.
(why would anyone mix a lab with a poodle?)

We saw flags everywhere. It was wonderful.

After the parade everyone just left their chairs
and went to the tractor pull.

No need to worry about them,
 they will still be there when you get back.

At the tractor pull I bought 6 raffle tickets for a new lawn tractor.

Keep your fingers crossed for me!

I am so impressed with how this small town can put on such an amazing celebration.

I just can't say enough, they even moved all the fun to Saturday so families could spend Sunday

the way it was intended to be spent.

We came back later Saturday night for the fireworks display.

Arron's a pro at finding the best parking spot for an easy exit.
While he parked we found a sweet spot for viewing the show.
We actually got showered with debris from the explosions.
It was awesome!

I love when they play "Great Balls of Fire" they light off these huge fire bombs.
You can feel the heat from them and they actually mushroom cloud above your heads.

 It's not the 4th of July without great food.
Thanks to Don and Suzanne we had a delicious BBQ.
Grilled chicken, Grandma Glady's Lemon Jello Salad,
(I will post the recipe soon)
Lemonade, Watermelon and all the fixin's.
After we ate we went to Caleb's for dessert
and a barn raisin' (well a shed)
Amy and I didn't know we were both making berry trifles.
Great minds think alike I guess.
They were very refreshing and a perfect finish to our meal.

Skye played with the cousins and Lad rode Amy's Harley.
She's a lucky, lucky girl. We're all a bit jealous.

I am so fortunate to live in this country.
 America is still the bees knees.
People go to great lengths to live here.
Others go to even greater lengths to keep us free.

God Bless America