Update on Life

A really bad day to be making a post in light of what happened yesterday in France.  I hope those people and their loved ones are comforted.

I wanted to give a short update on the summer doings of our family.  We have been doing all kinds of things this summer including soccer, swimming, partying, jumping, feasting, and camping.  I was able to attend Youth Conference and Girl's Camp this year.  It was a great experience to see how these things went down so well.  The leaders put in a lot of effort and time into making these things happen.

Girl's Camp was a bit of a revelation and Youth Conference saw a lot of kids having a good spiritual time.  These kids are great and reach out and help others so well.  I hope the spirit can stay with them always so they can know what is really important and what brings lasting happiness.  They are so good at being together and making good things happen.  One night several of them sat and sang songs while Braxton played the guitar.  It was really awesome to see them free from the cares of the world and just doing what felt right and good.  Love them all.

I do love summer, but there is something to love about all seasons.

Neighbors and kids with big dog.

The three youngest

Grandpa and Sam.

Maybe Girl's Camp is not that different than Scout Camp.

On a four miler with the YW.

Jeremy and I at devotional.

Youth Conference at Flaming Gorge.  I love it there.

Cameron.

Kids enjoying the cool water.

All of us taking a tour of the dam.

Sammy enjoying some watermelon.

We went to Barnes and Noble to get some summer books and Joaquin suggested that I get this for Shauna.  I read the teaser and had a good laugh.

Jonah and Mason kissing a dead fish.

Tara doing the same.

Part of our devotional activity.

Found this picture on my phone. Nice one you two!

Tahoe 2016

We drove the 8 hours to Tahoe for the 52nd Tahoe Relay.  We went with the Arvidsons, Mayers, Peachys and Cuellars.  The run was great because the weather was perfect for running. It was low 60's and overcast for much of the race.  This was almost going to be the last year of the race because the director was going to retire.  Fortunately, a local decided to take on the race and will be managing it next year.

We had 12 kids in the cabin for the weekend and it was a bit crazy, but not nearly as bad as I expected.  There was a lot of wind while we were there, but on Saturday there was no wind.  We all did pretty well and finished 3rd in the mixed division.  This is the first time we have placed.  There were fewer teams this year so that is probably why.

We went to the beach, played Monopoly, watched movies, went to Round Table Pizza with 18 kids and went a bunch of hikes finding large St. Bernards and snakes. On the night before we left, I was outside cleaning up the deck when I heard some large animal crashing through the brush.  It freaked me out and I jumped a little bit and got close to the door. I assume it was a deer, but since we saw the bear a few years ago, I am a little more cautious.

A good time was had by all.

Doin' it one-handed.

Emerald Bay

Shauna on the hill.

Swing

Hmm...is this a good idea?

Beach

10 of the 12.

Buddies 

Finished. 

Summer's Coming!

The feeling is in the air. The kids want to stay up until the sun goes down.  There are the open windows and doors.  The smell of fresh-cut grass.  The lazy warm nights on the deck staring out at the city lights and few stars.  The noise of the kids in the neighborhood playing night games. There is a lot to like about summer.  God has blessed us a bunch.  I am glad I get to counting my blessings every once and a while--it makes one more generous and charitable.

In one short week school will be over and our little ones will be free to probe the breadth and depth of summer in all its glory. We have so much to look forward to this summer after a long and snowy winter.  Back in February, summer seemed so far away.  But just assuredly as the sun rises, here we are on the cusp of summer like a bunch of race horses waiting for the bell letting us know we are free to run, and run and run.  As our kids grow up, the less I want to restrain them in their childhood--let them go and find the secrets and simple pleasures that come from just being a kid in summer.  Love each an everyone of my kids.  Cheers! And have a great summer.

Here are a few pictures that capture our family in the last few weeks.

Father's and Sons Campout. Chicken and cornbread.  Thanks Blake.

Boys and fire.  How do you think we made it to the moon?

Posers.

Good feelings here.

Sisters.

Girls together.

The crew between photos.

Brothers.

What doors will he open?

Sent a text with this picture to my family with these words: "Keep your enemies closer."

One of the kids took this picture.

Bathroom and dishwasher are his favorites.

Pure sugar and sweetness.

Enjoying the game.

Ruby hiding from the Bee.

Laney cheering for the Bees.

The Bee.

Joaquin got this hat at the game.

Sam giving the hat a test drive.

Joaquin rooting for the Bees.

Ruby putting on some moves.

Deck Project

It took a while to finally get one the projects done that I wanted to do.  For the past three or four years I have wanted to replace the ceiling of our deck because it was old and because it was cracking and having major problems in some places and just generally looked ugly. 

I was always talking about how I was going to rip out the blue ceiling and replace it.  There was always a reason not to do the work, but it usually was me thinking we did not have the money to do it.  Well, I was reading a story where the topic was that of thought and we think about things and feel like we are doing something when we are really not. After reading this I decided I was going to just do the demolition work and then I would have to work get it done or have an even ugly looking deck. Good thing Blake offered to help and I accepted because he knows a few things about remodeling.  

A Saturday a few weeks ago I got out the tarps and put them on the deck, took my hammer and got up on the ladder and started to tear out the drywall ceiling.  Joaquin became very interested and he and his friend Ben began helping me by pocking holes in the dry wall with brooms.  They actually helped a lot and after a couple of hours the drywall and crown molding where gone.  

I decided i would replace the ceiling with 1 x 6 tongue and groove douglas fir.  Shauna and I picked out a grey-blue stain because we did not want to go dark like the deck, but we didn't quite like the color of the douglas fir.  I had the material delivered from Burton and picked up the stain.  I also called the electrician who installed hookup for a ceiling fan.  Shauna and I then stained the wood one night at like midnight because Blake was coming over the next day to help me install the boards.  Luckily Burton sold the wood in 16 foot pieces and the deck was 16  long.  This made it a lot easier because we did not have to cut and fit the pieces.  

I had to put up some blocking between the trusses so we would have something to attach to boards to. It took Blake and I a few hows to do the blocking and the boards but it looked good.  I had to order the crown molding and a couple of boards because of damage and I underestimated a little.  It then took us a few hours a week later to hand the molding but it worked out without to many problems and you can see the results below.  

I have not installed a fan yet because we have not needed one but I will as it warms up.  Shauna is going to pick some curtains and pots to go on the deck as well.  Our deck is like an extension of our house during the summer, so It will be nice to have it finished in not to long.  No I am ready for some more projects that need to get done.  

This is a picture of the ceiling before.

Same view after remodel.

Just Enjoying Spring

We have been enjoying some spring weather around here the past few days.  It is have been nice to be able to open the windows and doors and enjoy the fresh air.  The kids had spring break last week and did a bunch of stuff having fun.  I took them skiing one day to Alta and had a good time there are well.  They are great kids and picked up the skiing really fast considering we have not been this year.
We also enjoyed our conference weekend while the kids made a fort out of blankets and occasionally listened which is pretty good for them.  We had real gourmet waffles at the Brimleys on Sunday morning--they are good people to let us come over with our four kids and invade their house.

Joaquin also had Pinewood derby and I don't think I helped him much getting his car in order.  We tried a bunch of new tricks this year, but it did not seem to help much so back to the drawing board.  Joaquin really wanted to win, but he handled his middle-of-the-pack finish with grace and aplomb.

They are turning into really good kids that care for each other--except last night when Joaquin kicked the soccer ball into Laney's head while we were on the trampoline.  Oh, well can't win em' all.