Flooding and Bobcatting... what fun!

Last weekend we were blessed to be offered the use of a bobcat from Jestin's dad's work. It wasn't going to be used that morning and we jumped! We have not been able to park our camp trailer, or any other vehicle for that matter, on our RV pad because of continual flooding. We brought it home late friday night and Jess ran it a few times pulling up the top layer of dirt so we could bring in gravel... it was after 10 pm so I asked him to wait and do it in the morning. I wish I had just kept quiet...

This is what we woke up to...

It was flooded from the front yard to the back... and it was DEEP.

The neighbors homes were flooded too all up the street...

"Grandma" next doors RV pad

And the grass behind her fence! She said it *never* dries out anymore!

Can you believe that?? This is joy of a Fieldstone Home. They don't care at all for "doing it right"... only in making their buck. We called Spanish Fork city to ask about drains... and they told us there is nothing we can do. So we are not sure where to go from here. We can't very well ask our back neighbors to NOT water their grass... but there are GALLONS and GALLONS running into our yards (4-5 homes total) and down the gutter drain as it rushes over our sidewalks! That is a lot of $$ for them to be wasting! It is a mess!!

We borrowed Grandpa's old dump bed truck to load dirt and gravel... beast though it is!... it works GREAT! And we were able to get gravel for CHEAP with such a big load! SUCH BLESSINGS! :)

And it WAS a mess! Jess tried his best to drain as much as he could. Then he ran the bobcat while I desperately tried to shovel the edges out so he wouldn't slip and slide into the fence when he got too close! Finally I sent out a plea on Facebook and had some great neighbors come to my rescue. The mud was just too heavy for me to do alone... and we were suppose to be able to be done by noon and be on the road to Ely. *sigh* We finally left by 5pm... but it would have been MUCH later if it had not been for our great friends and neighbors!

The boys all tooks turns riding with Daddy once he was done in the mud and just moving gravel.

Caleb was IN his element! Jestin too!

He did not want to get out!

He is his father's son that is for sure!

Bubba enjoyed it too!

Two big loads of dirt to the clean fill! Yeah!

One of our fabulous helpers!

We were all covered in mud! So was the fence and my house! But now we can park on the RV pad... though it is still flooded every other day or so! I wonder if we will EVER be able to pour concrete! :(

I am just thankful to have it done! :)

Where O Where Have We Been?

ELY NEVADA!! *grin*

We went out to Ely to visit our good friends and celebrate Amy's birthday! It was WAY too short of a trip, but we had a blast! We arrived late Saturday (as we had SUCH a good time in the mud and with the Bobcat...) but stayed up late chatting and seeing their new place!

The hubby's cooked breakfast for Amy for her Birthday

The kids had her tying friendship necklaces & bracelets all morning! (Guess what SHE got for her birthday?? Tee hee)

The Duo's were joined at the hip again... even if it was only for a few hours! Ema was so determined she would get to sleep near her best friend, though her Daddy says boys don't sleep near girls!, that she curled up and fell asleep WAY before anyone else did... right where Cam was set to sleep! Bwahahaha!! Her Daddy carried her up to her room. (darn it! :) )

The two trouble makers were SO happy to see each other! *grin* They are so stinkin' cute together! It's hard to stick to time outs!

And Cody and Henry had a Fab-O time! They even made up a dance to the Shrek song and performed for us before bed!

And they..."stayed up late swappin' manly stories... and in the mornin'! We had some waffles!"

Later, as everyone was getting ready for church, at the arts and crafts table, Jess was donned a red cowgirl hat... and they sang "Black Socks" at the top of their lungs (well... at least Jess TRIED to get them to do a round) ... and Emma graciously represented "Da skunk in Da middle" as they did word for word the silly story from their favorite kids CD. (Play it Again with Bill Harley)

Cheese! (Ah! Jess... what's the fun in that?)

"...Black socks! They never get dirty... the longer you wear them the stronger they get! Sometimes I think I should wash them... but something inside me keeps saying NOT YET NOT YET NOT YET NOT YET!..."

Oh Yum! Corn for lunch on the veranda!

Cameron had a tooth that was dangling. He would not allow ANYONE to touch it. He didn't want it pulled out! UNTIL... Ema's Daddy said he could *actually* hold her hand if he let Amy pull it out!

Apparently the promise of a hand holding was just what the boy needed!

HOLY SMOKES it was not that easy to rope!

But! TA DA! It worked!!!

I brought two new recipes for Amy to try... so I made her TWO cakes for her birthday...

Grandma Stoddard's Chocolate Zucchini Cake

And Zucchini cake with cream cheese frosting! OH! We could NOT decide which was better! Talk about gooey yummy HEAVEN! LOL

We enjoyed going to church with them. We had a fabulous lunch and good laughs. We hung around much too long and had to drive past 1 in the AM to get home... but it was worth it! We appreciate their love, friendship and hospitality immensely! THANK YOU!!! (And we MISS you!)

Eric Dodge & the Highland Fling

We had a good weekend! Eric Dodge performed at the Highland Fling! We took our camper up for him and his band to have a place to relax and cool down. It was great because then we got to attend! LOL

Eric is such a great guy! Emma wanted her photo with him so she could show her friends that she knew a great country singer! *grin*

Caleb playing with his glow stick while waiting for fireworks...

Cameron too

The fireworks were fun and we enjoyed a little one on one time with Gram as well!

Getting His Bear

At Scouts last week, Cody graduated from being a Bear Cub Scout to a Weeblos. He also earned his Bear!

We have loved Homeschool, because we can more easily work on the requirements, instead of pages of homework! *grin*

Mom getting her pin

After his award the Packs played sock-ball (instead of "soft ball") It was a hoot!

Cody and Dad hangin' out keeping an eye on 2nd base!

CONGRATULATIONS CODY!! We are very proud of you!!

Our New Nephew/Cousin

WELCOME BABY JASEN!!

We LOVE our new baby in the family!

Big Sister with Gram & Uncle Ty checkin' him out...

She loves his feet!

So does Aunt Heather!! *grin* So tiny and yet so long!

Everyone took turns to hold him...

Uncle Jessie

He is one loved little man!

And here is my Bubba. He is just like his Aunt Millie when *he* was a baby! He would hold the baby all day long if we let him!

We are so thankful he is here... safe and sound! SUPER BIG Congrats to his Momma, Daddy & Big Sister!!

Pioneer Day Fun - Parade

We have started a tradition... and we love it!

Our little town does their City Celebration the week of Pioneer Day... so we invite the family and make a day of it! We started with the parade.

Even setting a blanket out at 11pm the night before, we still ended up on the sunny side of the road! LOL

But it was slightly overcast and just a nice day all around!

Caleb & Gram

Papa, Aunt Angie, Katie (with Baby Jasen just a couple of days from being born! :) ) & Greg

Jessie, making sure my chair had shade... he is so good to me!

THE KIDS! *GRIN*

Abby, Emma & McKenly, Claire, Gracie, Caleb & Cam

Kenly with her Momma

It brought tears to my eyes to actually see everyone stand up with hands on their hearts this year! Last year was so sad to me! IT WAS AWESOME!

Then came the troops and everyone cheered and stayed standing.

They shot off guns and a cannon... Caleb said it was too "wowed!"

The Firetrucks & Police cars came with all their sirens blazing... we had TONS of firetrucks! LOL

The float for the Missionaries got a standing ovation as well! I love my town!

We feel so blessed to live where we live. And we are so thankful for our Pioneer ancestors!

Dear Mr. President Obama

Mr. President,I am a mother of 4 children. Three of them have severe asthma and have been in and out of the hospital numerous times in their lives. My husband is a type I Diabetic. I have heart issues and thyroid issues, recently having had heart surgery. In pursue of the American Dream, as small business owners, and with our medical histories, we do not qualify for health insurance. My children are on our state's CHIP program, but we still pay out over $600/mo just to keep my husband and I alive with medications. We have spent thousands upon thousands in medical care costs. We would greatly benefit from some kind of health care assistance.

However...I wanted to beg of you... do not take away our GOD GIVEN RIGHT to choose by putting this health care plan into hasty acceptance. PLEASE take the time to evaluate other options. OPTIONS. Choices! FREEDOM! THIS is what America stands for! Not sweeping legislation that forces everyone into the same pin and feeds us the same slop!

Our country is struggling. We as common place American's with $600/month in medication costs are STRUGGLING!! If you allow this to pass willy-nilly we will be left without our dreams, we will be stripped of our integrity as human beings in the wisdom & freedom to choose. Our business will fail, it will never grow, as we will never be able to afford the employees we would need to expand!!

Mr. President, PLEASE consider further ideas and plans that those of us without health insurance can CHOOSE to be a part of!! Do not force us! My family needs health insurance. We do. But we will not seek it at the cost of everyone around us loosing their rights and freedoms to controlled by the government in every aspect. That is completely unfair and NON-American! DO NOT DO THIS TO OUR COUNTRY!! I beg of you.

Sincerely,
Heather L. Dorius

I sent this out today. It is not as eloquent as it could be. But I HAD to speak up. Even if it will be completely ignored...