Was summer just a dream?

Well, we've been in school for 8 days now and it seems like we never left. I have been super buried at work. I have done 3 different accounts for each student in the school, made a record and barcode for 800 textbooks, redone 30 laptops twice (because we got new wifi in our school and we had to redo the firewall once before we realized we had to also re-access the printers), plus one day at home with the stomach flu (thanks Dan). But at least between stomach cramps I bottled 20 pints of apple jelly, cleaned out the bootroom (yuck), cleaned the master bathroom, and got my laundry done. I think that was more than I did inside my house all summer. One thing great about getting back to work is that I have a schedule back in my life and I know what I have to do and when I have to do it. That is really good. We went to the temple tonight and met some old friends there and went out with them to dinner afterwards. I love spontaneous outings! Wonderful evening. The chickens have finally started laying eggs.

Precious Moments

This summer I haven't had much pondering time...but, this afternoon I happen to be alone and thinking about the wonderful summer it has been. The only thing is...I always forget how short the summers are and how easy it is to lose track of how few days I have to spend doing all those things I wish I could do after I go back to work. Well, here it is August 14 and the last week of my daytime freedom. I have a full week planned and am looking forward to every minute. I will enjoy Monday at Education Week, Tuesday bottling applesauce with Nanci and then a BBQ, Wednesday visiting teaching, Thursday and Friday finishing up on the Ranch summer project, and Saturday celebrating Dan's birthday at Deer Creek. That's the week in a nutshell and as fast as it will go...it is a nutshell.

Scott and I had a small getaway (actually a business trip....but we combined it with a so called vacation). We went to Eden, CO to get a part for our feedtruck. It was a beautiful drive and we enjoyed two nights in a motel and a short shopping trip, but mostly we enjoyed just being together. We read a book (The Unbroken) on the road and had many great discussions.

We have enjoyed a wet somewhat cool summer and our rangeland and the ranch have been lush and green all summer. We have been deeply blessed! Another great summer and we have loved having Jed and Nanci and the boys close by. It is so fun to just have them stop by or just pick the boys up and play for a little while...then take them home. Dan & Tarah have moved into a house in Heber City, which we haven't seen yet. But, we are so glad they are there and sound very happy. Dan seems to really like his new job and opportunities. We can't wait to see their new existence!

Happenings

Catch up time: We have had a busy, busy summer so far. Most of my time in June was spent in helping Scott and doing work on the bunkhouse at the Oak Ranch. Trevor was the carpenter and I did most of the painting and cleaning up with Gayle doing some of the wood and Denise helping me stain the old doors. Still a little more to do, but it looks really western and clean and still maintaining the rustic look. Since July started it has been constant family reunions, with a pioneer trek thrown in and lots of gardening, canning, cleaning and playing with grandkids. I have been home for 2 days in a row now and it feels good tonight to have some time to enter this.

Easter

Easter was cold, as usual, but it didn't stop our fun. Everyone in our family including Great Grandparents on both sides came to the ranch to have our first outing of the year. We were very busy coloring eggs and rolling them down the hill, finding candy-filled eggs the Easter bunny left, going for rides on the mule with Grandpa, and just general kid explorations. It was time for renewing cousin friendships and bonding as a family. We love and treasure weekends like these.

Check the Box

Scott and I tried something new together this weekend. We walk/ran (using the term ran loosely) but we followed a 5K race course. We cut off 14 minutes from our trial practice run the previous Monday. Okay, we have begun and we really liked it. The next stake 5k will be on May 14 and now just to train in between now and then. It would sure help me if the weather would warm up a bit, but you can't have everything, so I need to put my shoulder to the wheel and just push along. We really enjoyed it though and especially the high we got at the end as we finished the race. It is something whole families can do together, it is free (at least in our Stake), you get health benefits, and you feel good about yourself. What could be better than that? I kept asking Scott where he had been all my life, because he was totally the motivated one this time. He was yelling encouragement to me the whole race as he was always ahead of me. Where did that come from? I don't know but I sure like it...

New Horizons

This past week Jed and Nanci, Jacob and Kade spent a few days with us in Aurora. They were here to attend a diversified agriculture workshop hosted by Utah State to encourage new business start-ups and extensions in our area. It was fun for me because I was able to spend a whole day with Kade and Jacob on Monday. We built legos, made cookies, went to the park and played learning games on the computer. Then on Tuesday, the boys went with Scott the whole day while I went to the seminar with Jed and Nanci. We toured Redmond minerals and then went back to Richfield to the classes. I came away excited about some new prospects which have caused many discussions and ideas for the future among all of us. February is over....spring is coming!