Moab with the neighbors, aka the cousins

We went with our ward neighbors this past weekend to Moab. They call their group the 'cousins', because they are all related distantly, and lucky we have recently been adopted in.

It was roasty hot, but we managed. We stayed at this really interesting campground (not in a good way). Just like many things on the web, it looked a lot nicer online. It did have really nice big cottonwood trees that provided lots of good shade. The rest of the facilities were really lacking..... I think they may have cleaned the bathrooms once this year. The swimming pool was a nice milky color with about a foot a visibility (mmm, lovely). There were other issues as well, but I won't go on. There were also very interesting people there. There was a father and son that smoked like chimney stacks. I counted the father smoked 7 cigarettes in 1 hour. It was shocking. Also I saw my share of people 'a natural', enough said.

We had a really good time though, we hiked in Arches (got up at 5:00 am to beat the heat and saw all sorts of arches, ranger station said the temperature was going to be 104 degrees), went to church, played games ( 'curses' is fun but exhausting), relaxed, and just had fun. There were 13 of us and we just had a really good time. There was always some fun story and topic going around. We sure like our ward and our fun neighbors. We had a great time.

Moab a Smash Hit

Besides having tons of fun with our friends we did have a slight bit of misfortune. We went for a scenic drive up the canyon that follows the Colorado River and we were coming around a corner and a truck going the other way lost this trailer block and it broke our mirror, dented the casing around the window, and embedded glass from our mirror into the window. At first I was pretty upset, but then realized that at the speed that both vehicles were going someone could have really been hurt if it would have hit the windshield or even the window. Thankfully our insurance will cover everything excluding our deductible but I'm thankful no one was hurt.

Here are our friends hanging out while I take pictures of the damage.

29 Stinkbugs (not counting us)

Memorial Day we decided to get outside and do something fun. I hadn't been to Antelope Island for years so we decided that would be fun. I think we need to have our brains scanned because I think we chose the hardest hike on the island. We decided to hike to the highest peak on the island, only aprox. 6,500 ft elavation, it shouldn't be too hard. The trail was only 6 miles roundtrip, but it was tough. It was however beautiful.

We had a really good time, even though we didn't make all the way to the top, although we came really close. There were tons of bugs that swarmed everywhere, we tried to have lunch but found that sitting and eating with the bugs swarming not very fun, so we had to walk around in circles while we ate our sandwhiches, because the movement seemed to make them less. It was a very scenic trail. We kept saying it looked like Wales. It was a pretty strenuous hike, we passed one hiker going up that we had passed on our way down who passed us again coming down. She said "I didn't make it to the top, this trail is serious". I want to do it again though, but maybe when I'm in better shape.

M took this and you can see just how steep some sections of the hike were.

We made it!

Finall tally of things from the trail

2 really smelly hikers

29 stinkbugs

23 red- bug/mosquito/fly bites on our arms, necks, and ears

1 ladybug

Fridge Fiasco

During our time of construction our refrigerator went bananas. It decided that it would simply stop. Nothing starts your day out right like pouring milk on your cereal only to find with the first spoonful that it has gone bad. Fridges are important, because as much as a cooler will keep things chilled, they are no means a fridge. So we went to the local home improvement store and got a fridge, they were having a promotion and said they would deliver and set up the next day. Yea for us!.... until we went up to pay for it.

We then got the run around, "we can't deliver it the next day" "how would Sunday work for delivery" "umm, who said you could have it the next day" How about the giant sign in your store.

I got so mad that I had to walk around the outside of the store. M ended up working it out and we borrowed someones truck and we got our fridge installed by ourselves. But I wasn't satisfied, I called their national customer service hot line and let some poor help desk person have it. She was very nice, and the store manager even called to apologize, which is nice, but not enough to ever have me buy another appliance from them. What a fiasco!

House update

We have been so busy with our house lately that I finally got a chance to blog about it. We jumped a major hurdle these past couple weeks; we got our windows cut bigger, windows installed, and the HVAC man to redo some vents and run air conditioning pipes. This all happened on a single Friday were M supervised a bunch of contractors and even had time to jack hammer giant slabs of concrete. It was quite the deal. Below are some pictures of the work.

We love the new windows, the basement is now up to code if there is ever an emergency that one needs to get out of the house. It makes the basement not feel like a dungeon. Next on our list finish the wiring, get the approiate inspections, insulate and sheetrock and paint. The goal is to have it done by the end of the summer. Hooray. I am however very tired of using a shovel.

2nd Annual Great Britain Party

We held our 2nd Annual Great Britain Party. We just get together with my family and celebrated a place that we all love.

This year we had Shepards Pie, green salad, fruit,chocolate milk, bread sticks and Sticky Toffee Pudding. Speaking of which my sister in-law made me this awesome pitcher just for Sticky Toffee Pudding sauce. I was so thrilled. Look at the craftsmanship! We had a good time, visiting and playing "Pass the Parcel". I even played a couple tunes on my practice chanter. It was a very fun evening.

Hallelujah

If the other weekend you thought you heard someone singing the Hallelujah Chorus faintly in the distance, it was me. The digging of our new windows/window wells is done!

It was a real task to dig 2- 4ft wide x 8ft long x 6ft deep holes by hand, but we got it done. Thanks to all who helped. This week the windows and window wells will be installed. We are so excited since this will be a major hurdle crossed in getting our basement done.