Shed Revamp & Garden Update

Our garden is doing well. Thanks to gardens, Cadence is increasing his taste for more fruits and veggies. He started the season not liking raspberries, and he still doesn’t like them when they’re cold or from the store. But I’m happy to say, if he doesn’t like what I’m feeding him, he’ll ask to play outside and go and pick his own food. When I caught him the first time he said “I like it, Mom”.

He likes to share “treats” with the chickens too, occasionally throwing them a raspberry to pick at. Our two happy leghorns laying eggs daily now. We found several eggs inside the shed and some underneath the deck, so we stopped leaving the cage open at night.

Then the chickens got a little too comfortable and started venturing out to the neighbors yard. Since that was how we lost a chicken last year, we no longer let them wander.

Caddy, our Americana, is still not laying. She’s more plump than the other breeds and I started joking that if she doesn’t lay soon, we’ll be having her for dinner. Maybe I should say it around her more so she has some motivation.

 

We became good friends with Adam & Laura Wheeler in our ward. Adam was working construction so Austin recruited him to help with the shed revamp.

 

It was DISCUSTING! I won’t even attempt to elaborate. We’ve been thinking about getting a new shed for awhile, long enough that Austin has some elaborate plans for a shed/greenhouse/chicken coop.

One Saturday, Austin started cleaning out our shed and it ended up all over the yard! After he cleaned it out threw away the garbage and reorganized, we actually found it still fit our needs pretty well. Yet the outside still needed some work (thanks to some Utah thunderstorms in the past year). They re-sided the shed and made a chicken run.

           We’re grateful we didn’t have to pay a ton for a new shed (even though it would’ve been AWESOME). Thanks to Adam, Austin was able to find a way to make do with what we already had. We had a yummy dinner at Olive Garden to celebrate. We will miss them (they move to Texas this weekend)!

Priesthood Retreat

Manti Temple Trip

The Relief Society in our ward planned a temple trip to the Manti temple. I automatically shut the idea out of my mind, I mean, I’m nursing! There was no way that I could drive 1 1/2 hrs, to do a 2 1/2 hour session, and leave my nursing infant.

Yet, for some reason, I brought it up to Austin anyway, just telling him they were having one, but I wouldn’t be going. He immediately said he thought I should go, and worked out a way. We’d bring the kids down so I could nurse Kory right before going in, then nurse him when I got out.

I dragged my feet. It was so much extra work, when we have a temple right here in Provo! I had to pack lunches, get ready for the temple, and get the kids ready for the trip. Then Austin decided that he would take the boys swimming…more work for me!

On top of it, the night before was horrible with the boys (I know – STILL dragging my feet). Austin commented that it being a hard thing was actually good for me (and that’s just what I wanted to hear).

Well, you’ve probably guessed it turned out to be a very enjoyable temple experience. I was grateful for the Thompson’s coming down with us! That made it even more fun! We took some time after looking at the different pioneer sites in Spring City. I wish we could’ve seen more down there! They go there every year, but we’ve never had a chance to go with them. Next year we’re hoping to have a trip together, without all the boys. I’m excited for it!

There is something about struggling to get to the temple. There is something about it being hard that makes the blessings that much more intense. Revelation flowed so easily during this temple trip. I know it’s because of the great sacrifices we made to go.

Even more, I’m grateful for friends (Melanie and Elise) who supported me in going and showed excitement, even when I was grouchy! Most of all, I’m grateful to Austin, for “making” me go. No wonder God gives us each other! I am closer to Him today because of them.

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3rd Annual: Pioneer Extravaganza

For the past two years, Cadence and I have gone to the Pioneer Extravaganza together. This year, we were so happy to have Austin with us, as it was on Saturday so he didn’t have to work. We also added Kory (or course), Aunt Cassie, and Aunt Maria! It was such a fun family day!

Cadence LOVED the fire engines.

  In fact, he wasn’t very interested in much else.   They had a TON of activities, and we scored a lot of freebies and had fun learning about the pioneers!

Cadence made a trail pouch with mom’s help and put a little trail mix inside.

Roped a steer – well, mom helped with that one too.  Made a candle (daddy also made one). Here his is scaring me!

Kory slept, and slept some more (thanks to Aunt Cassie & mom)Daddy & Cadence knocked over some milk bottles with sling shots. Cadence LOVED the pony rides! He kept saying “Cadence’s turn”, while we were patiently waiting in line. He was loving the ride, until we paused and his pony started neighing, and he promptly asked to get off and clung to mom!

We enjoyed some pioneer treats, like homemade butter, and then took a wagon ride. Cadence kept calling it a train (to him, everything is a train)!

  This was the first year we could really do activities because Cade was old enough to enjoy them. I think mom and dad got more pleasure out of them than him. In addition to these activities, we did a compass course, obstacle course, “beer” chugging contest (with root beer – yuck), made mustaches, and visited the museum and village. After three hours, we were all “punched out” – literally!