Our new cheerleader

Two weeks ago, the high school here had tryouts for cheerleaders for next year.  Alexis thought that would be something she would like to do.  She went to the clinic and learned the cheer and a short dance.
After the tryouts, she came home and wasn't sure how she felt about it.  About two hours later she received a text that said:

"Congratulations you made the 2013-2014 cheer team"

Now she wasn't sure how she felt about it.  I think she really thought that she wouldn't make it- but she did.

We had to go to the high school the next night where they introduced her as a member of next years team:

Way to go.. I am so proud of you for having the courage to tryout:

Time for some Spring Cleaning....and a few chicks

Living in New Mexico, I could never really work in the yard because the wind blew so much that it was just miserable to be out in it.  We used to say that we had two seasons 1) Windy and 2) not so Windy.

 So since we have been having some great weather here in Utah lately, I have been anxious to get out in the yard. It first started with pulling out all the old dead stuff to make room for the new growth that will soon be coming. Things are starting to come together quite well.  We have torn out the old fence in the back yard and cleaned up the leaves and dead plants from last year.

(That wood fence back there is now gone)

 

 

 

 

Yes, we even called in the big guns to help burn the pile of debris



On a different note:

Alexis has wanted to have chickens ever since moving here.  Well her wish has come true.  We have the chicks:

We have all been helping with converting the old shed into a chicken coop with a chicken run attached:

 



 

Jake was a good sport about laying on his back to help finish off the roosting nests

 



 

Maybe one day these chickens will pay off... I think I've spent way more money on this coop than eggs can equal.



95 years young

Last we week had a birthday party for Carl's grandmother.  I've talked about her before but she still deserves more airtime.  She recently turned 95 years old young.  She is still pretty alert, can do most things herself and just a joy to be around. 

She lives in an assisted living in SLC and thoroughly enjoys it there.  She has many friends there and lots of family around who can go see her often.  We love her!  Every year is a milestone and if her current health is any indication, she could have many good years to come.

 

yep, she's still got it

 

Grandma and Uncle Dale (her oldest son)

 

Treats are always a must at a party

 



Easter Fun

Kaden came and spent a few hours with us on Easter this year.   He was surprised that the Easter Bunny had even hid some eggs for him to find. 

Oops, we have someone trying to sneak off... 

 

 

We hope everyone had a pleasant and peaceful Easter.

 

 



 

 

Seeing San Diego from the window

So I just spent 4 days in Sunny San Diego.  Now I know what you are thinking... how fun would that be?  Well, it wasn't.  It definitely wasn't for pleasure.  My father-in-law has been in the hospital down there for 5 weeks.  Him and my mother-in-law went on a two-week cruise to Hawaii.  On the way back he got quite sick, had a hard time breathing and spent the last 4 days of the cruise in "sick bay".

When they docked in Ensenada, Mexico the ambulance was waiting to take him to the border to meet the U.S. Ambulance to continue on into San Diego.  And as they say, the rest is history.  We were hoping he would have been home by now but no such luck.  We decided that we had better make a trip down there to help lift his spirits and give my mother-in-law a break.

So we boarded the big blue and orange bird and took off:

This was the view from the hospital window-the ocean is out there somewhere

.

 Got real tired of seeing this every day--

One good thing about the trip is that we did get to see some green instead of mud and snow - so that was a nice change.

This was the best part of every day- the beautiful sunsets:

 

 

We are still hoping for a speedy recovery, the doctor is very optimistic and is hoping that everything they are doing will help him to continue improving each day (I saw minor improvements in the few days I was there).  If things will continue to improve, the doctor's are hoping he will be home within 3 to 4 weeks.  

 



A fine feathered friend

I have seen this guy several times on my way to work.  Finally I was able to stop and get a picture of him.  This was as close as I dared to get since I didn't want to scare him off.  I zoomed in as far I could-not bad.  He was sitting there like he was just watching the cars go by.