Kids Are Funny

Luke is now at that age where he says so many funny things. I know I need to write them down.

This morning the first thing Luke asked me was, "Do you have any cows?". It was so cute because he was totally serious. He looked at me like I was some big mysterious person who has all these things that he doesn't know about. I mean, don't you think that if I owned a herd of cows (or even one) that he would know about it. It just makes you see how much they still have to learn.

One of Luke's best quotes is, "These boxers are choking me". Oh and to add to that one, "My socks are choking me".

Charlotte's most famous quote is, "Her got it?". Meaning, do you have it or have you done it? This one has has stuck in our household and is used hourly.

"Did you answer the phone?" now is "Her got it?"

"Did you take out the garbage?" = "Her got it?"

"Do you need help?" = "Her got it?"

Basically any "to do" question can be replaced by "Her got it?" Oh, and there in NO, "Him got it?", it is strictly "her".

Ashley really said a lot of funny things and I know I have them written down somewhere. But one occasion sticks in my mind more than most. This one takes a little prep.

On many occasions Ashley would stay the night with her Grandma TT. Grandma TT would then drop her off at Kindergarten on the way to work. On these days, Ashley would usually have the school provided breakfast. On this particular day, Grandma TT was running a bit late, dropped Ashley off at school, and thought she had better double check to see if they were still serving breakfast (so Ashley didn't go hungry). So, Grandma TT ran inside the lunch room and gave a quick shout out to Ashley and the servers to make sure Ashley got breakfast.

Well, this embarrassed Ashley sooooooo much. She was so embarrassed that she NEVER wanted Grandma TT to take her to school again. She was so embarrassed that she cried and cried. And in an effort to try and console her I sympathized with her and told her that I knew exactly how she felt because GRANDMA TT WAS MY MOM! She did it to me all the time!! Ashley's eyes got huge and she exclaimed, "Oh... my... gosh...!!!!"

I guess that wasn't that funny but, as a five year old, she showed me that SHE COULD RELATE!!!

Cats General Conference

Have you ever seen something that you thought was soooo funny that you laughed your butt off, peed you're pants, and shared with all your friends?? Well, the following is just that.

LOL Cats General Conference

Don't you think this is funny??? If not, read it again.

LAST WEEKEND IN IRAQ

Actually, we were in Rock Springs.

Luke in his tye dye. He wears other shirts sometimes, I think.

Buffalo Hunt

Last weekend we took the family to the Henry Mountains for Ed's buffalo hunt. Here are some pics and video of the hunt.

Luke and Jonah

Our camp - pretty cool the bus made it up (and down) the mountain

Charlotte and Porter

NEW FAMILY MEMBER

On Sunday Sam called me and told me that I needed to go pick up his new dog. I started laughing and told him I must of heard him wrong - we just got a new dog in February! But this little guy is so darn cute. He is a vizsla from Jake and we are really happy to have him. This brings our dog number to 3. Not too bad.

Notice the green paws. The first day we got him we took him to a friends house to show him off. While the adults were away someone knocked over a bucket of paint and, of course, the puppy walked all through it. I'm sure it will wear off soon.

Ashley started school today and I just realized I forgot to take a "first day of school photo." What a bad mom. She's pretty excited and going into 6th grade - they will rule the school. This week is also the fair and the start of dancing so it's busy, busy, busy.

I also got my hair cut and colored. Cliff is amazing, he can fix anything, thank goodness. I don't think I'll ever try to grow my hair out again, it's just not me.

She's So Brave - Part 2

This time it is Ashley that is so brave. She has always been fearless when it comes to public speak and performing, a skill she did not get from her mom. It's almost time for the County Fair which means Ashley needs to raise money for her lamb club. Last week she called the city and had them add her name to the monthly city council meeting. She went to the city council meeting, stood up all by herself and asked the city for a donation. They gave her $100! She is so awesome. To her it was no big deal leaving Sam and me in awe of her.
Here is the prize winning lamb, Possum. We named her that because every time we try to talk her on a walk she lays down and plays dead. You would think we were leading her to the butcher when instead we just want to walk her around the block a few times. Possum is going to win this year (positive thinking, positive thinking) even though we haven't fed her much grain and she has spent her days eating hay. We plan to defy the odds. If you want to donate to Possum, Ashley, and their lamb club, you can send a check to: Box 94, Spring City, Ut 84662.

She's So Brave

Charlotte got her ears pierced!!!

When we were little we had to wait until we were eight to get our ears pierced (accountability thing I guess). Ashley got hers done when she was 7. But Charlotte has wanted to get her ears pierced for so long. We have made several attempts only to head home afraid of the pain. But on Wednesday Charlotte was ready to go for it, dressed in a fairy princess costume with wings and all. Since then we have been doing the routine cleaning (80 times a day) and turning them when we think of it (300 times a day). It's going to be a long 6 weeks until she can put in other earrings. And I won't let her wear hoops until she is at least 6 (joking - 16).Luke's been sharing in the excitement and very anxious to get his ears pierced too. Sam has only made the situation worse by donning earrings of his own (in holes that haven't been used for over 10 years). We've told Luke he has to wait until he is at least 3.

Shattered

This is the rear windshield on the Westy.

We can't blame this on Michelle - thank goodness.
#3 on Ashley's chore list really is - walk the lamb.
At least he isn't wearing a tutu
And the princess!

Disclaimer

Sam and I came up with this disclaimer after a not so nice call from TT.

Gokiburi Longboards are for general cruising and slalom-type riding. The person using this product assumes all risks and liability. Flaking of the grip material is normal and the grip will become permanant after initial use.

Sorry Mal.

Redneck Jokes

I know you've all heard them, redneck jokes. They started like 15 years ago but for some reason they keep cycling through my inbox despite the constant efforts to delete (thanks).

Well, this morning I had a revelation, an epiphany of sorts. Don't you think that most of the jokes are written by observers rather than the rednecks themselves? I mean if they were written by actual rednecks, the wording and spelling would be way different. But then, just about that time in my epiphany, I came up with a few of my own.


1. You know you're a redneck when..... All of your pants (and even some of your skirts) have holes in the same spot where they got ripped climbing over the barbed wire fence to beat the crap out of your buck (named Noodle) because he rammed you AGAIN.

2. You know you're a redneck when.... Your son and your sheep drink out of the same container.

3. You know you're a redneck when.... Number 3 on your chore list is to walk the lamb.

4. You know you're a redneck when... Your neck is totally sunburned but your back is flourescent white. Now, this is where Sam redeems himself, he is actually a dark bronze all over (or as my neighbor Erika told me one day, "Sam is the tannest mormon I know"). In fact, she thought he was naked one day when he was walking around in tan river shorts (well, actually, he was naked but she doesn't have to know that).

So, I was wrong. Rednecks can have decent wording and spelling.

Bipolar Express

I stole this from another blog, thought it was funny, and sounds a lot like Canadian Post.......

If you don’t get your package in time, try to understand, we’ve had a bad week
At Bipolar Express we guarantee your package delivered the next day – or in a month… depending how things go. Look, we may not be the most reliable courier service, but what we lack in reliability, we more than make up for in customer service. Or at least we do half of the time. We admit it’s a struggle. We take things day by day. Some days are just better than others. If you don’t get your package in time, try to understand, maybe we had a bad week. That’s all. You’ll get it sometime... Or not...
We’re not making you any promises.And that is a guarantee we can stand by.

Wonders in the Backyard

I came to love my rows, my beans, though so many more than I wanted.

They attached me to the earth, and so I got strength like Antaeus.

~Henry David Thoreau

The garden is a wonderful place. I'm always amazed at what grows and its' beauty. I've never been successful at growing flowers (TT and Marissa got that gift) but when it comes to veggies, they grow and grow (sometime to overwhelming proportions). I often feel like I'm working hand in hand with God when I'm planting, weeding and harvesting. It's a very personal and spiritual thing to me that those who don't till, plow, plant, water, and weed don't understand. When others enter my garden and tromp and pick and take as they please I always feel so violated. Yet the joy of giving something you helped grow is great. I often think of Grandma Spencer when I'm in the garden and feel a closeness I never felt. I also think about the Robinson's garden behind Devona's house - mine is puny compared to that!This year I decided to try and do most of the planting by seed (vs buying plants). To me, it is kind of cheating (and too expensive) when you buy half grown plants from IFA or Wal-Mart. I started in March indoors with the tomatoes, peppers, basil, pumpkins, etc. - 90% of what is growing now I planted by seed. A lot of the seeds were left over from last year and some are heirlooms - next year I want all of them to be heirlooms and I will save all the seeds. My favorite is the basil (mmmm pesto and brushetta) and corn is my least favorite (yet cost me the most - $9 for seeds). I have over 40 tomato plants - 4 different kinds - and so far we have eaten radishes (of course), spinach, lettuce, peas, and a pepper or two. Hopefully the rest of the harvest will be good.

BAD LUCK!!

I don't mean to complain but I'm on a pretty hardcore bad streak right now. If I talk about it, does it go away? If so, here it is..

It's been almost 4 weeks exactly since I (Michelle) broke my leg (2 fractures on the fibula). This photo was taken a few days after the break. I had just taken the kids and friends over to Maple Canyon to do a bit of hiking. We hiked up Box Canyon to the waterfall and back and then had a picnic. Once we got home I started watering the lawn and while talking to Sam on the phone, I slipped on wet grass / mud and "snap" there went the leg. Six weeks to heal.

Then two weeks later, I'm out in the garden weeding and some unknown object flies in my mouth. Not a big deal, right? Wrong! What ever it was (weed, bug, UFO) scratched or stuck or got lodged in the back of my throat. I proceeded to cough uncontrollably for the next 3 days. Worried that this would be my fate if I didn't have it taken care of, I hobbled to the Dr. Well he wasn't amused and told me I had allergies (I've NEVER had allergies). Since then, I've been coughing, sneezing, stuffy runny nose, watery eyes, etc but the Singular he gave me hasn't helped a bit. I'm miserable.

So a few more days pass and I'm outside doing our favorite summer past-time, chasing sheep. They had gotten out on the road and Ashley was having a heck of time. As I'm trying to get them to back to our property, the Buck, AKA Noodle, rams me from behind. Whammo, I was practically knocked unconscious and I re-injured my leg. I thought I had broken my ankle this time but x-rays revealed it must be a sprain. Six more weeks to heal.

I'm feeling pretty sorry for myself by now and the "allergies" have developed into a full blown sinus infection with constant sneezing and coughing. Then yesterday, as I'm driving through Thistle, I start feeling tremendous pain in my right ear. A few hours later my ear drum ruptures and the gunk begins to flow. Just like I've never broken a bone, never had allergies, I've never had earaches or the like. It's horrible. I now have a new sympathy for all those little kids with chronic ear infections!.



I wake up this morning and realize I've got to take the kids to the 24th of July parade. Not quite knowing what to do, I take a few pain meds, a few antihistamines, and an antibiotic. Off to the parade we go. While sitting at the parade (in a daze) I realize there is something crunchy in my mouth that shouldn't be there. Upon further inspection I find that my back molar and filling have crumbled!!!!!

Okay, I'm not that superstitious and besides bad luck comes in 3 and I'm wayyyy beyond that point. But ten years ago my sister, Melinda, gave me a scarab necklace and told me that it was supposed to bring good luck. I've worn it almost non stop since then, not for luck but because I love it and I love scarabs. Well, about five weeks ago I took it off to wear another necklace and lost it. And the bad luck started rolling. As soon as I got home from the parade I decided I would have to find it - and I did!!!!! Rest assured I'm wearing it now - for luck. As for everything else, a lot of good has come out of it. Linda and Jamie have helped me so much. Jo worked her wonders through touch therapy which helped with the pain. TT and Marielle came down and cleaned my house and weeded. Ashley has been my constant hero. And today Ashley W and Jamie's dad mowed my lawn. I'm so grateful.

And this is how Luke has helped.

Isn't He Lovely

Oh, the things that go with an ice cream cone. No, this wasn't dress up. Luke WANTED to wear the bikini and of course, matching shoes. I get the feeling we will be discussing this in therapy in 20 years.

The Shop That Sam Built

So, here it is...... Just hours away from completion - our new shop. Or, as the kids call it, "The Flower Shop". Sam's the man! He did 95% of the work all by himself! He did have a little help (thanks Todd, Tom, and Ed) but mostly it was Sam out there laboring away. Michelle did contribute, shortly after all the sheeting was hung, she plowed into the shop with the Durango. Yes, damage to both. Like most things she ruins, Sam was able to do a little fixing (thus the ladder in the photo).


So why the new shop, you ask???? SKATEBOARDS!! Okay, okay, we did need a garage / storage space since we almost have all the rooms completed in the basement (thus limiting our storage area). But the main focus for the shop is to build custom skateboards. Sam has partnered with a great guy in Manti who is building killer boards. With the existing company - Gokiburi - Sam and Michelle are building and selling these cool boards. Check them out at http://www.gokiburilongboards.com/ (not operating right now but hopefully next week). Right now we are concentrating on getting an inventory built and online selling. And heck, with the high cost of fuel, who couldn't use a longboard to get around. Seriously, these are cool boards and all are handmade here in "The Flower Shop."

Sam in action!!!!

So if you're in the market for a new board or want to give it a try, let us know and we will hook you up.

Flashback

Whoa, talk about a flashback.

So we were riding around Colorado the other day and spotted this killer bus. Michelle was so convinced that it used to be our bus that she followed it for miles - hoping the driver wouldn't get too paranoid and bail (paranoia and VW's somehow go together). Finally the guy pulled over and let us check it out. Not our old bus but the same year and definitely one worth watching. We offered him our 1970 bus, two 1965 bugs, and a Ford Explorer but he wasn't willing to trade. He didn't want the Durango either (I don't blame him). I guess if we win the lotto or sell enough boards we will be able to wheel and deal properly... Too bad for now.

4th of July

It was 3 years ago that we moved into our house in Spring City. The 4th of July that year was pretty traumatic. In true Schoppe style, Sam insisted that we should paint the entire upstairs of the house (we closed on 7/3/05). So instead of festivities we worked and worked.

This year, in true Spencer style, we celebrated it the old fashion way with a parade, BBQ, and great fireworks (THANKS Grandpa Carl!!). We missed having any other Spencers or Schoppes around but had a lot of fun with the Cruz clan.




"Where's the parade?" Luke loved the Mt. Pleasant parade. In fact, it has gotten so big it almost (yes, almost) rivals the Richfield parade.




Charlotte got her fill of sno-cones and cotton candy.








Sam and Ashley sporting new and matching shirts for the 4th - what can I say, I'm my mother's daughter.

It's About Time

Here we are... For those of you who are far away and want to see our day to day happenings (believe me, there is drama). Mostly, this is for Sam - so he can see the chaos while he is away and the bliss when he's home.

Here's Luke. Although hundreds of miles away from any killer waves, his favorite swimsoup is a wet suit.

Charlotte must color coordinate - swimsuit and goggles (it's not funny).

And the three at their best - Sunday best - that is.