Birthday Getaway

This afternoon we returned from a remarkable weekend just over the Idaho border at the Malad Summit Guard Station. Chris orchestrated the entire weekend down to the smallest thoughtful details: planning and shopping for meals, sneaking the few gifts that arrived by mail into the car, packing all we needed except Finn's clothes and my clothes, and keeping all plans a complete secret until we pulled up to the gate leading to the cabin. I was pleasantly surprised by a weekend getaway to a rustic cabin (just Chris, Finn, Hudson and I).




























Chris and Finn warming their hands by the "Hot" fire.


We had a memorable time taking frosty morning walks with Finn to hunt down the "water". The creek ran along both sides of the cabin and through the surrounding riparian areas. Finn couldn't get enough of it, constantly asking to go outside to see the "water, water...". If it was up to Finn, we'd have spent the entire weekend walking along the creek or running through the grass.
-Lucky me, even the traditional carrot cake!

We spent a few hours Saturday hiking the Indian Mill Trail. The wind had a chilly bite when it wasn't countered by the sun. There were sections of snow and mud and water to cross and all and all, it was beautiful to be out together.
I couldn't have asked for a more perfect birthday celebration!

Fall Leaves

Even though there are still a good number of leaves in the trees, it is that time of year to begin to rake, rake, rake (before the snow falls).

Finn got to come to work with me for the morning - for the Realms annual Leafathon fundraiser
















Using his new skills learned at the Leafathon, here's Finn raking at home with Daddy









..............................
and undoing the raking by jumping into the piles












Good Times!

First Tracks

Finally a new post! Sorry for the delay - hopefully you haven't given up on us.


Last weekend we celebrated the first signs of Winter in the Wasatch and took the kids up to Alta for some nordic skiing. We had a great time touring up a road to the base of an upper Alta lift. Going down was a little more interesting. Those skinny skis even make snowplowing hard! Finn loved it, except when I would almost lose my balance and go over and when I'd get going too fast. He was very interested in where Erika was, looking back and saying mmmmmmmmom.

Here are a few photos:

Majestic Mt. Superior.

E and Finn getting ready.

Stefan, Jess, and Greta (in Chariot) and Erika skiing up.

Lunch.

Finn and Greta making a snowman.

Finn and his new favorite food: Clif Bars

"Wish those lifts were running!"

Family shot...Greely bowl in the background.

One last note: Finn has taken after his mother - loving frogs. As I write this Finn has collected all of his frogs into one big pile - nine total! I asked him if there were any more and he brought his blanket with about 200 frogs on it! Smart boy.

Gotta Stay Positive

Erika and Finn headed up north today to visit her parents in MT (she has the week off since students are on an international trip). Unfortunately, I'm stuck at home...but took advantage of all the spare time to work on a couple of overdue projects (once fully fueled with coffee, obviously). First - I tiled a few trim strips between the kitchen and "mudroom" and down on the lower landing. This was supposed to be easy - but try as I might, I had a hard time getting the individual squares to look level. Oh well, not that anything in this house is level anyway.

Here is the "before" photo...from when we moved in. Notice the wallpaper in the hallway - those walls (and ceiling) are the only surfaces that we have not painted in this house!


And the after shot. The mudroom walls are painted "faint flickr" which really brightens it up.


Next I gingerly approached another long-standing project. I donned the HEPA-filter mask, eye protection, gloves, and ipod and started scraping and painting the shed. Ughh. Luckily good songs came on "shuffle" and I pushed through. Here are the before and after photos:



Looking through the old photos I came across this one, housed in the folder "kitchen demolition and choas," which about sums it up. I think it's my favorite shot of the total madness that sprung from our kitchen remodel. I had no idea what I was up against (mold, coal soot, plumbing issues, electrical issues, plaster issues, window issues...) and spent a lot of time staring blankly, but somehow pulled through. Notice the open book that has plumbing photos for a PERFECT house. A lot of help that was. Also notice the essential kitchen gadgets: Coffee maker, Egg & Muffin Toaster, and Toaster Oven.

Snowy October Weekend

Setting good habits early
















as I am posting this,
Finn is sitting in my lap very clearly exclaiming, "Daddy, Daddy!" and pointing to the pictures. He loves his daddy and if only he know that tomorrow was his daddy day (Fridays) he'd be jumping up and down with joy!

Bummin' 'Round the House

September has been kinda slow, but good. We've enjoyed the fall weather, late-season harvests, and watching Finn turn in to one hyper boy. Here is a random collection of photos. -cbd

Finn quickly figured out that he can climb onto the couch using his push cart. He's looking pretty proud of himself. Yes, I know - he needs a haircut.

Who needs toys when you have tools! I finally dug deep and found the motivation to start another house project. Actually I didn't feel like finishing the other six projects I have going...

Finn showing much improved technique here.

Finn showing his sign for "more" (index fingers carefully put together) and showing his best "please mommy" face.

We harvested lots of squash (of four different varieties) this year, but only one pumpkin. Finn and I are about to harvest.

The pumpkin generated lots of interest... (cool crop by E)

But only Finn tried to eat it right away. Our hyper little boy.

Fall Fuggles

Our first hop harvest! Thanks to Craig for donating his Fuggles noble hops from his old house. We "adopted" this plant mid-summer and were surprised by a pretty good harvest. Hops are a fragrant, bitter herb used in making to beer to balance the sweet malt. I'm looking forward to using them in my next batch.

What a Character

Things have been slow on the blogfront lately with home projects, me being back to teaching full time, family in town, and the general busy nature of life. I figured it was time to sit down and add a few posts.

Finn's personality is definitely becoming more pronounced. Here he is getting hyper before bed. He found his hat that no longer fits him in his bedroom and decided that he just had to wear it. It really compliments his pajamas nicely doesn't it? So, he put it on all by himself and plowed through the house giggling away. He's getting pretty proficient at cornering with this toy, without ramming into too many walls or door frames.








Today I noticed that he has two new teeth. That makes ten!

Fall BBQ

The daytime temperatures continue to cool and the night time forcast threatens frost. With BBQ season winding down we decided to host a small gathering. Even Finn got to invite a few friends.

You can see the shed project in the background here. The front is painted a nice pale shade of green called crisp celery. We have yet to scrape and paint the sides or build doors. These are all on the short list but projects have moved indoors lately to the mudroom/back entry. I'll have to try to capture photos of Chris's transforming paint job. Next we lay backerboard, tile and wood treads.

Greta















Kaya













Finn showing off the fridge in dad's "man space" (a.k.a. the shed)

Corn Dog

Last Friday Finn enjoyed his first State Fair. Thanks to Stefan, Jess and Greta for the laughs and for taking all these photos (we forgot our camera - oops).

We didn't get to see too many animals (except Bengal Tigers! and some horses), but did enjoy foot-long corn dogs, square-dancing Texans, people watching, a fun farmer chore activity for Finn and Greta (see photo of him harvesting veggies!), a Ferris Wheel at dusk, and polish sausage!

The ultimate corn dog. I think the age-old DuRoss quote goes well here (used to be on our fridge in Ohio): "You have freedom of choice but not of consequences."

Big apples. Finn and Greta posing

Finn reaping a bountiful harvest

E, Finn and I on the Ferris Wheel. He wasn't quite sure what to think at first (whereas Greta was standing, bouncing and smiling!), but was smiling and clapping by the end.