Firemen in Texas

Where to start???

Nate and his friends have been out getting dirty and playing with fire as well as breaking baseball bats, going to baseball games, listening to live music, hanging out with cans of soup and playing with dead lizards. 'Old Rip'. Go look him up. 

 This is one of the fires in Texas that was started, I mean put out, I mean watched by the handsome firefighters from Utah on Engine 1667. They spent nearly a month playing and sleeping in Texas.

My sweetheart

Trouble they've been causing

Retard Ant---don't stand so close to incoming planes

This is what happens when you stand to close to retardant. At least he won't catch fire.

At Utah Lake getting ready to do some work

This is before heading to Texas. (A bunch of show-offs if you ask me.) But I like them nonetheless.

Dick playing with fire...don't singe the beard

-Name changes.- This is Dick. Jane went home. Dick is by himself (besides Big, E-card, da Boss, Clayton, and Skeet, but alas, no Jane). (Sorry Clayton, they didn't give you a nickname, but you can be Jane if you want.) This is Dick's tool. He uses it to (smash it with a hammer) help put out fires. Dick looks like a dandelion. (So does the rest of the crew.) Dick is standing too close to that fire. Run Dick, run! Don't play with fire.

Ralph da Boss

 Heigh ho! heigh ho! it's off to work we go! One day off, then back to work we go! Heigh ho! heigh ho! heigh ho! heigh ho!

Nate in his dandelion outfit

Skeet in his dandelion outfit. I was thinking more like a knight in not so shiny armor. Little horse is not for galloping around on either. But I love him just the same.

Who did this?

Watching the sunset in Texas

Taking a moment to enjoy the view. Wish I was there to enjoy it with my Babe.

Old Rip...just caught by Nate

This is a larger than life size version of the lizard. You are just going to have to look up the story yourself. 'Mamma, there's a gator in the house!'

The Crew and their Engine

This is the Crew (minus the photographer) and their Engine 1667. Looks like they are having a moment of peace before beginning their tasks.

Hungry?

This is what they feed you in Texas. Hope you're hungry. I don't think there are bowls or spoons big enough. 

Maybe they lost someone...nope not in there.

...After chopping up one of the crew members, the rest of the crew decided the best place to hide the body pieces would be through out the truck. That way they could drop off a body part at each fire and no one would know... Notice the red suspenders??

Hot fires plus hot Texas weather makes for no fun

Don't be breathin' that stuff in. 100+ degree temp and humidity and fire make for very undesireable circumstances. Got to admire our dandelions.

The fire is behind you

Playing in Texas

Thank you to both Engine 1667 and 1668 and all the other dandelions who helped Texas fight their fires. Where to next??? ARIZONA! Stay tuned.
PS Why do firemen wear red suspenders?

And almost there...

Back view of house

This is the back view of the house. Notice the deck. There isn't one. That is Trent trying to "break and enter" into Grandma's house, but we took care of him. Can't wait till we get our fence and grass, although that wont be for awhile longer. First thing is first. Grandma's house.!

Self-explanatory--in the laundry room

I like the floor, looks better then the particle floor that was in before this. You can see the dryer box on the right side. This room is also known as Pete and Puku's room.

Love my staircase--you can see all the dust

We opted to go for this look versus the half wall. It opens up the room even more. And if you look close, you can see all the knots in the wood.

Shawn practicing doing dishes 

Shawn wanted to find out if there was running water yet. I think Grandma sprayed him with the sprayer. Shawn is practicing doing dishes since we chose not to get a dishwasher. I mean, we chose Shawn as the dishwasher.

Deck is in!!

The guy was still working on the deck when we got here, so we didn't go out there to bother him. Looking awesome!

View from the kitchen in the corner

Grandma and Shawn's arm is looking out on to the deck. Can you see my art niche? And that doorway is the door to my room. Notice the arch--I love them!! Also you can see the knots in my cabinets. Love it!!

Shawn trying out the toilet in the master bath

Shawn decided to try out the toilet in the master bathroom. No toilet paper and he didn't even shut the door. Stink! Also Shawn, next time, lift the lid.

Garage entrance into laundry room. Shawn is standing in the door to the hallway.

Now that he's finished, we are getting ready to leave. That is a closet directly behind him. We are in the laundry room ready to head out into the garage. Won't be long now.

Front view

Stone work, done. Sidewalk and stairs, in. Grass, not yet. Stucco, done. Color, nice. Windows, have stickers. Big front door, love it.

Both garages

This is not an accurate picture. Those little numbers above the garage shouldn't be there. And I think shutters go by the windows as well. Closing date is April 28th. So close....

Soccer and Firefighting

Derek's Dragon

I love how creative my kids are! He even has moveable parts. (Can you see Nate's fire gear in the back?)

Don't ya love legos?

I love it!! It looks like Toothless.

Watch that spot.

This is what Derek has also been up to. I enjoy watching him play. He is a really good defender. Here is what they call the Wall, to block a goal. This was a really cold game. I think I left some of my fingers on the ground.

#5

Derek's team won the first game they played. That was really exciting for him. He's a good player and really enjoys being on the team. I really enjoy watching him play. It's also neat to watch him do post-game exercises.

Derek going in for the kill.

In action

No, he's not the goaly.

Go Junior Varsity!!!! Love that he works out almost everyday. Not quite the skinny little bean pole he has been. And love that he has to keep his grades up in order to play.

At Utah Lake, Lindon Harbour

Nate is officially a wildland firefighter. Today, they were working at the Lindon Harbour doing whatever wildland firfighters do at the lake. Maybe a barbeque, it really turned out to be a nice day. Earlier it was snowing, now they are going to have to shed some layers. (I won't complain.)

Nate's Engine and some of his crew

This is the Engine Nate will be on. #67. There are 6 people on his crew. The other 2 had walked off some where. Too modest for pictures?

Nate's dandelion outfit

Here is my firefighter. I am taking out a $1,000,000 dollar or a $2,000,000 dollar life insurance policy (just in case). Is it worth it to wear the yellow and green out fit? I think I'll just stick to wearing my jeans and scrubs. You just becareful, Babe. They'll think I did off with you on purpose.

This is the crew hard at work. I mean holding up their axes (I think that's what they are holding). And holding the truck door open.

Back view

Sneak attack

This is a sneak picture of when I just arrived. Good thing I have an insider to pass on information to me now I have blackmail photos (of them working hard).

And now look...

Back yard

It has been amazing to see the progress and how quickly the house is going up.  For the most part they have done an awesome job-- thanks to Greg and some to Kelly. My sisters were gawking at all the guys on the upper picture. And Nate even got one of the guys to take off his shirt for my sisters. 

Inside looking out the back towards the lake

The skeleton is up. Wait till you see it's guts...

View from the back yard

Side of house

View from back yard

Has some skin on. Getting ready to stucco

This opportunity really has been a blessing for our family. With the timing being right to buy (but we opted to build) for the right price. The kids have places to explore. They have already found a hideout.

See the sand to the right?

This is only part of our giant kitty litter box, right off to the right side of the house. It's going to be great! And there is already a rake out there, not to mention all the balls they will get to play with.

And the pile of dirt has turned into...

Filling in the garage.

These last couple of weeks have been exciting to see the progress of the house how it has evolved from a pile of dirt to a hole to a foundation. Loving it! It will be great when it is done. This week the garage and the basement should be poured.

This is the view of the back of the house.

This is the Granny flat.  The back fill is being filled in. It's coming along great. The window wells are in place and the underground plumbing is done.

This is the front of the house.

Just off to the left is the garage and just off to the right of Mikal (blue sweatshirt) is the front porch. The black is the tar coating and all of that is underground.

Jai in the wind.

This is me standing on the front porch. You can see the tractor in the back leveling the rest of the dirt.

Garage

This is the garage. All poured and ready for someone to carve their name in it. Oh too bad so sad...already dried. And I already carved some initials in it (but not yours :) ).

Nate and Mikal

This is mostly framed in. Nate is standing in front of the french doors to the Granny flat. Mikal is the one in the blue jacket. She is by the master bedroom downstairs.

Floor joists being done.

Framing being worked on.

This is the basement being framed in as well as the floor joists being done. Can't wait for what tomorrow brings. And in all this excitement, Shawn turned 12 years old on March 3rd. He was ordained a deacon today and had the love and support of several of his family members. Thank you to all who made this a great day for Shawn. It was a nice visit.

Shawn and Nate

Happy 12th Birthday, Shawn!!