Happy Birthday once again

Jake turned 31 yesterday and celebrated this fabulous birthday by going all out. All out in being sick and down in bed. I felt so terrible for him. What a way to spend a birthday but for all it's worth, Happy Birthday! We love you and know you are a wonderful father and husband.

Jake says....

....That all girl truck drivers are fat and ugly....

This is the beginning of our latest adventure over the past week. Meet BIG MAC....He is the latest addition to our online purchasing. I started calling this truck Big Mac as I thought it looked a lot like the colors of McD's. Back to the story....As we are well known for our "computer" vehicle buying, Jake bought a dumptruck in Montreal a couple weeks ago. It was on a open unreserved auction and we got it for a steal! (Just to compare, we would pay almost double for what we bought it for.) On the downside, another road trip was on the way.

We flew to Burlington, Vermont on Thursday (Katanya didn't have a passport so we couldn't fly into Canada.) Friday morning we took a taxi across the border into Quebec. Canada is a very pretty place, although Quebec is a lot different than the rest of Canada. My favorite so far is Ontario. I also like kilometers a lot better than miles for the fact they they feel like they go by twice as fast as miles do. Anyway we picked up the vehicle and we were on our way........We only had to cross this HUGE bridge across the St. Lawrence river 3 times to finally get "unlost". Pete said it best when he told Jake, "....let me get this right. You go into another country and know you are picking up a truck (that could have problems) to drive back and you didn't bring a map or tools?...." Pete was a life saver this trip! Jake owes you : ) Katanya came with (still attached). We had a custom seat built in the middle and bolted to the floor. This allowed her car seat to be buckled in and for her to enjoy a 2700 bouncy ride home. (it wasn't suppose to be as bouncy but this is another long story not for this post. Jake can explain if he wants to.) She was an angel. We have taught our kids well.Jake's new fashion. (Until we found his somewhere in the truck. Not a lot of room when you have 2 duffle bags, a babyseat and misc. bags we picked up from the trip.
We finally crossed back into the states in Sarnia, Michigan. We had to cross a toll bridge back into the US for $9.00. (for a mile long) We also forgot cash this trip so the cashier got paid in quarters and dimes. This trip added 2 new states for me plus the first time being out of the US.

We learned a few things this trip.....most importantly....always bring your family (wife and kids) into a place when trying to get something cheaper or faster. IE: We had a few hangups at Customs and the guard basically told us to "pray" that we got across. We had called ahead and thought we had everything we needed evidently we weren't even close. When we went in to see a different officer, he must have felt sorry or didn't want to hear a crying baby all day (she was hungry) and helped us out without any further delays. It was something rather simple but could have been a real problem.

After we got home, I added up the mileage of our road trips this year. Between March and July and a trip to NYC, one to Mesquite / Moab, one to South Padres, and the latest to Montreal, with 4 trips down to SLC we have drove a total of a little over 15,300 miles. That is not including any local driving around Idaho. I think we win the award for the Most Miles Driven for 2007. (It's not even over yet). This leads me back to this picture....

One other fun thing was about 2 days into the trip (while we were going thru Iowa) I got bored and Jake was tired. I took over in driving and it was actually pretty fun. It was hard getting used to the gears and not using the clutch while shifting but it made the trip for me not as long. It also helped Sunday when we couldn't get a hotel in Wyoming and drove all night. (not something I recommend often) Now learning how to drive, Jake has taken advantage of it and while we are swamped the next couple weeks he has me running the new truck with Cruz and Katanya while he is running his old truck with Kirsten. Twice the loads and twice the pay plus we don't have to lose any customers (it's only part of the day that I drive). He now has to eat his words about what he said earlier about girls!

Fuzzy Wuzzy

Jake wanted to bic his head Sunday morning. Last minute he decided to go with a number one (I am thankful for this.)Kirsten: (while shaving) Don't worry dad, it will grow back. (continues shaving)Kirsten: When dad has no hair he looks like a cat with ears. (how she got it was his hairline)

LATER THAT NIGHT....

Kirsten: Dad is my fuzzy wuzzy.

Added to the wall

Jake says that we need to have a "wall" and get a picture of the people that have visited us. I'm not so sure about the idea but we can always pretend.

Sean and Keli have been added! They came up Saturday afternoon and stayed with us for a night while on their way up to Yellowstone. We enjoyed their company and hope they didn't find us wierd.

Knock knock.

Emma and Kirsten (The kids played so great together! They went til midnight and still could have gone all night.)

Our new kitties

McKay is visiting her other dad for a month and a couple days ago we picked up a couple kitties since from when we went on the trip one went missing. She asked me to put a picture up for her. This one is for you babe!

The black one is Genevieve and the one with white and black is Fiona. Our other two Phillipe and Jack.

One important thing unmentioned....

We celebrated Katanya's birthday at the beach. We have enjoyed watching her grow and develop her own special personality. It sure is amazing how fast a year flies by. One year ago this is the situation we were in.... (Katanya three days old)Now she is blabbering and already wanting to involved with her brother and sisters. We love her and are glad she is a part of our family.

Katanya's cake and unsure of everybody singing.
Finally trying just a crumb. She never really ate it, just nibbled at the frosting.
The infamous "present" shot.

It isn't official until it's documented....

Katanya ate her ENTIRE "baby" bowl of spaghetti today willingly and with an open mouth. I didn't have to pin her down and force it into her mouth over and over again just to give up. I STILL HAVE HOPE!

Finally....NUMBER ONE

FIRST CAME THIS.... THEN CAME THIS....
AND FINALLY THIS IS WHAT CAME TO BE.
P.S. Jake gave me his permission to post this.

Under the sea

Not really but a pool is close enough. This is # FIVE on the top ten list....They capture all the fun moments....
.... in and out of water.

South Padres 07

Our fam

Also refers to top ten list # 3....
More to come.

My favorite sound bite

When one commissioner proposed to disallow the burning of used oil in an asphalt plant the chairwoman responded:

"I'm no tree hugger, but burning used oil ...that's earth friendly!"

David & Goliath: What do they have incommon?

Company: HK Contractors (Net worth ...millions)
Purpose before zoning board: Allow them to set up a temporary (75 days) ashpalt plant in a state owned gravel pit in order repave 15 miles of US Highway 26.
Number of opponents: ~20
Numper of Proponents: 4 including the 4 HK employees
Duration of Tesimony For: 3 minutes
Duration of Testimony against: 15 minutes
Zoning Board Discussion Among Commissioners: 5 minutes
Total hearing time for matter: 25 Minutes
Decision: Approved
What HK didn't tell: By moving the batch plant 25 miles closer to the paving site they (HK) will save at least $250,000 in trucking fees .... their winning bid assumed that they would be hauling it from a further location.

Company: Willow Creek Nursery ( Jacob & Amy)
Purpose before zoning board: Construct a 16 acre wholesale nursery and remove topsoil
Number of opponents: ~2
Numper of Proponents: 2 other than me
Duration of Tesimony For: 5 minutes
Duration of Testimony Against: 5 minutes
Zoning Board Discussion Among Commissioners: 3 hours
Total hearing time for matter: 3 hours 15 Minutes
Decision: Approved
What everyone in the room was thinking: "We can tell you are going to approve it ...shutup and stop arguing over weather or not this similar to a previous proposal for a "Doggie Daycare" or if it has anything to do with "Widgets""!!!

Top ten!

Since I have yet to upload pictures and I am bored and going thru internet withdrawals, I decided to do a quick post.

TOP TEN THINGS I LEARNED THIS YEAR AT THE BEACH

10. How exactly sandcastles are made.
9. How much food 18 people will eat.
8. Not to be stubborn and just wear the sunscreen.
7. Not to tell a little kid to go pee in the ocean because they end up barely going in the water and pulling their pants down to show everyone.
6. Not to trust Jake when he says he is turning up the swimming pool (to be a hot tub)
5. How much I really want an underwater camera (but I would hardly use it)
4. Not to wear sunglasses out while boogie boarding. You think I would have learned this one by now.
3. How much fun it is being a blonde.
2. Not to play crazy uno at four in the morning...AND LOSE!
1. What exactly Jake will do in the ocean. ( To be continued....)

Soon-to-be one year mark

It was time for me to be the "meaner" parent and get her ears pierced.

Chicken Fight

Can you guess who won?

TRAGEDY!!!!

At 3:14 this morning Bernice, a young mother in the area, fell victim to a violent hit and run accident. Witnesses at the scene report that a large black SUV came out of the darkness and ran her down. After being hit and drug for nearly 1000 feet and then completely run over; the perpetrator fled the scene at a high rate of speed leaving her for dead.

Her friends who were with her reported that although they were not in a crosswalk they were using a route that Bernice had safely crossed hundreds of times before. One socialite claimed that Bernice froze as the SUV approached ....LIKE A DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS! She leaves behind many children, a herd of friends and lush green forage. She will be missed.

..........


This just in ..... Man reports that Ranchhand grillguard spared his SUV of any scratches or dents after hitting a deer at 70 mph with a fully loaded trailer in tow. UNBELIEVABLE!

Kitty play

Once again, Jake brought home kittens on Mother's Day. (for the kids) This has happened before.

McKay named her yellow boy kitten Phillipe, Kirsten name her girl cat Belle........and Cruz name his girl cat Jack. I find the black / brown on her face puzzling.

Possibly the "Jake" in her????

Studying hard

Doing his homework til he just can't stay awake anymore.

What day is it?

TWO WEEKS AGO IT LOOKED LIKE THIS (YES SNOW)....

TWO DAYS AGO WE WERE PLAYING IN THE SPRINKLERS....

TWO MINUTES AGO, IT'S 41 DEGREES AT NOON....

WHY????

I didn't believe it til I saw it.

They call her the Neighborhood deer.

There is no need to be afraid.

She has a baby that is also part of the pack.

All she wants is love and food.

She will even let you take a picture (with flash).

I still find it quite amazing. While in Utah this past week, we came across the neighborhood deer. Jake thought he was pretty cool when this deer came up to him in the front yard. His first thought was to tackle it. But this cute thing came up to him and wanted to be petted before he had time to act. I guess this deer and her baby wonders around this part of Eagle Mountain and just wants attention.
Katanya isn't quite so sure what to think. I love her eyes and expression. Cruz is okay as long as he doesn't get any closer.