A Christmas Poem.

THE GIFT
Author Unknown

T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?
I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND SOON DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."

Elf YourSelf

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Santa

We had our yearly Santa Party at Sherry and Tres's. It was the first time Max didn't throw a fit! When Santa called his name, Max first hid; he did not want to go up there. Staci and I tried to bribe him, but he wasn't budging. I told him that I would go up with him, and I guess he thought that would be too embarrassing because he told me, "No" and ran up to Santa on his own. He even smiled for pictures!



He got concerned when Santa started reading out of his book. I imagine he was thinking something like: "How does this big, red guy know so much about me?"



Surprisingly, Cortney and Jason's baby, Madison, did really well with Santa. She sat there calmly, playing with Santa's sleigh bells. Max never did that!



Sadly (but with humorous results), Madison didn't do so well the second time she was placed on Santa's lap (because you can never have too many pictures).



Finally, here's a video of Max on Santa's knee. Sorry about the sound quality and the wobble... it's a really cheap camcorder.

A Thanksgiving Poem

TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING

BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP
I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS,
I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.

THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED -
THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE
BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION
WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT

TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION
THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION.

SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR
AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.

GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES,
PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES.

I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND,
'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.

I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING,
FLOATING INTO THE SKY
WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING
AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.

BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED
PAST THE TREES....
HAPPY EATING TO ALL - PASS THE
CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.

MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,
MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.
MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY
HAVE NARY A LUMP,

MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS MAY YOUR PIES
TAKE THE PRIZE,
MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY
OFF OF YOUR THIGHS.

Oh Boy, My Baby is Growing Up!

Big Big things coming for our little family! As of January Max is going to be in Primary! He is just growing so fast, and while everyday is a privilege to be able to be apart of my little Max's growing up, I am afraid that this particular stage is going to be a little harder for mommy to handle! For the last few weeks the older nursery kids have been going into singing time, and Max has done vary well. However while Max is doing well I am going threw some kind of Crises! For the last Two Sundays I have made Poor Trevor leave Gospel Doctrine almost 8minutes early just to go check and make sure that Max is doing okay, meanwhile I am sitting in class hyperventilating and trying not to freak out! I have not determined whether it is the More independence thing, or whether it is that he is just getting older... Maybe both. I am so proud of him, and time goes so fast. I know that all will be well, but darn can't they just stay little for while longer! Poor Max and his crazy mom!

Max's First Emergancy Room Visit. What a Trooper!

So Last night was an odd one. When we got home from my B-day dinner, it was about 10:40. Something Prompted me to rush up to look in on Max before heading up to talk to Papa Breon and Grandma Sherline. I had noticed that his light was on, which was not unusual for him, but when I opened the door to his room, and he was sitting in bed crying and having a really hard time getting a breath in. At first we thought maybe he swallowed something and it was restricting his airway, but when we got to the hospital the nurse reassured us that Croop ofter comes on super fast, at night when they are sleeping. He did so good, and by the time we left, he had all the nurses eating out of his hand. He is such a little flirt. And soon after he received the meds, he looked at me with a glazed over smile and said "Mommy, I feel good." He also went and had some E-rays done and was so excited to see his skeleton. After that, they did and breathing treatment on him and he did so good. He loved the Darth Vador Mask, and that was so good to him. Sometimes the meds that they put in the treatment make there heart rate so up for a while. Lets just say that it gave him the shakes pretty good, and it freaked mommy out a little. All in all we all survived.
Here is a pic from the Camera Phone.

I was tagged. Where Were You

Tara, I am so so sorry.
I absolutely love reading your blogs, and I don't know how, but I totally skipped over your Tag Blog. I hope I do this correct...here goes.


20 Yrs ago
1.I was Six and had just started Kindergarten at Lake Ridge Elementary. I was super shy, and the first day to make my grand entrance I ended up lost on the wrong side of the building. To hurry, I started running down this big hill and ran right into a tether Ball poll and knocked myself out. It broke my glasses. The only thing I can remember is Angela Hofheins finding me to take me to the office. What a great first day.
2.I was the cutest nerd, I wore thick Glasses and I had a lazy eye so the Doc made my mom patch the other eye while at school. It was great. I need to find those pictured and burn them.
3.Back then I was mostly hanging out with Emily Rhea. We would take over my parents unfinished basement, and turn it in to whatever we could think of at that time. Stores, our houses. I remember playing up at the Kitchen Bar and pretending to be Reggis and Kathy Lee. I had to be Reggis, yes I am still bitter about that. :) We had so much fun.

10 yrs. ago
1.I was a sophomore at Cyprus High. That was a BIG year for me, I was driving, and went on my first date with B.J. Huff. We went to Applebee's and what was then the Fun Dome to play Lazar Tag (I was so BAD). All and all, it was a good first date.
2.I don't remember having a real set group that I hung out with at that time, but I do remember every morning going to the Pirate Cove and getting Donuts and then non-diet Dr. Pepper. Oh so healthy I was. Then while waiting for the first class to start, my "group" and I would all sit around and copy each others homework waiting for the bell.
How simple life was back then.
3. I don't remember that year being full of to many extra things, but I do remember Laura Bucker and I Driving around on her moms little blue Dodge Neon, listening to Insync and Backstreet Boys. We would drive past the homes of all the boys that Laura liked at that time, and we did it over and over and over for hours. It was Awesome!

5 yrs. ago
1. Trev and I had been Married just over a year, and we had just moved from Trev's Bachelor Pad to a six-plex in the Avenues. I will never forget that apt. for as long as I live. The people had an interesting interior decorating style. They had painted the Wood Flooring White over brown over Blue, and then back to white again, Bad! The walls were also white, but the what should have been beautiful molding was painted Purple and Pink and Green. Also bad. It did have some awesome Stain Glass. I think that was my first taste of interior design, the landlord told me that if I would fix that apt then he would take off the deposit. I was in my element, but it took forever and we ate more money then Trev would have liked, and spent so much more then what deposit would have been. But it paid off because the landlord asked us to do the apt across the hall, where we did the same thing, spent way to much time and ate way to much money. Poor Trev.
2.At that time I was not working and that is about it. Lets call that my slacker year.
3.One thing that Trev and I loved doing was walking up to the SLC cemetery at night. It was so scary, I loved it.

3 Yrs. ago
1.We were Living in our house in Taylorsville, I loved that house. That was just an odd year, I hear a lot of people say that things happen in three's, well that year it happened in fives. We had just had Max #1, my dad was diagnosed with Melanoma, and Trevor's Cousin Seth passed away around that time. Not to mention the 3 times our house was broken into, one of which Max and I were home for. That was a big year for re-evaluating and counting our blessings.
2.At that time Trev was working at O'currance and I was at Usana. I loved that job until the day I became a mom, then I was blessed with a better one.
3. At that time we were spending a lot more time with our ward. I had just been put in as the Primary Secretary, and I loved the kids and the ladies that I was able to work next to. In spite of those stupid break-ins that was a really fun neighborhood.

1 yr ago
1. This was also a Big year for us, Trev had just decided to back to school, and I was adapting to not having my family as close a five minutes away.
2. We were then, and still are living with Trev's dad and step-mom while we finish this school thing. We can't thank them enough, it has been an awesome opportunity.
3. Even though it has been hard for me to not be in the place that I grew up, I have loved being closer to Trev's family. I didn't realize how much time we didn't spend with them. It's so nice for Max because Brock and Alissa come over every Monday, and Max gets some cousin time as well, not to mention that we get Trev a lot more then when he had a job.

This Yr So Far.
1.We are still at Breon and Sherline's house, Trev has started his 2nd year at school. And financially, things are going all right.
2.Max and I spend a lot of mommy and me time together. My mom likes to come up as much as she can, and Max and I go to SLC every Friday and spend the night at Grandma Lu's. Max also loves going to Grandma Jana's for his bath once a week. We only have a shower, and so we take him to her house to have some bath play time.
3.We spend a lot of time with Trev's long time Friends Dan and Sharann. They are some of the nicest, most loyal friends anyone could have. They are so good to us, and Max absolutely loves them.

Yesterday
1.Max and I played dinosaurs.
2.We worked on potty training.
3.Trev was so blessed to be able to go grocery shopping with us. I have never seen him look so stressed out.

Today
1.Cleaned
3.Laundry
3.Potty training...again (one day this will not be on my list, YA)

Tomorrow
1.Finishing laundry, I hope.
2.NOT working on potty training
3.My mom and I are going to the Temple

Next year.
1.I am hoping to be down to a comfortable weight.
2.Hoping to be transitioning out of our school life and into our new life.
3.Working on growing our family.

I tag Krissly Carter, Kati Jo, Mom, Mike and Rachel, Carmen Eggers.

Slow But Steddy. Wk 3, WW

So we went to our Week Three yesterday and I lost 2.2 pounds again. These seem like such small numbers, but I figured it out, and if it continue at this pace I will be able to where the same jeans I was wearing last Thanksgiving, this Thanksgiving. So it's all good, I'm happy with these totals. Thanks again for all your thoughts, they mean so much to me.
Trev sent this comic to me, I thought it would be fun to add.

Picking out Pumpkins, and a Tractor Ride at Uncle Claude's

Grandma's and Grandpa's

For the most part I have had such a fun time watching my family grow up and mature. My sister's are practically adults now, and my brother will graduate from high school this year, and cousins that I loved hanging out with are all mommy's and Daddy's now. But I have to say it is heart breaking to watch Grandma's and Grandpa's get old. One thing in particular that my family is dealing with at this moment is, my dad's mom (Grandma Schroeder, bottom pic, right side) was just recently was Diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and this weekend had a few fall's. She is loosing her memory and strength fast, and she is just all around uncomfortable. I understand that this is a part of life, and that this is the Plan that has been laid out for her. I think the thing that makes me the saddest is how easy it is to take these sweet, and so wise people for granted. I just wanted to say how much we love all of the Grandma's and Grandpa's that we get to have in our lives.
We Tip our Hat to You!

So Far So Good, Week 2, Weight Watchers

So yesterday was my 2nd week at Weight Watchers, and I lost 2.2 pounds. I realize that is not much, but considering I was consistently gaining the last time I was attending, that is pretty good. Thanks for all the words of encouragement, it really does help.

WIsh Me Luck!

So I have started Weight Watchers......again! If you can believe it, this will be my third time. I have started so many times the ladies didn't even make me do the first time class...because they new me from the last times :)".
So I hope you don't mind, but I am going to start keeping a sorta journal about it. I am hoping that if I am think people that I know will be reading about how well I am doing, I will keep trying! Don't worry this will still be our family blog. I will keep you posted, and post pics periodically. Wish Me Luck.

Thinking of Seth

Today we are Honoring the Memory of a dear member of our family. Seth Ferrin was always so full of life, and every time we saw him he put a smile on our faces.
Seth and Angie have four adorable and well behaved Boys and the Cutest little 3 year old girl. The day he passed was full of doing what he did best, being a Family Man. Seth, you are missed like crazy, and we all look forward to being with you again.
Angie and the Kids, we love you.

Maxisms

After handing Max a piece of pizza on a paper towel, Max took the pizza and threw the paper towel back: "Thank you, sir. But I don't want this."

Max while hitting the bed with a string: "I'm going to beat you an inch of you're light!"
Trevor: "Did you just say 'I'm going to beat you to within an inch of you life?!"
Max: "Nooooo. That's silly! The rope is light!" (light, as in "not heavy').

Max finds a brown spot on a tortilla: "Look daddy! A nipple!" After Staci and Trevor crack up, Max starts making up songs about nipples.

Whats Up With Us

Sorry it has been so long sense I have blogged. Things have been busy, but good.
Trevor started school again and of course is doing vary well. Max and I have again started going to Grandma Lu's on Friday's to Saturday's. It gives poor Trev some quite home study time, and we get to go do some stuff in Salt Lake. Last Friday was our first time in quite a while and we had a blast. We started off by going to the Fair on Friday. There Max was able to have a pony ride. He was a bit reluctant to get on at first, but once he saw the other kids, he seemed to be fine.
After that we went to see Seusical the Musical at the Empress Theater, it was way cute. Then Saturday morning we woke up early and drove to Ephraim to watch the first home Football game of the Badgers Season. Max is such a little Football Fan, he just loves it. His favorite part of the entire thing is when the players start the game with the HAKA. Then during half time we were able to see the Badgeretts preform there first routine of the year. They did so good, go Kati Jo.

A picture of Lucas.

Here is a picture of little Lucas sent by his dad from the hospital.

Little Lucas

I am sorry it has been so long sense we have blogged. For the most part, we are doing well, Max and I keep busy while Trev started his next semester of school. As usual he is doing vary well.
We are having a bit of a sad trial in my family right now. My cousin and his wife had a sweet little baby boy about 5 months ago, and ever sense he was born is has struggled with an intestinal disease. He has been in and out,(mostly in) the hospital sense the day he was born. Just this week he has taken a turn for the worse, and was sent back to Primary's where they did emergency surgery. Part of one of his Bowels was so infected that they had to remove that part completely. He is a pretty sick little boy and they say it will get worse before it can get batter. We are asking everyone to please keep little Lucas in your prayers. We are also doing a fast on Sunday, and if you would like to participate that would be awesome.
Sorry this was not more uplifting, I am working on a blog that will be posted in a few days. Bye for now.

Anniversary DISASTER!

For our 6th anniversary, I thought I would be especially giving. I offered to go to whatever movie Staci wanted to see, and I would not make any negative comments about it to her (however, I did reserve the right to make fun of it when she wasn't there). I knew it was dangerous. I expected trouble. But I figured I could handle it. I might even like the movie she chose, like when we were dating and she had me watch Return to Me... that was good. "David Duchovny dating a woman with the heart of his dead wife." Why, it even sounds like an episode of The X-Files.

It was after 8 pm before we left the Lagoon. We didn't want to stay out too late and decided not to stop by the house to check what shows were out on the internet (we probably could have called the theatre, like people used to in ancient times, but who thinks of doing that?). So, without any knowledge of what was playing, we went to the theatre.

It took but a mere glance at the marquee to realize the full extent of the danger. She wouldn't go for The Dark Knight, so I started rattling off the movies that I hadn't heard of--which is a lot. It's hard to keep up will the latest releases when you don't watch television.

"We've got Fly Me to the Moon at 9:15--that sounds like a romantic comedy--then there's The House Bunny and The Longshots at 9:45... Nothing else until 10."

She wasn't taking the bate. Staci squinted, trying reading the marquee. I panicked and started grasping at straws.

"Uh... The Rocker is at ten..." We had passed the poster on the way into the theatre. I thought I saw Dwight Schrute in his undies. Dwight Schrute in his undies was not something I wanted to see. But, given the circumstances, Dwight Schrute in his undies would do.

Just then, Staci made a look--a strange, determined look--and I knew it was over. Before I could stop her, she was within reading distance of the marquee. She turned. Giving me the if-you-say-anything-you-will-die look, she declaired, "I want to see Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2."

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2! They made a sequel! A SEQUEL! Somewhere, deep within my subconscious, I was aware of such a movie; the way I am aware that someone is working on a Thundercats movie (which I hope is totally awesome). So the existence of the film did not come as a shock to me, but why in the name of all-that-is-good did it have to be out on the night that I promised to watch anything!

On the plus side: the mere title of the first one gave me three years worth of jokes. By sticking a "2" at the end of it, I should get at least 9 years of jokes according to The Law of Exponential Returns From Sequels Based on Stupid Movies. Heck, that one scene I saw of Carnosaur 2 has lasted me 13 years!

The usher tore our tickets in half and gave me an ominous "Have fun... bud!" (which Staci thought was very amusing), and we made our way to nether caves at the back of the theatre. Only one dark hole was further from the realm of life and the sun than the one we entered... it was showing Death Race.

At this point I would normally give a spoiler alert... but what is there to spoil? Is there anybody on the planet who doesn't know how this movie ends? Even among the isolated Venezuelan Yanomami, the men roll their eyes as the women paddle canoes to the nearest theatre.

Anyway, the movie review:

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2... was long. And I'm not just referring to it's name.

Half the time I was looking away in embarrassment for the characters (characters who, as if in possession of some bizarre psychosis, were not embarrassed by their own actions). The other half I was looking away in embarrassment for the filmmakers. How many cliches can they fit in a single movie? Couldn't they pasted scenes from other movies together, and saved on production costs? Or was the cost of that scene from Grease too expensive?

After the movie Staci goaded me. She asked... get this... she ask WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT THE MOVIE.

I had promised not to make any negative comments while she was around, and I reminded her about my oath. "However," I said, "I would be fascinated to find out what, exactly, YOU thought was good." At this point she broke with laughter.

I honestly don't think she liked it. Rather, I believe she has developed a tolerance against certain forms of attack, and will endure such attack so that she may enjoy watching others suffer under the onslaught; similar to what I do to other people at sushi restaurants (Just kidding! I only did that once, and I felt horrible about it).

Staci continued to pressure me to say something good about the film. I managed to muster three things that I could classify as "good." I classify them as such, because they were the only things I DIDN'T expect.

1. Feisty girl falling through the scenery.
2. The line that I laughed at, but can't remember now.
3. Blondie didn't have stud at the end (seriously, when the blond one started taking off her clothes after some Greek dude jumped into the ocean, I thought she was finally going to get her man [Note to the men: That might SOUND like something worth watching, but it isn't]).

As I close, I would like to point out that I kept my promise. I have not made any negative comments about the movie while Staci is here. She has been in the living watching... just a sec and I'll check... she's been watching Father of the Bride. Her tolerance against these movies is truly great.

Our Family Night, Winger's, and the Water Park

So tonight was Pretty Awesome! Trev, Max, and I decided that we were going to go and have some family time. Much to Trevor dismay, Weber State was closed for the 24th, and he could not go study. But that meant that we were able to spend some time together. Max has been begging me to take him to this little Water Park behind the Athletic Club. There were so many kids there, but he had a blast, and of course it gave Trev a chance to pull out the Camera.





Then we decided that we would go to Wingers. Max has a tendency to be loud and VERY energetic at Restaurants....actually everywhere. We thought it was perfect, not to expensive, not to crowded, and not to Diner-ey! I have learned very quickly that older people like diners, however I have also learned that Max roaring at the top of his lungs is not a BIG crowed-pleaser with the diner crowed. It was a blast.

Conversations with Children

This Sunday, I spent the majority of church passing out toys to the two toddlers, my son Max, and his cousin Julian. At one point, I discovered that our plush Cthulhu doll had made its way into the church bag. I discovered this when Julian asked me what it is.

JULIAN: Is this a butterfly?

TREVOR: No that's Cthulhu.

JULIAN: Oh. But what is it?

TREVOR: Cthulhu is one of the ancient ones--an unimaginable horror.

JULIAN: Yeah! ... and it's a butterfly?

TREVOR: Yes, it's a butterfly.

JULIAN: Make him fly!

There is no point in attempting to combat toddler logic. Here's a conversation I had with Max this morning (I was commenting on the ninja mask he made out of sliced muenster):

TREVOR: You are funny!

MAX: Yes, I am.

TREVOR: Yes you are!

MAX: Yes, I are.

TREVOR: No. "I am."

MAX: No! I am!

Poor Max. He must be so confused. Why do grown-ups have to contradict themselves so much?

My Hubby Can Sew!

I have always grown up in a house where if something was ripped, or needed to be patched my mother could do it. Before she was married she took a job in a sewing factory, and is quite the pro. I always remember her telling me as we grew up, that I needed to learn how. Well tonight as I was getting ready for early Church tomorrow, I noticed that the Zipper was broken on one of my vary few skirts. As I sat there so frustrated, not only because me mom lived 45 minutes away, but because the one and only time I didn't listen to her (wink wink) was actually coming back to bite me. :( Just as I was about ready to throw the in the towel, and admit defeat, Trevor walked down stairs, and so kindly reminded me that he can sew!
He totally fixed it! Trevor sewed my skirt, and did and awesome JOB!!!!
P.S. I start learning to sew on Monday!

Garden Update

Things are happily growing in the garden. Well, most things are happily growing in the garden... there has been a disappointing lack of weeds. Each morning, I arise and sally forth to pluck offending vegetation from mortality (rather, I pass the garden every morning on my way out). Sadly, there is rarely anything to smite. However, my desire for destruction has some outlet: I have begun harvesting.

This is the first time I've attempted to grow lettuce, and it is coming along well. This picture should be of bigger heads of lettuce, except I've been eating it:



This is also the first time I've tried to grow swiss chard (heck, the first time I heard about chard was at the seed store). This picture should also be of bigger bunches of chard, except--you guessed it--I've been eating it:



Most everything else is in the flower state, or is still too green to eat. We did have some small, red strawberries a while back, but the birds ate them. Those pesky fowl like to hop laps around the garden, and the ripe strawberries were on the outside. However, there is hope.



I have noticed that the plants tend to grow in spurts. There was one particularly sad lettuce plant barely poking out of the ground next to a larger lettuce planted on the same day. I pointed it out to Staci, and the next day that little bugger had grown three fold! It was still under an inch in height, but that's still quite a growth spurt.

The most astounding growth spurt I've came from my pea plants. At the morning weed inspection the peas were flowering. That evening I went to the garden to get some lettuce for a sandwich, and found this:



Several pea pods had grown that day! The effort those plants exerted in the production of their pods must have been tremendous. I almost feel bad; all that effort so I can have a snack.

Hidden Valley Camp

The Indian Trail was used by native Americans get through Ogden Canyon when the river was high. The trailhead is at the top of 22nd street. There are two trails that split off of the Indian trail: the Coldwater Canyon trail, and the Hidden Valley trail. While I've been on the Coldwater Canyon trail before, but I've had a heck of time finding the Hidden Valley trail. I've look for it several times, but it has always eluded me. Three weeks ago, I found it. The sign marking the trail was above eye level, and off to the right. Here's a photo of it:



Yeah. I didn't see it at first either. The Indian trail is at the left of the photo, and Hidden Valley trail is, well, those rocks. Here's a closer look at the sign for anyone that wants to find it:



The name "Hidden Valley" gave me the impression that it was in a valley between the mountains, and I thought that the hike would go around the mountain into a small canyon or something. Knowing from maps that the Hidden Valley trail was short (less than two miles), I headed up. It's unfortunate that maps don't fully convey the steepness of a trail, because the Hidden Valley trail is a beast! It was a valley between mountain, it was a valley at the top of the mountain. Further, I was hiking in the afternoon, and that side of the mountain is hot and barren. There wasn't enough water in my sports bottle to quench my thirst.

At the top of the mountain, the dry rocks faded into a lush forest. Wildflowers were in bloom and insects swarmed the valley. The mosquitoes were so bad I ran through certain areas to get away from them.

The trail ended at some campsites. Miraculously, I had cell phone service (I think it's pretty miraculous anytime I get phone service). I've been working on making a vintage style canvas tent, and I saw this as the perfect opportunity to test it out. I gave Staci and call from the campsite, and begged.

Two weeks later, I was headed back up the trail; this time with a heavy canvas tent strapped to my pack. Now, the tent is called a "Hinkley Tent-McInstry Model." I got the pattern out of a 1950 Explorer Manual. One of the reason I chose it is that it only uses 11 feet by 6 feet of canvas, making is smaller (ergo, lighter) than other canvas tents. Another reason I chose it was because I could not figure out how the heck the thing worked! Naturally, I had to build it. Here's a picture of the tent from my Explorer Manual:



And here's the tent I ended up with:



And from the side:



It's not quite the same as the picture in the book,is it? I started out with the poles placed just as they are in the picture, but the tent was sagging--a lot--so I moved things around to give me the most room inside. As you can see, the tent doesn't close...which is part of the fun! Remembering the mosquitoes from my last hike, I brought along insect repellent, but I didn't need it. The valley was still full of insects, but one of my favorite bugs had joined the swarm.



I love dragonflies. I love the way they swoop through the air like World War I aces in their Sopwith Camels, gunning down those pesky, bloodsucking Fokkers. None of the other insects bothered me, like this little bee who spent his time chillin' in a flower:



I imagine this bee felt the same way I feel when I hunker down with a bag of avocado chips to watch old movies.

One of the supposed benefits of the McInstry Model tent, is you can put a little reflector fire just outside the opening to keep it warm. I can testify to the truthfulness of that. The tent got freakin' hot. The flame was was one of the smallest I've made while camping, and I had to put it out before it made my tent too hot. Still, my little setup looked mighty cozy.

Lucas Hinckley Fullmer

Little Lucas is my cute little cousin that was born on May 13th with digestive problems... He is a vary sick little boy, and we are asking you to take a look at the Tribute Vid. and if you wouldn't mind, please say a little prayer for him.

The joys of gardening. The way the rich soil crumbles in your hands. That cool, earthy smell that hovers just above the ground. Rubbing perlite dust out of your eyes, and getting mad at yourself because you've been handling turkey poop, and you forgot to wash your hands.

I've wanted a garden for some time now, but have been unable to raise one. With my dad's permission, I'm now raising a garden at his place. Literally raising it. The idea of a raised garden appeals to me; supposedly, because the ground is above ground level, it gets warmer earlier in the year, and stays that way longer into the year, so that you garden longer. Also, you don't have to bend down so far to weed it, and the garden wall provides you a place to sit while tearing those pesky weeds out.

During the last week I've been digging up the lawn, and laying bricks for the garden wall. Each brick weighs 25 pounds. It took around 130 bricks, which means I lifted 3,250 pounds. Boo-yah! That's not including the weight of the sod that I moved from the garden area, or the dirt and clay that I dug out.

I know, I know... some people work as "farmers" or "landscapers" and do a whole heck-of-a-lot more than that; but I've spent the better part of 7 years sitting behind a computer in a cubicle farm. Doing something akin to traditional farming is rewarding. And there aren't even any vegetables yet!


Today I put in the soil. It's one third perlite, a third peat moss, and a third compost of varying kinds (steer manure, turkey manure, mystery mulch, etc.). The final product is much more airy than I'm used to. Of course, my last, big gardening adventure was for a merit badge and I planted things in bare, rocky ground that I wouldn't even call "soil." My mediocre tomatoes and the single, softball-sized watermellon (that somehow ended up at the top of a pine tree), are good indications that plants don't like that kind of land. But that was then.

The soil we've made now looks almost good enough to eat... even before it goes through the vegetables. Well, except for the perlite... that stuff looks like styrofoam. Really though, the perlite should be the most delicious looking thing I put into that ground, it's basically popcorn made from super-heated rocks (would that be "poprock" instead of "popcorn"?). The rest of the soil is made up of decomposed vegetations, and poop... neither of which are what I normally think of as mouth-watering.

These are some pictures that Staci and I took of the garden while putting the soil in. The last one is kind of dark, but that's because it was dark (go figure, eh?). It really didn't take much time, it's just that I start working as the sun was setting. We're going to add a little more soil tomorrow, and then start planting!

MAX Likes His Frosting

No Hitting

What's Going On With the Jacobs This Summer.

Hello everyone,

Our family is currently living in So. Ogden with Trevor's Dad and Step-mom.
He is attending Weber State to receive his MBA. He is doing great in school and has received a full Scholarship+$300. for books in fall semester. :)
Currently I am staying home being a mom with Max and while he is a blast, this is also a big job. Currently our big projects at the moment are potty training, and Breon and Trevor have decided to build a garden that Trevor and I will take care of. Trevor will also be attending summer classes.
We are so excited it's finally getting warm, bring on the camping!! :)