Holy Stump II

Forgot to mention that they kept joking, as the giant hole was filling up about the new "swimming pool." Porter is 2 and is learning about humor but....he is two. He was getting pretty excited. Big hole...water. This was looking better and better by the minute!

I asked Wayne to stop joking about it after a while. It seemed like a cruel joke to poor Porter who did not understand that it was a terrible tragedy in our yard, not an enjoyable summer activity. LOL.

I hope the fix comes fast. No water in our house is not that fun. Luckily I am somewhat obedient and I do have some water stored. Not enough for baths but enough for other things. :) I will be showering at the neighbors in the morning.

Holy Stump.

(The pictures are terible but both ight I waited until nearly dark to take pictures, not sure why.)

We are trying to work on a few home improvements. Some by necessity and some things we want to make a little nicer on our close to nothing budget. Since we have moved into this house 4 years ago we have had to call Roto Rooter out at least once a year and more recently twice a year so the gigantic cottonwood tree in the front yard that provides half the neighborhood with shade in the summer, sadly...had to go. My strong as an ox brother in law, Craig has been down here working for a few months and he generally helps us with some bigger projects while he is here. Kind of as a thanks for letting me stay with ya deal.

In the past couple of weeks the tree came down. I thought this was the big part. He even cut the wood into manageable size pieces and a neighbor came and asked for the wood so that was helpful to both of us as we needed the wood gone and he uses wood as heat. Excellent. The pieces that were too large for him went to another friend and about 3 truckloads of branches were taken to Soilutions.

I wrongly thought this project was nearly over. I was so wrong. So very very wrong. lol

The stump was left. Now do not get me wrong, I knew this was a big job but I NEVER dreamed just how big both literally and figuratively it would be. Neither did Wayne or Craig.

A few days ago their other brother had a small backhoe for another project so the three of them brought it over and worked for about 4 hours digging both by shovel and with the backhoe. it looked to me like we had a HUGE mote in our yard. I did not understand where this project was going. (I don't do so well with lack of understanding.) Each time I asked Wayne what they were doing he said they were getting the stump out.

Yes, thank you dear. *sigh.*

They dug down about 4 feet and I would say the stump is 4 feet in diameter. They did this after work one day so they id not finish til 9 or 9:30.

At this point I think the guys thought they would wrap a chain around it and hook it up to a truck and pull it out and be done with it. The stump was not interested in this plan. Not the least bit interested. Another day and hours more digging ensued. That's when I asked for help on facebook. (Sorry Roy. lol)

And then there were three. Now at least they could see they were making marked progress.

A lovely neighbor visitor came over and said he had a tractor and could get the stump out for us for $100. At this point they had so much blood sweat (and they probably wanted to cry) invested that there was no way Wayne was paying someone $100 to do it. Nice but notice they did not offer to lend a hand. With a little more muscle power this thing could have been out of there in a few minutes. (So he and his cousin leaned on there car and watched the guys work. it was pretty neighborly. I hope we are not so insensitive and un-helpful to others.)

The stump was totally broken free at this point but we (and I use the term we very loosely. lol) could not seem to get it up over the ledge. Remember this hole is deep and round and big. It is probably 15 feet across and steep, 4 feet deep or so. That stinkin stump would come right up to the top but not over the ledge. One of the pulls almost got it...the one that broke it free....was very exciting!..until...we realized it broke a water main.

That giant hole was quickly filling up with water. I quickly got on the phone to the city where I sat. on. hold. I also went to get another neighbor who is very helpful but has heart problems so can't do a lot of the actual labor.

So then there were four.

Wayne got the water shut off before I got through to the city.

Roy (who is a thinker and was trying to think of how to make it easier) suggested that we get some guys and start on it again tomorrow. More people, less work all around of course. Sounds great to me. My poor husband is exhausted! He headed home and they gave it a couple more tries and low and behold it rolled out! The size of this thing is amazing!

So now we just need to dig in this giant hole to find the broken pipe, figure out how to fix it....fix it....dispose of the enormous stump and get back to our to do list. This was supposed to just be one small thing on the list.

Um...so like i was saying...we need some help with some yard work. lol.

I don't know who this is.

A conversation Wayne and I just had:

The phone rings and Wayne reads the caller ID out loud and then answers it. Confusion shows across his face and he mouths to me, "I don't know who this is."

I whisper back somewhat humored because my husband does not realize he has early onset Alzheimer's, "That's your cousin." ( I say he does not realize because I have a memory issue at times but I am quite aware of this.)

At the end of the call he told me why his cousin called. I had noticed he mentioned the baby and told Wayne his mom must have mentioned the baby because I sent her an announcement. "Who is his mom?"

Seriously?

This is HIS family people. I can't make this stuff up.

I tell him the name of said cousin's mom.

"Why is his last name x if his mom's last name is y?"

Again. This is HIS family.

I wage a guess that this is a second marriage for her?

LOL. Seriously I can't make this stuff up.

Christmas torture and loveliness

Trying out her new pogo stick.

Christmas was incredibly lovely. It was easy and fun and low key and non-stressful. And somehow our "small" Christmas felt wonderful and perfect and blessed and so so lovely. Wayne reminded me that we took a picture of Allori in her stocking her first Christmas. She was born in November and weighed 6 lbs so she was probably 7 or 8 lbs by Christmas. She barely fit in but it was super cute and as we generally torture all children equally we had to give it a try. Now this was a bi of a challenge. Cayde was just over 6 months old at Christmas and although he started out itty bitty has grow a bit. He is 11 lbs now! I literally shook him down into his stocking (pillow case style.) LOL. Lucky for him I am sure he won't remember.

Cute, right?

This boy...

Bath time Mohawk. (I think it's HILARIOUS when people take naked pictures and toss the washcloth over the boy or girl parts. hmm...wonder what's under there?! I prefer to do it this way...simply crop it out if you don't want it showing. Less ridiculous looking. Just my less than humble opinion. This can also be done by lowering your camera so a leg or whatever is covering the body parts. The washcloth thing just looks silly people.)

The sleeper.

I was in the kitchen and came back into the living room to find him feeding Cayde.

Like his smile? We were trying to get pictures of each of the kids with the leaf background for the blocks we were making for Christmas. we took maybe 20 pics of Port. We came up with one or two...ok....ones. Such a nut. Cute anyway though, no? (This was not one of the best but i love his silly expression--so porter!!!)

I do not remember taking a picture of him in a shopping cart so not sure how we ended with this, but alas here it is. My brown eyed boy!!!!!

Holding his sisters hand. We are a hand holding family. I love when the kids start doing it on their own. So sweet to show love to one another.

During the summer the kids often chose to sleep without jammies on. With a swamp cooler and no central air, I easily allow this. Taya (dog) sleeps with porter. i thought this was funny and took a picture because Porter was put to bed on his duck pillow but made it all the way to the other side of the bed, taking Taya's spot...but not to worry-Taya is happy to accommodate and take the pillow. (Lovely!) Porter looks awfully comfy, doesn't he?

Daddy's boy...from the zoo in the spring i think.

..........................................................................................................................................................................

This boy was hand delivered to our home 18 months ago. Hand delivered. It sounds so simple but the labor I (we) have had with him was not 12 hours like it was with Allori, I did not carry him in my tummy for 9 months, or 6 months, as it was in Cayde's case. He was not delivered naturally or by c-section but hand delivered with a 17 month labor. We knew the very first week...we hoped that first week that he would be a part of our forever family. (We did not start foster care with the intent to adopt, but with the intent to provide a safe home for children who needed it temporarily.) It wasn't part of our plan. He is a daddy's boy. He is athletic and insanely cute! He is oppositional but makes everyone else follow the rules. (He once yelled at Oswald on tv because he was "throwing' food.) He is all boy with a touch of tender. He gets all sorts of mad at the drop of a hat but is quick to say sorry. He challenges me. He frustrates me. He pleases me. He brings me joy. He says, "Oh mom!" instead of "Ah man!" (This makes me smile every time, he says it very silly not with blame.) He is incredibly soft and loving to his new baby brother. He bugs the daylights out of his big sister.

He is funny and smart and stubborn and dramatic. He is Porter and he is my son.

We officially adopted him on November 21, 2009.

Thank you Heavenly Father for the gift that Porter is to our family...to me.

Oh help me!

So in Sacrament meeting today a sweet family was sitting behind us. We are often times on a row near this family...both of our families routinely sit in the same part of the chapel each week. The meeting is nearly over when Skyler handed up a note.."Here, Allori." It was folded down to 1/8. I told her to say thank you to which she quickly quipped she already had. (Ok, but it's usually better it they hear you love. I didn't say that but i thought it.) She opened it up and there were two lovely people drawn with overlapping hands (holding?!?!?!?) and at the top it says, "I Lice you." (I like you)

First, Awesome job Skyler on your writing! And very sweet of you to give Allori such a sweet note and picture.

Second, please warn me next time you plan to give a picture to Allori--especially if there will be any liking or hand holding involved. You people are 5. Cute...but 5. My heart skipped a beat or two. I had to remind myself you were just 5. That Allori was just 5. These 5 years have gone by really quickly, i need the next few to not speed by quite so quickly-i just can't take it. I am sure you understand.

Third, Seth, you have some competition. (Seth is the cutest sweetest boy. He and Allori were born just weeks apart. We were in the same ward in California. Seth's mom and I joke that arranged marriage is completely underrated. :) ) Well, hate ta tell ya, but now there is another cute sweet boy.....just lettin ya know. he he.

Lastly, is that not the cutest thing you have ever seen?