Martin's Cove

On the drive to and from Utah, we drive right by the Martin's Cove vistor's center. On our way back to Gillette, I stopped to take some pictures.

Devil's Gate--can you see why it would be called that?
'The Legend of Devil's Gate'

American Indian legend says a powerful evil spirit in the form of a tremendous beast with enormous tusks ravaged the Sweetwater Valley, preventing the Indians from hunting amd camping. A holy man told the tribes that the Great Spirit wanted them to destroy the beast. The Indians launched an attack from the mountain passes and ravines, shooting countless arrows into the evil monster. Enraged, the beast with a mighty upward thrust of its tusks ripped a gap in the mountain and disappeared, never to be seen again.

Pictures from Thanksgiving

My dad took the kids up Hobble Creek Canyon to see the fish, but they were all gone. So they went and saw the beaver dams instead. They had a great time with grandpa Mike and I was able to run some boring errands while they did so.

Helping grandma Janice make all the pies.

Showing off his new skateboarding moves.

Season of Thanks

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I know this is a little slow, but we just got back from our two weeks in Utah. It was really great to see everyone. We had a very good time taking turns between couch beds!! I have never really had huge things to be thankful other than the obvious reasons, friends, family, etc. But aren't those the real reasons to be thankful? I am thankful for my family and the love they show to me, I am thnkful for in-laws and their sacrifices and service in our direction, I am thankful for a new neice to be born in April (so excited), I am thankful for a husband who is willing to do whatever it takes to take care of his family, and most of all I am thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who is always there with outstretched arms. A Heavenly Father who is so willing to forgive and forget. On my way home to Gillette the other night, I made a really stupid choice and turned on a road that led me more northwest than I wanted. The thing is, I knew it wasn't the right road but I took it anyway. As I was traveling I kept getting panicked and a little scared. I tried to call Wes, but my phone was dead. I was ok, I had food, extra clothes if we needed for warmth, and I had plenty of gas. The whole time I was scared, I was also very calm. I just kept hearing, "turn around and go back to where you started." So, eventually I did. I think that was a very fitting situation to find myself in. Isn't that what Heavenly Father is trying to tell us? "Just turn around and go back to where you started." That is the atonement summed up in a few simple words. No matter where you are, no matter what situation you find yourself in, you can always get back to that place you need to be. Now, I don't want you all thinking I am this huge sinner, I am just thankful that if I do make a mistake against my better judgement, I can repent and be forgiven. I am also thankful for all of you for visiting my little, humble blog and being my friends. Happy Holidays!!

Why me?

Ok, here is the latest drama. As you all know, I have been without tv for almost three weeks. We were supposed to have it installed early morning Tuesday, but the technician called in sick. So I called Direct TV and they scheduled me out yet another two weeks. Oh boy was I angry!! Then I remebered I could call the local office and they scheduled me for yesterday between 12-4 (we all know how that goes). The technician called me at 12:30 to let me know he was WAY behind schedule (uh-uh) and he would be here later. Well his home office called here at 2:30 to see if he had made it yet-no. Ok, please call if he is not there by 4:30. I called at 4:40, he is still behind and would be here around 6:00. Alright, that would be ok, because by then, Wes would be home to help me deal with creepy cable guy. At 6:15 said cable guy calls and reports he wouldn't be here for another hour and a half. No thanks, come in the morning! Alright, now we are on today. At 8:30 he calls, he is on his way, but has ran into a blizzard. Finally makes it here at about 9:45. I call the rental agency to find out where to put the dish. We cannot mount it any where on the house, we have to have a pole mount. ARGH!! Now the guy has to dig a three foot hole in my five foot backyard. Oh wait, he has discovered that if he digs in this one and only spot, he will run into utility lines. Ok, call the "call before you dig" number. The earliest they can be out is the 27th at 10:18 (yes, they said 10:18). Oh my gosh, I just want to watch CSI. Oh yeah, the best part, Direct TV does not offer local channels in this area. I will be out of town all next week for Thanksgiving and I may as well just stuck with the second install date they gave me. Good Grief. Hold on, more rantings you ask!? Oh yes. WE HAVE MICE!! In the six years we lived in our home in Payson, not once did I seen one. I have seen enough bloody mouse carcases in the last week to last a lifetime. Our cat Daxter has always been the wilder, hunter type and now he is having a hay-day. Why is it that cats have to play with their victims before they strike? We have gotten rid of 3 live, 1 whole but dead, 2 partial, and 3 from the traps. All in one week. I am totally disgusted and mortified. Can you say creepy-crawlies, much?

Bates or Beetlejuice?

Ok, all of you wanted pics of our new surroundings. When Wes first sent me pictures of our new home, I was a little leary. My very first thoughts were "REEE REEE REEE" shower scene from "Psycho". I thought it looked just like the infamous Bates' Motel. My brother said he thought it looked just like the house from "Beetlejuice". Thanks to Jenny I got some images, thanks Jenny!!

What do you think?

Despite my worst nightmares, I actually like the house a lot. Let me tell you a little about Gillette. It is what you would call a transient town. Which means most of the people are only temporary residents. They, like us, are here for the job and when the job is done, they are gone. Well, that also means that those people are not going to buy a home just to turn around a few months later and try to sell it, so they rent. Are you with me yet? The town is basically one giant apartment building. Thus, our neighborhood. From afar, it looks like Park City with their Condos all in a row. Well, here it is one apartment or duplex after another. We were one of the very few lucky ones that got a house. And when I say lucky, I mean REALLY lucky. We got the last possible home for rent that allowed pets until the end of December. So I have yet to adjust to the atmosphere here, but for now I am content to stay at home and endure the never-ending Princess, Barbie, Diego/Dora, and Backyardigans DVDs we watch. Believe you me, I could sing or recite almost every word or song in all of the above that we own!! We are still waiting for our cable (tuesday-yeah), and I am not saying that watching tv all day is a great alternative, but when you are stuck in a two-horse town (it is way better than Evanston), it is all that we have.

Time to Potty Train?

I don't know if it is just his genetics or if he needs to learn to use the potty. Riley is our little nudist, as was his father, hence I say genetics! If he does not have pants on over his diaper, the diaper is usually off within milliseconds. He will tell me when he is dirty, but refuses to use the toilet, or even sit on it. So, we have resorted to duct tape. He doesn't appreciate the fact that his diaper is stuck, but I don't like seeing him streak by me several times a day! Fortunately, he has only taken off a poopy diaper once and we caught him before he destroyed anything. So if you have any tips on potty training a boy (I lack the utensils, if you will), please let me know!

Riley's Photography

Riley got a hold of my camera at my mom's house. So I guess this is what I got for goodbye pictures with my family!

Saying Goodbye

All I have to say about this is it REALLy sucked.

I didn't get any of pictures saying goodbye to my family because, well, I was the one with camera and was bawling my eyes out!! Not too mention the nasty rain the next morning. We were all a pretty sorry sight!

Riley's not going anywhere!

Hailey didn't understand why everyone was so sad, she told Janice to not be sad, we were only going to Grandma Louie's!!
Loving on Grandpa

So sad

Happy Halloween

Like I said, we did Wizard of Oz this year for Halloween. Katie's kids were Tin Man (Zac), Dorothy (Whitney), and the Cowardly Lion (Evan), I had Glenda and the scarecrow. However, the scarecrow didn't want to cooperate a whole bunch. So I didn't get a good picture of the whole group together. He would stand there long enough to snap it, but would fall over so he was a big blur in the pictures. He also wouldn't wear his hat, but he still looked like the scarecrow.
The best I could do!
Evan the Lion


Trick-or-treat
Hatless Scarecrow
Pretty Glenda

We ran into Miss Julie and she had to say hi to Glenda

We love having the Granparents come trick-or-treating with us. The kids have so much fun with them there.

Riley found the make-up

Riley watched as we did Hailey's make-up for her preschool party. And of course, I didn't get it put away fast enough! Doesn't he look pretty?

Hailey is Glenda the Good Witch

Katie and I decided to go with Wizard of Oz for Halloween this year. And of course I couldn't talk Hailey into being the Wicked Wich. So I was stuck with Glenda. Katie found her this dress and Janice made her a poofy slip to help it be giant like Glenda's. I was up late making her this REALLY tall crown. She needed it for her preschool party the next morning. Don't look too closely, it isn't the greatest and of course it was way too big for even her giant head!! So she had it on long enough to show her teacher. But doesn't she look cute?

Little Wesley

Wes came home to pack up our stuff and he always wears a bandana. Riley saw him wearing it and wanted to be like dad. So, here ya go-he thought it was s'awesome!

Hello From Gillette

Well, we made it! Wes brought most of our necessities up last week and the kids and I came up on Sunday. We had to stay for Halloween. Saying good-bye completely sucked and I miss everyone horribly. But this is a huge blessing for us in a lot of ways, so I can't complain too much. We finally got our phone and internet hooked up yesterday, so I am back to blogging-yeah! Believe me, you might get sick of me here in the next couple of weeks because that is how long we have to wait for our tv/satellite hook-up. So as you can imagine, I am bored out of my mind. Yes, we do have movies and video games, but there is only so much Diego and Disney princess a person can take-ya know!? I am excited to start putting up pictures too. But that might have to wait, I am still trying to unpack. Which might take me awhile any way, cause I am still so tired from packing it all up that I REALLY don't want anything to do with any more boxes for awhile.

Yes Maren, it is the best as man can get! And I think the population will actually be like 36!! Haha!! Actually Gillette is way bigger than Payson (not saying much), and a lot bigger than Evanston, where he was working. There's actually a Denny's there! Wahoo-it's cheesecake time (Jenny wink, wink)

Bad news...or is it?

Ok remember when I told you that Wes would be in Gillette for only three months? Well, it turns out that he will be there a little longer-4 years!! So, I am moving up to Gillette, Wy in the next couple of weeks. I am very scared and a little bit excited too. I hate to think about all the people I am leaving behind, but I really have no choice if I want to see my husband again!! So if any of you know anyone that is looking for a house to rent, send them my way. I am trying to be out of here by the first of November. Pretty fast I know, but I want to get up there before the really nasty snow comes, and it is already laying down a pretty good chunk. Atleast I will still be able to keep in touch with you all through this lovely blog. Eventually I will start putting pictures up too!

Ok, so I am FINALLY back online. I had to just have Braden arrange my desktop to be upstairs instead of in the dungeon we call basement! I feel alive again to have a computer!! I am still busy as ever, so I might not blog a whole lot right now, but atleast I have the option. I still log on to check everyone's blog once in a while, that is always fun. As Riley says, MUH-MEW (love you)!

Ok so, the power cord was not the problem :( I got it a few days ago and was so excited to use the computer and it still won't turn on. So here I am again at my mom's. New update: Wes will be finishing up the Upton job today and will be remaining up there in Gillette for about the next three months. He got a great raise to stay, so we will deal. Basically a in-the-right-place-at-the-right-time situation. We are trying to live by faith and the Lord has truly blessed us this last year. So, whatever He has in store for us with this new job opportunity, we will gladly accept. Eventually I will have a computer of my own, this is getting really annoying!!!

A little update

Ok let me fill you in on what we have been up to. I am borrowing my mom's computer again, but Wes ordered a power cord on Monday, so soon i will be back to normal. I feel so lost without my laptop attached to me!! Wes was in Evanston until last Friday. He was laid off (no worries) for 5 days. He is now in Upton, WY. Picture if you will a rectangle (Wyoming), Evanston is in the southwest corner and Upton is in the northeast corner. It is about a nine hour drive from Evanston that he made this morning. He will be there for four or five days and then he will probably be in Gillette, WY, which is about 45 miles west of Upton. So, we probably won't be visiting him on the weekends :( . I have been keeping busy with starting and not finishing a lot of projects!! But the thing I have been working on the most is a huge jewelry surprise. When I get my computer up and running, I will let you all in on the secret!! I am really excited about it and can't wait to share. PS Maren I am glad to hear that you were not in Hurricane territory, I was worried, and with no computer-yikes!!!

Hello everyone! I am sorry that I have been absent for a while. Life has been busy, oh, and my computer is dead. I am borrowing my mom's to write this. It is kinda hard to look on the internet for a new cord when you can't use your computer!! So I will try to get back to this as soon as I can!! Love you guys

Quirks Meme

Ok Julie this is for you:

1. I enjoy mowing the lawn-it's my meditation/me time.
2. I have a fear of birds-they are quite scary when they are loose in your house!
3. My favorite color has been purple since I was born-don't see it changing anytime soon.
4. I have only been in 8 states (most of them with your family!)
5. I have never had a broken bone or stitches-other than surgery(knock on wood).
6. I am so boring, I put myselfto sleep with this tag!!!

Boys are still boys...

Ok I know this is a little crude and I hope it doesn't offend anyone-if it does, I am sorry. But you have to admit this is kind of funny! This is what Riley spelled on his word whammer:

Happy 30th Wes

For Wes' 30th birthday, he and I took a bike ride down to St. George. It was a very LONG and painful ride for me since the longest I have ridden before that was to Orem!! It took us about six hours to get there with all the breaks I needed, not to mention the rain storm we encountered in Fillmore. We pulled over there and waited that out for about 45 minutes. We ran into some more rain down by Parowan and rode through it. It was cold, and I'll tell you what, those nice little rain drops are not so nice when you are going through them at 75 mph! Anyway we finally made it and thank goodness for spa tubs! Our purpose in going all that way was this trailer. We found it online and it was a steal. Our intention was for Wes to take it to Kansas and live in it, now he will live in it in Evanston. Happy Birthday Sweetie!

Trip to Evanston

A few days after Wes got laid off the first round from Wyoming, we went back up. It was a spur of the moment trip and we weren't planning on staying, so we were not prepared. A quick stop at Walmart and the clearance rack covered us for the next day. Wes took us out to Fort Bridger and the wind farm he had been working on. It was very overwhelming. Those things are HUGE. You have no idea how big they are until you are underneath one. We also stopped by the state park in Evanston and checked out the large buffalo, "Spike" and the giant eight-point elk. The kids' favorite part was staying in the motel. We came home through the Uintas, Mirror Lake Highway and out through Kamas. I had no idea these places existed, I have taken Utah for granted! We stopped at Mirror Lake for a few minutes to stretch and let the kids run around for a minute. There were a lot of people there, so we didn't stay long. We also stopped at the Upper Provo River Falls. Didn't know they existed either-but I am glad I know now. They were beautiful.

Some entertainment is all you need for a quiet ride!
"Spike" the buffalo, all you see is his head

MonstrousEight-point elk
Fort Bridger Wind Farm
320 ft tall each blade is 150 ft across
Nuh-night

Mirror Lake



Upper Provo River Falls

She kept slipping, so her behind is dirty