An Unplanned Reunion

Last weekend brought an unexpected surprise. Maren and Gavin returned from Europe very late Friday night, Anna, Rob, and family arrived from Reno Saturday afternoon, and Will and Jamie flew in from NC on Saturday as well. So on Saturday evening, what was going to be a birthday party for Maren and Beckham, turned into an impromptu family reunion. All of the SKT and DAT families gathered at our house for sliders, salad, and birthday cake. The surprise was having Will and Jamie whose visit was unknown to us, and having the Hastings make a sudden trip for Rob's grandpa's funeral. It all worked out splendidly and cousins of all ages were happy to be together again for the evening.

Will and Jamie arrived from North Carolina

Opa and Achilles reconnected

The ol' homestead was decked out for the celebration

Daniel making the kind of face Katy usually makes --
Phillip isn't too sure about that

Annie, Jayson, and Kris

The kids eat about half or less of what they are served

Madi and Lu on the rocks

Happy birthday to almost everyone

The kek

The DAT sisters

The SKT siblings

Opa and Annie

This serendipitous reunion was as good as if it had been planned months in advance.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

All Good Things . . .

Well, tomorrow Maren and Gavin wing their way home after two weeks in France and England. We have certainly had a good time with Finn, Harry, and Beckham, but we have also learned that raising children is a job for the young. The days have been filled with DVDs, playing with cousins in the mud and elsewhere, chickens, cleaning Uncle's new cellar, forts, meals, walks, family dinners, snacks, baths, stories, some heavy-duty coughs, and goodness knows what all else.

A bit of mud from day two at Holden's mud hole

Time for lunch!

First the real food, and then Grammy's cookies

They made forts of Stephen and Ann's boxes

The boxes are better than the original contents

Two years old today

This evening we had a mini celebration of Beck's birthday to be followed on Saturday with something more official and also inclusive of a Maren's and my birthdays. Good times still to come.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Lizzie's Ninth

Last Saturday was Lizzie's birthday. Emily planned a marvelous Minnie-themed party that was enjoyed by all.

The kek: serious red frosting dyed teeth pink!

The cousins enjoyed some vintage Mickey cartoons

Lizzie extinguishes the flames

She has always been an enthusiastic unwrapper

Open wide, Beck

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Not Bored All the Time

As long as the cousins aren't in school, things are pretty exciting around here. Otherwise there is a chance that it might get boring. Luckily, there has been lots of good fun for Finn, Harry, and Beck.

Headed to the park

Monkeys on the bars

Katy and Daniel made this cool fort for watching movies

Saturday morning cuddle

Excavating in Holdie's back yard

Some chicken time

So, on balance, all is going very well. The boys have been great and Katy and Daniel have been good help. Katy, however, starts her new job today so we are on our own.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm?

Yesterday, the Youngs drove from Arizona to drop the kids off before heading to Toulouse, Paris, and London for two week. Gavin has three days of meetings with Airbus in Toulouse, France and then they will go to Paris for a few days. The excellent adventure will end in London where they will stay with Kris's brother, Matt, and his wife Kim.

Harry and Finn yesterday evening

Gavin and Maren helping Beck work on a smile

Beckham loves him some Weetabix

Bon Voyage!

I fear we ruined our kids by taking them abroad so often. They just don't want to stay down on the farm! Who can blame them?

There will certainly be more adventures of Grammy, Pop Pop, and the boys, so stay tuned. That, however, is all for now.

OXO

D.

That Was Awesome!

This morning, Katy and I went to Wasatch School to see Lizzy perform in a talent show. Emily was involved at some level and was also MC for the show. Lizzy rocked it to a Glee cover of a Michael Jackson number (with which I am unfamiliar [not surprising]) and the younger classes who made up the greater part of the audience, loved it. Katy heard a young fellow exclaim, "That was awesome!" And it was.

Emily and Lizzy conferring pre-show

Lizzy has some great moves

Lizzy strikes a pose post-show

Good job by the Ensign women

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

The Big Dig

Well, this dig isn't as big as the so-called "Big Dig" that tunneled a freeway under Boston, but it is pretty incredible, nonetheless. You may remember a post back in mid-December when Stephen's basement project started. It has progressed steadily and the dig is now complete. Today they cut through into the old cellar and next week the last of the footings and foundations will go in. I think it has gone very fast given that it all happened one five-gallon bucket at a time.

The buckets in question

The new stairway on the north side of SKT's house

The dust is from cutting through the wall into the cellar --
we though it had cleared, but look what the flash revealed

Looking south under the living room

The new entrance to the cellar

Our life has been extremely ordinary, so this will have to suffice for news.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.