Tripartite Patio Saga

When we moved into our "new" home, we wanted to install pavers on the back patio. However, funds were tight and we opted for gravel as a temporary measure. It actually looked nice, but we wanted something more permanent. So we hired some guys to lay a stone patio. It was so expensive we could only do the south half. The stone turned out to be very uneven and the installation was really poor; we weren't happy.

Last year, Stephen had a chap expanding his patio and we invited him over to see our mess. He said he could redo the whole thing for the price of installing the second half. We liked what he did for Stephen and so we hired him. As you may remember, he started the project in the very early spring and then went incommunicado. He did return, however, and finished the project. It is now complete and we are happy with the outcome. Here is the whole saga in pictures:

Anders, Finn, and Maren watching the delivery
of the gravel for the first iteration

The gravel was poured over a weed membrane

The finished gravel patio was fairly nice

The arrival of the sand and stone for round two

This is the only photo I have of the completed south
half of the wonky stone patio

This year Andrew removed all the gravel and wonky stone

The area stripped bare

The arrival of the new stone for round three

We opted for cement pavers on the
garbage/recycling area because it makes it
easier to manage the dumpsters

Andrew creating the new stone patio

The completed north end

The completed south end

New planting pockets with lavender

So, for those who have been asking for pictures, there ya go. That's all for now.

OXO

D.

The First Half of June

Way back on Friday, 5 June, the uncles-dinner group joined Rod and Vic for supper at Terra Mia, a new Italian restaurant in Orem (next to the new Cinemark and 5 Guys). The pizza was really good, and they have tasty gelato.

Katy, Vicki, and Rod ejoying their meal while Kris waits for hers

Stephen, Ann, Jeff, Amy, Tom, and Katy enjoying
their meal (while Kris waits)

Post-dinner inspection of the unfinished coop

On Monday, the Timp-Lodge "group" held its first summer picnic at a park next to the Provo River. The Boyntons are traveling, the Christophersons are in Brazil, and Phil was taking care of a sick baby. Otherwise, everyone was there, including some of the 2nd and 3rd generation.

The "group" picnic

A beautiful, cool, rainy, summer evening

The Provo River is running full with runoff
and all the rain

Early June also saw the completion of the chicken coop at Millie's. There are now chickens in the coop and as soon as they mature, there most certainly should be eggs. Ain't we got fun?

Steve, Joseph (P712 pastry chef), Colton, Millie, and
Uncle Stephen shortly after we hoisted the roof onto the coop

In case you were unaware, June in Utah has been very wet, cold, and rainy. It must be one of the wettest Junes in a very long time. It is the kind of weather I love as does Katy Kathryn. So everything is copacetic in the weather department.

A photo snapped during a very large thunder storm as
I sat on the porch reading, enjoying the rain

Yesterday, Sunday, the family gathered for Sunday dinner and we celebrated Rob's birthday. You can't put anything over on the children and they noticed there were only 17 candles, which they were sure, was quite short of the accurate number.

Clara won't pass up a chance to blow out candles

Phillip and Rob, post-dinner, discussing applications
for their iPod touches

After dinner when all the parents had left, Katy hosted a fantastic sleepover for all of the binkers who are in the area (Ollie and Meg are in Hawaii, and Finn and Harry are in Arizona). They watched Willow, read stories, laughed, shouted, and slept. We pushed back all the furniture so they could watch movies and sleep on an enormous sea of inflatable mattresses. This morning I made a HUGE batch of pancakes, which they devoured. The morning was spent playing at the park and making s'mores in the microwave. Katy and I just returned from SLC where we dropped the Hastings kids.

They finished the movie at midnight and still
managed eight hours of sleep

The pancakes are almost ready

Voila

The happy sleepover crew - nice work
Auntie Katy

June has been a good month so far, but that's all for now.

OXO

D.

Ander's Birthday and More

Last week was the last day of school at Wasatch School and Emily invited me to the dance program. It was as good as ever and Lizzy was thrilled to see me in the audience. When I caught her eye, she smiled and mouthed, "Pop Pop!" That couldn't help but warm the cockles of my heart. Max made it through the stick dance unharmed and a good time was had by all.

Lizzie reviewing her memory book from
Mrs. Werner's kindergarten class

Max looking pleased to be finished for the year

Holden and Clara posing after Sunday dinner

The chicken coop in Millie's back yard takes shape

Yesterday, 3 June, was Anders' birthday and we met in SLC for a showing of Up at Jordan Landing, dinner at Cafe Rio, and presents and cake and ice cream at the Hastings. The movie was excellent, the dinner was tasty, and the party was great fun. Happy birthday Anders. Everybody loves you.

Disney.Pixar strikes again

Clara and Pop Pop waiting for the show to start

After the movie at Jordan Landing

The Hastings at Cafe Rio

Auntie Katy administers a birthday spanking

I wonder how this will be spent?

Clara was absolutely certain the cake was for her
so, of course, she helped blow out the candles

It has been a fun week, but that's all for now.

OXO

D.

Number Thirty Seven

Thirty-seven years ago today Kris and I were married in the Mesa Temple. Who knew how quickly the time would fly by? Lots has changed, but much feels the same and the rapid passage of years always catches us by surprise. They have been great years filled with many blessings. Greatest of these is a wonderful family that loves each other, often in personal and searching ways; they are clearly unafraid to "break it down."

Here's to many more interesting and happy years.

Happy anniversary to us!

OXO

D.

Arizona Spring 2009

On Monday 18 May, Kris, Winnie, and I set off for Mesa, Arizona to visit Grandmother Boynton. The trip down was beautiful. We encountered rain at Flagstaff and the majority of the time we spent in Mesa was overcast, intermittently rainy, and miraculously cool. The bougainvillea is in bloom all over the Valley of the Sun and is spectacular. We spent time visiting, eating (of course), and shopping. On May 21 we took Grandmother with us to Peoria for Finn's 5th-birthday party (see post below).

Beautiful storm over the San Fransisco Peaks
near Flagstaff, on the way down

Verde Groves: Grandmother's home

The happy greeting

Maren, Finn, and Harry came to Mesa on Tuesday the 19th

We all had supper at Tia Rosa's

The gang at Tia Rosa's Taqueria

On Wednesday the 20th, Trevor came for supper

On Thursday the 21st we had our own Memorial-Day
commemoration at the Mesa Cemetery

That evening we met Maren, Gavin, and the boys at
Westgate for Finn's birthday activity
(see next post)

Winnie and I went walking every morning
and took special notice of the local flora including
the beautiful bougainvillea

Grandmother's home at Verde Groves

The greenway across from her house

Friday we joined the Beck sisters for their
traditional hamburger lunch

Kris, Carol, Raye, and Bonnie at In-N-Out

Shopping at the new San Tan Village in Gilbert

We picked up fixings for supper at this spectacular
new Mexican supermarket in Mesa

Chip and Sandy joined us for Tacos al Carbon

It's always fun to be with grandmother in Mesa.

There are three more posts from Arizona that follow.

OXO

D.