March Events

March is that tempting month when one day you feel some warmth and the next day it is cold. The first of the month started out that way. By the time of the middle of the month came around it was our anniversary and Connors birthday. He is now three years old and is so cute to watch him react to so many different things. Shannon made a pirate cake for him. Cindy used to do specialty designs for the kids birthdays and it is good to see that carried on.

While waiting for everyone to show up for his party he played with a balloon that still held the helium since valentines day. Once everyone was there he opened presents. The one he has really taken hold of is his push bike. He is riding it all over the place.

March also is the beginning of youth soccer and we went to Payton's first game. The are so fun to watch because the kids just float around.

March was also the month of creating Cindy's pantry. For years it was a long narrow access to get things that were on shelves that had seen better days. When we remodeled the kitchen we put in an extra door so the walk would not be so long to get things. Then we decided to make it its own room where all the items for the kitchen would be visible and easy to access. After a few weeks of long hours at night it was finally completed. I had meant to start this before the wreck so it would have been done before Christmas but better late than never.

Presidents Day outing

We decided to go for a family outing to Midway to the last day of the Ice Castles. We had heard about it but decided we ought to see for ourselves what this was all about, especially after the movie Frozen came out and was such a big hit. We took Mom and Dad with us. We arrived at 4 just when it opened. There was a good crowd there for the opening. The weather had been warm and some of the detail of the ice had melted but it still had us amazed.

The ice in many areas took on that glacier blue color. There were interesting formations and openings to the sky.

There were mazes and even an ice slide that the Rich family went through. Payton liked it so much she went twice. It was a little bit harder for her parents to do it again though.

 While they went down the slide we stood in line to meet the Frozen characters. When Payton got to us we were near the front of the line so she could enjoy meeting the newest princesses.

We even came to a place where I lost my head.

There were some good areas for some poses. Don't they look cool?

 Is someone not having fun?

We then decided to go get dinner in Heber and would come back after the sun had set to see the ice under the lights. When we came back it was sooo crowded. I have never seen so long a lines in such a small town. Luckily our hands were stamped so we could get back in without a wait.

It was a very enjoyable activity and good to have mom and dad with us.

Valentines week

A couple of things went on during the week leading up to Valentines Day. The first thing was the completion of a sign I had designed along the river parkway and Grant Avenue. I had the idea that as Grant Avenue is redesigned to be a bike parkway as well as a traffic road that there ought to be something to make a statement so I designed a sign. I took the idea to a sign company who then worked out the details and made the sign. We did a trial run of the lights this week and I feel pretty good with the way it worked out so I had to boast a little bit about it.

Of course on Valentines day I had to give my sweetheart the traditional flower arrangement . This time I think the flowers were extra pretty. I took them to her school during lunch time and had lunch with her. Shannon and the kids were also there with Cindy.

I  told Cindy that I would pick her up from school  and we would go an eat early at our favorite fish place, McGraths. I picked her up at 4 but when we got there it was closed, they went out of business. Then we had to find something else. We ended up at Texas Roadhouse in Layton. Had we known we could have stayed in Ogden. While we had just gotten our meal we got a phone call from Maddie. She said she had just gotten home and when she went inside the house she saw someone had kicked in the door again and robbed us. We did not finish our meal and came right home to see what had happened. This time the deadbolt held but the frame at the hinges shattered and the door went flying and put some dents into the wall as well. It was not a very good ending to what was suppose to be a good day. I wished I knew why people like to kick our door in. 2 years and 28 days from the last time.

Celebrating Birthdays

With Mom and Dad's birthdays so close together it seems we have developed an annual routine to get together. This time it was on February 8 which was also Gaven's birthday. We met at Ben Lomand Lanes for a couple of games of bowling.

Connor has developed his own style of bowling by standing at the line and swinging his arms and then squatting down as he watches the ball roll.

Of course it is not like grandpa's hop as he throws the ball.

We did comment on everyone's own way to throw the ball and some even made fun of Mom. How dare they!

The second set of games proved much better for some of us. Nic and Shannon set the standard with their last games.

After the games we went over to Ogden Pizzeria. It was a good afternoon being all together. 

Hardware Ranch

Cindy and I had Martin Luther Kings Day off so we decided to take those who could to Hardware Ranch. Shannon, Connor and Payton and Mom and Dad could go so off we went. The day was very nice. It has not snowed for a while. Even though it was cold in the valleys with the temperature inversion, Hardware Ranch was really pleasant for the middle of January. We had to wait in line for a while but it was so pleasant that was not a problem.















The line moved to a point and we thought we would get on but they stopped us because we had too many in the group. It turned to our advantage though because we were the first ones to get on the next ride. The ticket taker asked Payton if she wanted to ride up front with the driver. Of course she said yes to that so Shannon and Payton rode up front. Connor clung to Cindy because he did not want to be up front which worked fine.

Off we went. There are not as many elk this year because most of the snow is already gone up in the mountains even though it is still frozen solid in the valleys. There still were some elk though.

It was a nice ride and a good way to spend the holiday afternoon.

New Years Eve

After a very interesting December with the cold, and the wreck plus trying to do all the Christmas traditions. It was even different. We had been searching for a car to replace the lost Cruiser among all the other things and came across a good deal in West Valley. We went down Monday night to look at it and then the next day on New Year's Eve we purchased it and brought it home. The two and a half hour miracle that afternoon to get the car was interesting but now Maddie has her RAV 4 and the dogs can travel in comfort.

We arrived home just in time to host the party with some of the family. There was food and games and of course at midnight, noise and fireworks. It was a good time for everyone.