Twain Harte: Passing Time

There were a couple days of clear skies so we ventured out. One group went to San Francisco, but Jared and I weren't too anxious for another long car trip, so we opted out of it.
Yes...those are Amish women. Who knew there were Amish in California. I certainly didn't. They had an apple orchard. They had a bakery/cafe/ gift shop. They had massively tall apple pies. That was one of the things you saw warming up on the fireplace in the previous post (we also heated nacho cheese on that thing). We also bought some homemade apple cider from them. Sadly, by the next day it had fermented. Rachel discovered that one.

Blaik and Uncle Jared got some bonding time.

Puzzles were a constant. Melly and Kari even had contests. Notice the essential accessory...the headlamp.

Mom and I worked on the blanket for Hyrum. My dad was in a fabric store with Mandi, my mom and 2 aunts...all picking out the fabric. He said he saw it when he walked in and knew that was it. The women folk were skeptical, but he won. It even has American Flag inspired points. I love it!! Good job, dad!!

Kathi was the official beautician. She did my toenails in a wonderful bubblegum pink. Thanks Taffers.

You may not be able to tell, but Ben and Mandi have oreos on their faces. The point was to get it into your mouth without using your hands. Jared didn't do so well.

Mandi and Kathi wanted to learn the fine art of poker. I love Mandi's face in this one. I think she has seen to much Ocean's 11. All she wanted to do was bet a huge stash of chips. Thus, the reason she didn't last long.

As you can see my man did wonderful. Too bad we couldn't cash in for anything.

This was the most common sight during the trip. The snow was so high on the porch, that us shorties had to stand on chairs to see out. We would watch the snow fall, the plow go by and the men shoveling snow. We were in constant awe of nature.

This sign cracked me up. Pun intended. You may have to click on it, to see it better. We were walking in town and saw this older gentelman trying to shovel his car out of the driveway. Kari offered the menfolk to shovel the snow. There was only one shovel, so the men took turns. The rest of us would stand around critiquing their work. Lots of giggling ensued.

My poor man got sick. When everyone went out to dinner one night we decided to stay in. I bought some microwave dinners. We rented Megamind and just enjoyed the quiet and alone time. Don't you just love the pink blanket. He sure is a secure man.

One night after dinner we sent Kari and Sean down to Sonora, where we could get cellphone reception, to call the babysitters. Our group forgot to get keys to the cabin from Sean. So we had to sit in our cars to stay warm. Jared and I got in our car and went to the local 7-11 (it has been so long since I was in one of those). We got some treats and then waited the rest of the time in our car. So in the end we all waited almost an hour for the key to arrive. We learned from that one.

Twain Harte: Power Out

We had said that no children were going to come to cabin. This was to give the parents a real break. But someone snuck into our midst.

And there he is!! Mr. Blaik couldn't be dropped off at his babysitter, because of all the snow and route change. So he came along for the adventure. And I must say I LOVED having him there. I had not yet formally met him, just seen and talked to him over skype.

Do you notice that little headlamp he is sporting. Does this tell you anything about what happened next at the cabin. That is right...the power went out. Our first morning there the snow damaged the power lines. When we could make it out of the cabin we would see the power trucks out trying desperately to fix the lines, before the next snow storm hit us. We even saw one of the truck being towed out of town.

I forgot the mention that because of a lack of winter tires on cars we all stuffed ourselves in 2 or 3 cars to get anywhere. We hardly used to car we had rented.

It was a bit strange to come home from dinner to a dark cabin with no power. We bought flashlights, headlamps and lanturn and just them to get anywhere during the night.
We kept the curtains closed, so keep the heat in. We had this one fireplace and a propane heater to keep the whole cabin warm, while the power was our for almost 3 days straight. We even tried cooking on it. Yes, in that paper bowl is a peep. We were told that when you heat them up they expand, so we tried it. Yes, they do. Mandi bought those popcorn things you heat over the fire. She and Jared decided to heat it up. It was HILARIOUS!!!! That smoke is coming from a bit of paper that Mandi had left on it. It caught fire. The popcorn get a bit charred, but Mandi ate it anyway. And even better, a great memory was made. Since x-box was out, the men spent some bonding time playing poker...with Rook cards and no money. Mom's request. They got quite competitive and had so much fun. I think Sean won the most. Rachel became our Firewoman. She made it her responsibility to keep that fire going. No one else could do it quite like her and she would fix it when others didn't do it quite right. I had bought these "tights" as a joke for Blaik. Since our houses are much colder here in the winter, the kids wear these to help stay warm. They come in all different styles and colors. Mandi had laughed that I always had Hyrum in them when we would talk on skype. So I got some to bring to here.

On our first morning, I was awake before anyone else and just sitting upstairs in the dark. I heard Blaik awake and talking to himself. So I got him up (I think he was confused by this, but didn't object) and noticed that due to last minutes traveling changes he didn't have on warm enough clothes. I thought this was great way for me to surprise Mandi with his gift. I got him all dressed in his strumpfhosen, as they are called here, and waited for Mandi to wake up. When Mandi noticed what he was wearing she thought it was hilarious and laughed out loud. They actually came in really handy and we all were grateful for them.

Because of the lack of heating this is how we spent a lot of our time, wrapped up in blankets and talking. We all loved that there were no computers, tv's or x-boxs going. It really was a blessing to not have any power. It added to the adventure and gave us more time to just focus on each other. It would not have been the same experience with power...of course this also made calling our babysitter (Rike) bit harder. The cell phone towers were out also. We had to drive down to the next town for reception. It took a couple days to figure out that the phone in the cabin was working.

Twain Harte: Weather

I already told you about the snow changing our traveling plans to the cabin. Here is how the weather treated us during the trip. We were told to expect rain, but no snow at Twain Harte. They never get snow at this time of year.
This is our cabin the morning we got there. I got up really early. Jared and I had our room in the finished basement of the cabin. I was exhausted when we got there and went to bed early, while Jared played x-box with the menfolk. It was freezing in our room (we had to sleep in the loft with Ben and Mandi after that, because it the cold in our room gave Jared a bad cold).

Isn't the cabin beautiful. The snow may have made things a little more inconvienent, but is sure made the whole landscape magical and gorgeous.

This is how the road to our cabin looked a lot the time. We had to wait each day for the snowplow to come through to go out to eat. The first day we sent out a "rescue party" to stock up on supplies for meals and munchies. Jared and I had come prepared for spring weather, so he got us some boots. Luckily we had coats and mittens.

The men spent a whole lot of time shoveling the driveway and cars. I think only the women gained weight, because the men got a work out multiple times a day.

The snow was always falling off the roof. We had to clear a path from the door each day. It even piled up high enough to the windows that we had to clear it away, so the windows wouldn't break. I think during the week that we were there it snowed about 6 feet. It made the whole time that much more of an adventure.

Twain Harte: Long, Long Drive

Our plan for getting to cabin was to leave at about 2am and take I-80 through Nevada and Truckee, California. We all went to bed early to get at least a little sleep. My dad woke us up earlier than planned and told us that a huge snow storm was going through Truckee. So we had to take the southern, much longer route through Vegas.

So we found ourselves leaving earlier than planned and heading out on a 16 hour drive. I slept while Jared drove and vice versa. We did see some beautiful scenery along the way.

As you can see, we got bored on the drive. Jared and I had a bit of friendly "banter" with Melly and Kathi in the other car. It was the highlight of the drive. That and seeing Kathi's head pop out of the window, as she tried to get some fresh air. Poor girl, always gets car sick.

Finally, we made it to Twain Harte. It is the cutest, small town in the Sierra Nevada mountains. It was snowing and so beautiful. I would love to go back someday.

Hyrum's Week

As you can see Hyrum had a great time with his cousins, Becca and Brandon, and with Aunt Rike while we were at the cabin with my family. Thanks Rike for taking such good care of him. Tomorrow I will start the posts about our cabin adventures.

Trip Down Memory Lane

Here we go again. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

I lived in Farmington Ut for 9 years, the longest I have lived so far...by a long shot. In the couple times we have been in Utah together Jared had yet to see all the places that meant so much to me growing up. So we took the afternoon before we left for the cabin and did it. This was probably the part of the trip I have been looking forward to the most. I hadn't seen it all in 10 years either.

We went and saw the homes of my cousins. I didn't really have close friends outside my family until almost before I moved out. My siblings and my cousins became my friends. My one cousin, Katie, is my best friend of all time...other than Jared, of course. So I wanted Jared to see their homes, because I had spent so much time together. I also wanted pictures of them. I was a little nervous that someone would think we were creeps, because we were taking pictures of their houses.

Next stop was where I work from age 14 until we moved when I was almost 18. That would be the wonderful Bowmans Grocery Store in Kaysville. I spent so much time there.
I loved that the first thing I smelled when we walked in were all the doughnuts. They were so good and bought some for all the family that evening. We even got some other treats. It was a little strange to walk around there again and have everything feel so familiar, but no longer be apart of it. Several of the managers still work there. Jared said I should go and talk to them, but none of them would really remember me, other than as Michael's girlfriend (we both worked there). I loved having Jared see these places that were such a part of my life growing up.

After that we headed down main street to Davis High School. I loved seeing all the surroundings again. In a way it was as though I had never left. I got to relive so many memories. My Davis High has since been torn down. I loved that school and was so sad when I heard it. But some of the buildings are still there. Sadly, Jared didn't get to see it as I remember it. But we stood in the parking lot and I described it all to him. I loved going to high school and I was devasted when we moved during my senior year. But now I also have wonderful memories of Provo.

We traveled further down main street to my old neighborhood. I got to see Cherry Hill again...so many memories. We stopped by my old church. If we had been there on a Sunday I wanted to go to my old ward, but we were traveling both Sundays. We drove around my old stake and saw the houses and parks that were significant to me. I shared some stories.

Finally, we made it to my old house. Our wonderful neighbor, Brenda, was out in her yard working. I got to talk to her about all our old neighbors and she took me into my old backyard. We missed seeing Natalie. Sorry, we were a day too early. I was sad. I grew up in that house and have so many wonderful memories. I love that Jared now has a mental image to go to whenever I tell him stories...which I do often.

We had all put our prints in some fresh cement. Here I am seeing if my hand had grown any.

Brenda and me in front of my house. It hasn't changed much, but the backyard sure has. Thanks so much Brenda for showing me around. Can't wait to see you again sometime.

Next we traveled past my old elementary school towards the the most significant place of all my childhood.

My grandparents built this home right before I was born and they lived there until right before I turned 18. Many of the significant moments in my life took place here. If ever we get holodecks this is one of the first things I am recreating. I even wanted to have my wedding reception in the backyard. I was crushed when they sold it. We spent so many hours huge wild land behind their house. We called it the canyon. Now it being built up with houses. To me this is a crime, but no one asked me. Jared and I drove through the subdivision and I showed him some of the special places we would play.

Then we got the their house. I had been debating about asking for a tour. I didn't want it to taint my memories. What if it wasn't taken care of. The yard had changed abit, but for the most part was the same. I decided go to the door. When the woman opened the door I got a glimpse inside. I have to admit I got emotional, but soon got over it and asked for a tour. They were so good and took us through the house. It was so wonderful to see and hear how loved and well taken care of the house is. It isn't the same, but still so beautiful and improved in many ways. We got to swap stories and I got so many pictures. Again this gives Jared a mental image of all the places I tell him about.

I am so glad I took the chance to see inside and take pictures. I am going to eventually write children's stories about my adventures there. All of this will help me do that. We even got to walk around the yard.

We wrapped up our trip down memory lane we a quick drive past my junior high. It looked just the same. It amazes me.

Jared was such a good sport during it all and I loved seeing it all again. I can't wait to bore my kids to death showing it all to them someday.

Pause

I have to break up the chronicles of our trip, because the cutest thing happened yesterday. Alicia got her FSME vaccination yesterday, becasue we have such a big problem with ticks where we live.

I tried to prepare her for the shot without scarying her. I reminded her when the dr had poked her arm during past visits and told her it was going to happen again. She wanted to know what the medicine was for. So I told her that about the bugs in the grass and trees that bite and make people really sick and that the medicine will keep her from getting sick if she gets bitten.

This was our conversation on the way home:
Alicia: Mommy, tomorrow I am showing me teacher my band-aid from where the bug bit me.
Mom (laughing): It wasn't a bug. It was a shot.
Alicia: I will she my teacher where the shot bit me.

We got home and I was telling Gma and Bahnka how good Alicia did with her shot. How she didn't cry or even flinch. I was so proud of her. Well, when she saw her daddy she had to tell him that when the dr gave her the shot she didn't cry or "pinch".

Family Moments

Hyrum loves sitting up, but we don't have anything other than a walker to sit him up in. My mom had this one...a pink jeep. He loved it. You can see him even holding the wheel. I love that he is in a pink jeep with his Superman pjs. That's irony for you. After our visit to Temple Square we took the chance to stop by Jared's aunt and uncle, who live in Salt Lake. Marian just love having Hyrum to hold, and of course, he didn't mind either. We had such a good visit with them. Marian is a wonderful artist and she gave us some Book of Mormon paper dolls that she designed and sold in Deseret Book for awhile. I am going to use them in our FHE lessons. She also did a beautiful sketch of Jared's grandparents that we got a copy of. I am so glad they were home and we could see them.

I got this wicker table set when I was a teenage for my procelain dolls. It has sat in storage with my parent for 10 years. I thought that my niece, Becca, would like having it. She wanted her dolls and stuffed animals in the picture. I just wish I had something for Brandon also.

The moment Aunt Rachel saw Hyrum she picked him up, took him to my dad's recliner and they both fell asleep there. He found a true friend.

It didn't take these two long to bond either. He looks absolutely relaxed.

This is one of my favorites. I have never met a baby or child that didn't instantly love Kathi. She is the best Auntie Kay ever.

Temple Square

One of my absolute most favorite places on earth!!!!!

When I was a young girl my Grandpa worked for the church. He worked in the Church Office Building. This was all before 9/11 so there was no security really. We would go visit him with my Grandma, explore with just us kids and go to top to see the grand but rather scary view of the city and valley. I sure wish I could do it again. I even remember once playing on the elevators...going up and down the elevators with my cousin, Katie.

My grandma was also a hostess at Temple Square. Anyway, I spent many special days with just me and my grandma, and the occasional sibling or cousin, at Temple Square. I have watched the landscape expand and evolve, along with the displays and "shows" in the visitors centers. I have always felt a special connection to Temple Square.

I could go on and on, but this is getting abit long. So, my Grandparents called and said they were going to be in Draper and wanted to know if we could do our get together somewhere. Jared and I had wanted to visit Temple Square but weren't sure how to fit it in. I tack this onto one of the "tender mercies of the Lord". I would get the extra time with my grandparents that I so wanted and would be able to do it in a setting that meant so much to me and my memories of them.

So we packed ourselves, Hyrum and Rike in the car once again. We loved that Rike was able to go and we could have special time with her too. Plus, it gave Hyrum a chance to bond with her. Now I have some memories with her in Temple Square.,

Look, pictures of me. That doesn't happen often. Enjoy. You may not recognize it, but this is the South Visitor Center. To the right of us is a 3D scale model of the Salt Lake Temple. You can see the rooms inside. It is all perfectly recreated. I read about it on the internet and knew I wanted to see it. If you all get a chance you have to see it too. My grandpa told me about a time all the priesthood were called together for a solemn assembly in the upper room of the temple. The model even shows you the First Presidency and the Twelve meet each week. Next I wanted to see the Church Office Building. You can't go any further than the lobby anymore, but I remember standing by the humongous picture of Christ and the apostles that has hung in the lobby forever. My grandma would point out Christ's foot and tell me to walk back and forth. I would see the foot following me whereever I would go. So I want to see it again. And get a picture of us in front of it. Thank you Rike for taking the picture. When we walked out of the Church Office Building the wind was so strong and I remembered how it always is like that. I love that some things never change. We didn't want to stay all day, because my gma was having problems with her hip, and we didn't want her to over due it. When I was a little girl on my special dates with Gma we would eat a the Lion House. But Gma said the food isn't as good anymore, so we ate at another place they had heard about. It is called the Nauvoo Cafe and is in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building right behind the huge statue of Joseph Smith. The food was great and it is a new memory. (As you can probably tell I am uber sentimental. Sorry. Actually, I am not sorry. I love it!) We sent Gma and Gpa off on their way home and headed to Deseret Book. Used to work in the one in Provo and it is the best place to work. Can it get any better than to work in place filled with the Spirit all the time? I think not! Anyway, we didn't stay long, because Hyrum got hungry and threw a royal fit. (He did it again on another visit to Deseret Book.)

It was such a fun day and probably on of my favorites. Well, they all are, but it was special.

Utah: Day 1

And so begins the many posts to chronicle our trip. You all will be bored to tears, but at least I will have it all recorded. So bear with me.

Jared and I packed the night before, waved good-bye to Katie, dropped Anne and Alicia off at pre-school, and went to the airport. We flew out on Mar. 14 into Las Vegas. It was cheaper than SLC and since we needed to go to St. George anyway, we thought it was a good choice. Hyrum was wonderful on the flight. I had envisioned such horrible possibilities when traveling with a baby. Constant screaming, delays or cancelations and such. Luckily none of that happened.

We arrived in Vegas tired, but on schedule. Jared's aunt and uncle were so wonderful and let us stay with them. We got in pretty late, but Ellen and Alonso were still awake.

Both Ellen and Alonso loved Hyrum and he loved the attention. We threw ourselves in bed and slept. Because of jet-lag we woke up early and headed out to St. George. We are pathetic, becasue we forgot to factor in the time change into Utah, so got there even later than planned.

But we got the see my grandparents anyway. They loved Hyrum. They held and played with him. Gpa was especially cute with him. And Gpa gave us a tour of some changes he has made on their house. Then they took us out to lunch at Bajio. I had been waiting for literally years to eat there again, and guess what. I got sick. My stomach was feeling off that morning, but was doing better by lunch. Well, lunch set it off and kept it going until the next morning. I groaned at every billboard with food on it. I loved having the time with my grandparents and listening to their stories.

Our next stop was by the temple, to Jared's gma. She was so excited about Hyrum and we had a great time talking to her. She is amazing! She spends all her days doing geneology and the temple work for ancestors. She gets more done than anyone I know. And she loves her family so much. Our girls love talking on the phone with her. While we were there we called our girls and found out that all of them were sick. I guess I brought it to America with me. I felt bad.

After visiting Gma we headed up to Provo to see my other grandparents. It was so fun to see Utah County and Provo again.

Gma and Gpa had waited dinner for us. I sat and enjoyed the conversation and didn't try food on stomach. We had planned on staying the night there and then heading up to my parents' house the next morning, but decided to go up and surprise them. But we arranged for us to get together again with Gma and Gpa on another day. I loved being in their house again and talking with them.

When we got to my parents' home we set Hyrum on the doorstep, rang the doorbell and hid...with camera in hand. I expected one of my parents to answer the door, but Rike beat them to it. She was a bit confused but quickly figured out who it was.

As you can see Rike was so happy to see her brother. I think she missed him.

I was so good to be with my family again. I sure do miss them. It was my first time seeing their house in person, but we talk on skype so often that it just felt so familiar and like home. Everyone held Hyrum and we sat around and talked. That poor boy had a new face smiling at him each time he woke up for the first couple days of our trip.