Improving our deck....again!

So, for those of you who kept up with us over the summer, you know we refinished our deck. Colby spend a good part of the summer sanding and staining it. Well, we love it! However, we only get shade in the morning, and who entertains that early in the day? So...we have decided to build a pergola over it.

(Hopefully, it will end looking something like this.)

That was we get some shade, and some sun. It's gonna look fantabulous! Work started this week. We got the wood delivered on Monday, and the Contractor and Colby started work on Tuesday. It's progressing slowly, but the hardest part is already over....or so Colby says. Here are some pics:

The wood delivered by Home Depot Monday morning, the little boys enjoyed watching them use the forklift to put it on our driveway. Okay, Colby and I had fun watching too

The post holes are dug and ready to pour the concrete. This took them four hours, and it starting raining and hailing right at the end. They ran into some hard clay and had to start doing it by hand in the rain at 8 at night. Luckily it wasn't our sprinkler line that they ran into, which Colby was afraid of.

The concrete is poured and now we are waiting for it to cure.

Show and Teach.

Braxton had to do a "Show and Teach" yesterday. Show the class something he could do and then teach them how to do it. He was choosing from teaching them how to build Lego people, or how to draw Frankenstein. He chose the latter. It was supposed to be 5 minute presentation, but he made sure all the details were on the drawing and took a whopping 20 minutes. Later last night, his friend Kelly's mom told me that Kelly said all the girls loved Braxton's show and teach the best. How cute! He was so fun to watch talk to the class, use the Smart board (what they have in place of a white board, or chalk board now) and hold the bolo-tie looking microphone up to his mouth to project his timid voice to the rest of the class. The amazing technology they have in schools these days, sheesh! Guess those box tops and PTA fundraisers are definitely paying off. A smart board was like a touch computer screen on the whiteboard, I was amazed by it. At the close of the presentation, he told them that now he was going to walk by and look at everyone's, then they had permission to color them. He was cracking me, along with the other mom, up so bad......I loved watching him take control. Love ya B!

Feeling frisky?

Hey all my daring friends and family out there. I am having a "Slumber Party" on Wednesday, May 27th at 7pm. It WILL NOT be too raunchy. If you would like to be put on the official email invitation list, and have not already talked to me or emailed me, let me know. I didn't want to offend anyone. Feel free to bring your friends, sisters, sister-in-laws, or anyone else you think would be interested. Just let me know. The invitations will go out in a week or two, and a reminder email will be sent 3 days before the party. It's gonna be fun.

Delayed Easter Egg Hunt

Colby's family decided to delay their annual Easter Egg Hunt until we were home from vacation and the weather was better. "Grumpa" Koch prepared 55 eggs, and Uncle Ty hid them in the backyard/pasture. The kids all had a blast finding them, Tristan and "Xanna"(what Colby's mom likes to be called instead of Grandma) hunted for his first Easter eggs. He and Xavier collected the most. Braxton and Gabe had short bursts of sulking because of this. Besides eggs, Grumpa had hit a large container of bubbles for each boy, they had fun trying them out from the barn loft afterwards. The weather was awesome, Colby and I couldn't get enough of the rays. Colby's parents also provided an awesome lunch and cheesecake for dessert. What a great way to end a Sunday afternoon.

My jobs.

I also saw this on my cousin's blog, and I loved the idea. It made me reminisce so much, sorry if I got a little carried away with rambling. But, then again, no one is making you continue to read it.

Mrs. Cavanaugh's Chocolates - Ogden, UT (cart in Newgate Mall)
A few months in 1997 and 1998, 17 yrs old

This was a good job. Me and a couple friends were asked by Mrs. Cavanaugh's daughter, if we were in need of jobs because she needed workers for this chocolate cart in the mall. We jumped at the chance and took turns working different shifts after school. The only bad part was that we worked alone, and so there was no one to visit with, and no one to watch the cart if you needed to eat or use the restroom.

Blockbuster Video - North Ogden, UT
Opening day - August 2000, 18-20 yrs old

I started as a CSR (Customer Service Representative) and the next year was made a Manager. I loved managing. I am really good at delegating and being bossy, ask my younger sister. But seriously, I made so many friends with my co-workers. I learned that I am a good worker, and people really enjoyed closing the store with me. I also found out how OCD I am when it comes to organization and following a checklist (opening and closing checklists). All my bills in my till needed to be facing the same direction, and face up. Counters always needed to be clean and movies constantly put away. Slackers did not like to close with me, because I wouldn't let them check things off the list, unless they were done and to my satisfaction (Colby hates this about me, I'm sure). Now when I visit that store it drives me crazy how changed everything is, and that it is so unorganized and cluttered.

Bugle Boy - Moorpark, CA
2 days in Sep 2000- 20 yrs old

Okay, now this wasn't my fault. I went in for a data entry interview, and somehow got hired as an assistant buyer. This is what I think happened. They got really confused with all the interviewers and just hired me to fill a spot really quick. I don't know, but the lady training me was speaking a completely different language (fashion and buying language), and I just kept nodding and saying,"O......kay." I was so not trained for that job, you need to go to school and major in this or something. Both things I haven't done.

MESP (Michael Epstein Sports Productions)- Agoura Hills, CA
Sep-Nov 2000 - 20 yrs old

I was hired on as a temp for their busy season, and stayed on as it started to slow. I learned to drive California freeways with no fear and go places unknown alone to pick up maps and other supplies they needed for triathlons and such. Colby and I got to camp on a ledge in the Santa Monica mountains in Malibu to help with a 24 hour race. It was terrifying with the Santa Ana winds, but a beautiful view to wake up to. My boss ended up letting me go, when they slowed down in the winter, but I would have loved to stay with this job.

CCDG (California Civil Design Group) - Westlake Village, CA
Dec-Jan 2001 - 20-21 years old

Another case of me being hired for a job I was SOOOO not qualified for. I interviewed for a secretary position, and as she described the job details, I kept thinking this is so over my head, but then somehow she asked where I was from and then asked if I was mormon. She raved about a law office downstairs from her, and how much she loved them and how nice they all were. Then she hired me......only because I was mormon. Weird! I tried to stick with the job as long as I could. But, again, you so needed to get college training for what she expected of me. Also, my standards did not coordinate with hers. She was constantly telling me to lie to her customers and she had the WORST language I had ever worked with, especially from a professional woman such as herself. My favorite memories are hanging out with her ginormous dog that she brought in the office everyday and left with me while she drove all over the county doing civil engineer stuff.

Tim Cooley's General Pest Control - Thousand Oaks & Newbury Park, CA (We moved offices.)
March 2001-June 2004 - 21-24 yrs old

I actually heard about this job opening from my visiting teacher. Her husband worked here and knew they needed another secretary. Also, the boss was a bishop in our current stake. Phew! A good indicator that the language wouldn't be so bad, and they wouldn't ask me to lie on the phone. I did get the job, and was trained by my good friend April. I had so many good experiences with this job. Most of the technicians were young men getting ready to go on missions, or just returning and needing jobs. It was a great atmosphere. I loved working with all of those guys, and April the only other girl. She and I became such close friends. And together, we made some good friends with the guys there as well. I did get to talk to some celebrities on the phone, and I met Will Smith's son that was in Pursuit of Happyness with him, right after I was hired there. He came in with his nanny to visit. His nanny was my boss's step mom. I talked on the phone with Teri Hatcher, Dana Delaney, and Heather Locklear's sweet mom. I received an autograph from an older actor on one of our guys' routes. I now he always played a bad guy in older westerns, but cannot find his signed picture, and cannot remember his name. I got pretty good at handling the pest control (bugs) part of the job, and managing the different technicians routes, but I always hated dealing with termites or rodents. April and I had good times watching the different people walk past our office window to the shop next door. I miss our sweet "fruit guy" that would come sell us fresh produce every Friday. Luckily, I still keep in touch with friends made through this great opportunity. I was pregnant with Braxton, and even brought him to work for 3 months, before he went to daycare. I eventually decided with Colby, that it would be better to stay home with Braxton after her came home with cuss words from our second daycare situation.

Mom - Simi Valley, CA to North Ogden, UT
21 - 29 yrs old

Hardest job I have EVER done. I learn that I am not patient, and my OCD drives everyone crazy. Having a disorderly house drives me crazy, but it never gets clean, especially when you now have 3 kids and your husband works at home. You don't ever get time off, vacation, sick days. You don't get paid for your hours, or overtime. And, it is not 9am-5pm. It is 24-7, 365 days a year. It is exhausting, exciting, heartbreaking when your kids hurt, and so much pride when they learn things. Frustrating when they fight with each other or me. I have never felt so many emotions in one 24-hour period. I love my kids and family, but I am still adjusting to staying at home instead of working, and I am still adjusting to having 2 kids, when I have 3. I wouldn't trade this job for a job with no children; though at times I wish I could go to work and come home at 6 and be done with my job so I can relax. Someday, I will get the hang of it. I watch so many other mothers in my life that look like they have the hang of it. They are calm and patient with their little ones, and their homes always look immaculate. I always wonder, "How do you do that?".

4th Picture Tag

Okay, so my cousin Stacie tagged me with this a couple months ago. But...I just barely got caught up on her posts, so I didn't know I had been tagged. I'm such a slacker. So here you go.

This is Colby and I together at Universal Studios, Hollywood the fall after we were married. We were hitting the park with my sister Tyra and her hubby Rob, they were visiting Cali at the time. I looked so washed out, needed more makeup. But Colby is so dependable with the backwards hat. We have this picture framed and sitting on a shelf in our basement stairway. Good times, good times!

Our Bay Area Trip.

Sorry it took me so long to post about our recent trip. Finally, here it is. Beware, it may be long, and there are lots of pictures.

April 8th: Woke up at 4:30am to finish getting everything ready and waited for my sister and her Suburban to arrive. Five o'clock we load the truck, arrange car seats and Colby groggily brings our sleeping kids to the car. We are off to begin the long, long, drive to our hotel in Oakland, CA. The weather throughout the entire state of Nevada was horrendous. Heavy winds and snowstorm made us take our time. Lots of movies, sleepy cranky kids and fast food on the way. I will have to say that my favorite part of that drive was Lake Tahoe area. It was gorgeous! I can't even remember what time it was when we finally arrived in Oakland, it was probably after 11pm, but both drivers were exhausted and a bit delirious. We did stop in Roseville on the way to kill rush hour time through Sacramento and visit an old friend of my sister's. The kids were in heaven playing with the friend's young'uns and their toys.

April 9th: We found a Carrow's near the Oakland airport that were willing to seat and feed our party of 8. We ended up eating breakfast there 4 of 6 days of our trip. Next it was off to find the Bay Bridge

and cross over to San Francisco, so we could start sight-seeing throughout city. The kids and I thought it was great driving through a tunnel in an island. We ended up at the Golden Gate Bridge after driving around San Fran for awhile. Next we had lunch at In-N-Out Burger, and walked Fisherman's Wharf. We ended up at Pier 39 watching the Sea Lions and riding the double-decker carousel. The kids had a good time riding up an escalator over and over, you would think they'd never been on one before. After a few more photo opts around Pier 39, we walked back to Ghiradelli square where we had parked, hitting Cold Stone Creamery for a treat on the way. It was a long first day!

April 10th: The weather was much more pleasant today. Although, still a bit breezy, but that's what you get next to the ocean. We decided to take the kids to the Exploratorium, I think we spent about 4 hours there. We didn't even get half way done walking through the ginormous building. There was just way too much to do. We all had such a blast trying out the different science/physics experiments. Outside, we had a snack picnic in front of the Palace of the Fine Arts. What a great view! They kids had fun having stroller races taking turns who sat in the 2 strollers. We drove around town enjoying the architecture, viewing Coit Tower, and finding the crooked part of Lombard Street. Then we stood in line to ride a Cable Car. The driver took such a fancy to Gabe, he talked to him the whole ride from Ghiradelli Square to downtown, then had him ring the bell like crazy when everyone was off the car. On the walk back to the car, we watched a guy swallowing swords and eating fire.

April 11th: We usually ate a little late for Breakfast each morning, so Tristan was always starving, and he definitely let us know it. Here he is scarfing down his daily dose of pancakes. We got in our Sunday best to attend the Temple Sealing of our cousins. The kids were watched by some sweet Young Women of our cousins ward at a huge stake center on the Temple grounds. Tyra and I attended the sealing with our mom and dad, and aunts and uncles. It was long, but very special to see this family of 5 sealed for time and all eternity. (Uncle Garth, his son Chase and daughter-in-law Jill Burt. Their children: Zenoch, Quinn and Lily Burt)

They had a long journey to get here. We hung out on the grounds for awhile chatting, (Tyra, Dad and Me)

(Tyra, Mom and Me)

taking pictures and watching all the fun wedding parties filter throughout the grounds. The temple had a staircase outside that you could go up and enjoy the crazy view of the bay area. Gorgeous! Of course the temple grounds were just as amazing. By the way, the drive from the freeway to the temple was terrifying. Someone had told our group to go strait there and not stop to get out of the car until we were on the dedicated grounds of the temple.

(Tristan zoning out, on the way to food, listening to my iPod.)

We cara-vanned over to a Home Town Buffet for more food and run with our large group. Then we separated from the others and headed back to our hotel for some swimming. The wind was blowing and most of the pool area was in the shade, so it WAS freezing! But the kids still swam between bouts of running to the sun to get warm.

April 12th: This was our last full day of fun, tomorrow we would make the long drive back home. Another breakfast at Carrow's, then back to the hotel for an impromptu Easter Hunt, no eggs involved. We then rode the B.A.R.T. (Bay Area Rapid Transit - train) from Oakland to San Francisco. This was Gabe's favorite part of the trip, but he fell asleep before we were done. It goes under the bay, I was amazed at how fast we were moving. We walked around a park with some fun sculptures when we got there. Then walked the Embarcadero again, this time from the opposite side, going from The Ferry Building to Pier 39. We got a great view of the Trans-American Building. For those who have seen Monsters vs. Aliens, it was set in San Francisco area, and in the movie you see several of the buildings and bridges that we got to see. We grabbed some cookies and lunch at Pier 39 before walking back to the Ferry building and the BART. I had to have a sourdough bowl, although I am not a clam chowder fan, so I got it filled with chili instead. Pigeons were feasting on a bowl as well, I thought this was funny. A guy had an iguana on a leash, the kids loved walking over to pet it. Finally cranky Tristan is asleep. Gabe took this picture of me on the way back to Oakland.

April 13th: Tyra and I packed the car the night before so that we could just wake up at 5am and leave. I slept through my alarm, so she had to wake me up, with her kids already waiting for us in the car, sorry Tyra. It had been a long restless night with Tristan tossing and turning in my bed and falling off the bed completely, once again. We finally got out of there around 5:30am. On our drive home, my parents called to say that while they were eating at Carrow's that morning, their rental car had been broken into, and my Uncle Dennis's laptop was stolen. The police refused to come to them, because 4 officers had been killed in that area in the last month. So they drove to the police station to file the report. Scary! We will never stay there again. We were definitely watched over during our vacation. Many prayers were said by us, and now we know why the rooms were so affordable in the area. Here is Tristan after a long screaming bout, he finally fell asleep with Taryn's stuffed sea lion in his hand. We got home at about 11 or 11:30 at night. Exhausted and cranky, we were glad to see Colby again.