Drizzly Excursion to the Zoo

For our last summer hurrah we visited our quaint little local zoo.  It sprinkled off and on but the cooler temperature made for active animals.  We were able to see all of them really good except the tiger, she wouldn't budge from her shelter.

We spotted the elusive Mexican Wolf laying beneath a bush!

Snapshots

Sitting in the window enjoying a fresh afternoon rain.

Bracken scaled this tree all by himself and he was so proud!

Bracken has a knack for collecting and creating.  He loves to play with our magnetix set and on this particular day he filled his pocket with the metal balls and then was super excited to find that the magnets would cling to the balls through his shirt.  He came up to me and said "Mom, look!  Two guns!" 

After a long afternoon of running errands I rewarded the boys with a treat from Sonic.  Nathan and Bracken chose their usual slushies but Marco was adamant about wanting a milk shake.  I didn't even know he knew what a milk shake was!  But he wanted one and he finished every last drop.

Bracken is totally happy with a stack of paper, stickers and crayons.  And if I really want to make his day I give some envelopes to stuff!

Another afternoon enjoying some projects.  Can you see the living room wall in the back corner?  The drywall is up and waiting to be mudded and taped! It took us a month to get to this point but it's progress.  Now to work on framing and dry walling the closet area.

Stake Pioneer Day Celebration

Our stake gathered at a park in Chino Valley for  little Pioneer Day fun.  We listened to a live folk band, listened to some pioneer stories, had a little parade for the kids, and ate some really good food.  It was hot but we camped out in the shade and had a good time playing and visiting with friends. 

To help cool down we picked up some slushies at Sonic to sip on the way home.  Little Marco didn't last long before he was zonked out.

Our BIG Adventure Begins

July 2014

Our single most important goal for this summer was to finally begin Project Third Bedroom.  When we purchased our home Nathan was 1 1/2 years old and we had just come from living in my parents basement and before that a tiny 1 bedroom apartment in Flagstaff.  So our 2 bedroom 1400 sq/ft house felt huge!  Over the last 6 years our family has grown in number and size and sometimes the walls feel like they are closing in.   

We took the matter into our own hands this summer after several months of planning and picking the brains of every person we know with more construction based experience and knowledge than us.  We also watched a LOT of YouTube videos!

First step, cutting back the carpet to begin putting up the frame for the new wall.  It was fun and scary at the same time.  Once we did it there was no turning back.  In fact Curtis did most of it late one night while I was sleeping.  I woke up one morning to find our living room disheveled, my carpet sliced in two, and a completely installed base plate board.  I new right then I had to sink or swim!  I spent the day trying to make sense of chaos, pack away unnecessary items and move out every piece of furniture that wasn't essential.  It took me a few weeks to slowly clear off our kitchen table, which had become the catch all place for our belongings in transition, while I found new homes for everything not boxed up.

Step two, cut out and remove the drywall and framing in the hall closet area.  This is when the real mess began.  Anything dealing with drywall is a messy business.  Curtis and the boys cut, hacked, sawed and ripped to their hearts content.  We had to gut the hall linen and coat closets to modify it for a bedroom door.  Luckily Curtis designed it in such a way we can still have a linen closet but I had to say goodbye to the coat closet.

We had to keep a really close eye on Bracken and an even closer eye on Marco with the various cutting and power tools we had to keep around.  Marco was obsessed with "Papi's drywall" and on more than one occasion I found him hiding in the "drywall" (that's what he calls the new room) trying to cut the walls with whatever tool or nail clippers/file that he could get his hands on.  Luckily he only created minor damage that was easily covered up and hidden later down the line.  Little stinker!

I thought I'd never see the day when Curtis hauled our trash bin into the house, but we have experienced many firsts with this project.  However, this was NOT repeated again during the process.

When your trash bin lives outside you don't really notice the aroma that naturally lingers around it but when you bring it into your living room the stench is undeniable.  Nathan appointed himself as the official fragrance sprayer and he kept things bearable.

Thankfully Curtis decided that hauling a very heavy trash bin in and out of the house wasn't enjoyable so he kept the trash bin on the front porch and employed the boys in hauling the remodeling waste out the front door.

Life after our first big step into our home remodel hasn't always been easy, in fact for me it has been very challenging.  I don't deal well in choas but I've had to find ways to manage.  I keep telling myself it will all be worth it in the end.  I like things clean and tidy and I have struggled with keeping the dust and debri at bay.  Thankfully we have a great vacuum and shop vac that have been seeing lots of action.  I also have wiping down our kitchen, dining room and living room down to a science.  

Unfortunately, we did not complete this project before school began and Curtis had to return to full time work.  The next steps and progress with be very slow.  

Let the good times roll!

Bluth Reunion

Gayle and Ora Bluth Family Reunion

Sacramento Mountain Retreat

Cloudcroft, New Mexico

July 2014

Tomalada - Yummy!

Since our last reunion 2 years ago our family has lost a few dear people, Grandpa Bluth and Uncle Andre.  We missed them and felt their absence but it was reassuring and comforting to gather together, see how each family has grown, visit and reminisce, and strengthen one another.

Our sweet Grandma Bluth, shared her words of wisdom and advice along with many wonderful memories and stories.

As always we enjoyed plenty of outdoor fun and recreation.  Curtis and I organized a field day event and I think it turned out well.  We played all the usual games, races and relays and each participant was able to win trophies, medals and trinkets.  We encouraged all ages to participate and we even had a few races were dads, mom, grandmas and grandpas races with and against the kids.  We all had a blast!

It wouldn't be a Bluth reunion without the constant traffic of plasma cars and scooters.  It keeps the kids occupied and uses up all their energy so they sleep great at night but you take your life in your hands walking up or down the side walk.  Little Marco had a difficult time snatching a turn on the plasma cars with a long line of older, much quicker kids waiting around.  So Papi perfected the art of sitting and riding on his ripstick and Marco loved it!

Play hard, sleep hard!

Great-Grandma Bluth & Great-Grand Kids

On our way home we had our traditional pit stop at Caliche's with my family to enjoy Mango Dangos (vanilla custard with mangos and slated pecans) before we all hit the road and went our separate ways.  Till next time!