Licorice, Football and Mud

I was working on a deposition the other day and Asher was getting impatient with my inattention to him. Finally, I decided to give him a piece of licorice so I could complete things. This worked like a charm and I continued to work with my focus on the computer screen. When I next turned around this is what I found. No worry about choking, this kid wasn't going to let anything come between him and his first piece of candy. Yeah, we will be hiding all candy until after dinner from now on.



Utah's first home game this year was with Utah State. As much as I love the Utah games, I will be an Aggie until the day I die. And, as the one who gets our son dressed, I chose the apparel for the day. Asher and I both wore blue in our season ticket seats, much to Durrant's chagrin. But, as you can see, we got an adorable little hat to show his Dad's colors. Our little hybrid was the hit of the game, everyone loved him.



This picture has a story with it that will hopefully be a lesson to me for a long time. When we were in So. Utah for Labor Day and my birthday we stopped by the farm to pick some corn. As we traveled from the house to the field where the corn was I didn't want to put Asher back in his car seat. It was only about a hundred yards, and he hates his seat, so I gave in and put him on my lap. After we picked the corn we went to Heidi's house to pick up some papers, and in fear of getting caught I suggested we go the back way through the farm. I didn't think that the road would be wet due to the irrigating of the fields. Poor Durrant was left to try and drive a very muddy road. This was the result.

Fortunately, I have a fantastic brother who is capable of handling my foolishness. A few minutes with a tow rope and we were out. Hopefully, this will be a lasting lesson for me that it is just better to put the kid in the seat. However, I won't promise anything... :)

Fish Lake Trip

Spur of the moment, the Pettey's decided to throw caution to the wind and head down to Fish Lake for the weekend while Katie and Nelson were here. There were a few moments that we weren't sure it would work out - but, in the end, we made it and have some great memories to show for it. Here are some photo's and videos that I thought were fun.

We did the traditional stop in Nephi on the way down and gave Asher his first try on a swing. Typical non-reaction. Amazing. He was more interested in the chain holding the swing than the sensation of going back and forth.


Grampa showing Asher beautiful Fish Lake. Just imagine the things Grampa could share. Can't you just hear him saying "Asher, let me tell you a story..."



Nash and Asher finally had some time in the tub together - it was a riot. Here is video of them playing - so fun!



The next picture is also in the tub. It is so evident by the joy on Asher's face that he is having the time of his life so I had to share it. I can't help it. I have a dang cute kid!


We also put Asher in the Lake for the first time. Initially he really didn't like it - screaming, as if he had been bitten by the Lake Bug. However, Dad played with him a little and he seemed to endure it better the second time.



Three generations at Ray's Roost and Penny Rock. The memories that have been, that are and will be. Life is truly precious.

And, one final photo of all of us with the Lake in the background. Good people. Good place. Good times.

Fun Surprise, and Asher picture/vidoes

My wonderful husband called me yesterday morning saying he received an email from his Dad calling a family meeting. There was concern in his voice as he recalled the last family meeting was when he was about 12 yrs old. We then wondered what could be so important on such short notice. Finally, the hour arrived that we went to the Pettey home. When we all trickled in Bryce started talking about their wills, then I notice Marilyn coming up the stairs behind him. In her hands was our nephew, Nash, who was supposed to be in Connecticut. At first, I couldn't believe my eyes, but there he was, in real life. Then come his parents up the stairs behind him. Katie and Nelson surprised us with a visit! They plan to be here for 3 weeks - all of which will be filled with great times and wonderful memories to last a lifetime. Yeah!!! Bryce - we'll take that kind of a family meeting any time! :)

Anyway, here are some pictures/video's of Asher. He is SO MUCH FUN!!! Funny thing, when I try to take his picture the flash distracts him and he doesn't smile. So, his pictures aren't smiley, but the videos should show his happy personality.

This one was during the 4th of July trip to the cabin. Asher was sitting in the bouncer and whenever my niece Courtney would look at him and say "what?" he would start giggling. It was so funny I had to get it on video. So dang cute!



This was when my brother Dane came out here for guard training and met Asher for the first time. We are pretty proud of Dane right now as he just passed all his test's to become a flight instructor. Wahoo!

This next one almost drew tears to my eyes. Durrant's grandmother is 96 years old, and she is singing to Asher who is watching her with vivid attention. I love it.

No More Excuses

Okay, so we now have a computer at our house and I have downloaded all the adorable photos/videos of Asher. We got the phone line hooked up today, and (hopefully) the UPS man dropped off our modem so we will have the internet tonight (currently at the in-laws using theirs)!!! The light at the end of the technology tunnel is becoming more and more bright.

This means that I have no more excuses for not updating our blog. So, I now commit that I will post at least once a week. I may not have pictures with all the posts, but I promise to keep you informed. (Why you are so interested in our boring life, I will never know. But I will keep my skepticism to myself). :)

Okay - here is my start: Today is Asher's 7 month birthday (mutters "weird" under her breath) as well as his Granpda Pettey's 64th. Pictures to come soon!

The house is getting really close to done (again, you hear muttering "right, is it ever REALLY done???" under her breath). The flooring is done, and we have the base boards in the front room, kitchen and entry. Our bedroom door and the bathroom door still need to be painted (bummer when you paint them the wrong color - curses!!!). Oh, and we still don't have a dishwasher. Or counter. Oh, and no kitchen sink either. BUT - I have a stove, fridge and a table - life is good!!! I do have some before pictures that I intend to post soon, for all of you who aren't here to fully appreciate the transformation.

Summer break is coming to an end for Durrant and the pressures of Semester Opening are fast approaching. Here's to sleepless nights, ornery students, instructors and bosses. Fortunately he has a little boy who adores him and a wife that can't live without him to come home to. (chanting "There's no place like home. There's no place like home.")

As for me, work is still going pretty well. It is literally Christmas in July for me because all the clothes I ordered and have seen pictures of are coming in. I never know what will be waiting for me when I get to work in the morning, and then comes the challenge of finding a home for it on the floor.

I'm also going to start scoping for Heidi. Thanks to Michelle (you rock!!!!) I have the software to edit things and really help her out. However, I haven't officially started yet, so hopefully things will go okay. ;)

That's all for now. The birthday party is starting soon, and there are candles that need to get blown out.

We're In!!!

After owning our home for more than 6 weeks we decided to finally move in. The final straw came when we found out one the cabinets we ordered for the kitchen won't be here until the 30th. I simply wasn't going to wait that long. So, we are there without the floor or the kitchen done. :) Even so, I think it was a good move. I am able to get a lot more done with a bed for Asher, and I am amazed at how much time we spent traveling back and forth. Anyway, we plan to have a house warming party some time soon so check back relatively soon and we will let you know. I think we might be shooting for the end of July, but we'll see. :)

Oh, and by the way, we don't have internet at our house yet, so if you don't see us on FB or things like that for a while that is why. Hopefully we will be all set though, and we will have a computer that doesn't have a broken memory card and you will see all pictures we have been taking! :)

Construction Update

Durrant and I are working hard daily to get things going on the house. I'm usually out there all day Tue/Thur/Fri and on Mon and Wed we both hurry out there after work to get stuff done. Then it is full bore on weekends. However, when there is a kid in the mix things simply don't go very fast. I am very grateful that I don't have a toddler that could trip and fall on the tack-strips everywhere, but I confess that I am lamenting the ease of getting things done without a little one underfoot.

Anyway, currently all the main walls are painted and we are working on the trim and doors, which we hope to get done tomorrow-ish. On to the kitchen! We are hoping to get the kitchen painted and get all the tiling prepwork completed the rest of this week. Tiling will be the project of the day on Saturday/Monday. The next weekend will be focused on putting in the cabinets (thank you Lowe's for the pre-fab's, they will be great!). If any of you locals are bored and would like to help, watch a 5 month old, or want a tour of the house you are welcome to stop by. Odds are we will either be there, or on our way there. :)

At some point we will be picking up then putting in the wood/laminate floor, the appliances, the bed and the furniture. We are tossing around the idea of possibly putting in canned lighting in the front room, but we'll see how much money it we have left over.

Maybe, just maybe, we will be moved in by Christmas!

Painting Party?!?!?!?

Hey All! So, we FINALLY closed on Thursday, we are now home owners! I went to took a bunch of shots of the house so we could show you before and after pictures. We have a LOT of work to do, and will be painting this weekend. If any of you have time, we would love to have your help. We will even bribe you with lunch and/or dinner. I will be doing a lot of the prep work this week (Tue and Thurs during the day) so we will be ready to paint like crazy when you arrive. If you would like to help with that, I would love to have company as I tape up the place! :) Give us a call and we will feed you whenever you come!

For those of you who can't come, photos will come soon! We love you all, and can't wait to have you visit now that we will have a place for you to stay. ;)