Adventures in House Hunting

Jason and I have been looking at our housing options. My two bedroom apartment doesn't seem quite right for us and Mickey and Dahlia- and as of yet I have been unsuccessful in convincing my Dad to sell his house to us for half price. (I'd also take his piano so he wouldn't have to worry about moving it - because I'm nice like that. You can see that this is a deal of a lifetime, for my Dad.)

So instead we've been working with a realtor to look at houses.

My favorite house-hunting moment so far was a house where each bedroom housed an animal of some kind. A cat, an iguana, a lizard etc. I wisely had second thoughts before opening the door to the backyard - and sent Jason out ahead to do some detective work. Good thing too - because his initial inspection revealed five goats. I started shrieking to our realtor, "I will not live in a goat house" and the showing quickly came to an end.

So the search continues...

Also, I recognize that I'm not a parent and have no business criticizing those valiant souls who participate in the noble work of parenting. BUT. Anyone who leaves their pre-teen children home alone knowing that two sets of realtors and various strangers are coming by to walk through their house, is an idiot.

Observation

It would appear that there's something about "look at each other and smile" that Jason refuses to understand.

Photo Dump

Remember how my nieces and nephews are the cutest ever? Here's some more photo proof:

 In Chicago with Grandpa

 Ready for Church.

Good Morning Sunshines!

First Day of School

Tummy Time

Bryce is excited for guitar lessons. But Aunt Traci may be the most excited.

Roasting Starburst around the fire for FHE. 

Lava Hot Springs

A long time ago, like WAAAAAAY back before school started, we took Mickey and Dahlia to Lava Hot Springs for a weekend adventure. We loved the hot springs and the water slides. We also loved camping - and Mickey proved me wrong by actually sleeping all night by himself in his own 2-man tent. (I thought he'd last about 12 minutes.) But mostly we loved floating the river, which we did not once, or twice, but three times. Note: the 4-people tubes were a lot sturdier and less nerve wracking for the kids than the 2-people tubes we tried on our last run. I'd stick with the bigger tubes if we were doing it again.

Another note. Something I've been meaning to research is what in the world the trains are hauling through Lava. Is Lava a hotbed for train travel? Every 20 minutes or so, all through the night (just ask Jason) there are trains passing through the area, horns blaring every single time. Where are they going? And why can't they invest in a flashing traffic arm rather than using their horns all the time? There simply HAS to be a better way.

Anyway... The other great find on this trip was the Lava Museum. You walk by the museum on the main street when you're walking from the hot springs on one end of town to the huge swimming pool on the other side of town. (It's also close to the ice cream/fudge store - so I've seen it a lot.) But I had no idea what wonders would await inside.

First, this pump organ, which the volunteers at the museum are more than happy to let you play if you actually seem to have some knowledge of what a pump organ might be. I got a real kick out of this.

What I couldn't believe was that, in addition to the organ, the museum housed a White House switchboard like the ones my Dad operated when he was in the army back in the day. An organ and a presidential switchboard? What are the odds?

To complete the Thomas Family History Museum Tour, was this display about the nearby Swan Lake community ("community" may be a bit of a stretch given the size of Swan Lake).

But the Thomas Brothers saddle-making business that they mention? And The Thomas Merc? That's totally my Grandpa Thomas's family. So we're pretty much famous. In Swan Lake.

Engagement Pics - Quick Sneak Peak

I'm so behind on blogging. I need to catch up on Lava Hot Springs, The Thomas Family History Museum in Lava, and many other things.

HOWEVER. I'm not going to let that stop me from posting some engagement pictures right this minute.

Tay calls this picture "the Jansport." Apparently, I look like a backpack. 

Thanks, Tay, for ruining one of my favorite engagement pictures.

 

 My hair always looks this amazing, in case you were wondering.

I asked my Dad to pick his favorite picture. He said, "I'm sure whichever picture is your favorite is my favorite too." He's such a smart guy.

It's Great To Be Eight

My favorite part of Dahlia's baptism day was definitely this conversation with Jason, which begins at his house in West Jordan.

Me: Do you have your change of clothes?
Jason: Yep.
Me: A towel? Just in case?
Jason: No, let me grab one.

Fast forward about 55 minutes as we're pulling into Mapleton.

Jason: Oh no. I forgot an extra white shirt and... some other things.
Me: [laughing] What did you think I meant when I asked if you had a change of clothes?
Jason: White pants?
Me: And a shirt and underwear.

Thank goodness for the Mapleton Walmart. Made it in plenty of time for the baptism. And it was a beautiful day.

Mount Rainier

Well, if you don't like beautiful mountain scenery, this is not the post for you. Last weekend I had an incredible opportunity to visit Mount Rainier. In all my trips to Washington, I don't know that I have ever been to Mount Rainier National Park. And I was missing out.

Felt obligated to take this patriotic shot.  

 One of my favorite "scenic stops" was this amazing waterfall.

 With my Aunt Jilene and Aunt Patsy.

 Selfie time.

 Sigh. Does this make anyone else want to watch the Snow White and the Seven Dwarves that was filmed in the 80's by a Seattle regional theater? Golden Chains? Anyone?

Maybe my favorite picture of the weekend - Patsy and Hal in the visitors center at Paradise. It really is called paradise, and I really can't argue with that. On the drive back, we visited Uncle Hal's childhood home in Enumclaw. It was a day very well spent.