Two Projects - Done!!

We have two projects done now, so you would think we'd be celebrating, but for some reason, now it just feels like we've only put a teeny dent in our long list of projects for the summer...grrr. Okay, I'm trying to look at the bright side - atleast we have projects to keep us busy so we're not bored :)


John completed the closet in our bedroom complete with double the storage! Now he plans to move onto the bathroom, and we will get to share the main bathroom with the girls for the duration. Defintely NOT a pleasant prospect as they aren't very neat in the bathroom. My OCD will probably make sure I clean the sink, counter, and mirror every morning before I take a shower.

John also got all of the grass put in the backyard, thanks in large part to plenty of help from his dad, brother Justin, and two of our friends and their kids :) The older kids were actually quite helpful John said as they helped load up the wagon, and helped unroll grass in the back. I'm told it was quite the process and they had it completed in only a few hours. I of course was no where to be seen that day as I had a ladies weekend down in Salt Lake City with some of my gal friends.

I completely spaced it and forgot to take pictures, so you'll get my lovely description instead. We ate dinner at P.F. Changs Friday night, then headed back to the Red Lion Hotel for a movie, treats (lots of them), and beading our necklaces. We all slept well and got up on Saturday to a fun-filled day at Gateway brousing stores and finding good deals. We all came away with a pair of Gap jeans for $10!!! What a steal!! Too bad I have to wait 4 more months or so before I can wear mine (probably more actually until I get my pre-baby body back).

Babysitting a Teenager Hawk

John is babysitting a teenager sized hawk this week for a friend - more specifically known as a Goshawk. Since his friend is trying to imprint the bird (get it accustomed to humans), it needs to be kept in doors and we need to socialize with her regularly. Of course this isn't a problem for Natalie, who loves to pet her and tries to feed the bird her food. Not good for baby hawks, who prefer food of the animal variety.

Thankfully our babysittee is very quiet and we enjoy having the unusual company.

You may notice the tarps and tablecloths surrounding the falcon. This is because she can aim her poop 3 feet in any direction. And because she is loosing her baby feathers - the soft white down like stuff, fluff is everywhere in the living room :)

A Few Tidbits...and I do mean tidbits

Nothing like a blog posting full of nibbles of information...

We had a wonderful 4th of July weekend. It started on Friday night when we got to sneak away to the neighbor's to cook smores at midnight. Saturday was filled with the parade, BBQ with friends, fireworks, then the city fireworks show and finally crashing into bed late.

I did however accomplish something new on Saturday. I used a weed eater for the first time. No one told me that your hand would vibrate so badly! My hand was literally shaking for a good 15 minutes after I was finished :)

On Monday the girls started swimming lessons, something I have been doing with the girls since they were 4 years old. I am an avid believer that everyone needs to learn how to swim since it is a life saving skill. My kids are quickly becoming little fish (or rather big fish in Kimberly's case). Too bad Natalie has to wait until next year to start up her lessons. She was a bit perturbed when we showed up to the pool and her two older sisters got to hop in, but not her. I spent the next 10 minutes convincing her to stop trying to take off her sandals and shirt. Today she tried a different approach and just ran straight for the kiddie pool, getting several steps in before I caught up to her. She got to sit in wet shorts for the 45 minute lesson, hehe.

Yesterday we had zilcho food in the cupboard, and I had no desire to go grocery shopping until later in the day, so we all had to be a bit creative for lunch. Kimberly decided to bake some muffins, Natalie and Alicia had top ramen, and I made homemade pancakes with chocolate chips. I found the yummiest buttermilk pancake recipe on cook.com if you are interested. They were just the right amount of flatness with a slight amount of fluffiness. I hate big thick pancakes, so these were perfect!

Last night John finished prepping the backyard (in 90 degree weather I might add - I'm sure he is still recovering from heat exhaustion) for grass, which I ordered today and should be installed on Saturday if all our stars line up in the right place!! Too bad I won't be around to help as I have a fabulous girls weekend out - hotel stay included :) Luckily I've got a babysitter lined up for Natalie, so John won't have to worry about her while he and the older two girls put in the sod.

A Day at the Beach

Many of you may already know this about me, but one of my most absolute favorite places to be is the beach...preferably a warm one. Since there isn't much ocean front to be seen in the good ole state of Utah, we had to find another beach to make due. Enter Pineview Reservoir Beach...my new favorite place! Too bad they charge $10 to get in or I'd go there every week this summer. Actually, we might still do that and just budget that into our month. Much cheaper than a day at the local swimming hole where you have to pay per person, rather than per car load.

I was driving home from my latest OB appointment on Tuesday morning and drove past the canyon that leads up to Pineview Reservoir, which is located just past Ogden Canyon in the valley next to Eden...soo beautiful by the way surrounded by cool mountains. With the bright sunny day, it was a perfect beach day I decided, so when I got home, the girls and I loaded up the car and headed to the beach!!

I had only planned to stay for a few hours, but it was so much fun that we ended up staying most of the day, and now I have burned shoulders to show for it despite my constant applications of sun screen. Given the fact that my shoulders have not seen sun for a very long time, I guess that is the price I pay for enjoying the sun, sand, and water. Totally worth it in my book.

An Unexpected Trip

I can't believe it's July this week already - my month of June was a blur as I spent most of my time in the northwest. This last week's venture up to Seattle was truly unexpected and unplanned, but as this week begins, I am counting my blessings, and thought I would share them with you.

Even though I miss my dad terribly, I am grateful to my loving mom and siblings who are still with me on this earth. I love them all so very much and appreciate all they do for me.

Words cannot express how thankful I am to have such a loving and supportive husband who has been my rock through all of this. He always seemed to know just the right things to say and know when to make me laugh, or when to let my cry.

My kids have been there to make me laugh (and cry in frustration, but I'll try not to think about that right now).
Several of these pictures are from the day after the funeral. When John booked our tickets, he suggested spending the day after the funeral doing something fun to help relieve the stress. My mom and two sisters thought that was a great idea too, so they and their families joined up with us. We spent the day in Seattle doing typical touristy things; walking along the waterfront, riding a carousel on one of the piers, eating fish and chips at Ivars, taking a ferry ride (something my girls have never done before), and checking out the sights around the space needle. It was just what we needed...thanks John for the great idea.

I am also deeply grateful to my extended family and friends. I have been lucky to be surrounded by such love this last month. Here is a picture of all the Meldrums in attendance last week. My dad was the youngest 0f 5 siblings, and well loved by all.

And here is our last family portrait with our dad. Okay, here come the tears...good thing I have Kleenex handy and a pan of brownies waiting for me up in the kitchen. I tell ya' - there is something to be said about chocolate being comfort food, because it has been my main stay for the last couple of weeks. Enjoy the pics, and I promise this will be my last boob fest on my blog and move onto to other fun things in our life.

My Dad...

I'm back from my very sad and emotional week up in Seattle. I have never felt such deep sorrow or tasted such exquisite grief - I have never cried so much in a week's time - and my emotions change hourly (I don't think it helps to have pregnancy hormones on top of this). I can't talk about it yet because I am still so devastated by the loss of my dad, but I will soon...so don't forget about my blog :)

Thank you to all of you who have been so loving and kind with calls, prayers, and thoughts my way. I have certainly felt buoyed up on countless occasions.

Glen Meldrum

For our friends living at a distance from us, Dana's father passed away yesterday. It looks like a second heart attack