Manly crafts

We've had a good visit here in Palmyra for Thanksgiving. Lots of family over for dinner and we even got to shoot some guns in the backyard for dessert. I also found some time to do those pressing chores like changing burned out light bulbs in the dashboard of my car and fixing the door lock on my car that has been broken for 3 years. Did you know you can re-key a new lock cylinder yourself so it fits your original key and you can save $200 with 10 minutes of work?

I also got some time to do a project I've been wanting to do for a while. I made a book safe out of an old book that I got at the library for 50 cents. I generally followed the directions from a website I found and I think it turned out pretty well for a first try.

Shelby's 1st Birthday

 She had to wear the shoes

 She would not open any of the gifts.  She kept pushing everything away.

 Except for the doll.  She was tugging on it as I was trying to get it out of the box.

Jones Randomness

  

Monticello.  Where it all started...

Villa Rose.  Where we moved into Travis and Kelly's old apartment.

The old Provo Tabernacle soon to be Temple.



What you get when your mom is too lazy to wash a nice shirt for picture day and doesn't want to hassle with a hair cut.

Getting ready for Halloween.

Koper's Birthday Cake!

We had a fun trip to Provo with Mom a couple of weeks ago.  When we got to Provo, Seth was able to visit with the BYU strength coach and we'll be turning in his resume this week for some possible job openings this next year.  Friday night we got to visit with Uncle John and Aunt Madalyn.  Saturday we went to the bookstore and hung out waiting for the big game.  Mom stayed at the motel with the kids and Weston and I headed to the game.  It was cold and our seats were covered with about six inches of snow.  We only lasted until half time.  We came home Sunday and barely missed several accidents through Salt Lake.  Once we got through the snowy mess we stopped in North Ogden at Aunt Linda's for a quick visit.  We're glad we got to go and are grateful for our safe travels!

New Deacon

Today Trent was ordained and next week will be his first week passing the sacrament.  I have stocked the diaper bag with kleenex! 

Updates/Trent's Birthday

 

Busy, busy, busy!

 A few things we've been up to.  Last night was pinewood derby, Braxton was too old so just Kanyon got to build a car.  The first race he didn't "win" so the next race he turned his car backwards.  He won his next three races.  That was all he wanted: to win first place, one time.  But he did it three times!  He even won 2nd place overall for the fastest Bear car.  It was a good night for all.

 Did you know if you take your report card to Krispy Kreme's they give you a free donut for every A (and E's too apparently)?  We took advantage of that on a Friday night and got WAY too many donuts.  We were all feeling a little sick by the end of the night.  Then we went to Toys R Us to get Christmas ideas.

 This is what Lisa tackled over fall break.  This room used to be green and striped.  It is now Banana Cream.  She also painted the bunk bed white so it would blend a little better.  The house is still in chaos but we're getting there.

And finally, Braxton in his new scout uniform.  Thanks grandma and grandpa.  He is attending his first Merit Badge college on Saturday and taking Kevin's Wilderness Survival class.  He is extremely excited.
Kevin is still booked up and trying to finish projects before Thanksgiving--looks like the weather will hold and he can get it done. 

It's Getting Cold

Not much new here.  It is getting colder and we had about an inch of snow this week.  It is still cold but the snow is mostly gone.  This week looks like more rain and a little more snow.  I got most of the leaves picked up but still need an hour or so to finish my winter preparations. We're looking forward to Thanksgiving.  I may take a couple of extra days of just for fun.  Mom has the whole week off.  Keep on keeping on!!!!

Zirker 3 Halloween

We were feeling slightly left out, so we'd better catch up to everyone else's halloween-ing.

The kids working as "teams" this year so we didn't have to scrape out 4 pumpkins.

What Kevin and I did while the kids worked as teams.  Why didn't we think of this before?  Neither of us got our hands dirty this year.  And no, we did not break out the jig saw this time.  We did it old school (mostly because Kevin didn't want to walk out to the street to get the saw out of his truck and I couldn't blame him!)

 The happy children showing off their pumpkins.

 The scary pumpkins.  Look out!

Everyone ready to go out trick or treating.  Kanyon-Cub scout. Adria-Pumpkin, Raya-scary cat, Braxton-Lego man (perhaps a zombie lego man? The eye circles were supposed to be like a lego man, but he looked a little scary-which he was okay with)  We only lasted about an hour before kids were in tears but we were out long enough for pumpkins to get filled AGAIN!  Luckily, the ward asked for donations  of candy to be used for the Christmas party.  AND the kids mocked at first, but then each gave half of their candy.  We still have too much.  Oh well.

Just a Normal Week

I was up in Kamaih last week checking on a contractor when it started to rain.  As I pulled out of the parking lot there was a beautiful complete rainbow.  I grabbed the camera so I could remember where it ended and would be able to find the pot of gold.  Alas, I couldn't find it.  When I finished and was putting my camera away I looked in the rear view mirror and there was a car behind me just patiently waiting.  Sorry.

Halloween was great.  We went to the trunk-or-treat Tuesday night and then stayed home on Wednesday.  We had a lot of trick-or-treaters.  The weather was fantastic.  It actually felt warm.

Today was stake conference.  We attended in the Mountainview building.  They broadcast the conference over from the stake center.  It went pretty well, just a few glitches.

This daylight savings time is really messing up my internal clock.  I am about ready for bed and it is only 5:30 pm.  Have a good week.

Remodel update

First layer of tape

 Erik and Korbin mudding and taping

 Hanging plastic

 Boys mixing the texturing compound

My camera flash was picking up the sheet rock dust in the air.  We hung plastic to try to contain the texture, and it looked like a scene from ET.

Texture done-start priming tomorrow

New pantry door ready to go in

 Desk area.  Once I paint, next comes the tile.

 Andra was Pippi for school and the ward party.

 Everyone except Hallee the hillbilly.  She wore Eriks Dickies overalls and a long sleeve thermal shirt, with her hair in long loose ponytails and big brown boots. 

 Last year Maura was the Pink CareBear and this year it fit Shelby!  Trent and Korbin were missionary companions for the ward party and wore Eriks missionary name tags, but I never got a good picture of them.

Halloween leftovers

Here is a shot of our house all ready for trick or treaters. Yes, we carry on the tradition of luminaries.  Les and the kids cut out decorations on the bags.  I was afraid they would burn down the house, so I put them down the driveway instead of on the porch.

Les took the younger kids around the neighborhood with some friends.  Our neighborhood really gets into the spirit of decorating- think Griswalds meet Halloween.  One neighbor had a Wizard of Oz theme,and the kids had fun walking through their house.  Ty roamed the neighborhood with some boys from church and school.  I stayed home and handed out candy.  We had lots of kids come by, and I had to refill our bowl several times.  It was fun to see kids from church come by with their friends.

Just when I think we have made a dent in all the candy around the house, I find another stash.  We should finish it all, just in time for Thanksgiving.

Brant