Sunday, September 12, 2021

All hands on deck!

 The pool was flooded three times because of the rain. Yesterday we finally drained it. There was several layers of mud on the pool floor. We had to bucket brigade it out. It took hours. We had to power wash the walls, that was satisfying but time consuming. The mud was stanky....







Sunday, September 5, 2021

Ton-O rain, ton-O new plants

 We haven't seen this many wild flowers on the property ever. The creek has been flowing for weeks, it's been great!! The dogs are in heaven.

















A dear friend passed August 20th

My dear friend Xochitl Hosmer, colleague and mentor passed away from Covid pneumonia. Her husband Anthony and Benjamin are close. This loss hit our family like a ton of bricks.  Benjamin and I were both asked to speak at her funeral. The funeral was cancelled but I still plan on writing my thoughts here on the lessons I learned from her.

Baby girl goes off to college!!

The last week before Olivia moved out brought so many emotions. She texted me at work and asked if she could pickup the family groceries? Um yeah, that's an easy answer and an awesome daughter!! She's my right hand woman. I'm grateful she will be close enough that she can come home for Sunday dinner and far enough away that she can strengthen her adulting muscles. Muscles that she has been developing since kindergarten. This girl is entering college with 50+ credits and enough drive to bust out two majors. She is going to positively change the world, because she's been cheerfully changing mine for the last 18 years 💕 PS Olivia Howe I will safely store your sweaters and always take your phone calls 😁 #BearDown










Flooding and a rescue!! August 13-14th

 August and July has brought so much rain!! We have never seen this much water on the property. A couple of posts ago I showed how our house had been flooded. I went to a relief Society presidency meeting and showed the pictures to the presidency. Later my president Lisa Weigel talked to her husband, Mark about how bad the flooding was at our house the next day Mark brought his backhoe and trenched our property. He spent the entire Friday making trenches for the water to flow so that our house wouldn't flood again. The very next day torrential rain came again. Those trenches that he dug, in places were 3 ft deep and were overflowing. If he hadn't have trenched our house would have been flooded again.















1sr day of school August 2021/2022

 It's my third year in kindergarten (second year teaching kindergarten)!! 24 students, a full-time paraprofessional, and no mandated masks, have made all the difference!! This year feels loads better probably because I know what to expect. It's a pretty eventful year for our family. A Freshman and Junior in college, a highschool senior (graduating early), a freshman in highschool and last year in elementary...the family is growing and changing!!


Smith family vow renewal July 30th





 Lindsey and Ryan hosted a mega event with family and close friends to celebrate their ongoing devotion and partnership to each other. People flew into Pullman from all over to honor this amazing couple. Their place on Pullman is spectacular!! They live on 5 actress with many buildings and beautiful gardens. They hosted a weekend of fun, food and love. On Friday night we had tinfoil dinners with hilarious games. On Saturday July 31st we had a tree planting event, rock painting, archery and a scavenger event. Then Saturday evening they hosted a Dillon wedding and reception. Complete  with a catered meal, touching ceremony, rolling storm and indoor dance party! The Smiths put everyone up in a local hotel for the three day party. It was such a fun weekend!