Path of Enlightenment or trail of tears :)

One of the things we want to have at the homestead is a path that encircles both properties. With the path we wouldn't have to worry if the kids are out riding their bikes or driving the go-cart. So since our building progress has been in a holding position and we had nothing we could do to further it, I decided that something I could do was start our path. The first day I grabbed my shovel and just started bushwhacking through the desert landscape. In the first day I cleared about 100 feet with a narrow footpath. Later Benjamin came home and I had showed him my handy work he said, "Oh, Lesley you must have been really bored!" Which was true. I had cleaned my little 8X10 cell i mean trailer and I was ready for a change. The next day i woke up and made the path wider about four feet across. The process continued. The little boys would grab a shovel and head for the trail with me - and then promptly ditch and chase after grasshoppers. I actually had dreams that my arms turned into Popeye's, way too masculine (don't worry that hasn't happened). The kids would arrive home from school and ask how far I had gotten and run out to see the progress. So far I have cleared over 450 feet. The kids were great and helped collect rocks to line the path. At the time of this path clearing I was reading the book "Fire of the Covenant" which is about the Willie and Martin Handcart companies crossing the plains in horrible conditions. I kept thinking I got to get to the South Pass for me that was the wash. ( I just want to give a quick shout out to my ancestors the Loaders, Their son in law (Jaques) blasted them for not wanting to go by handcart, even publishing an article about there lack of faith. But those Loaders weren't prideful and showed up with their handcarts ready to pull, Grandpa died on the trail showing where his loyalties were, so take that Mr. Jaques!) Sorry I digress. I made it to my South Pass and Benjamin built me a bridge, all from lumber he had salvaged. When my project is done it will be a little less than half a mile long! Great for a jog or stroll in the moonlight admiring my port-a -potty :)

its nursery time!

For all friends who might not know significant Mormon achievements, I will tell you about one that all Mormon parents look forward to: 18 months! At 18 months your child is welcome to attend nursery during adult classes. It is oh so liberating, no more bribing them to be quiet with countless fruit snacks. It is a fabulous moment. When we dropped Parkin off he saw the toys and knew that this was where he was suppose to be! We love our little man or as we call him Triple P (Practically Perfect Parkin). This is a picture of him on his momentous day.

Family Feud Forgotten

As many of you know about ten years ago Benjamin along with my twin sister Lindsey and her husband Ryan and my brother John were on the television show Family Feud. It was a crazy fun once in a life time experience, that I often look back on and laugh. Unfortunately we lost. It came down to the last question (which it always does), I gave the number one answer and got control of the round thank you very much, Benjamin gave the number two answer and then it came down to my brother John..... he gave a good answer but it wasn't the number three most surveyed response. We lost our chance to go to the final round to win ten thousand dollars, now the grand prize is twice that (timing and chance right, Jay). Since then we have always ribbed John that he owes us.

Well all is forgotten. This whole construction loan process has been a nightmare. Everyday the bank was coming at us with this request or that request. We were about to lose our loan if we did not come up with hard liquid cash and fast. Not many people you can approach with such a large request (one they don't got it, two they won't lend it), but after some brainstorming John and Robin popped into our minds. They saved our bacon! So if they ever get this documentary thing rolling you better believe they will get a shout out from the Howe's but if not, my blog will have to suffice. Everybody should have a big brother to turn to when they are in a pickle, so john thanks for being that brother and thanks for making wise investments! Robin, thanks for marrying my brother, you have been a great friend, you provide the perspective I need on so many levels. Thanks to all the people who have prayed on our behalf, now the real adventure begins........

PS Sorry if this embarrasses you two,but this blog is also my journal and I need my posterity to know .

8 random things about me

1. I have tons of freckles everyone who has seen me knows that, but on my left hand there is one giant freckle, that luckily helped me remember that it was my left hand. "Students please raise your right hand" yikes stay calm Lesley just look for the freckle. "Now if everyone could please turn to their left" casually stretch your fingers Lesley oh yeah there's the freckle. Man I love that beauty mark!

2. I love a good practical joke, at least the ones I pull :) Once I convinced my Biology teacher in High school that I was on the wrestling team. He said girls don't wrestle, I replied with don't you read the newspaper they have written about me. Then when they announced over the PA that the wrestling team was excused for the rest of the day for a tournament I collected my things and he wished me luck. The list goes on National candle day, a deaf interpreter...remember it is only lying if you don't correct it within in 24 hours otherwise its just a great joke!

3. I have a secret stash of Whoppers in my sock drawer. Some days it is what carries me through, the knowledge that a little malt and sweet loving chocolate will be there.

4. I love thrift stores! Unfortunately in Benson I have only located one. Parkin goes through shoes like mad out here, I got these shoes for 50 cents!

Luckily the laundry mat that I go to (there are two in Benson, I patronize the classy one, yes there is a difference) has a rack of used clothes for only 25 cents! This is Bella modeling her new dress. I clean my clothes while I shop, how great is that!

5. I am a talk radio junkie. My parents would always listen growing up and it would drive me crazy not listening to music in the car, luckily Holman and Parkin don't mind...yet.

6. The theme song to Murder She wrote instantly soothes my soul and puts a smile on my face.

7. My favorite day of the week is Thursday. The anticipation that the weekend is near (the weekend is never quite as relaxing or fun as I imagine it to be) but come Thursday its time to think of what might be.

8. Since downsizing to a 23ft by 8ft home I only do 4 loads of laundry every six days. This is a picture of my kids dressers, they each have three drawers worth of clothes (the girls do have a couple of dresses hanging in a portable armoire (compliments of Sarah downsizing). Oh yeah who wouldn't trade their comfy home with running water and electricity for only four loads of laundry for a family of six! I have such a blessed life ;)

Top ten things I have learned from using a Port-a-Potty

10. Don’t look down! Whatever happens don’t look down.

9. If you find that you are compelled to look down, open the door and walk backwards, this will remind you under no circumstances to look down.

8. If you know it will be a quick visit, take several deep breaths before entering and then hold the last breath and make a race out of it. You will be a winner if you can make it without breathing.

7. If you know it will not be a quick visit, it is socially acceptable to tie a handkerchief to your face before entering. You will be glad you took the special effort.

6. Treat the people that dump crap for a living like heroes! They are doing what most wouldn’t ever dare to do. Man I love those guys, their visit is the most anticipated service call ever.

5. The closer the John not always the better, sometimes a healthy distance can be worth the walk especially if the Heroes aren’t coming for a few more days.

4. A cleaned out port-a-potty isn’t always ideal. When it is cleaned out they add more liquid, when there is more liquid it splashes better……enough said….too much said.

3. Because of this splashing effect, it is sometimes ideal to squat. You may say that you always squat over a port-a -potty toilet, but when you are using a port-a-potty as your sole source of toilet use that practice is soon forgotten, unless it has just been cleaned out. Then squatting is a must!

2. Teaching the kids to keep the lid down is no less hard out in the wild, but the consequences are a whole lot more! Keep the lid down.

1. Don’t look down! Whatever happens don’t look down!

What I really miss........ and what I love to have

Electricity! Not having running water has not been that big of a deal, but no electricity has been quite the adjustment! We can haul water with no problem, hand pump water is not that big of a deal, bucket showers and camping showers no problem! But no electricity, no cooling, lights, crock pots, refrigeration that my friend is hard! I have made a chocolate cake in a solar oven that was fun! But I miss brownies done in 20 minutes. So Jen this list is for you a list of what we have eaten for dinner these last few weeks: spaghetti, burgers, mac in cheese, grilled chicken, baked potatoes, nachos, pasta, pasta, pizza and more pizza to name a few. Another big change is all the dish washing hand pumped water to wash oh yeah!

You have never seen a group of people so excited to have a portapotty! Enough said on that one ;)

Counrty Chauffeur

It was so awesome, Suzie and I had had enough of driving the kids to school, and were ready to have the kids ride the bus. We talked to the school and signed the kids up for them to come home on the bus. Then right around the time that we would normally arrive home from picking them up from school the kids come running up to the tent. We were surprised to find a 15 passenger van at our driveway. The driver comes out and explains that he is the director of transportation for Benson school and he will be picking the kids up at our property in the morning and dropping them off at the property in the afternoon. No Bus stop, a chauffeur! Unfortunately he said they will be reworking the bus schedule and the chauffeur service would not last forever, bummer. What a classy school instead of telling us to take the kids to school until they have it worked out they cater to us, sweet.