Hodge Podge of Handy Work

Where to begin...how about with the first day of school. My parents used to take pictures of us with our backpacks on the first day of school and I suppose Michelle and I just couldn't resist...even if I am 25 and in my last semester of graduate school....I tried to slouch and throw on a goofy face but realized I look about the same as I do in most of my normal pictures. Hmmph.

 

**You may have noticed that I am wearing a sling. Here's a note for the rising generation: (1) Don't work on the sabbath, (2) Don't snowboard with your students when you are at work on the sabbath. I caught an edge and broke my collarbone. The stupidest, most annoying injury ever. Those triple backflips are killer...

 

On another note, one thing I have always believed to my core is that my generation is useless (I say that with fondness) and that unlike our fore fathers we have very few practical skills. So I have decided that if there is something to be fixed I will use the most reliable sources I can (wiki how and youtube) to figure out how to fix it myself and hopefully acquire some useful skills along the way. Here are some of our most recent successes...

Fixing the book shelf was a pretty simple task...and now we don't have to yell timber or avalanche every time one of the over weighted shelves slides off the plastic chips (and make-shift replacements). It's nice to have a little more stability in our lives....even if it is in the form of a solid bookshelf.

Changing the Ballast was a bit trickier but no less rewarding. I enjoyed the process of troubleshooting the problem, cutting and trimming wires, and shedding light on the situation (pun intended). Before we fixed this kitchen light it would flicker on and off at intervals or go off altogether. It drove Michelle crazy and left our apartment feeling dark and dingy. I don't know why I put it off for so long...oh ya, thesis. Happy holidays.

What I enjoyed most about the project was the sexy photographer and capable assistant who helped rewire and finish the project with me. A true help meet...

Some of our handy work has been more crafty and fun. We've been chatting about creating an FHE board for a long time but I think we never gave it a shot because we'd been unimpressed by the tacky or gaudy versions we'd seen prior (not directing this at anyone in particular...seriously). We scanned the nets a bit and found a few clean looking, simple, diy types and decided to give it a shot (see below).

This particular FHE board is great because we can update it with dry erase markers as we please. 

Sadly Elder Dube did not give our lesson (as seen on the board above) but we have been trying to read a conference talk every week as part of our Family Home Evening and it has been a great way to get know each other better and strengthen our marriage. 

 In addition to our FHE board, we wanted to do something a little more fun with our crafty time and realized our walls were still kind of bare. So we decided to tackle our own Pollock style wall art. We obviously went to the most reliable source, a pre-school aged activity website and found a great tutorial on 'splatter art' and gave it our best shot.

Here's the "before" product: (Notice the clean canvases have been prep'd with rubber bands for splattering)

 

The idea is to soak or lace the rubber band with acrylic paint and snap the rubber band so that the paint fans out and covers the canvas. 

This is me putting on my protective battle dress...didn't want to splash paint on my skin tight, flesh covered thermals of course (courtesy of the US airforce). AND if you were wondering, I'm not wearing whitey tighty underwear in this picture...that is just a flap from the garbage bag I am wearing, thank you very much.

Michelle looked much better in her classy garbage garb....of course.

Our "after" products turned out better than anticipated, however, I think we'll leave the real art to the greats (Pollock and Mrs. Stanley's preschool class):

Oscar, the dog I never had

This post comes quite delayed...

*Disclaimer: This post is not quite as sentimental as the title would have you believe. 

On Thanksgiving morning I woke up and headed out for a run.

*Note: We had our Thanksgiving dinner together on Wednesday, since Garrett had to work on Thursday.
I only went a few blocks before I saw a medium sized black dog slowly wandering along the sidewalk, listing back and forth a little. Having just finished reading To Kill a Mockingbird, I was a little wary about a "mad" dog. I typically run on the streets, so I passed the dog, keeping an eye on it. The dog just looked tired. And old. I stopped running and turned around. He looked at me, whuffed a sigh, and sat down.

And then I melted.

And walked over. He was either old, cold, or both, and was trembling. Tail wagging though. relatively shiny coat. No collar. So. I picked him up and limped the several blocks back to my apartment, taking small breaks in between. I laid a sheet and towel down on our carpet (praying he didn't have fleas that had hidden during my inspection of him). He obediently sat, then laid, then slept. I brought out a bowl of water mixed with a little leftover turkey broth, which he downed.

Fortunately the animal control has a back-up officer, and he came within two hours. I'm optimistic that the dog's owners contacted the control center (I'm optimist that he had owners... well trained, no barking, obedient, shiny coat...). And if not.... I'm optimist that dying in a warm environment with food is better than dying cold and hungry on the streets.

Basically I'm writing this because I don't want to forget it. Our landlord was out of town for several months, and the temptation to bathe "Oscar", feed him, and keep for a few days was an awful temptation.  

Thanksgiving Day!

I am about to offend my mother, aunts, siblings, and any friends or acquaintances who ever fed me a thanksgiving meal, BUT I have to say (without any bias) my wife's turkey and thanksgiving spread was the best I have had in my twenty-five plus years of existence.

 Our humble setting with Christmas decor in the back drop...

 I made the rolls this year. Whole wheat and pretty tasty....

 Michelle's homemade stuffing with celery, walnuts, white bread, and other deliciousnous...

 Sorry dad, the deep frier, oven, and oven bags didn't do the trick...the crockpot is where its at. Yum...best flavored, juiciest turkey I've ever had.

 Michelle made cream of mushroom from scratch in order to grant my wish for green bean casserole. What a gem (Michelle and the casserole both).

 Red potatoes from Orangeville (thanks grands) cooked to perfection.

 Candied yams made with real yams and none of that marshmallow rubbish. Very tasty.

 Our tasty spread (above) and the aftermath (below)....

Because I had to work, we celebrated thanksgiving on Wednesday this year and had the whole day to cook, eat and relax. We slept in (the first time in a while) and then ran upstairs to enjoy WinCo 8 grain (that's right, 8 grain) pancakes, courtesy of the Gunter's in our ward. We regaled each other with stories of our big families and the tormenting we did to our pseudo-babysitter siblings. For example, all of the Stone boys running around the downstairs in our whitey-tighty underwear while Jenny hollered at us in frustration. Good times...

The rest of the day was spent rehashing blessing, mashing potatoes, and eating to our hearts content. We watched the Thanksgiving classic "White house Down" which Michelle humorously paused at it's most intense moment saying "Time for Pie" hoping that a few minutes respite and a little sugar would ease the tension.

It was a day of bliss. Free from obligation. I am so grateful I have been blessed with a wonderful wife and family, with a functioning car and warm apartment. With food and a knowledge of how to cook it so that it tickles or tastebuds. I'm thankful for the gospel, for trials, and for the innumerable blessings God has bestowed upon us.  Michelle has been such a great example of service to me, showing gratitude for her blessings by sharing them with others. May we continue to love, serve and be grateful.

Wedding Bliss...and the chaos leading up to it...

While we intend to get deeper into our pre-engagement history, the week leading up to our marriage seemed sufficient for tonight. Truth be told, I don't remember too many details. Or rather, maybe that's all I remember (really though, isn't that all we remember?) I remember Kellie and Cec came over for game night exactly one week before I got married. That was when Cec told us she was expecting a little Cec/Josh hybrid.

I remember the two watermelons in the fridge that I managed to eat the entirety of during that week, in the blazing heat of late July.

I remember Garrett picked up some extra shift at work, to pad the budget and make up for the time he'd be taking off.

I remember Lizziekins taking in the dress. And taking it in again. And then taking it in four inchec on both sides. And then taking it out. And I loved it.

Garrett and I running to various craft stores to pick up materials for the flowers and boutonnieres, splurging on smoothies. 

I remember making lime shortbread cookies, wrapping the dough into misshaped tubes and placing them in the fridge prior to baking.

Being annoyed that I had a perfectly small, round bruised spot on my toenail. I don't know why this irritated me so much.

Getting a manicure/pedicure on Thursday. Making lasagna and stir-fry for dinner that night, as a celebration birthday dinner for Ethan and Mom. Leg wrestling Garrett 20 minutes later. Giving a step-by-step lecture from my self-defense class on how I would grab his testacles and twist them, maintaining a close, low position to the ground and his body. Hearing Garrett squawk  his protestations, as Ethan and Mom guffawed and choked on their laughter.

Congratulating myself for breathing, not stressing out, and staying mostly on top of everything. Waking up Friday morning with an ulcer, revealing my dishonesty with myself.

Running all over tarnation on Friday, picking up items for my loving aunts to incorporate into the food for the reception. Smelling the mouth-watering whiffs of our wedding cake baking each time I ran by my aunt's house - the headquarters of productivity.

Sitting at the "rehearsal" dinner with both sides of the family, feeling stressed but grateful for family, good food, and that things were coming together.

Waking up Saturday morning, excited. Staying calm and on-time. Something stressed me out. Garrett and I can't remember what, but it sent me into a frenzy. Secretly dropping our new car off at a benevolent aunt and uncle's to spare its crude decoration. Getting to the temple five minutes late. Finding out that four sealings were scheduled at the same time. Being led through the temple, not knowing what was going on (I think the temple workers were a little frazzled). Waiting with Garrett in the Celestial room, feeling so calm, happy, and blessed, despite some of the frantic-ness of the day.

Briefly speaking with our sealer outside the sealing room. I don't remember his name, but I liked him. He had on a white bow-tie.

Kneeling with Garrett, across the altar, knowing that I was going to start weeping (since we could hardly keeping from crying two weeks earlier as we did proxy sealings in a different temple). Meeting Garrett's loving gaze, tearing up. Smiling like the love-smitten, sappy, bride I was, through my tears, runny nose, and heaving breaths. Kissing Garrett across the altar, trying to keep it short and minimize the exchange of runny-nose, tears, and lipstick. Laughing as the sealer told us we would get better at kissing.

Giving everyone hugs in the sealing room. Someone got foundation on my clothes.

Changing into my wedding dress in ten minutes, only to wait for thirty minutes for the brides ahead of me. Being told I couldn't see Garrett. Being annoyed at the bossy matron who told me so. Sitting cross-legged in my wedding dress in the dressing room, eating a pb&J that I'd had the foresight to pack.

Walking to Garrett, latching on to him, smooching his face. Walking out the doors of the temple. Standing there, wondering what to do next. A flurry of picture-taking, then off to the reception. Another blur of people and smiles. Thank goodness for the wedding video that catches so many of these moments.

Feeling stressed that no one could figure out where the decorations should go... or rather, how to transport them back to our apartment, where wanted them unceremoniously dumped on the floor so we could deal with them another time.

Driving back to the benevolent aunt and uncle's abode to reclaim our untouched car. Laughing at the sticky note a thoughtful and clever cousin had placed on our car; "your car has been officially decorated."
Stopping at Zupas to grab food. Being told congratulations by the staff, feeling slightly incongruous in our dress, suit, and boutonniere. Driving up the canyon to midway, just talking, talking, talking. I love that we have always talked.

Stopping at the stinking maverick to pick up an $8 ice chest and ice to put our leftovers and wedding cake in.

Being so. stinking. happy. that we were married. Taking in the slight unreality of it. Loving that it still felt so natural and good. 

Pulling in to the bed and breakfast, being delighted with our room, hauling the gifts up the stairs. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, opening gifts, eating our salad and sandwich.


It's weird but wonderful to think that in three days we'll come upon our four month mark. And we just passed our year mark of courtship. We'll continue the adventures of our outings to park city, san francisco, and seattle in another post, but it's nice to get the pre-wedding week out. I'll turn the computer over to my eternal manfriend...to make my corrections (manfriend speaking)...

A few details neglected by my sweet wife:

First, our kiss across the alter was splendid and had only been toned down for the young single folk in the room...I think that sealer uses the "better kissers" line on everyone....

Second, Michelle was not the only one sobbing in the celestial room. For some reason the faces of my mom and sisters invited a hormonal imbalance that resulted in moisture appearing on my face.

Third, sadly our delicious wedding cake soaked itself to in-edibility in our $8 cooler (note the disdain in both of our voices at the cost of the cooler...my previously owned cooler sat idly in my closet at home).

A point of clarification for my family (accompanied by an air of apology):

I really didn't feel the tiniest bit stressed throughout the wedding preparations or on the wedding day (except for the times I was stressed in empathetic support of Michelle). HOWEVER, I was a tid bit snippy at the end of the reception because I did not want to take down decorations, and did want to be off honeymooning...HOWEVER, I was not just an anxious virgin wanting to rush off for romantic escapades as I was accused of (cough...Chelsea), and really just wanted to be able to TALK to my new wife in the comfort and quietude of an awaiting B & B.

Tips for the soon to be married....

Don't eat at the Blue Iguana unless you want rancid lettuce in your salad and an indifferent server....

Don't eat packaged and processed foods in the "comfort" of your room (or you will experience significant bowel discomfort)...

Don't put candles around the bath tub unless you want a romantic soak for two to involve burnt hair and a call from the fire department...(disclaimer, the fire department was not involved in this instance)

Do watch an animated film in the company of two adults and 35 children while you are the only ones cackling, as the children sit in subdued silence...

Do bring a Thor Hammer to smash the kid behind you who is kicking your seat in the theater...

Other important details not to be forgot:

As my brothers called it, I had "hungry eyes" for Michelle, but who could blame me. She looked stunning in her wedding attire!!

It was amazing how despite the chaos and stresses of the day, the temple really was a moment of peace and pure joy. My bosom swelled with love for Michelle (had to use the word bosom or bodice at least once in this post...p.s. individuals only have one bosom not bosoms).

Roy's yard was fantastic and we will always be grateful for her kindness in letting us use it. We didn't have to worry a tink about anything while we were there.

Our families were incredibly helpful and patient in setting up for the wedding, providing decorations, food and music, etc. We are so grateful.

Making our own decorations using lace and burlap made us feel super hipster. Michelle made her own bouquet and it looked so good. My favorite colors, blue and white mixed with burlap and feathers.

I still have hand cramps from writing addresses on invitations...

I never felt more sure of anything in my life than I did marrying Michelle!!! 

Pumpkins, Hockey Sticks, Christmas Trees

Tonight is blogfest, Autumn 2013.

This is something we've been meaning to do for awhile, but it took writing it in our schedules for anything to actually come to fruition. We've been intentional at taking more photos and recording our activities. Here is just a glimpse of the past few weeks:

We purchased gigantic pumpkins to carve (I promptly put mine in the fridge overnight after snapping the photo, then baked it into pumpkin puree the next day). Mine is the ogre, Garrett's is the happy veggie-tale friend. We dressed up as pirates for halloween, has Kellie and Tim over (we lacked the foresight to take pictures...) and make caramel apples. We also bequeathed our entire bowl of candy to the sole family that knocked at our door. Bless their souls, we would have hated the responsibility of pawning it off to anyone else... including ourselves). 

We also went to a BYU hockey game. It was my first hockey game, and I was excited to see the brawls that I'd heard are so common. It took the players only the first inning, but they eventually got heated enough where players, sticks, and pucks went flying over the ice and into walls. Also... I did not realize that die-hard fans bang their frustrations, joys, and annoyances out on cowbells. I don't approve of this activity.

Lastly, we got really excited for Christmas and the entire holiday season two weeks ago (the first week of November) and bought our first christmas tree on sale. It's a little baby one, but we love it. We also splurged on a few ornaments (also on sale), and clothed our little tree. We've also been REALLY on time of gift acquiring this year, and decided to wrap everything and toss them under the tree. We had some old red fabric from target gift bags, and decided to take the liberty of creating our own stockings, trimmed with age-old ribbon I've been hoarding for the past several years. Not perfect, but we are awfully fond and proud of our creations.

Also, we are dang excited for autumn/winter/holidays/food/giving/family/friends/christmas carols and pretty much everything else that makes the transition into freezing utah winters festive and lovely. What makes it all the more special is this is our first Christmas together as a family. Huzzah!

To the Grand's, Autumn 2013

It feels like the past few weeks have been a blur of joy, laughter, stress, and planning. Suppose that's life...

Fortunately we are pretty great at scheduling play time, work time, sleep time, eat time, etc. A few weeks ago we took a trip down south to visit the Grands Spencer. It's always a delight to see them, and this visit was no exception.

The seasons were just turning and we were blessed with some GORGEOUS scenery as we made the drive down and did some sightseeing. I think I previously blogged about our visit to see the Rochester panel, Indian Petroglyphs, but this was our first visit to the buckhorn wash. The drive includes 30 (our was an hour, 30 of which were spent headed the wrong direction....) minutes on a gravel road that swoops down into the San Rafael swell, filled with great expanses of red, orange, and yellow sandstone, accented by the flaming aspen trees. It was lovely.

While down there, we popped in to see the swinging bridge monument. Apparently it is the first bridge that safely allowed drivers, sheepherders, and anyone else needing to cross the river to do so safely.

Can I just say that I love my grandparents? And my eternal manfriend.

Back at the homestead, Garrett took some time to show me ascending/descending practices on a willing tree in the backyard. He TA'd a class this fall, and I could only make some of the classes, so it was nice to have some one-on-one learning.

I took a quick run every morning and tried to make friends with the various animals I saw. They were too tired. But, I did snag some shots of the awesome sunrise.

We also wandered over to the neighbor's to view their gazebo, pond, and horse. The horse is very sweet tempered. Unfortunately, some irresponsible cads took it out trail riding years ago and consequently lamed it. It now wanders about the pasture, grazing, talking with the deer, and patiently enduring my enthusiastic affections (All photo credit goes to Garrett). Later, we took a quick drive to Joe's Valley Reservoir.

I think autumn might be our favorite time to visit. Everything is vibrant, cool, and crisp.