Summer Project!

Let's start out with a cute picture of City!  We were in the front looking over the plans my mother had drawn out and City picked up a wilting flower.  He walked around the yard like this for awhile before settling in front of us.  Chris was able to get this picture, and I love it!  I hope City can find a Tango partner in the small community of Blanding :)

This is the "summer project" I refer to in the title.  When I visited Salt Lake earlier this month, I happened upon this 70's retro dining set on KSL Classifieds.  Even though it'll be a lot of work I'm really excited to start on refinishing it.  The pea green fabric is disgusting and I need to give the table some TLC to remove the scuffs.  When it's finished, we'll be able to sit a total of 12 people at one time.  Right now we are able to seat 4 people, that its!!  I'll post pictures and possibly ask for your opinion on the stain color and fabric choice.  I'm excited to be crafty!

A visit from up north!

My mom was kind enough to come down to Blanding for a nice visit.  We wanted to focus on planting some flower beds, but got to a slow start.  While we waited for some dirt to be delivered, we visited Mesa Verde, Co.  It was a GREAT park to see.  We weren't able to spend the entire day there which was unfortunate.  If we had all day, we would have spent the day hiking down to the ruins on ALL possible tours.  We were able to visit one ruin up close and personal with the time we had.

 Spruce Tree House and an excited Chrissy!

 Cliff Palace half in shade.  I wish it wasn't sunset when we came up to these ruins.  It was HUGE and beautiful. 

 I can't remember the name of this ruin.  It was perched in a crazy location.  It was in a short valley off the Navajo canyon and about 90 feet up from the canyon floor.  I still can't figure out how they got down or up to their homes.

 This picture still makes me laugh even though it has been a week since we visited Mesa Verde.  My mother was so excited to check the elevation while we were driving through the park.  She was very good at guessing the correct elevation.  When she guessed the elevation correctly (and not a foot above or below) she was ecstatic!  She even insisted that we owed her a "treat" from Walmart.  I felt compelled to make that wish a reality and bought her this charming princess tiara.  I don't think she would have guessed that a tiara was coming out of that Walmart bag in a million years.  I love my mother!

We have been able to finish one of the front yard's garden beds and it look great!  Every friend in the area compliments our beautiful front yard.  Even though we still have weeds, our garden looks amazing!  I will post a picture when the lighting is good. 

I've enjoyed having my mom visit and wish she could stay longer.  I've been driving back and forth from Moab each weekday for training on the new Common Core.  It's been a great week (very educational and labor intensive) and I'm sad to see it go.  Each day I'd be gone until 5, then I'd go straight to work in the front yard.  Chris and I are celebrating our third anniversary this weekend.  If the weather permits we will be camping in and hiking Calf Creek Falls with City!  I'll post pictures soon!

Summer Is Here!!!!!

I survived my first year of teaching and now I'm reaping the sweet, sweet reward of summer.  Teaching is a lot of work and there are good days and bad days, but summer makes up for a lot of the bad days.  It is such an amazing feeling to wake up and think, "I'm getting paid to rest, relax, and work on my own teaching development." Summer is even better as a teacher.

For the summer I did get a second job which has been great.  I have to get up 4:30 am, but the pros outweigh the cons.  The only problem that is hard to get over are the customers.  It's a NEW establishment in Blanding and they don't have everything figured out.  Needless to say, a lot of Blanding citizens think that complaining/yelling at the front desk employee will somehow change everything.  Surprise, surprise IT DOESN'T!

 I went up to Salt Lake to visit my mom for Memorial weekend.  Of course City came with me :)

 David and Mom at Stephen's grave.

 David and I at Stephen's grave.

 Chris and I have been able to go on a few hikes in the last few weeks.  I have really enjoyed the quality time with Chris and the wildflowers!

 This ruin is found at Butler Wash.  It is called Nine Room Ruin.  I still can't believe that the Anasazi people survived in locations like this.  This ruin is basically perched on top of a ridge.  

 City and I enjoying a photo shoot by some really interesting rock formations.  I love my little boy (can you tell I'm treating City like my first child??). 

City always amazes me.  I think he should be a dog model for mountain-type products.  Doesn't he look like he could be on some risky adventure with Bear Grylls?  

Say What?!?!

There are only 8 more school days of the year left!!!  To top it off the last 3 days are filled with school-wide activities!!!  That means I have 5 days left to plan for and deal with.  I am so excited to have my first year of teaching checked off.

House on Fire and Fallen Roof Ruins

A few weeks ago Chris and I were able to hike to some ruins with City.  It was a great trail with the best weather imaginable.  As we walked along the canyon floor we enjoyed catching up and spending time with City.  We came across a few individuals, but were left alone for the most part.  The first picture is of the Fallen Roof ruin that is high up along the canyon wall.  We had to climb up a way which was challenging for City, but it was a spectacular ruin to see!

 The next two pictures are of the House on Fire ruins.  These ruins have a beautiful natural phenomenon that decorates the ceiling of each room.  The rocks look like they are on fire hence the name.  There were three rooms still standing and in great condition.  We loved walking up to the ruins and looking in each room. 

 City behaved so well on this hike.  He even walked between Chris and I on the trail.  I loved taking him along with us.  I wish that the bigger national parks are pet friendly, but alas, they aren't.  Chris and I will just have to explore the local, smaller trails with City.  

A little drama to spice up things!

Life has been a little dramatic as of late.  Chris and Kaleb decided to have a boys night that ended Kaleb and Malia's 4 year relationship.  I had promised Malia that Kaleb would not be drinking at our home when he first moved in.  Unfortunately Chris decided that Kaleb really didn't have a problem (due to the fact that we did not have all the information to correctly assess Kaleb's addiction) and invited him to share a few drinks.  Their talking and laughter woke me up on several different occasions throughout the night, and it pissed me off!  I told Malia out of spite and to apologize for not keeping up my end of the promise.  Malia was understanding but said that their relationship was no longer a happy or good balance.  She decided to take a break from things so that Kaleb could figure out what he wanted.  I was shocked but supportive.  She needed to do what was best for her rather than support Kaleb's addictions and unhappiness.

Fast forward two weeks and both of them are in new relationships.  It's crazy to see the change, but I'm glad they are both happy.  Malia is now dating a professional lawyer who is in charge of the HR department at Blanding's local hospital/clinic.  He is really great and he treats her very well.  I'm happy to see that she is getting the attention and support she so deserves.

Kaleb is now dating an operating nurse who loves the Polynesian culture.  He has transformed completely.  He sings at home and constantly plays his guitar.  Our home is now full of music and laughter.  Kaleb will even talk with me once in awhile.  I have enjoyed getting to know Kaleb even more over the past few weeks and I'm very happy to see him happy for once.  He was heart broken when they first took a break, but I think he realized that things weren't good between the two of them.

Although I'm glad that both of them are happy, I am extremely sad that we no longer have friends in them.  Sure we see Kaleb at home and have met his new significant other... she's great... but she's FROM Blanding and her family is here. Instead of hanging out with other "outsiders" Kaleb can now hang out with her family.  Malia's new boy toy is also FROM Blanding and has family members in town.  They spend all of their free time with his family...  I have not felt more isolated in Blanding then I do now.  To top it off Tracy MacDonald  (the 7th grade math teacher) is moving the day after school gets out.  She has been such a mental/emotional resource for me at school.  She's like-minded and a ton of fun to hang out with.  Her son is also a joy to have around.  We have enjoyed many great game nights with the MacDonald's!  I hope our drama will end soon and that we'll find more friends soon.

City Boy!

City is such a joy to have around.  He really is so much fun.  We go on walks and hikes all the time. This first picture is at the CEU land.  It is a beautiful area just west of town that has a lot of trails to explore.  City becomes a legit Mountain Dog the moment he gets out of the car.  The first picture is on top of a tower that is supposed to be a replica of the first Anglo settler's camp.  Its called the "Bradford Friendship Tower."  I doubt there was much friendship going on back then.  City was so scared to climb up the tower's wrought iron staircase.  We eventually had to carry him up.  The next challenge came when we decided to leave the tower.  City literally peed when we started to pull him down the staircase.  Now he can go up and down the stairs on his own!

 The college has also created a lot of other "authentic" replicas.  City crossed the plains as a pilgrim and settled in Blanding to wait for us :)

 City really is a Mountain Dog at heart.  I just love the cute boy!!  Today we took him to the reservoir to try out his fetching abilities in water.  City was hesitant at first but eventually he gave in.