Bye Bye Pine Trees

Jared's Grandfather, who built our house, had a love for pine trees.  He planted them at every house he lived in and even at the town cemetery, thus the town named the cemetery the Reed S. Hatch Cemetery.

This was what our house has looked like since the 70's.

Not only do I not share the same love for pine trees but the roots to these giant trees have worked their way under my house pushing up some of the tiles in my kitchen.  It's also pushing my brick wall over.  In a bad way.  So they had to go.

It was no small task and was pretty intense for those involved.  Our cousin Jarom was working the lift which had a man basket attached where Jared was harnessed in that would lift him to a certain (and may I mention, very HIGH) height then push him in towards the tree where he would cut it off.  From there the crane would lift that section of the tree up and lay in on the ground.  Jared can set trusses on tall houses all day long and it doesn't phase me but seeing him swing 30 feet in the air was a little too much for me.  I was a nervous wreck!  I had to quick looking out the window because I couldn't relax.

Once the trees were down there was a HUGE pile of branches to haul off.  Our neighbor came by as they were being loaded up and asked if he could have them.  All three trees worth of branches!  I still laugh when I drive by their little house and see the piles which are about as tall as his house.  He's going to let them dry out and use them as firewood next winter. 

The crane guy traded us the logs for the crane service.  What I though would be a pricey project turned out to cost a total of $50 and that was just to pay the guy who helped load branches and clean up.  Sweet!

I guess when you live in Main Street your business is everybody's business because it became quite a spectacle.  People were pulling over, driving by slowly, I even saw one man park his truck across the street, get out and watch.

We're used to the absence of our giant trees now but it took a few days.  The morning after they came down I opened my kitchen curtains, took a double glance and said "oh yeah, that's right!"  The one thing I will defiantly not miss the sound of those pines blowing in the wind.  I feel like I am in the forest all spring while the wind blows.

Our weekend in El Paso

On Friday we headed to El Paso to spend a few days with Ben and Briana.  Whenever we travel we like to find sites along the way to show our girls.  On our way to Texas we stopped at the Mogolllon Gold Mine, a Ghost Town about 10 very winding miles off the road. 

For anyone that enjoys taking pictures this was a haven!  Awesome backdrops for people with all kinds of tastes.  Lucy wasn't interested in having her picture taken so Addie and Kimber got to be my subjects.

When we finally arrived at Ben's house the girls were not only thrilled to be out of the truck but they were thrilled see their cousins. All five of Ben and Briana's boys play the piano and a variety of string instruments. Carson and Caleb picked up their violin and cello right away and played a few songs for the girls.

They also threw me a  birthday party that night.  My Aunt and Uncle also live in El Paso so they joined us as well.  There was lots of yummy food and fun conversation.  Briana and my Aunt Shelly really went above and beyond since a birthday party was the last thing I had planned on.  Thanks a million!

After we got the kids to bed the rest of us stayed up until 2:00AM talking.  Ben always has funny stories to tell and Friday night was no exception.  I'll never forget how he can tell is a woman is really in labor.  The nurses in Labor and Delivery told him that if a woman comes in and says she is in labor she's not serious.  If a woman comes in and says "aye aye aye" she IS in labor so you better take her serious!  

Jared and the girls had a great day on Saturday but unfortunately I missed out on the fun since I was sick in bed.  I was so thankful to Briana for watching my girls while I slept the day away and keeping me hydrated with Propel Water.  Ben took Jared around town and the girls stayed behind to play with the kids.  I swear I slept over 20 hours that day but I just couldn't shake it.  By the time evening rolled around Ben finally wrote me a prescription for the nausea and vomiting.  Thank goodness for a doctor in the family!

Sunday morning I was healed and we packed up to head home.  I was feeling sad because I had missed out on Saturday so after quite a deliberation we decided to stay one more day.  I am so glad we did!  We went to church, had a yummy dinner then spent the evening at Uncle Wade and Aunt Shelly's house.  Ben and Briana are so lucky to have them nearby.

I was so sad to leave on Monday morning but it was time to get back to reality and send Addie to school.  So we packed everything up and hit the road.  I am so grateful that my girls traveled well.  They were all so patient and never complained.  Not even Lucy.

Once we got to Glenwood, NM we stopped at the Catwalk Trail.

Little Ms. Cooperation will do anything to spoil a picture.

About half way up Kimber was losing interest and Lucy was getting heavy so I headed back down with those two and Jared and Addie went on to the end. 

I am so glad we had the chance to go.  It was so fun to catch up and watch Ben's family in action.  One of the things I love to do is observe people and how they function as families, as couples and individuals.  I came back feeling inspired in ways I can improve my life and the way my family runs.  What can be better than a vacation where you get to laugh a lot, your kids have a great time and you come home feeling like a better person?

Are these really my girls?

Addie: P-U! It stinks in here!
Me: I don't smell anything.
Addie: It smells like Lucy's brand.
Kimber: It smells like your breath.

My friends are old

A long time ago I realized that all of my friends are old.  I do have lots of young friends but I'm sort of a loner and I prefer to stay to myself.  I'm not one to get together with girlfriends for a girls night or to schedule play dates for our kids so we can sit and chat.  And it seems like in any calling I serve in it's with people who could by my parent or grandparent.

I mentioned this to my sister one day and she brought up a good point.  She said it's nice to be with those kinds of people because they are seasoned and wise.  There's no competition for them.  Rather they offer wise advice on how to be a better wife, mother and person since they have already been there and done that.  I've thought about that many times since it seems like I am surrounded by so many "seasoned" people, especially women.

I wonder if this is why I often feel like I don't fit in with the young girls in my ward and around town.  I feel like we have very different interests and priorities that I just prefer to stick to myself and do my own thing.  I have even wondered if Jared's calling effects how I feel about this.  He was 26 when he was called to serve in in the Bishopric and in the nearly five years that have passed we have greatly matured.  I wonder if I feel older because we entered a phase of life people don't usually enter until they are about ten years older than Jared was.  I'm not sure if this really plays a part or not but I've questioned this.

Tomorrow I turn 30.  I'm officially leaving my 20's behind and moving on to another decade, a little more seasoned if you will.  My 20's were great but I won't miss them.  I'll never forget my 27th birthday (here and here).  It's by far the best year I've had as of yet but I'm ready to move on and anxious for what this new decade might bring.

Speaking of seasoned friends, this morning a sweet friend in my ward, Joyce Meservey, dropped by with a birthday goodie plate.  She could easily be my grandma since she is in her 70's.  She never forgets my birthday or any special event in my life.  She has dropped in for a visit after the birth of each of my girls.   

When I first moved to Taylor I was assigned as her Visiting Teacher.  I always enjoyed our visits and got to know her very well.  She is a little rough around the edges and many people are intimidated by her. But not me.  She spent many years in the Army and is strong willed, honest and blunt.  But that's what I like about her.  She also has a wonderful sense of humor.

Joyce is from Tennessee and great up in an abusive home.  I've heard her tell many times how her father would kick her mom in the stomach while she was pregnant.  She's overcome many obstacles in her life and I think that's why she is such a gem of a person.

She is your typical retired Grandma with a closet full of outdated dresses in mint condition with the shoes and purses to match.  One time she came to Church wearing a white dress, white nylons and white shoes.  Add her cotton-top and she was quite angelic looking.  I told her she looked very celestial and she asked if I believed that her dress was actually 20 years old!?  In my head I'm thinking, only 20?  But my words said, "wow!  Look at the condition of it!  It's perfect!"  It was from her son's wedding and it was still in style.  Or at least that's what she said.

Every year her and her husband, Harold, take a road-trip across the country to visit their families. (Harold actually deserves his own post.  He's from Maine and is the FASTEST talker I have ever met.  A few weeks ago I overheard a new lady in our ward ask him if he has ever done auctions.  I about died I was laughing so hard inside.)   I swear every year she tells me it's going to be their last trip.  This last time she stayed behind in Tennessee to be with her sister for a few extra weeks.  I was so surprised when Harold told me she refused plane tickets because she would be taking the Greyhound Bus!  But it also made my day when I received a postcard from her telling us she would be happy to see us when she got home.

One thing I love about Joyce is how patriotic she is.  She loves our country and there's not a doubt in my mind that if she was able to she would still be enlisted in the Army today.  Her house is adorned with America flags, as is her Grand Marquis.  She's also a cow collector and an Elvis lover.  For years and years she has got up early and went for a morning walk.  She says that's why she has stayed thin and healthy.

She recently told me that her and her husband eat dinner at 4:00 and then go to bed early because that's the way old people do it.  I love her honesty.

I'm not sure how this all ties together but in my mind my birthday has caused some reflection.  Maybe I should actually start telling people I'll be 70 tomorrow.