Monday, April 30, 2012

Saturday was the big day.  We decided the week before when we were all there that we might as well go ahead with the yard sale the next week....( we had been thinking about having it in the middle of May)  So when Kelley and KC and Dennis were there, we had them move some of the heavy stuff out onto the gazebo.  We had gone through everything that we wanted and had a good assortment of things left to sell.
Teina and Brenda went up there Tuesday and Thursday and worked hard on cleaning everything up and getting it  organized and ready to put out.  We were supposed to get a pretty good rain storm Thursday night, so they just covered up all the stuff that was out there with tarps.
I picked Teina up at 7:00 and we headed up there.   I stopped a few places there in Providence and hung up the yard sale signs I had made. The weather had turned really cold ( wouldn't you know it?) and there was frost all over the grass when we got there.
What was really crazy though was all the people wanting to come to the sale at 8:00!  There were cars lined up along the road in front of mums place when we got there.  Ha!  We were not ready and told them they would have to wait till we got the stuff put out. ( We had left a lot of stuff in the house that we didn't dare put out when no one was going to be there to watch)
The posters I made said it wasn't supposed to start till 9:00, but they were chomping at the bit to get in there.  Some people just  went ahead and started going through stuff even though we asked them to wait till 9:00.  I guess I'm not aware of what yard sale etiquette is!    ( Leslie had put an add in the paper, so that's how so many people knew about it.)
We hurried as fast as we could and got everything set out and tagged.
I was really surprised by how many people came! And even more surprised by what they thought was really cool. 
Julie came up and brought some neat stuff to sell and Leslie brought some things to sell too.
Brad and Amy came with their cute family.  It was good to see them.
 The rock garden looked pretty even though we haven't done anything at all with it. What flowers were left after the deer got done were trying to bloom and everything was green from the rain we had had.  
 One nice lady waiting patiently till we were ready...
For the amount of people that came through there, I thought we would see more of the folks that lived around the neighborhood that we knew.  There were several that Brenda knew from when she worked for Providence city.
I guess most of the old neighbors are gone now.  Mum was about the last one of her friends still kickin.  Kind of sad to think how much everything has changed.  What was cool though was to hear from so many people how they loved this place.  Several said that they had been driving by and looking in for years and had always loved to see how beautiful it looked.  Others said they had their wedding pictures taken there or had just taken pictures of the flowers and the buildings.  Many said they had loved our parents. 
I think we could have sold the place about 4 times over.  Everyone asked what we were doing with the place and when we said we had a buyer, they would say, " Oh if I had only known, or has the sale gone through?  One lady just kept going on about how she wanted a place just like this...she was tired of the city life in Salt Lake and just wanted the peace and quiet of a small town again...are you sure it's sold? 
There is a peaceful feeling in that yard.  I don't know what it is...kind of like stepping out of the world into our own paradise.  We heard a lot of that too..." Oh this place is magical" or "what was it like to grow up in this enchanted place?"  I had to fight back the tears talking to these people about what we were giving up.

We sold a lot of the stuff...some people came back several times and brought others with them.  People kept coming even after it was over and we had cleaned everything up.  We made a pile to go to the DI and moved a few things back in the old house that we are going to try to sell online.
When all was said and done and the money calculated and divied up, we came out pretty well. Many thanks to Brenda and Teina for all their hard work of getting everything ready to sell.  That was a dirty, hard job!  I think we all felt like it had gone well ... that it had been worth it and a success.
Happy Birthday to my wonderful son.  Wow!  My baby is 22!  Can't begin to tell how much joy he brings to our family!
Feel so blessed to have him for my son
Some pictures over the years...in no particular order.  Ahhhh made me smile to remember when...

He's always willing to help out with what ever needs to be done
He got his new car...learning to drive a stick and his first few days with the car ( what an adventure!)...that's something he'll remember!

He has been adored and loved by his sisters since the day he came into this world

So cute with Camille's kids...he'll be a good dad some day
Love to listen to him play the piano


He's got great friends...I'd be proud to have any of them for my own son

KC and Kelley are the best of friends and just enjoy spending time together...fishing, working, serving or just hanging around...lots of love and respect between those two.







KC on his way to the temple...so glad that he loves the gospel and lives it every day.


























Wasn't he the cutest little boy?  Katie was pretty much second mom to him.
The time I've had with KC since he got home from his mission has been priceless to me. 
Happy Birthday  KC!  Love you so much!

Friday, April 27, 2012

The chicks are growing at an incredible rate of speed!  I am not exaggerating  when I say they grow about an inch every day! 
We moved them into this luxury hotel when they outgrew their first box. 
They are not cute little puff balls anymore...now they look like regular birds...about the size of a crow.  They eat and drink constantly though so I guess that's why they are growing so fast.  We have had them outside for the past little while cause they were getting kind of stinky, plus, it has been really warm.  
Then yesterday, it turned cold and rainy and we thought even with the heat lamp, it might be too cold for them.  So Kelley and KC carried their mobile home into the garage.  I love how Kelley cares for them and  fixes up their house so they will be comfortable.  He always checks to see if they have tipped over their water ( which they do all the time!...once again...not the brightest) makes sure they have food and are warm enough.  He is a better momma hen than I am!
 



Last night our home teachers came over and by the time they left it was 9:45.  We had a busy afternoon and hadn't eaten dinner so I was scrambling for something to make quick. hmmmmm... eggs, bacon and toast.  That's always good!  I'm probably counting my chickens before they hatch, but I'm really looking forward to the day when we will always have fresh eggs on hand!