Memory Tag - You it!!!

Many of my blogger friends and family have been doing the memory tag and it is fun to read all thier memory comments, so....



Here are the rules:



1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!



2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments. I can't wait to see what people remember.

Finally!!

Well about a month ago Jake & I put an offer in on a house that was accepted. After calling and telling dad the good news, he suggested that I call around and see if any soil reports on file for the house (due to blue clay problem in St George).

While trying to get a copy of the report, I called the City of Washington's building department. Figuring they would have one on file. The lady was really nice and started researching the house. She didn't find a copy of the soil tests, but she did find out that the final building inspection had never been completed, so the house had no Certificate of Occupancy.

The house was built 5 years ago and it just fell through the cracks, and people started living in it. We contacted the sellers (which it is bank owned due to foreclosure) and they had to get the CO.

We have been waiting patiently, but were starting to get a little worried. Today I got the call that the house has now passed final inspection (they had to do a few minor things like more fire alarms and such).

With our interest lock going to expire soon (we locked in at a good rate) everyone now is scrambling to get the house closed before the lock expires. So if everything goes as planned we will be closing on our new house next Friday and moving in the following weekend (carpets need to be cleaned and such before we move in and Jake is gone part of the week, so we have to wait to actually move in).

Keep your fingers crossed. I'M SO EXCITED!!!

Oh yeah, I guess I could let you know some details. The house is less than a mile away from my parents (Peg's), on the opposite side of the freeway. 3 Bedroom 2 Bathroom 1547 Sq ft, sits on the top of the hill with nice view of Red Cliffs area. No neighbors behind us (just a small wooded area that is too steep to have housing development).

Broken Wrist

OK - per Christy & Heather's request here is the really dumb story as to how I broke my wrist.

Sunday after the reunion Jake and I were at Albertson's doing our weekly grocery shopping. We had just checked out and was headed for the truck. Jake had the cart, as he always unloads it into the vehicle. I was walking to the passenger side to get in. The next thing I knew I was on the BURNING HOT asphalt (temp outside approx 110 degrees). I don't remember feeling like I was going to fall or anything, I don't even remember the actual fall. The best I can guess is that I passed out, since all I remember is walking then being on the ground hurting and burning.

Jake hadn't heard me fall since it apperently happened right as he hit the unlock button for the truck and the unlocking sound masked my falling sounds. I had just disappeared then he heard me saying I needed help.

He had to phyiscally pick me off the ground as the position I was in was not condusive for my skinned knee or injured wrist to assist in my standing up. When we got home Jake unloaded the groceries and then I decided that the wrist was in bad enough shape that we needed to get it x-rayed.

We went to ER, x-rayed, and found that the Lunate bone in my left wrist is broken completely through and is "somewhat displaced". They don't know why I passed out, probably just the heat (and we had just eaten at McDonalds before shopping, so it wasn't lack of nourishment or fluids)

That Monday I went to Orthopedic Specialist Doctor. He decided to put me in carpal tunnel brace instead of cast, with my promise not to take it off for 3-1/2 to 4 weeks, which he did since it's so hot here and casts are more cumbersome, and I'm old enough to not take if off even if it's feeling better. Then I can only take it off for short intervals for the following 2 weeks after. If I'm having trouble moving the wrist or have much pain during the 2 weeks of short intervals w/o brace, I have to go back in to have re-x-rayed. At that point they will decide what the next course of action will be. So lets all hope in a few more weeks that wrist movement is easy w/ no pain!!!

Anyway - I'm a klutz.

Quick Post

OK lots to write about, but I'll make this short since I'm typing with one hand.

1st - Bulkley Family Reunion - great to see everyone!!!

2nd - Hot Air Balloon Festival - over 30 balloons all at once - beautiful

3rd - New niece born - June 28th @ approx 2:30 A.M. - 7lbs 11oz - dimple in her chin - Patsey Anne Blake

4th - Broke my wrist today - I'm a Klutz!!!!

Various Pictures Below.

Jake's Family Reunion

Today was the family reunion for the Alvey's (I think that is how you spell it). His grandmother's on his dad's side of the family. Anyway, I was pre-warned about the hullabloo that would take place, so I was prepared.

After lunch, Uncle Ben started hauling out his ammo. He had a few tubs of water balloons and water guns prefilled for the war. No, the kids didn't instigate the water war, it was Jake's uncle!!! Jake knew it would happen, so we had gone to Walmart and purchased our own 108 oz water guns (biggest one there!!!).

After the first attack was made all hell broke loose. People started scrambling to thier vehicle to collect thier stashed ammo. The funniest was when Jake's great aunt (his grandma's oldest sister - brown shirt in the picture all the Alvey siblings below) decided to particiapte and soaked some of her other siblings that were being respected as elders and not getting wet. Once they were wet no one was safe!!!

Jake's Grandma Thema is in the blue shirt.

Jake terrorizing Clayton (his cousin)

Uncle Ben Instigated the whole thing!!

Nothing New

Ok so 2 weeks have past since I blogged last. And I really don't have anything new to report. Last weekend Jake & I stayed close to home and just relaxed. Which was nice since he has to drive to California every week and he's getting a little burned out.

This weekend was pretty much the same. Anne came over on Saturday and cleaned for a few hours to work off some of the money I gave her for her New York trip she is saving for. She did such a good job!!!

Sunday I took family pictures for Heather, Shawn & family. Heather and Shawn are moving away soon and they wanted to get family pictures done before they leave, and since I tend to have a pretty good eye with photography, they have had me do it.

After pictures we went to breakfast and then strolled through Home Depot and dreamed of what we would do to a future house.

Well that's pretty much it. Pretty boring, right! Well, maybe more excitement next week.

Saturday in Garfield County

So those of you who know me, know that if I have to pack my own toliet paper for an outting it's probably not my biggest idea of a fun time. Although I am starting to enjoy some outdoor activities.

Jake's dad does community service for his dedicated hunter's license. For his community service he has a deal that he goes and monitors guzzlers around Garfield county. This weekend Jake and I were invited to go 4 wheeling with him while he checked a few of them.

Friday night we loaded up both our four wheelers, Jake's new 700 Raptor sports wheeler and my 360 Praire (Jake's old wheeler), and head off to Panguitch to stay the night at my Grandma Shirley's house.

Saturday morning we get up and meet Bart (Jake's dad) right outside of Red Canyon. Unload the bikes and off we go. I'm not real experienced at 4 wheeling yet, so Bart made sure that we only took easy trails.

Just after starting on the trail I decided to pull the camera out and take some landscape pictures. In order to save time, I decided to leave the camera around my wrist for easy access. BAD IDEA. The next time I stopped to take pictures it would not turn on due to all the dust that had gotten on the retractable lens apperatus. It took us about 20 minutes to get it dusted off enough for it to start working again.

At our first stop I just relaxed while Bart and Jake checked on the guzzler.

Our second stop we decided to have a few snacks for lunch. YUMMY, beanie weanies, pears and cheese w/crackers.

I guess now is a good time to tell you that I have this wierd facination with "funky" trees. I love when a tree is bare with branches that are twisty and curled and look a little eire. I had told Bart about this facination earlier, so after checking the second guzzler he said he would take me to close spot that had some "funky trees". Up the trail just a minute or so away we come upon a batch of cool trees. I took a few pictures and Bart said we needed to go up the road a little more. Jake and Bart were in front of me and as I came around a bend straight ahead an entire area of trees, but off to my right was a view that took my breath away and stopped me in my tracks.

I had taken few more pics than this, but was informed that memory was full. ??? What??? How could my memory be full, I had just transfered all my pictures to my computer and cleared the memory card. After trying to figure it out for a few minutes, Jake asks about the memory card. The memory card?? GREAT, low and behold it's still in my laptop, so much for taking a bunch of pictures.

My luck with taking pictures is terrible. Half the time I forget to grab the camera, then when I do I forget to take pictures or I run out of battery and dont' have any back-up. And now when I remember the camera, remember extra batteries, and remember to take pictures - I don't a memory card. No matter what color I dye my hair I will forever be a blonde!!!

Off we go to find the 3rd and last guzzler for the day. After riding for about 20 minutes or so, we come to Tropic Resevoir. The water was the most awesome blue/green color. Toward the shoreline it was dark blue and at the deep areas it was a blue/green color that is impossible to describe. Sorry no pictures, no memory card.

On our way to find the third guzzler we ended up on a trail that made a little nervous. The right side of the trail was a little bit of a downhill slope. The trail had "whoopties" every 15 feet or so and just kept going up. Sorry no pictures, no memory card. About a mile or so down this road, we were at a dead end. Not a good looking dead end either. We had to turn around in a tight spot with now drop off areas both ahead of us and on one side of us. Did I mention that I'm not real expierence at 4 wheeling.

Never did locate that last guzzler, but it was time to start heading back to the truck. We were all starting to run low on fuel. So now instead of our leisurely ride both Jake and Bart kicked it into high gear and head back to the truck. Of course, I'm bring up the rear and trying to keep up. The entire time I was in a cloud of thier dust and at time unable to even see the road in front of me.

Back at the truck with pretty much fumes in all 3 wheelers. Trip odometer says that we went 61 miles throughout the day. 7 hours of riding. Did I mention that I've only riden a wheeler for short times only a few times, and most of those time I was riding w/ Jake, so I only had to drive part of the time.

I was exausted. I'm glad I didn't have to do anything while they loaded the bikes up and tied them down.

So now it's Sunday and my arms are sun burned, the muscles in my arms are so sore (I didn't realize that I have those muscles in my arms), and my back has felt better. So the moral of this story. WHEN DO WE GO AGAIN!!!

ME IN MY BABY BLUE HELMET, GOGGLES. MY GLOVES MATCH TOO.

JAKE BEFORE HE DECIDED TO WEAR HIS HELMET. THE GOGGLES AND HUNTING CAP JUST WEREN'T A GOOD LOOK FOR HIM.