Lookin' Good

In the words of Tyler,

"Lookin' Good".  Logan's had a couple days of nice weather and thus the work continues....

The level where the trailer is parked will contain pavers for our new patio.

Is it looking as good to you as it does to us? 

Chase is trying to hide from the camera, but he wanted to make sure I took a picture of their Mega Mind stickers that they plastered on the window. 

Marshall Gold Museum

When mom and dad were serving in Nauvoo, mom found some desendants of Logan had lived there.  One was Wilford Hudson, Logan's Great Great Great Grandfather, who also served in the Mormon Battalion, after the battalion had reached the end of their march, the war with Mexico had ended and these men went north to help build the mill at Sutter's Fort.   This inscription in this preserved tree trunk was inscribed by Wilford Hudon, upon leaving Mormon Island and returning to Winters Quarters to his family. 

 Tyler and Chase somewhat bored but trying to soak in some of their history.

That could have been Chase's GGGGG Grandpa. 

We shared the day with Alan and Deb.  We were delighted to have them come and spend a few days with us before heading to the Bay Area.  

Part of the museum, the boys had fun running through and in and out of this make-shift mine.

Chase found a lizard inside and was mezmorized watching it.

After doing some online research I found this site: http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=17637 which shows a plaque that is located at Folsom Lake, only a mile from our house...which says;

Early in 1848 W. Sidney S. Willis (ES) and Wilford Hudson, members of the Mormon Battalion, set out from Sutter’s Fort to hunt deer. Stopping on the South Fork of the American River, they found gold. They told their story on returning to the Fort and soon about 150 Mormons and other miners flocked to the site, which was named “Mormon Island”. This was the first major gold strike in California after James W. Marshall’s discovery at Coloma. The population of the town in 1853 was more than 2500. It had four hotels, three dry goods stores, five general merchandise stores, an express office and many small shops. The first ball in Sacramento County was held here, December 25, 1849. A fire destroyed the town in 1856 and it was never rebuilt. It’s site, one-half mile east of here, was inundated by Folsom Lake in 1955.

So close to home, yet we weren't even aware...

Transformation

 It started long before Brett left - he loves to work on the tractor and he while tinkering on the tractor he stated digging a hole in the backyard.  Then he left.   And left a messy hole.  When we were asked what it was for our reply would be , "We can't decide where the swimming pool should be, we keep moving it."

During the springtime Logan rented this backhoe and made the hole bigger. 

We were thinking we wanted a deep end swimming pool. 

Last August one day on a whim, he called a concrete cutter and he put in a door way into the basement.  There goes the pool idea. 

(Now our burglars can go out the door instead of the window).

 That would be the wall he knocked down that he is standing on.

Just a month ago, we had an excavator come and grade the yard and finish the hole. We are lucky enough to have a friend who works for Basalite and he was able to purchase for us pavers and retaining wall brick from the yard rejects for $100 a pallet, of course we reimbursed him. And they were personally delivered by him..(Which costs a wee bit of money too).
 

Logan has spent the past few weeks stacking the block and grading the soon to be patio. 

We are excited for the transformation and I want you to know in our heads it looks beautiful.  We will have a large grassy area,  a large patio off of the future kitchen area, which will have a stairway down to this lower level patio.  We are planning on a fountain of some sort in here, along with a hot tub and low level lighting. 

And a Fence!!! With cactus and pyracantha bushes. 

She's a Doll

Having learned my lesson with Ashlyn, I grabbed my camera right before we said good by to Jill and LaNea to get these last couple of picture.  Look at that curley hair.

Happy Birthday LaNea

LaNea has had quite the Birthday ~ 3 parties ~ And we were able to attend 2 of them.

Jill threw quite the party.

Delicious Monkey Cake

Pink and Green Cupcakes

Handmade Sock Monkeys, aren't they adorable?

Chocolate covered Pretzels ~ always a favorite

Gifts galore

Darling Pom Poms

Going with the theme ~ Chocolate Covered Bananas

The Birthday Girl

Yummmm ~ Cake!!

Little Quirks

When we travel, for no rational reason I like to look for the Steenblik name in the phone book, then I look to see how many LDS wards are listed.  I'd look up Jackson, but the name is so common that everyone has them and theres no really discovery of surprise when you find them, and besides, who knows if we are related or not.  But Steenblik is different, we are related.

When we traveled to Mammoth Lake, I didn't find any Steenblik's but I thought this was a close 2nd; Heidi and Dan Steenstra.

Easy Rider

This was the last weekend Logan thought the weather would be suitable for a motorcycle ride in the mountains, he said he wanted to see the changing color of the leaves, he really wanted to ride along a winding road.   As we ventured higher and higher all I saw were pine trees, pine trees of various types, oh yes - my favorite bush - sage brush, I don't think I'll ever get enough sage brush in my life time.

We left Friday and headed to Mammoth Lakes.  Thank goodness for all the warm weather gear, as the day worn on the elevation went higher, the temperature gage on the bike went lower.  By the time we arrived in Mammoth Lakes it was 57 degrees.   The next morning Logan took me to the Minaret Mountain Vista outlook to see this beautiful mountain range, at 51 degrees.   

Wow - So sexy in all layered up - Not!

Below is a view of the fault line that runs through the area.  It was about 30 feet deep. 

Of course there were trees changing color.  The aspen groves dot the landscape and are breath taking.  Or is that the cold air and high altitude?  It was a great get-a-way and to see part of California that is off the main path of travel. 

 

Brittany and Brett  - when you move back here this is where you want to fly fish.  The streams are plentiful, the bears are abundant, scenery is stunning and motorcycles are the ride that rules the road.

Lake Travis

On Sept 2nd, Logan and I headed to Houston for the blessing of Jaden and a weekend at Brenda and Alan's Lake Houses on Lake Travis in Austin.  We were treated to luxurious beds, plenty of bathrooms, great food, a gorgeous lake, beautiful granddaughters and grandson and breath taking sunsets.   

The First night there, Kevin and the girls headed to the lake for their nightly swim.   

The following morning, while the lake was still calm and the traffic was slow, Kevin challenged Brittany and Jill to swim across the lake.  A dare is a dare and off they went, while Logan and Eric with Halli and Peyton tagging along hopped on the jet skis to keep boaters clear of the girls while they were swimming.  Later Kevin admitted he hasn't swam across the lake.  Now he's the one challenged.  

Notice the house across the lake is for sale ~  hmmmmm.

The jet skis were definitely the favorite toy of the weekend.  Halli was always on the look out for her daddy coming in so she could get a ride on the jet ski.  I don't think she rode with anyone else.

And Kevin's favorite spin out spot was right in front of the boat house.  

The heavily used pathway from the houses to the boathouse.  It was a constant back and forth pattern.

This beauty below is only 7! 

Not 14.

And Lexie was only allowed this far without someone with her. 

After lunch we celebrated the birthdays. 

Love the cupcakes!

Especially LaNea, she had more than her share of cake this weekend. April did a birthday cake smash for her 1st Birthday. Click here to see the beautiful photos.

Peyton had her real birthday the following day.  She received a bike which Halli loved helping her ride, Peyton wasn't too sure about it though.

Ashlyn bathed in the kitchen sink and LOVED IT!

LaNea loves being tossed in the air.

April loved all the adults around to tend her kids and gave her a chance to take a spin on the jet skis.

Halli and Peyton were always on the look out for a ride and Grandpa Logan was more than happy to offer a ride.

The big red water slide did come out for the girls to play in.  It took Ashlyn a little getting use to.

Lexie was consuling Ashlyn assuring her it's okay.

.

I can't say these were LaNea's first steps, but they were her first steps captured on camera

And daddy was making a funny face he was so excited she was attempting to walk, but LeNea looks so happy I had to post it.

Thank goodness for air conditioning and a place to play inside.

Love those eyes. 

Last night on the Lake, another nightly swim, until the little fishies started nibbling.

Hours before the long drive home, Jill and Eric and LaNea heading out on the jet ski....and they didn't get too far, notice LaNea looks a little apprehensive.

Yup, they ended up in the lake, it took a minute or two but LaNea didn't think it was too bad.

Go here for April's take on the lake.

The drive home was long and the roads crowded, but we got there in time to clean up and dress for Jaden's blessing. 

And why I don't have picture of me and all the girls I don't know....

But I did get one with LaNea.