Our Newest Addition

Well, if you've ever wondered what Phil does when he goes away for Navy stuff, let me tell you:) He had to go to Colorado Springs for two weeks to oversee a project there. Timing wise it worked out perfect because he has just finished up the two houses in Star Valley.

Anyway, they have been working really hard and ahead of schedule. So for the weekend he was going to relax and go to a Renaissance Festival. But, on his way, he passed a Harley Davidson shop that was having a big shin-dig...you know Phil, couldn't just drive by! (They were having a sale!!!!) So, now we have a problem of how to get his old Harley to Colorado Springs to pick up the new Harley!!!! I know everyone is probably really feeling sorry for us at this point:)

We had such a great trip to Yellowstone over the 4th of July that we talked about getting a bigger road bike "when we get older". Well, can you guess how old I feel now because that was just a few weeks ago....anyway, I'm excited! Can't wait to go on a ride!!!

Can't wait to see what he brings back from New York in September!!!

The Big Day 12-22-07

Our Fabulous Honeymoon

What can I say? My first cruise was definitely worth waiting for. We had a fabulous time. In fact, I don't think I've ever been that relaxed in my life.

Potato Canon

Yep! I now know what a potato canon is!!!! Gone my whole, entire, long life without ever being exposed to such a device and now my life has definitely been enlightened:)

You know me, trying to get everything just right for Phil's family reunion which would be at our house. So, I'm frantically trying to get the house cleaned, figure out what food we needed to buy and all the other stuff to worry about with reunions.

I'm so grateful I have such a supportive husband! He was also worrying:) Not about the things I was, but making sure he had all the parts for his potato canon! We had to go to the storage unit and rummage through things to find them. Then, when I thought he was purchasing plumbing supplies for the spec home (which he was), he was also buying the end caps. Then when we go to Afton, I think we bought King's and Family Dollar out of cheap hair spray. He couldn't find all Aqua Net which I hear has the best punch to it. To top it all off, we had a long day getting all his loose ends tied up so he could go to Colorado for the Navy for two weeks. So finally, after going back to the storage unit and finding the priceless Ferguson sack, we located the end caps he had bought. Yeah, you go it....we didn't leave there until around 9:30...but we had all the potato cannon parts.

The next day was busy getting the final things done around the house and going to Logan to pick up food. But I sensed a bit of tension in my funny husband's voice when we stopped in Smithfield to get a 50 pound bag of Idaho potatoes and they didn't have any. So, yes, we went into Preston - couldn't go home without them!!!

It was a really fun weekend! I loved watching my husband as he demonstrated his canon for all those who would watch. It was pretty amazing. They were launching spuds, corn, sticks and everything else they could cram down the barrel and boy did they fly. Definitely had altitude and distance.

But the priceless part was seeing him so excited and having so much fun!!!! Definitely one of his strengths - always having fun! Gotta love him for that too:)

Archibald Family Reunion '08

OK, so there is an extra black box that appears on the blog, but not when I'm creating it....until I figure it out - enjoy!

The Archibald Family Reunion was up Cub River Canyon this year. We had family stay at our house while others stayed in cabins at Deer Cliff and trailers at Albert Moser Campground.

Ivan had 5 of his 7 children here along with grandkids and a great-granddaughter. What a fun family! I was glad that I was finally able to meet more family members and get to know them. Mike & Debbie were in charge of the reunion and did a fantastic job!!!

Of course, Phil was right again. There was tons of food. I should say - fantastic food! I always worry about not having enough to eat. Well Ben & Rose have enjoyed helping me clean out the fridge because I can't possibly eat all that was left here:)

We were able to go to Clarkston Cementary where many of the Archibald relatives are buried. Very interesting to look at the headstones and hear stories about ancestors.

Only one accident that required stitches...and that honor goes to Taylor. What a guy! Wiped out (I don't know the tough, cool words to be using here) on his long board and left part of his elbow on the asphalt. I don't think I have ever heard anyone so excited to tell about what happened. Taylor was so excited - guess it was worth it?!?! Oh, Dr. Eskelson says that he has a nice butt - had to check out the road rash.....

Had a nice trip to the Preston ER where I was able to spend time with my friend whose husband had just been brought in from a car accident and visit with others I haven't seen for a while. We also had the honor of seeing Dale Critchilow (Napoleon Dynamite star) as he came into the ER.

Our Kids (The Brady Bunch II)

I guess this will be a great place to brag about our wonderful kids! UNDER CONSTRUCTION-trying to be the next Carol Brady:)

• Stevie & Rich

• Korahle & Casey
  

• Rachel & Chance

• Mallari & Zach

• Makayla & Kyle

• Jeremiah

• Taylor
  

• Bryce
  

And last, but not least, our beautiful Eliza!!!

Pretty good looking bunch huh?!?!?!!!!!!

OUR STORY

I decided that it would be a good idea to take a minute and write about how we met. When I think about it, it sounds like a fairy tale - kinda hard to believe. But, it was definitely amazing and absolutely meant to be!

On August 22, 2007 I was madly getting ready for the following day - "the first day of school". Just checking my email before I went to bed. I had a message on LDSsingles.com which I usually deleted. I was happy with my life, just taken back my maiden name and very busy in my life. However, this time I had a hard time pushing the delete button. Seemed crazy because I wasn't a member and I couldn't read the email. So much to do I just left it. Had a great day with my little 3rd grade munchkins. Then once again I decided to check my email which was usually just deleting the junk mail. Huh, had a flirt from Yippeewahoo. The name definitely grabbed my attention, but left it at that. For 5 days it really bothered me that I couldn't read his email. So the cheap-skate I am decided I would splurge and spend the $15 for a month to be able to read it. Hoped he was worth it and not a waste of $$$.

Well, what can I say. Then the instant messaging began. 5-6 hours a night. He was so easy to talk to and kept me laughing all the time. Definitely impressed with his "honesty". Couldn't figure out why he was telling me so much, but I did appreciate it. This went on until Labor Day. He said he would be coming through and would like to meet. (That's a whole other story:) I was having an anxiety/panic attack and decided we could meet in Logan. That would be a safe place to leave him if he turned out to be another "single dweeb"! But as the day went on, I decided that I needed to go up the canyon to pick up my mail and I thought he would probably like Deer Cliff. So, when he finally called, we met at the bottom of the canyon and we cruised. As we ate and talked, I knew that night that he was definitely someone that I wanted to be with.

That is when the whirlwind began:

Tuesday, Sept. 4th Had to pick up his dogs in Salt Lake from doggy jail. Came through Riverdale to see me. Had a terrible thunderstorm while the Young Men& Women were floating the river - he got to see what my life is about! Kids came out to meet him.

Thursday, Sept. 6th School canceled due to collapsed roof (Yippee!!!) Called me to meet him at Jensen Lumber. Drove to Bear Lake and talked for hours!!!

Saturday, Sept. 8th Brought the 4-wheelers over and rode up the canyon to the ice caves. Stopped and fished along the way.

A week of instant messaging:)

Friday, Sept. 14th Had a nice dinner at Maddox Inn in Brigham City on his way to drill. Came out to the truck and he pulled out a diamond and gave to me!!!! It was absolutely beautiful. WOW!!! I will say that I don't think I have ever been so surprised in my life and I didn't hesitate for a second. I knew I wanted to spend my life with Phil. I never had any doubt - which is so out of my character.

THEN THE FUN BEGAN - TRYING TO EXPLAIN THIS STORY TO 8 KIDS:) It was definitely a "do as I say, NOT a do as I do" situation!!!!

We immediately started working on our temple cancellation & clearance and for the next 3 1/2 months, waiting to hear, it felt like eternity. But I have to say, he was definitely worth the wait. Someone I've waited for my entire life!!!! We were sealed in the Logan Temple on December 22, 2007.

P.S. He was definitely worth the $$$$

Piece of Art!

Well, if you are going to shatter a window you might as well do it in an artistic way. Right? A couple of weeks ago I was out doing what I love - mowing the lawn. Gave me a chance to think about everything we needed to do to get ready for the Archibald reunion (Oh, Phil was at drill in Salt Lake this weekend too!!!) I was just cruising along and I heard a ping as I turned the corner - just pictured the little pebble flying over and hitting my metal flowers - so I cruised on. It wasn't until I came in the house that I saw it. Of course I let out a little shreek and scared Jeremiah who was sleeping on the couch. He had slept through the whole thing. When I was talking to Rachel on the phone I couldn't help but laugh...she couldn't believe I was laughing. What else are you suppose to do? Now it would definitely have been a different story if anyone else would have done it!!! So now, I'll be able to keep my talented husband around a little longer to fix it too!!!!

Snake Charmer?

I had forgotten how much I HATE SNAKES until I found one in the basement! Of course it was on drill weekend when Phil was in Salt Lake, Jeremiah had gone to Burley to work and of course Stevie, Rich, Rachel & Chance are off in their own little corners of the world. There I was, face-to-face (I guess, if I could have seen its face) with a snake. At first I thought it was a piece of brown caulking curled up by the log. Seemed weird that it would be there, so I investigated with a flashlight and absolutely no movement. THEN when I came back from "my cleaning rampage" it was slithering across the floor. Of course I screamed and had to tell someone so I called Rachel. A lot of help she was! She told me to put it in a box and take it outside - little did she know that one of us was leaving that house DEAD and I didn't plan on it being me. Then she suggested that I go get Wes & Marie...yeah! Where would it be then? So, I bucked up and got brave!!! Got the shovel (from the laundry room hole:) and decided to do what my dad did with rattlesnakes - I was going to chop it's head off! Sounds good huh? Well, I knew where it's head was because of the direction it was moving and I proceeded to "chop & KILL". One slight problem that I hadn't anticipated - it wouldn't chop in to!!! Of course I had started this and I couldn't stop...so I kept on hitting it with the shovel head until I decided that it couldn't have survived this ordeal. So I waited and I watched. Nothing - but now I could see it's mouth open - could have possibly had fangs too?!?! Then the real test of balancing it on my shovel and getting it OUT OF THE HOUSE! And with skill and precise handling I got the stupid thing out! WHEW!!! You look at the photos and decide ---it was a snake! It might as well have been a phython! Phil actually describes it pretty well - looked like a big night crawler. Hey, the picture is pretty impressive, huh?

The Guilt or My Prioities

I don't know if it's because I feel guilty that I've been going to do a blog for the last year or if it's because I feel so lucky and blessed with everything in my life that I decided to finally sit down and get started.

My mind has been going a million miles an hour lately with so many thoughts. As I was out playing with Ben & Rose this morning it triggered everything that has happened in my life over the last year that has been absolutely amazing. When Mo "the cat" came home this morning and is following me everywhere, brings back so many wonderful memories of my kids growing up. And while I was sitting in the Salt Lake Temple yesterday at Jessica & Mac's sealing ceremony it reminded me how blessed I truly am and how happy I am with my life.

But never the less, here goes my rambling!

Oh, one last note! I hope this counts for our personal history/geneology:)