On Saturday we decided that we’d had enough of work for a while. To celebrate K2’s one month birthday, we went to downtown to pretend that we were tourists. We went to a free transportation museum. They have a big steam locomotive and their web site indicated that on Saturday mornings they had an up close and personal tour of the locomotive. When we got there we found out that the tour was not available for some reason. We were able to take some pictures and learn about some of the town's history associated with trains and the downtown area.

We had lunch in a famous hotel. It was a creepy place and have decided not to go to the restaurant again. We learned that a famous (I guess not too famous because I can’t remember his name) bank robber was caught there when the hotel caught fire in the 30’s.

Birthday Boy


We’ve seen some interesting behavior from Underfoot this week. As I’ve been spending more time at work, Underfoot’s behavior has changed. I’ve learned that he needs Daddy time. When Underfoot gets attention from Daddy he is pleasant. When he doesn’t, he is grouchy. He has learned how to pedal a tricycle and wears his new Thomas the Train helmet. He also wanted to try on one of K2’s diapers. It fits about as well as a little Speedo. Kind of reminds us of a guy we saw running on the beach in Mexico! (This was from a family vacation.)

Underfoot received a gift from his Uncle AGK - a pair of flaming Converse shoes. Underfoot loves to wear them, along with his cars swim suit and swim shirt.

I went to another doctor this week and found out that I likely don’t have valley fever, just allergies. The irrigation system continues to cause me headaches. I thought it was all working well last Sunday, only to find out on Tuesday that another part had failed. I disassembled and reassembled one component for the fourth time on Friday and it is finally working the way I’d originally hoped it would. With luck, it will work now.

Mama decided that she needed to back off some stress this week. She made 12 loaves of Zucchini bread, 12 loaves of regular bread, plus 2 loaves of stuffed bread and 12 dozen cookies. My coworkers and our neighbors have been very pleased with the results! I think her record is 48 loaves in one weekend during her graduate studies. (I wasn’t around back then. . . .) Underfoot brought me two cookies this afternoon. He’s learned how to open the freezer, open the plastic bag, and retrieve the goodness.
I picked a watermelon and ate it for breakfast the other day.

Watering & Haircuts

Happy Father's Day!

What a week! I have been working a lot on a temporary assignment. When I’ve been home, I have spent time working on the irrigation system. On Friday I got home from work and discovered that one valve had been stuck open all day. I have spent a lot of time figuring out how the irrigation system is supposed to work.

On Wednesday, Mama gave Underfoot and I haircuts. I was sad to see Underfoot's locks go, but it was time. Mama has gotten much better about giving haircuts than she did when we married. While Underfoot was getting his haircut, he kept wiggling around. As he would wiggle, the cut got shorter and shorter. Even with a candy in his mouth, he bolted for an escape to the sandbox. As he attempted to jump into the sandbox, he dove into the railroad tie and got a goose egg on his forehead. He sat still for the rest of his cut. He even cuddled with his Mama.

K2 had the shortest doctor’s appointment ever. From entering the office to leaving, it took a total of 6 minutes. The challenge was mostly with shepherding Lucas in and out of the door.

Mama’s brother, A., started his missionary service on Wednesday. He will be at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT for the next few weeks. He is super-excited to be there.

On Saturday, we went to a potluck with my coworkers. Underfoot was in heaven with all the animated Cars’ figurines.

Irrigation

Grandpa, Grandma, and Grandmother Locey (L4’s parents and grandmother) came to meet K2 on Friday evening. They came with great smiles and energy to help us with our outside. We are preparing our garden for the next phase of planting. Grandma Locey helped pull the onions and other plants to get one of the beds ready. Grandpa Locey helped Lance with putting in an irrigation system. Grandmother’s job was to hold K2. K2 loved being held by Grandmother Locey. Underfoot would play with Grandmother by bringing her a ball to throw to him. He did it multiple times. Underfoot would also push Grandmother around in her wheelchair. We are glad they made the sacrifice to visit us.

When I came home from running errands on Thursday night, L4 was making arrangements for our family to go to a hotel. We packed and went for a short family retreat. The next morning L4 and I took turns attending the temple while our boys played or took naps. It was a lot of fun to be together and not have a mounting list of chores in front of us.

K2 visited the doctor this week and has gained weight. He is 8 pounds 14 ounces. He sleeps pretty well at night and during the day.

Underfoot is using a lot more words. We all enjoy his happy smiles.

L4 has felt very driven to get a watering system in the ground. On Saturday he dug trenches, cut pvc pipes, glued the pipes together, hired neighbor boys to dig trenches, and still has more to do. We currently have six zones. We might add two more before it gets covered up. He worked from the break of day to about 11:30 pm last night. We want our backyard to grow, and it needs water. L4 is working to get it water. We hope for success soon!

I learned how to make pretzels this week.

On Monday L4 was temporarily reassigned to a task related to the one that took him to NM last year. He will support this new effort for two more weeks. L4 is excited to do something different. Unfortunately, his days of working from home have come to an end.

Desert Gardening

This week we were blessed to have J., Mama’s mom, stay with us until Thursday. J. helped Mama and I with a bunch of random projects around the house. She helped us plant, paint, make curtains, and play. Each night Underfoot would ask J. to “sing” with her flute so that he could dance to her playing. After scriptures, we would have “singing” time, and Underfoot would dance. It was fun to watch Underfoot dance.J. also painted our shed, shelled the pecans we were given, and was a consultant for landscape design for the backyard. We are grateful for her help, knowledge, and time. We are also thankful to K., Mama’s Dad, for encouraging J. to come and supporting us. What a great service they have given us!

Underfoot loves his brother so much that he wants to be in all the same places K2 is. Underfoot will crawl into the bassinet, bed, or couch to be next to his brother. He loves to give K2 kisses and to hold him. If we would let Underfoot, he would carry K2 all places. Underfoot is very interested in K2’s well being and will name his emotions or what he is doing. Underfoot loves to give kisses when K2 is asleep.
L4 was connected into the County Extension Office through the University. (Side Note: If anyone has any problems growing anything in their area, contact your local extension office. It is done through the agricultural school of your state and is for public use. That’s where our tax dollars go. Might as well use it.)

L4 has learned all sorts of things about how to grow plants in the desert. He has bought a book called “Desert Gardening” by George Brookbank. It is for elevations up to 3500 feet. He LOVES to read it. We spent our evening at Lowe’s last night getting an irrigation system. The lady at the register gave us a 10% off discount on our purchase (which was significant!). I think she did it because we had 2 screaming children trying to tear the store apart. One by running around and the other by screaming his head off.

K2 sleeps well every other night and loves to be swaddled. We are so happy he is here and part of our family. We are especially grateful for the peace that comes from knowing we are a family forever and that come what may, we will love it.