I went to tanners school today. I go for an hour every other week. On Wednesday. I get to read with the kids or cut paper. Whatever the etcher needs. My nose ring seems to start interesting conversations with the kids. I enjoy their openness with it. Their questions.it usually starts with the obvious. Is that a nose ring? Does it hurt? where did u get it done?

Today went a little further as Annabelle started telling me her sister had a belly ring. The ring was put in by her friends father and their home. Her sister is 17 so I asked, how did your parents feel about that?

She responded with oh my dad does not know.

Which got me thinking. Are there somethings a parent should not know? If a child tells u everything, what does it say about your relationship with that child?




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

What I am about to tell you could be described as: TMI

Disclaimer: this post contains a few naughty words. Read at your own risk.

We have been in our home for 1.5 years and during that time we have had issues with the master bathroom shower.  We sealed it after noticing that it smelled like Nutty Putty cave, we pulled apart the seat and rebuilt it after it busted its seams due to leaks, and I have cleaned  it with all sorts of various cleaners due to the grout looking dirty and the red fungus mold stuff that grew rampantly at the edges. Lets just say that this shower has has been nothing but a pain in the ass. 

Because of all these issues, it was no surprise when Nate saw mold. 

He then removed the offending tile and found it was covered in black, slimmy, mold. He pulled off the neighboring tile, and the next tile, and the next, until he was 4 tiles high and had removed the tiles from the entire perimeter of the shower. He also removed the backer board and the sheetrock before he was finished with the demolition.*  

In addition to the mold growing rampant behind the tiles, the backerboard, sheetrock, and  2 X 4's ect., during the demolition, ants (strangely enough) also became part of the equation. Ants? I know! It was strange.

We decided that the ants must have found the warm, moist environment suitable for baby rearing and moved on it, chewing up the 2X4's that support the exterior of our home, two stories above the ground. 

 

* the above photo is not the final demolition.

Essentially, whoever had built the shower, did not know what they were doing. Yes! This would be a great job for Holms. The person who built the shower did not properly install the tiles (they pratically fell off) he, at times, did not even use backerboard (I did not know backerboard was optional) and he built the shower in such a way that the water (instead of going into the drain) went in to the floor  (see figure 1).

Figure 1: How not to build a shower unless you want to make a great environment for mold, ants, and requiring a full demolition of the shower. (This diagram should not be used to build a real shower)

We feel very sad (and then pissed off.. and then we get sad again).

We feel sad because we have been on a real emotional ride (and we seem to still be riding). 

Lately its been a shit fest of bad luck. 

Months of bad luck. 

Or bad Karma.

Or God just hates us.

(What ever your preference.)

 Our luck, has been so epically** bad that our insurance agent knows us by  name, we have questioned our "goodness", and wondered about (once again) the sense of humor of that great man upstairs. Our luck has been so epically bad, that I made a list (see list 1:  "The epically bad luck of the Branch family").

** considered one of the most over used word of 2010 but after much consideration, I feel it is appropriate to use it here.

Photo 2: Nate watching his truck get towed

List 1: The epically bad luck of the Branch family 

1. Our truck was broken into and $3K of items stolen.
2. DEC: The tire fell off of the truck, while driving and on our way to go Christmas shopping.  This wreck caused wheel and body damage, and allowed me the experience of observing a tire fly through the air. (see photo 2)
3. DEC: The same day the tire fell off the truck, I was hit in my car while waiting to turn out of the Shopko parking lot. During the accident, I was so overwhelmed with life (already) that I literally just covered my face with my hands and waited for them to hit me.  Thankfully, no damage was observed. My car is a tank!
4. JAN: The same day we finished fixing the truck from the last accident, Nate was rear ended while sitting in the left hand turn lane at a stop light. 
5. JAN: Nate was rear ended (again), in my car, exactly a week from when the truck was hit. At a stop light also. Damage to my car was minimal at $300.00 for a new bumper. The only damage (we thought) was two impressions from bolts on the other car's license plate holder (My mom calls them dimples) in my bumper. The offensive car felt much more damage. Once again, MY CAR IS A TANK!



Photo 3: tarped deck




6. FEB: Nate started noticing a ringing in his ear that was most likely caused from whiplash in the second rear ending accident. After going to a doctor we learned the ringing could be permanent.
7. FEB: The deck off of the master bedroom is leaking in the garage. This was supposed to be our project this year, but with all the rain we have received the "leak" became a river and we had to remove all the sheetrock in the celling of the garage and wrap a tarp around the deck so it can dry out (that is a long sentence). I get the lovely job of making sure the snow and rain does not pile up on the tarp (the tarp currently has a foot of snow on it). This issue was supposed to be resolved before we moved in but it was most likely just covered up with a new piece of sheetrock. We (sarcastically) love the previous owners. 

And now I get to add to my list:

Number 8: Mold discovered in the master bathroom shower. (I could also add that our computers both broke***during this same time frame. Hence all the late posts after promising I was going to be a better poster)

Of course, Nate and I accept our luck and try to move on with as best an attitude as one can muster after being beaten down so many times. And so, with the latest series of luck, we decide to move downstairs  before starting the master bedroom / bathroom remodel  (I may be a little bit excited about this). 

But, before we can move downstairs we have to remodel it.

To be continued.....

Real men bring home the bacon, then cook it

About 6 months ago, Nate took over the cooking. I was burned out from cooking (over the last 15 years) and could only produce Burger King for dinner. This is all very important since it's written in our contract that as long as some one cooks the meals, our marriage will remain intact. Now, when I come home from work, I get the "slippers and a glass of wine" job.

If I would have had a computer: Go GOLD pants!

If Nate was writing this he would probably talk about the game but since I am writing about it I am going to focus on the Superbowl halftime... or what I did during the halftime.*
 *because I did not actually see the game** or the halftime.
**I was doing a puzzle.( Normally I watch the game.) ***
*** I may be a puzzle addict.****
**** Seriously. I have issues when it comes to puzzles (and a few other things).

We started out our halftime with a celebration of Kaityns 4th B-day. I think she is adorable. 

From Me (and the rest of the family)! (and Grandma Chris... that is a recycled gift / blanket!).

 Once the B-day party was finished, Grandma Bev gave the Grandkids their (early) B-day pillow pets. The grandkids have been wanting one of these identity-confused toys for a while and Grandma Bev decided it was her mission to supply them each with one.

A bad photo that captured a great moment: Pillow pets and their owners.

 We also celebrated Casi and her 4.0 last quarter.

I was reminded during the last state of the state of the union address (that's right I actually listen to these*****)  that it is important to celebrate your kids accomplishments.

When it comes to Casi's grades she works hard and she does it ALL on her own. To give you an example, in addition to her weekday school work we have busted her studying for the 11 th grade ACT's... on a Saturday! WTH! She is a homework animal! A teachers dream. A parents retirement plan. But mostly, we are just happy for her and her accomplishments.

Nate and I awarded her with a purple water bottle (replacing one that was taken from her at school) and a Glee T-shirt.

***** democrat or republican... and even (sigh) Georges.

Casi : our GOLDpants winner!

If I had a computer on Valentines day,

I would have posted this .

HaPpY VaLeNtiNes dAy!!!

Tanner: "I need a valentine box for school."

Me: "What are you going to make?"

Tanner: "A box with a slot in it." (This is not what he actually said. What he said took  between 5 min and forever while I vibrated in my chair and hoped he had a point somewhere in his ramble.)

Me: "Hmm, thats a good idea! I was thinking that a dragon with a hole in his mouth for valentines would be a fun idea."

Tanner: "OK!" as he launches himself off of his chair and runs into the den.

He then cut and glued and dreamed and thought and created a cute valentine eating dragon. All of which, resulted in a win for best valentine box at school!

 Acknowledgement (if Tanner had wrote one): I would like to thank my Dad for spray painting my valentine creation and the incorporation of a support system where needed. I would also like to thank my Mom for showing me this world of valentine creativity and for my Grandma Bev for teaching her. I would especially like to thank Casi for allowing me to have possession of the glue stick for the entire period of a week.

Chrystal dragon

Tanners latest art piece.

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up" ~ Pablo Picasso

Getting caught up: Chistmas EVE to New years

I am in limbo.

I want to start blogging again but,

I got behind on my posts and I cant get caught up. 

Now...I can not post anything new until I post a bunch of old stuff.

So, here is the old stuff.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Snow and lights

Christmas lights in snow. Nate put up lights? weird...

 ________________________________________________

Christmas Spirit or death wish?

Tanner wore this Christmas hat for the majority of December. To school. On the bus. At home. To bed. He rotated this Santa hat with an elf one his Grandma Chris made. I am surprised no one beat him up on the bus.

 __________________________________________________________________________

Christmas in July 

Leah teasing DJ with kisses.
We wanted a photo to document
the markings left from a light falling
on his... face.

Me and me Sistah

Each year for Christmas eve, we choose a theme and this year we voted for Christmas in July.

We ate hamburgers and hot dogs. Potato salad and the (forgotten) thrice cooked baked beans.  I made my first Jello salad; a 7 layer jello salad. It took a long time to make and I probably wont make it again. 

I wish I had more photos of the food. That jello salad is pretty spectacular looking and I want to remember how fun it was to eat non Christmas food. Usually by Christmas Eve, I am tired of ham, rolls, and the traditional comfort foods reserved for the holidays.  I guess what I am trying to say is,  that it was nice to have a good ol'  "wiener" (as Grandma A still calls them) for dinner.

Grandma Bev brought "sparklers" to the party and so the grandkids and I ran like crazy monkeys in the backyard; tossing glow sticks and chasing one another. It was crazy to be running outside on Christmas Eve without any snow.
 

Of course its not Christmas Eve without Grandmas cherished PJ's.

**Leah, Thanks for letting me use your camera so I would stop hyperventilating**.

_____________________________________________________________________

Christmas Day: Random photo

Look at how cute my hands look! 

_____________________________________________________________________

New years EVE

New years eve was spent in downtown SLC for EVE. We had so much fun last year and voted to do it again. Last year we went home early due to the cold weather and so our main goal was to stay there for the new year. 

We had a few obstacles... bad food.... freak-in cold weather (lowest recorded temp 2F).... a 45 min wait for trax and a 1.5 hour ride home but it all became part of the fun. 

For instance, even though the food was bad ( I do NOT like macaroni grill... not at all!) we were able to draw on the tables. Casi and I  had a series of Tic Tac Toe games where I kicked her ass.  "Sucka!"

And... the cold temperatures gave us something to discuss as we walked the streets of SLC. like " I haven't felt my toes since ...." and "why in the hell are you wearing slippers, Nate" ... and "lets take trax"

The 45 min wait at the trax station gave us a long group huddle with strangers and a short lived toss the ball game. Which was (rightly) ended by the trax cops. The trax stations are in the middle of a road for silly sake!

And the 1.5 hr drive.... yeah that pretty much sucked but we were all smiles the whole time. When we finally walked into our warm home we immediately started to discuss how much fun it was and how much we cant wait to do it again next year. 

It was a wonderful start to the new year with those we love and it was perfect.

We all had turns with the ears.

Three story high ski jump!

Fire, Casi, and Salt Lake City

A great ending to 2010 and a perfect beginning to 2011

__________________________________________________________________________________
Birding: The first day of 2011

Viewing gulls at Lee Kay Ponds

Things I overheard: Tanner

An old post: originally written  8/2010.

Tanner loves to cook.

On one night, when it was just him and I for dinner, I asked what he wanted .

His response: salad. 

So we went to the store and picked out the necessary ingredients. 

He wanted: strawberries and blueberries

I wanted: nuts

Things I overheard:co-worker

Coworker: "I can not find this file."

Me: "Its in alphabetical order so it would be in the second drawer down."

Coworker: "Ohh, I am not awake yet. I can't count."

Me: "Must be time to spike the hot chocolate."

A month of T's (part two)

  

I am in there ... somewhere.

 Many months ago, I offered to do a half marathon with my friend Cyndee She wanted to do the Halloween Half. Now, normally... I don't run and so I totally found this kind of funny except that Cyndee does not run either. I figured "what the hell" I will be ok. Since, our marathon experience would most likely be more of a jaunt down the canyon in costume. Now, doesn't that sound lovely?

And it was, Cynd and I ran when the race was being documented by the professional photographers along the route but the rest of the way we chatted it up, stopped for a fifteen min potty break, took photos of our selves tossing leaves and posing at Bridal veil falls. Well, it was lovely except for Cyndee's quarter sized blisters on her feet. That part wasn't lovely at all.

Cyndee and I loved the photographers and worked it like no other every time we saw them. Some photographers even got a pretty good laugh. Because of this, I was pretty excited to see how well the photos worked out. I even paid $45 dollars to have full ownership of them. There are some more here on my flikr account. So make my money worth it and check them out. If you set the photos on the medium size and scroll through them fast we actually look like we are running. OMG! SO cool!

Our "Bitch'in 80's" jog



Our rendition of the "yellow brick road" this is towards the end of the 13.1 miles and we were thinking. "where in the hell are dorthy's red shoes? I wish I was home. I wish I was home"