I thought it would be fun to start with a moment of zen led by The Kitten. Yes, that's our bathtub.
Becca was gone in California for two weeks, mainly to spend time with Xavier and Mariah.
These kids are monkey's! Mariah will turn eight in November so Becca and I will be heading out to California again so I can baptize her. We're also looking forward to seeing family and friends during that time. I am very grateful to the Saldivars, the Segallas and my Grandma Barbara for being so great to Becca while she was away from home.
Xavier and I almost have the same haircut. He thinks I should grow out a mustache and I'm considering surprising him with one in November. The kid's Grandma Maria (Macle) Criado is a great cook. My father-in-law, who is not partial to Mexican food, LOVED her cooking when we visited her right before we moved to Utah. Becca spent the night at her house a couple of nights and Macle (pronounced MAH-clay) taught her how to make fabulous tortillas (among other things). Macle even thought to make me some delicious special tomatada enchiladas, which Becca dutifully froze and brought back to me.
We have a Box Elder tree, which means we have a million of these little Box Elder bugs! I spent a lot of time fighting them while Becca was gone.
This bottle is full of a homemade organic pesticide which is great at killing bugs inside the house. Inexplicably, it doesn't kill them well when they are outside. I experimented with different pesticides, gradually increasing in intensity, until I settled on the best one: a cheap bug spray on sale at Walmart for $2.50.
This is the end of the line to buy food at the Chic-Fil-A at the University Mall in Orem UT. I waited for over ninety minutes to get my food but I felt it was worth it. The CEO of Chic-Fil-A, a practicing Christian, was asked a question about traditional marriage in an interview with a Baptist magazine. His answer was certainly clear but definitely not bigoted or vulgar. I was appalled at how so many people, particularly politicians, immediately tried to hurt his business. That's where the issue became one of the right to free speech, at least for me. It's fine to disagree, even heatedly, but the tactics employed by the extreme supporters of gay marriage were gestapo-like. Standing in line for an hour and a half was my small way of standing up for free speech.
Our tomato bushes have become quite productive! We were worried that the cherry tomato plants were looking droopy but they've given us more tomatoes than any other plant.
Our apple tree has also given us tons of fruit. Becca has had a lot of fun baking different desserts for us and people at Church.
The big news this week is that my dad and step-mom moved to Utah. They had a blow-out and a flat on their way here. Despite the delays, nothing broke and no one got hurt.
About four people from Church showed up to help and we were very grateful to have them. One of the things that I have always loved about being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is going just about anywhere in the world and knowing that there will be complete strangers there to welcome me with open arms. We are going to love having Dad, Penny and the girls just seven minutes down the road from us.
