Round 2 of the Chicken Pox

Keanu has come down with a bad case of the chicken pox-Finally! We did not realize it until after he spent the long Pioneer Day with family and strangers. So for all of you who we unintentionally infected with chicken pox- Your Welcome...

24th of July

We decided to go up to Spanish Fork and watch the annual "Fiesta Days" parade. I decided to get up early and ride my bike there and while Cynthia drove the kids up later. I forgot how cool it is riding along the fields in the early morning after the sprinklers are going all night. I made really good time and had a relaxing ride in the process. I did the 35 miles in under 2 hours and I even stopped twice to rub out the cramps in one leg. This year the kids decided to sit along the road while I sat under the covered porch of Janet and Todd's house. On top of it all they even feed me breakfast! Sitting in the shade + being feed breakfast = Good Times!

Later that night after the kids got home from the pageant we lit off fireworks.

Pageant

Here are a couple of pictures from the first night of the Nephi Pageant. I couldn't find the kids in it any where so I was left to take pictures of them after it was over.

Killer Squirrel

The other day I was out riding with another guy I work with and he was telling me this story of how a squirrel tried to run through the wheel while some guy was out riding. He said it ended up tearing the wheel apart and ripping the front forks off. I thought the story sounded a little fantastical and wasn't quite believing it. Then he sends me an email with the pictures and as it turns out it's actually true. Just click on the title and it will send you right to the page.

New Job

For those of you who haven't heard, I got a new job. Drug Court in Nephi has been looking to expand for some time and just recently received additional funding this year. The county attorney who lives in our ward called and gave me all of the details. He knew I worked with Drug Court and that I was commuting to Provo each day. The rural areas of the state constantly struggle to find therapists who want to work and live there. I just happen to be a therapist and already live in a rural area.

I will be doing pretty much the same thing I am doing in Provo except on a much smaller scale. I was completely happy with my current job with one major exception. I was missing out on activities with the kids. Since I worked mostly in the evenings, I wasn't around for the after school activities. With the new job I will be working 2 evenings a week and will be home by 8pm. My commute will go from 81 miles round trip to 4 miles. I'm so close that I don't even see myself driving in very often; just hop on the bike. This job will also pay off every dime of my student loans!! This includes my undergraduate and graduate loans. Hallelujah!

I will have to spend about 2 days a week traveling to some of the outlying areas like Fillmore and Delta. I covered Fillmore before when I worked in Cedar City and Delta...Well what can you say. Robert Kirby once wrote an article years ago about Delta actually being Hell. I'll wait and hold judgement.

When I told my bosses in Provo I was pleasantly surprised. They were all very supportive and told me that if I ever wanted to come back that they'd take me. That was the best compliment I think I could have gotten. It also make the transition a little easier as well.

Park City

We got away for a couple of days to Park City. We were unsure of whether or not we would go given the unexpected arrival of the freakin chicken pox. However we managed to do so. As you can tell from the picture of Cynthia she wasn't exactly motivated to do much. If you look closely, the time shows 11:34 AM and she is still in bed. I rode my bike one day but not very far. There was some older fat chick on the road in front of me who I was struggling to keep up with. Apparently I got bite with the lazy bug as well! Other than a little sunburn nobody was any worse for the wear.

Nephi Handcart Pageant

Cynthia and the kids are participating in the Nephi Handcart Pageant. I'm still unclear as to how they ended up being int it but they have had fun going to the practices. It starts July 23 and goes to July 26 at the Fairgrounds here in Nephi. The kids were excited to do it because they get a new Dad since I can't be in it except he dies along the way. It's all based on actual accounts. Just click on the title and it will take you to the site.

*#$@! Chicken Pox!

Unclean! Unclean! Taylor has come down with a case of the Chicken Pox even though she got the shot when she was 5 years old. Cynthia took her in to have it verified and then had Keanu get the shot just in case. I guess you have to wait until you are 2 years old for it to be effective. However Kai got his shot 2 weeks before he turned two and it didn't work. We are hoping that since Taylor had the shot she will end up with a mild case like Kai had. We also just found out this afternoon that Kalea has come down with a case of it as well. We are praying that Keanu is able to avoid it.

The Ranch

We spent the Fourth of July at the Ranch in Woodland Hills. The kids look forward to going each year because they can swim, boat and fish in the pond up there. There is a rope swing, diving board and inflatable "dock" in the middle of the pond. The kids didn't stop playing until well after dark. We also ended up spending the night which was cool because the kids got to see a deer and an elk as they wandered through the fields and mountains that surround the property. In spite of the hot and windy night as well as Kai's insanley loud snoring, I think they slept well. I ended up sleeping in the cab of the truck because of the bugs that were out and the tight fit in the tent. They got up early and hit the water before we finally went home about noon. Needless to say, we also slept hard that night.

I think the picture is funny!

This was early in the morning after camping out

Fourth of July

We decided to light fireworks at the house the night of July 3rd since we weren't going to be around on the 4th. Cynthia went out and bought a huge package with over 50 different types of fireworks to light. We told Kai we would get more for him if he did some additional things during his daily tutoring session, which he did.Some of the neighbors came over and watched with us for about an hour.