Lisa and I were talking the other night about how fun it would be to have a slide for Benson. We had a small mishap with our toilet (ha! "mishap" - Lisa interjecting here - Let's just say this "mishap" caused flood #3 in our basement!) and while we were at Home Depot looking for a repair part, we found a scrap bin of some wood that was just enough for a basic slide. The original plan faltered and we had to rig it up to work, but it seems to be okay. Someday, we'll put a better finish on the MDF surface as well as properly cover the 2x6 rails down the side. For now, Benson is loving learning how to use it! Here's a quick look at his slide.
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Sunday, July 28, 2013
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Hogle Zoo on Pioneer Day
Happy 24th of July! In Utah, we celebrate Pioneer Day. We celebrate the date of July 24, 1947 - when the pioneers first entered the Salt Lake Valley after a long and difficult journey from the East. They have forged a lasting legacy of courage, hard work, and perseverance that we will forever be grateful for.
Today, Matt took work off to join Lisa and Benson at the Hogle Zoo. Unfortunately, when we arrived, certain animal exhibits had been closed due to the rebuilding of an African Safari. We assume that the Lions, Zebras, Camels, etc. are all apart of that exhibit which will be complete for next year. There were still many animals to see though and Benson was in awe as he watched each of these different animals move and make their noises. He especially liked the monkeys as they jumped from tree to tree as well as the sea lions/seals gliding through the water. The zoo also had a Lego Exhibit. There were several stations (5 or 6?) where animals had been built from Legos Check out the polar bear in the picture below. It took thousands of Legos to make him!
We finished the day off going to the Butlerville Days firework show (Cottonwood Heights 24th of July Celebration). The fireworks were fantastic and we were lucky enough to find the Haycocks nearby to share the time with. Happy 24th!
Today, Matt took work off to join Lisa and Benson at the Hogle Zoo. Unfortunately, when we arrived, certain animal exhibits had been closed due to the rebuilding of an African Safari. We assume that the Lions, Zebras, Camels, etc. are all apart of that exhibit which will be complete for next year. There were still many animals to see though and Benson was in awe as he watched each of these different animals move and make their noises. He especially liked the monkeys as they jumped from tree to tree as well as the sea lions/seals gliding through the water. The zoo also had a Lego Exhibit. There were several stations (5 or 6?) where animals had been built from Legos Check out the polar bear in the picture below. It took thousands of Legos to make him!
We finished the day off going to the Butlerville Days firework show (Cottonwood Heights 24th of July Celebration). The fireworks were fantastic and we were lucky enough to find the Haycocks nearby to share the time with. Happy 24th!
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Saturday, July 20, 2013
Lower Bell Canyon Reservoir Hike
Our family has set a goal to go on a hike every available Saturday that we can. We are so blessed to live so close to the mountains where trailheads are only minutes away. With an 11-month old who needs to get back for his morning nap - we couldn't ask for anything better.
This week we went to Lower Bell Canyon Reservoir. A good friend in our ward recommended it to us as a close and short hike. and so we threw our gear into the car and up we went. The hike was a little steeper than expected, but nothing difficult. The lake in the morning sunlight was beautiful and the ducks from all across the lake came to greet us as we made our way down to the waters edge. From a ridge just west of the lake, we were also able to take a couple of panoramic pictures. Beautiful place!
Directions: Just 50 yards east of the intersection of Wasatch Drive and Little Cottonwood Rd in Sandy, UT, there is a small parking lot. This is the Granite Trailhead. Once on the trail, it is very straightforward and you just hike along for about .6 miles to the small lake up top. You can stop there or continue up Bell Canyon another mile to find several small waterfalls and eventually the Upper Reservoir.
This week we went to Lower Bell Canyon Reservoir. A good friend in our ward recommended it to us as a close and short hike. and so we threw our gear into the car and up we went. The hike was a little steeper than expected, but nothing difficult. The lake in the morning sunlight was beautiful and the ducks from all across the lake came to greet us as we made our way down to the waters edge. From a ridge just west of the lake, we were also able to take a couple of panoramic pictures. Beautiful place!
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| Panorama of the Salt Lake Valley |
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| Panorama of the Mountains |
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
All I Want Are My Two Front Teeth
Benson's getting his first set of teeth! The front two, bottom row have finally cut through and are making their first appearance. He really started drooling about 3 months ago and we would blame any kind of fussiness on teething. Apparently we were wrong as they came in a lot later than we expected.
Here's a quick picture. They look cute and adorable, but watch out ... their sharp!
Here's a quick picture. They look cute and adorable, but watch out ... their sharp!
A little tidbit about baby teeth: Generally, there are 20 primary teeth (baby). This is compared to the permanent set of 32 teeth that later replaces the baby set. When referencing individual teeth, dentists use an alphabetical system (A through T) for baby teeth and a numerical system (1 through 32) for permanent teeth. Benson's two teeth then would be teeth O & P, or the lower central incisors. As you can see in the chart below, he was a little late in cutting these (he's almost 11 months) and he only gets to keep them for 5-6 years before they are replaced.
When you have a Hygienist for a wife ... you have to learn these things. Knowing the reference for each tooth is very practical too. In a restaurant, all I have to say is "numbers 8 & 9" and Lisa understands that she has something between her front two upper teeth. This way, I can let her know without drawing any attention to the situation as no one has any idea what I am talking about.
Basement Flooding! ... Twice!
It's true. The basement has flooded ... not once, but twice! On Friday, July 5th, our family was on its way up to a large Ahlstrom family reunion (Lisa's Mom's side). We had planned to camp, but became a little concerned when the weather warning system cut in on the radio - warning of torrential rains and lighting bringing up to 1 inch of rain in 30 minutes, possible hail of 1-inch in diameter, and up to 70 mph winds. This was serious! The warning system even recommended that everyone get to the lowest place in their homes and away from windows until further notice!
What were we thinking at the time? - What a Blessing! It sounded like the rain was going to be quick and short and would pass over by the time we got to our reunion. It could have been a disaster if we had already had our tent up. Well, the storm did hit - and there was a lot of rain - and we were perfectly dry sleeping in our tent that we set up after the storm. :)
We returned home Saturday night, and it wasn't until Sunday afternoon that we noticed it. Our basement had flooded during the storm. About 200 sq/ft. of carpet had been soaked in our entertainment room, and water had lightly covered both our laundry and storage room floors. We spent that whole evening and night vacuuming up the water from carpet and pad. We pulled the carpet back and ripped out the pads after vacuuming and were able to carry the pads upstairs. All-in-all, we vacuumed 25-30 gallons of water out of the carpet/pad. Our good friends the Ashtons were kind enough to let us use their Air Movers (carpet drying fans) and we were able to get the carpet dry within a few of days.
How did it happen? We weren't quite sure. When we moved in, the McFarland's (home owners) informed us that they had had flooding before. They warned that if the rain gutters were not kept clean, they could clog and the water would spill over into the flower bed - flooding a window well leading into the entertainment room. We had made sure that the gutters were clean, so the only logical answer is that the rain was just so significant that it overwhelmed the drain system as is.
Yesterday, it rained again. Not as hard as the first - but a lot. Steven called and informed us that the weather warning systems were again warning of flooding and torrential rain. We were in the kitchen and could see the rain gutters from the kitchen table. Nothing. The rain gutters worked great!
Except ... as I went out and sat on the front porch to observe, I noticed that all of the rain gutters for the front of the house drained into that very flower bed that sits just outside the entertainment room. As I watched, I saw the water begin to pool ... then flow ... then rush towards the house. I scrambled to get the Wet-Vac and buckets in place again - and by the time I was ready, the water was already 4 inches up the window. So ... Lisa and I spent the next hour or more vacuuming up the water as it seeped through the window cracks. Of the 40-50 gallons that we ended up carrying back up the stairs, only a couple ever hit the floor, and none of it got the carpet (as we already had pulled it back).
Note to self: If we ever serve a mission when we are older, make sure someone is living in our home. This could have been much worse if the home had been left vacant.
Two floods in Ten Days! Crazy!
What were we thinking at the time? - What a Blessing! It sounded like the rain was going to be quick and short and would pass over by the time we got to our reunion. It could have been a disaster if we had already had our tent up. Well, the storm did hit - and there was a lot of rain - and we were perfectly dry sleeping in our tent that we set up after the storm. :)
We returned home Saturday night, and it wasn't until Sunday afternoon that we noticed it. Our basement had flooded during the storm. About 200 sq/ft. of carpet had been soaked in our entertainment room, and water had lightly covered both our laundry and storage room floors. We spent that whole evening and night vacuuming up the water from carpet and pad. We pulled the carpet back and ripped out the pads after vacuuming and were able to carry the pads upstairs. All-in-all, we vacuumed 25-30 gallons of water out of the carpet/pad. Our good friends the Ashtons were kind enough to let us use their Air Movers (carpet drying fans) and we were able to get the carpet dry within a few of days.
How did it happen? We weren't quite sure. When we moved in, the McFarland's (home owners) informed us that they had had flooding before. They warned that if the rain gutters were not kept clean, they could clog and the water would spill over into the flower bed - flooding a window well leading into the entertainment room. We had made sure that the gutters were clean, so the only logical answer is that the rain was just so significant that it overwhelmed the drain system as is.
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| Pads in the Garage, Lisa vacuuming at 2 AM (not happy), Pulled-back Carpet, Moved Funiture, etc. Fun! |
Except ... as I went out and sat on the front porch to observe, I noticed that all of the rain gutters for the front of the house drained into that very flower bed that sits just outside the entertainment room. As I watched, I saw the water begin to pool ... then flow ... then rush towards the house. I scrambled to get the Wet-Vac and buckets in place again - and by the time I was ready, the water was already 4 inches up the window. So ... Lisa and I spent the next hour or more vacuuming up the water as it seeped through the window cracks. Of the 40-50 gallons that we ended up carrying back up the stairs, only a couple ever hit the floor, and none of it got the carpet (as we already had pulled it back).
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| Lisa Vacuuming, again. Notice the waterline on the window! |
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| Benson cheering us on. We didn't have time to put him to sleep, so he stayed up to help. Thanks Bud! |
Sean McFarland came over at 10:00 pm with some 4-inch black tubing that we attached to the end of one of the rain gutter downspouts and we temporarily corrected the problem. We'll have to find a more permanent solution later, but we're sure glad that we can now rest easy that we won't be vacuuming water in the basement any more!
Note to self: If we ever serve a mission when we are older, make sure someone is living in our home. This could have been much worse if the home had been left vacant.
Two floods in Ten Days! Crazy!
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Saturday Play
Last Saturday morning we hiked Donut Falls with our friends, Richard and Allison Mathews - our second attempt this summer. Our first attempt was last May when the weather was over 80 degrees at the base of Big Cottonwood Canyon, and the hike is only about 10 miles up the canyon. When we reached the top, however, the trail-head was snow packed, our breath visible, Benson's hands were blue and I had only brought a light hoodie for him. So we had a beautiful hike to the trailhead, but didn't go any farther.
This time, we were more prepared and made it to the waterfall! It was still a little chilly, but definitely doable and absolutely beautiful, quiet and peaceful. We came back to the parking lot and enjoyed some delicious donuts and milk from Dan's market (they have the BEST chocolate bars locally) thanks to Allison and Richard! Even the chipmunks loved them.
Later that day we took Benson to a splash park that also has mini toddler play equipment. He went down the slide with very little assistance and had fun climbing up it and going down over and over. His favorite part of the whole park? The bark. We just couldn't keep it out of his mouth!
This time, we were more prepared and made it to the waterfall! It was still a little chilly, but definitely doable and absolutely beautiful, quiet and peaceful. We came back to the parking lot and enjoyed some delicious donuts and milk from Dan's market (they have the BEST chocolate bars locally) thanks to Allison and Richard! Even the chipmunks loved them.
Later that day we took Benson to a splash park that also has mini toddler play equipment. He went down the slide with very little assistance and had fun climbing up it and going down over and over. His favorite part of the whole park? The bark. We just couldn't keep it out of his mouth!
Monday, July 8, 2013
4th of July Getaway!
We had an awesome time in Park City with the Riries during the week of the Fourth, thanks to my generous parents for letting us use their time share at The Canyons Resort. Matt, Benson and I arrived Monday night and spent a couple of days by ourselves. Matt still had to go back to Salt Lake for work on Tuesday, but we were still able to squeeze in lots of play time. We went hiking, swimming multiple times, walking, and tried a new restaurant, Fuego Bistro and Pizzeria (absolutely delicious!). The morning of the 4th, Matt, Benson and I watched part of the Park City Parade on Historic Main Street. It was pretty much just as we had expected for a small liberal ski town, but we're glad we went! My favorite part was the Scottish bagpipe band.
The Riries joined us the morning of the fourth for a few more days of fun. We hiked the beautiful mountains behind the resort, swam several times, played tennis, ate dinner at Cafe Rio and walked around Newpark Resort (which Matt's brother, Mike, helped design), ate vanilla ice cream with fresh blueberries and raspberries (from our garden), introduced the Riries to Diminishing Bridge (a traditional Jenkins family card game), and watched what seemed like endless episodes of Chopped Chef. We had a memorable time with Riries. Thanks Mom and Dad Jenkins for the great experience, and thanks Riries for making time to be together!
Here are some pictures from Mike's (the hike) and Steven's (Mike & Lincoln swimming) phones:
