Fascinating or disturbing you decide

I have to say that three years ago I did not know I was moving onto a farm. It may look residential in the front but the back holds many surprises. In the last three years I have seen a chicken's head cut off and the rest end up on our dinner table, two horses going at it, baby bunnies that look like rats, dead chickens from the neighbors dog, Justin stuck calf high in the mud we call our horse pasture, tractors driving around a one acre piece of property and the birth of two horses. I was lucky enough to experience this last one for the second time last Tuesday. Blondie was due between the 12th and 18th. During that time I checked on her often, timed her contractions and held my breath each time she showed signs of labor. She made me wait until the 18th to actually go into Labor but at least she waited until I was home from work. Last years birth made child bearing seem easy. If a horse could come out slick as butter a child would surely be easy. This year the horse was in labor for 30-40 minutes and we thought for sure we were going to lose one or the other. After some intense breathing the filly was out and walking within seconds. She is pretty cute even if she came out a red dun and not a buckskin or palomino. I have to say that life on the farm teaches you more about the birds and the bees than anything I have seen. Below are some pictures shortly after the birth.

Halfway Out
Mom is done the foal is trying to kick it's way out
First time standing up just minutes after birth
The next day.

We were WICKED

This past Sunday we cashed in our Christmas gift for two tickets to WICKED! We started off the evening with a delicious dinner at the Olive Garden. I never cook on Sunday so it was no big change to have someone else cook for us. Heather order alfredo dipping sauce despite John's warnings about all the butter in it. Thank you Heather. I love dipping as well. The show was fabulous I have had songs in my head all week. I mentioned to Brian and Becci they should have bought tickets just for the girls and I think Brian, Justin and John agreed. In the words of John and Justin I would rather go to a movie and pay $8 dollars to see better special effects than pay $75 to see people singing all the time. All the girls loved it. I can only imagine what it must be like to have that much talent in something. Thank you Brian and Becci for dinner and the show. I loved it.

Easter Weekend Festivities

This past weekend Justin and I had so much fun being with friends and family. We spend Friday night sledding down Brighton Ski Resort. The snow was perfect for sledding. We had some daredevils that went down as fast as they could stopping inches before the patio tables and me who was constantly using her feet and hands for breaks. Several attempts at a two by two person train failed to make it more than 1/4 of the way down the hill. One plastic Wal-mart sled was even ripped to shreds as it came down the hill. Saturday was a lazy morning but ended up being a great day at Rio Tinto Stadium. We watched a rainy and exciting game with Justin's mom. We came prepared in our rain suits and ready to cheer. I have to admit that even though I referred soccer at the k-5 grade level I really couldn't remember much about the game. The best part of the game is obviously when they score. The crowd gets really excited. Justin went straight from the game to Momentum rock gym and spent some needed "man" time with his friends. I was able to relax and enjoy girl time with Diane. Sunday was a gorgeous day, but I have to admit our church didn't seem any different than a normal Sunday no special musical numbers or lessons on the atonement and resurrection. Family dinner was with Justin's mom and brother's family. Justin's nephew was pretty cute. He wouldn't pick up toys that were in the hunt it was if he thought he was only suppose to find eggs. His sister's however knew the drill and were all over the yard looking for Easter goodies. It was a great night to spend with family. I am on Spring Break this week from work and do not have much planned except rest and relaxation.

Cute pics of my nephews

Just wanted to share some cute pics of my nephews holding the new bunnies. Cole was much more interested in them and kept yelling at them when they would try to get off of his lap. Walker was very cute and labeled all their body parts from their big ears to their fluffy bottoms. I love introducing kids to animals they are so excited and cute.

Vegas Baby

This last week Justin and I took advantage of his spring break by hitting the road in search of warm weather. We first stopped in Zion taking in the beautiful scenery and some great workouts. My favorite was hidden canyon. The view going up is great but I loved getting into the canyon and seeing red rock, white sand, pine trees, moss and ferns. Friday we met up with our awesome tour guide (my cousin Jen) at Red Rock Canyon outside Vegas. We ended up making our own path up the mountain scrambling up rocks and squeezing through narrow pathways and holes. We had so much fun that day making our own path up and down the mountain. Later that night we attended a session at the Vegas Temple. It was a good way to end two days of enjoying nature. Saturday was a day spent on the strip. My favorite part was going to Fremont Street and walking down a more boardwalk feel to Vegas. We ate dinner Saturday night at Maggiano's it was great italian food with huge portions. The waiter told Jen that she should get the full size if she wanted leftovers I am not sure how much food he thought one girl could eat. Justin and I really liked that even though they were busy they did not rush us out and we were able to eat and talk for over two hours. Sunday Jen made us pancakes for breakfast and sent us on our way back to the snow and cold. I miss the heat already.

Bunnies

Not much has happened in the last little while. I thought I would post pics of the bunnies Justin's dad bred and is going to try and sale. They are about a week old and are the littlest things. They are not born with hair so in order to keep them warm the mother tears out her hair and covers them. They peek out of the hair for short periods of time we still are not sure how many there are. We can't hold them for a couple of weeks but both Becci and I can't wait. The first picture is of the all white bunnies and the second pic is of the babies our bunny Oreo helped bring into the world. Most of them are black or white and spotted black.

Remembering Grandpa

Robert Mansfield Fife 1926 ~ 2009 Robert Mansfield Fife, age 83, passed away February 22, 2009 at home in Taylorsville, Utah surrounded by his loving family.Bob was born February 12, 1926 in Salt Lake City to Alexander Fife and Myrtle Weight Fife. He graduated from South High School. Bob married Loma LaVon Andersen on June 24, 1946 in the L.D.S. Salt Lake Temple. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a gunner aboard a troop transport. His true love was woodworking, and he enjoyed many hours in his workshop making furniture for his family. He also passed that love on to his sons.

Justin was given the opportunity to speak at his grandpas funeral today. He was very nervous and had a difficult time saying goodbye in words. Instead of making him write again how he felt I am attaching an excerpt from the talk he and his brother John wrote to remember their grandpa.

One of my favorite memories of Grandpa is when I was in high school and working on the bridge building contest for physics and as usual i had put it off to the last minute. I was at Grandpas house putting it together and sanding it straight late into the night. There was no chance of getting the glue to set and harden and everything ready for the morning but Grandpa was there helping me to finish it. He taught me that if i baked it at a low temperature the rest of the night it would be able to harden and dry the glue without over drying the wood and weakening it. I know that one of the most important things grandpa taught me was that if something is worth doing it is worth doing right. He was a perfectionist and a hard worker both of which are good traits to have. I hope that I can instill this in my future children. I regret that I never took the opportunity to learn more from him. Grandpa was always there no matter what we needed and I will never forget that about him, he is a part of all of us and as hard as it is to say goodbye at least we have the memories that will be cherished forever.