No Turning Back Now

Well, are paper work is finished and it is in Salt Lake's hands now.  This is the beginning of a new chapter in our lives.  We are excited.  As soon as we receive our call we will call all of you and let you know "Before we put it on Facebook"!!!.   The call should been seen and decided next Wednesday, the 10th of August.  This is the computer screen for our call.  They just push a button now.  We have come a long way since Tyler's Call.

Reconstruction of Backyard

After many months of working on, cleaning up and rebuilding the back yard we are finished.  For those who remember the yard it may look a little different.  New fence and many plants removed and replaced with more manageable plants.  Again this was a lot easier when we were younger.  

Getting Ready For The Mission

Jeannine and I needed a photo of us as a couple for the mission paper work.  So here is the transition of Rich smiling for the camera.  In the first photo I promise I was smiling.  It just doesn't look like it from your point of view.  If you were me you would have known I was smiling.  These digital cameras just don't pick up those subtle nuances of a smile that the old film cameras did.  It took 23 shots to get the final outcome of me smiling.  I had to be in hysterics so to have the appearance of smiling.  

This is me smiling without help from Jeannine

This is me smiling with a little help from Jeannine

OK, A little more help from Jeannine.

A lot of help from Jeannine and the final product.  Our paperwork goes in at the end of July, 2011

The Back Yard Project is Done

Our little corner is finally done.  Jeannine put the finishing touches on her patio today.  I helped, but it was her artistry that made it great.  We have much more work to do on the yard, but we move slow and careful to make it nice.  Patio furniture was not included yet due to repairs on a chair.  But you can come by and sit now.  The furniture is in.

It all started here with 1.8 ton of Cement dropped off in our garage

Which was then moved to the back yard by us with much difficulty.  1.8 ton of cement was a lot lighter when I was in my 20's

Hampered by rain we pressed on.  I hand drilled 12, 8 inch deep holes into the cement so we could set the re-bar.  This took me three days.  Again it was so much easier when I was 25.  This is a job that I would have done in one day back then.

Then the day came.  We both got up the courage to pour the cement.  Rented a mixer and was done within one hour.  It wasn't as hard as we thought it was going to be.  I will admit we do have a lot of experience in doing these kinds of things, it's just a little more painful than it used to be.  This was the easiest part of the job so far.

One small addition to the project.  You may say it was graffiti, but I say it was necessary.

Jeannine laid the tile and it turned out very nice.

So what was once a place for the hot tub for so many good years, is now a patio for sitting.

Jeannine cut tiles to the shape and design she wanted.  She has a passion for Geometric shapes in her art.

Jeannine can't have it simple.  She NEEDED! to have a mosaic around the edge. 

Voila! and there you have it.

                                         Now on to the next project

Vania's Graduation 2011 Gilroy High

This was Vania's big day.  She was recognized for several awards and maintaining a high GPA, 3.8 throughout her high school career.  To say it all, she was one happy girl today.

Now Vania, Jared and Nick are off to BYU for the summer session.

Dr Aaron Rutman

Here are some pictures I took at Aaron's graduation.  We are proud of you Aaron and the hard work you have done.  More important you were a good father throughout the ordeal.

A man and his Ipod movies

I wonder sometimes how Seth is going to dress when he comes home from work someday.

The man knows how to relax.