WHY?

The most common word Crew uses right now is WHY? I know that this is a common thing for kids his age. But it is really commical at times, frustrating other times, and downright silly. A typical conversation with Crew these days could be like this one the other night on a family rhino ride...

Crew: "Why can't we see the deer. I want to see the deer. You said we were looking for the deer. Where are they?"

Dad: "They are hiding."

Crew: "Why are they hiding?"

Dad: "Because they don't want to get killed."

Crew: "Why don't they want to get killed?"

Dad: "Because they want to live."

Crew: "Why do they want to live."

Finally, because nothing else will stop the inquisitive little guy,

Dad: "Do you want to die?"

Crew: "NO, do you?"

Dad: "NO."

Crew: "Good!"




Or, here's another one that happened just today while we were driving into town. (My father-in-law lives on a very windy road.)

Crew: "Why are you turning?"

Mom: "Because the road is turning."

Crew: "Why is the road turning?"

Mom: "Because someone made it turn."

Crew: "Who made it turn?"

Mom: "Someone who built it."

Crew: "Who built it?"

Mom: "A worker."

Crew: "Why did a worker build it turny?"

Mom: "Because that's the way they wanted it."

Crew: "But if they built it turny and someone didn't turn, they could crash."

Mom: "Well we won't crash because I'm turning on the corners. But if I didn't turn on the corners we could crash."

Crew: "Will you turn on ALL the corners?"

Mom: "Yes."

Crew: "Why will you turn on all the corners?"

At this point I can't handle it anymore, so I say,

Mom: "Do you want me to turn on all the corners, or do you want me to crash?"

Crew: "No, I want you to turn on all the corners. I don't want to crash."

Mom: "That's good because I don't want to crash either."


WOW! This boy can sure ask some questions these days!! But we love him. And it's good for him to learn things. I love the little guy. Questions and all! He's super silly, but today he surprised me in a good way. I have been working on quilts for the boys new bedroom. I promised them we could decorate their room a cowboy room. Anyway, we've made a disaster of the house lately because I've been sewing and the boys kind of have free range. I finished my last project today at 3:15. Rett's Dad gets off work at 3:30, so he's usually home by 3:45. I told Crew we needed to get the house cleaned up before grandpa got home. He was so good. Such a great helper! He was so excited about getting it done before grandpa got here. Everything I asked him to pick up and put away, he did, and did it very quickly! Needless to say, it was a day that grandpa worked a little late, so we had it done in plenty of time. But I think we would have had it done before he got here anyway because of my great little worker boy Crew! He's still got his issues, like whipping his brother with ropes and telling me he doesn't have to do things because he is Zorro, but, for the most part, he's a good little guy. And he's so excited to be starting pre-school next week! I can't believe he's so big!

Another funny thing about Crew right now. If you want him to do something usually all you have to do is tell him Zorro or Cowboys do it. Like any item for dinner, "Crew, you better eat your dinner so you can get big like Zorro." "OH, Zorro eats this?" "Yup!" And then he proceeds to eat it up! OR, you can tell him that Zorro listens to his mom, and it helps. OR Zorro is nice to his brother. OR Cowboys aren't mean and don't say bad words! It's a great helper, briber tool these days!

And one more cute thing about Crew. He refers to long sleeves as "down sleeves" and short sleeves as "up sleeves" and trying to correct him just doesn't happen!!

More Home Pics

These pics are from the weekend. The house is wrapped and ready to start the exterior coverings. It's funny, because one of the things we're most excited about up here, is that it seems so much less "keeping up with the Joneses". Vinyl siding was kind of looked down on in Utah. But after a lot of research, it's actually a much better product for our extreme changes in temperatures than stucco. Not to mention it's super cheap. And there are some wider planks as well as vertical siding that is really good looking. So there will be some rock and vinyl siding on the home. Rough plumbing, electrical, and HVAC are all done, which included central vac, because it was in my last home and I've become a central vac snob. They are supposd to be doing windows and doors this week so that they can do the insulation next. They also have our fire place hearth framed up, and I'm so excited for it. When I was a kid we had a wood burning stove and a nice big hearth around it and I loved to sit on it and be cozy warm right next to the stove. Our hearth won't be nearly as big as the one I grew up with, but it will be super nice. We spent some time there Saturday wiring the surround sound and doing a few other little projects, so these pictures are from Saturday.


This is the back of the home, with my favorite thing, the covered patio. And the view from the french doors onto the covered patio. And of course a little boy climbing on the big dirt piles that someday will be gone.




This is the front of the home. Rett loves the little dummy dormer they built for him. Obviously it's just for looks. We tried to make it so that it could be open to the office below, but with the trusses and roof line it ended up that it would cost a fortune. So it's just for looks, but it is one of Rett's favorite things. He loves that it is different from a lot of homes and that it gives the front of the home a little more personality. And they got the little gable above the entry way finished, along with the rough cut timber posts. They will eventually be stained.


Rett just drove by the house on his way to a job and called me to say that the doors and windows had been delivered and they are starting to put them in today!!! YAY! SO the next picture updates will have windows and doors! And they are estimating finishing up the home the end of September, so sounds like we'll be in before snow and in time to spend the holidays in the new home! YAY!

Crew's Barrel Race

The Caribou County Fair over in Grace had a Little Buckaroo Rodeo last night. We had Crew entered for the Stick Horse Barrel Race. We practiced lots this last week. The age division was 3-6 years old, so Crew was one of the younger competitors. Conditions were not perfect, as there had been a big thunder and rain storm that came through on the afternoon of the event. Because of the mud and the crowd, Crew was a little thrown off. He forgot the last barrel and the rodeo clown had to help him find it. There were lot's of kids who wouldn't even do it by themselves. We are very proud of Crew for doing it all by himself!! And he was definitely the cutest cowboy out there! His Grandpa Kip and Grandma Debbie came to watch him, and his very cool Uncle TJ drove all the way up from Utah to come watch him! What a great uncle, Crew was so stinking excited for him to be here!

Here's Rett coaching Crew while they wait his turn. He's such a great Dad!


This video is not great. My real video camera is in storage, where everything else we've needed this summer is! Anyway, Rett reminded me that our digital camera shoots video, which I played with for just a minute before the rodeo, but somehow managed to not figure out how to zoom while keeping it in focus. Anyway, that's my fault, but you can still see him doing it.




After all of the other events there was also a money grab, where they tape money to a sheep, and let the little kids try to get it off of them. We sent Crew out, and then Drake wanted to follow him. One of the ladies in charge walked up to Drake and handed him a dollar. Crew was pretty sad that Drake got some money and he didn't. It was fun to watch them run around in the mud though.

More House Pics

So, there is a roof, although it's only a plywood roof, on our house. And it's not 100% done. But, you can see a lot more of how the home will look once it's done. There's a front and back view of the house. One of the things Rett and I are most excited about is our back covered patio. We had a nice patio at our Saratoga house, but it wasn't covered and so we made sure we got it done on this house. YAY! And my pictures are still kind of lame because there are still huge dirt piles around the house. It's free if anyone wants to come get it! Too bad anyone reading this lives way too far away for that!