Yardwork is Hardwork!

The 5th & 6th we built a chicken coop!  We have a little house one but they need more outside area to run and play, so we built them an 11' x 10' x 6' pen.  It took us 32 days and a bunch of trips to Lowe's and I don't even want to think about how much money, but it is done and it looks awesome!  We did a few miscalculations, but it turned out great!  The last thing to do is build a small "hobbit" door on the end for them to come out if we need them to, but it's so much better than the cramped space they were in!
The kids and I have been working to get the yards in shape.  We spent a few hours (4 big people and Chloe x 3 hours = 12 hours of work) last Friday on the back yard and it looks fantastic!  Today we (Me, Joslyn, Chad, and Chloe) weeded, weed whacked, swept, mowed and watered.  The front looks great now too!
I love getting the yards taken care of especially before school, it makes it feel like autumn will be here soon!

Bring on the backpacks!

So I have finally registered everyone for school!  Courtney was registered earlier this year but we are going to get her books this Friday.  Joslyn had registered online during the school year, but today was the day to pick up schedules and pay fees.  She's going to be on the yearbook staff, so she's been going out to help.  Same thing for Chad, he's going to run cross-country again this year, against his will, but he's still running!  Chloe had her assessment today, we'll see next week where they are going to place her, either Tues/Thurs or Wed/Fri class.  It was a lot of waiting in lines and paying a bunch of money, but it's worth it!

Good Night July! Good Morning August!

Well July turned out to be a crazy month!  We (Me, Joslyn, Chad and Chloe) left for Utah on the 11th for a week long vacation.  The 11th was the Nelson and Melba Turner Reunion at their house (Myrna's now).  We got to Bountiful and Joslyn noticed the engine heat was going higher and higher.  So we pulled over on the highway and turned off the car, we had the Dodge Neon.  Then the 1st of many angels in this story appeared, Ruben.  He said he stopped because we had Idaho plates and he has family in Burley.  He told us that we needed to get off the next exit and get some water to cool it down and that their must be a hole in my radiator overflow because it was empty and wouldn't hold water.  So we got off and by this time I had called my dad and he said to get to an auto parts store and get some putty sealant and fix the overflow tank until I got to Pleasant Grove.  As we came off the exit there was a Dodge dealership!  So I asked the service guy if they could fix it and he sent me back to the parts manager to see if they even had that part available.  So enter, Claude, the parts manager.  He looked and they didn't have that one, he called around and found one, but it wouldn't be there until afternoon.  I was only about an hour away from Pleasant Grove, so I decided to go to the auto parts store and get the putty.  We had to keep stopping and pulling off for the engine to cool and we went there, but we finally made it!  Enter, Fitz, he sold me some epoxy that I would have to mix and let sit for a minute.  I wasn't feeling real comfortable with that, so I asked if they could do it for me, but they couldn't because of store policy.  So I went back out and was looking over the instructions and Fitz came out.  He saw out car and asked if we were from Pocatello.  When I told him we were, he said he had just moved from there a year ago, but his brother was at drill that day up there.  I told him Ryan knew him and that they were probably sitting together right at that minute!  So he texted his brother, but had to go back in before he heard back.  So, I was still leery of using this epoxy stuff, so I decided to plug the hole with a paper towel and see how far we got.  We made it to 1300 South in Salt Lake and pulled off to a side street and called my dad.  He, Aaron and Benn went to the Dodge dealership in American Fork, where my cousin, Dean works and got the radiator overflow tank and some coolant and headed up to meet us.  When they got there, they diagnosed the problem not a hole in the overflow but the thermostat.  So me and Benn, went to an auto parts store and meet Doug.  He gave us a new thermostat and different coolant and sent us on his way.  They changed it out and we were on our way!  The reunion was about over by the time we got there and Dad and Aaron had dropped Benn off at the quilt show in American Fork (It was also Steel Days), so I dropped my kids off at Grandma Turner's house and went to meet her with Julia.  We saw some gorgeous quilts and picked up some 24 hour Mexican and went back to the house.  Everyone from the reunion had left, so it was just our family - Mom, Dad, Benn, Kim, Cordell, Noa, Aaron, Julia, Jacob, Nate and Pookie.    Everyone except for Kim's family and us left on Sunday to go home.  Cordell had a baseball camp at UVU in Orem on Tuesday and Wednesday.  We had a good time seeing family - Jim. Lynne, Lindsay - we went to her softball game in Spanish Fork. Then we were all heading to St. George after Aunt Dodie's funeral at Grandma Anne's church on Thursday.  Dad and Bryan drove up with the flowers.  We stopped in Santaquin to go potty and the car started to overheat again!  So Dad, Bryan and Cordell waited for us in Nephi.  We took it to Painter's there and dropped it off to be fixed.  The service manager, Dave noticed our license plates and asked if we were Bannock County.  When I told him we were, he said his mother-in0law lives in Menan.   It's amazing the individuals that helped us because of our Idaho state, Bannock county, Pocatello city plates!  Kim and Noa turned around and came back and met us there and we headed to St. George.  We got there just in time to meet Mom, Benn, Julia, Nate and Kierra at Tuacahn to see "Beauty and the Beast".  So awesome!  Then to bed and up the next day to head to Las Vegas for the 5 Seconds of Summer (opening act - Hey Violet) concert!  We had amazing seats - 8 rows back from the stage on the left side of the stage.  We went to dinner and to the merchandise booths before the show and missed the opening act.  But the boys put on such a great show - very high energy, very personable, and funny.  They are talented and cute!  I had Kim drop us off at Benn's house after, because Noa had a soccer game the next morning at 7:30 and I was going to sleep in!  Saturday we went to Lindo Michoacán's for lunch, Joann's, Great Harvest then to an indoor soccer game for Noa.  Sunday we met Kim and her kids at Farm Basket for lunch.  Benn drove us to St. George that night and then she went home.  I called Painter's in Nephi to see what was wrong with the car but they would have to send it to Provo to get the head checked if it was cracked or not.  So I called Craig and he met us in Nephi on Tuesday and drove us home.  Then next Friday, the 24th, Craig and I drove to Boise for a viewing - Mike "Little" Lower.  He had committed suicide the Sunday before.  Karl Ransom was the Casualty Assistance Officer, so we talked to him for a little bit while we were there.  On the way there, we stopped at a rest stop to use the bathroom and ran into Zon and Deanna Alder!  It was neat to be able to talk to them for a little while and catch up.  It was late - almost (:30 when we checked into our hotel and went to dinner at Good Wood BBQ.  The next day, we started looking for a new car.  We were looking for a Chevy Traverse, we had looked in Nephi at one and really liked it.  Ryan looked them up for us and they were the best in their class.  We had spent a couple of days looking in Pocatello and Idaho Falls, but nothing was in our price range with low miles.  After spending most of the morning not finding what we wanted, we had lunch at Popeye's.  Then started driving home.  We had to stop for gas before we got out of town and it was across the street from a new/used dealership.  So we gave it one more shot and found exactly what we were looking for!  A 2012 Chevy Traverse, low miles - 40,000, one owner vehicle.  The only draw back was the smoke smell, but we rented a cleaner when we got home that changes the ions or something.  So to celebrate we went to Cheesecake Factory and shared some appetizers and got cheesecake - which we did NOT share!  Chloe had her 5th birthday on the 28th!  She had had a party at Grandma and Papa's house, then Ryan, Jacque and Aydan brought her presents that morning.  We baked a mermaid cake and had a party later that night.  I was going to have a birthday party for her but with the whole Utah car fiasco and then the trip to Boise, it didn't happen.  It rained on her birthday anyway and we were going to have a swimming party, so I am glad  I didn't get it arranged.  The 31st, Charlie and Amy Jones came down and we went out to dinner.  Charlie was borrowing some backpacks for his Scouts to go on a campout.  We ran into Chris and Stacy Johnson when we were leaving and got to talk to them for a minute.  The next day we were informed that Chris had been in a terrible bicycle accident that morning and was in the hospital in critical condition.  He is currently there still.  The children and I are still reading the Book of Mormon and are trying to finish it before school starts on the 26th.  Craig has been for the last few days and we took advantage of the time and built a chicken yard. It's 6 feet tall, 11 feet long and 10 feet wide.  Their little coop sits in and they have lots of room to run around.  We made a miscalculation on one wall and had to add another 15 inches to lengthen it, so we have a small section to cover with chicken wire, but at the bottom I am going to put in a hobbit door.  It's going to have a round top, with a window covered with wire.  In the center of the door, there's going to be a black doorknob.  The door will be painted hunter green and have black hinges.  I am looking forward to construction it! Our August keeps rolling along with school starting on the 24th for Courtney and the 26th for the other kids.  Joslyn will be in 11th grade, Chad is in the 8th grade and Chloe will be in kindergarten!  Ryan left on the 7th for NTC (National Training Center) in the Mojave Desert, Fort Irwin for 3 weeks. September will be here before we know it!  We are trying to enjoy the rest of the summer that we have with a trip to the Hogle Zoo and Nephi, to pick up the Neon.  It has been rainy for the last couple of days and that equals free water!  Our garden is flourishing and we have had a bumper crop of squash.  The pumpkins are growing and Chloe can't wait to carve them for Halloween!  Happy Summer!

We celebrated the 4th of July all day yesterday!  I love having my birthday on this day, I LOVE America!  The day started off with breakfast - sausage, bacon and waffles.  Then opening presents!  Craig bought a couple of lawn games - safe lawn darts, washers, corn hole, bean bag toss into triangle nets and a root beer pong game!  We played on the front lawn, Ryan, Jacque and Aydan came.  Then Little Caesar's pizza for lunch and a nap!  We packed up the kids, games and food - fried chicken, potato salad, Suddenly Salad, corn on the cob, chips, fruit bowls - pineapple, cantaloupe and watermelon, water bottles, sparkling lemonade, cake and ice cream and went up to the armory.  We played games and then ate dinner up there while we waited for the fireworks to start.  Loads of fun!  We got home around 11:30 by the time it we were able to get out with the traffic.  Great Day!

Jessica is looking forward to family reunions and seeing family this month. Craig has received his extension and is now planning to retire September 2016.  Woo Hoo! Ryan is working for Direct TV as an installer. He likes to spend time with his girlfriend, Jacque and her son, Aydan. Courtney is working at ISU in the Public Safety department as a clery aide.  She files reports based on the content.  She is signed up for school this fall. Joslyn can't wait to go to the 5 Seconds of Summer and Hey Violet concert in Las Vegas on the 17th. Chad has a 2 lawn mowing jobs and is enjoying the summer off to play video games. Chloe LOVES to play in her pool in the backyard and can't wait to celebrate her birthday!

Spring!

Today's such a gorgeous day!!! The weather has been perfect for the last couple of weeks. I'm sad winter never really showed up but I hate dealing with snow so I am glad spring is here in all her glory! We have tulips and daffodils blooming in the yard and I have planted pansies in pots. The trees are budding out and starting to bloom- popcorn trees! We are planning on planting our garden this week and we got baby chicks last week! It definitely feels like spring around here! Chloe isovjbf being outside and she is watering the flowers right now with my silver watering can. She likes to be fancy and use the watering can the hose just doesn't cut it.
We had a lot of family here this last weekend for Courtney's mission homecoming. Craig did a lot of work on the yard and pond. He had a nerve removed in his foot so he couldn't get around very well but he did his best we spent the beginning of the week in Boise for Spring Break. We visited The Birds of Prey center, very fun. And did our usual trip to the mall and are at some fun places- Tucano's, Tepanyaki Grill and Cheesecake Factory. Then a side trip on the Thousand Springs scenic byway on the way home. It's alwa nice to get away but it's also nice to come home.

My daughter Courtney's weekly letter home:

 

Hello Beautiful People!!!! How are you all today?

 

So this week:

 

We had Specialized Training in Ann Arbor - all about the Priesthood and stewardships and planning. It was pretty awesome, learned lots, and President used the words, "Pancakin' Awesome."

We stopped by one of our less-actives to help her with her fire wood. She said that we were going to split and stack it. So I thought we were going to be using a wood splitter like we used at Sister Sibley's, but no, she pulls out two axes. I really like chopping wood with an ax. It is quite fun. It's a good work out and really satisfying to swing an ax and behead wood. The whole time I kept repeating, "Off with her head!" from Alice in Wonderland.

Obituary

Fall Iz Dead

Fall Iz Dead was born in September and died on November 16, 2014. He is proceeded in death by: Dea D. Leeves, Sog E. Pumpkins, and Cor N. Fields. He left behind: Snow Iz Kold, Ice Iz Slippery, and Karr Iz Frozen. We mourn the loss of the beautiful Fall Iz Dead.    

To teach Travis we always sit on his back porch, because we never have another female to go inside with, but lately it has been getting colder so we decided to have lessons in his dad's deer blind. It's this wooden shed thing with three gun holes and a tarp on the top. It is not the warmest thing, nor is it the biggest. But Travis, Sister Lee, Warren, and I all cram into it and teach the gospel. Also with Travis we always do trivia questions after the closing prayer. So far the categories have been: superheroes, video games, nature, the Book of Mormon, horror, conflict, nuclear physics (courtesy of Warren), comedy, Mormons, war, zombies, t.v. shows, the Restoration, and general. At the last lesson we had Warren brought licorice, so we all sat in the deer blind with Sister Lee's flashlight (it gets dark around 5:30 and Travis lives in the middle of nowhere, literally) umbrellas in the gun slots (it was also raining/snowing/sleeting) cross-legged on the floor (legs falling asleep) holding "For the Strength of Youth" pamphlets, eating licorice, and trying to think of questions about zombies. It has been possibly one of the best lessons I have ever had. :)

I got to see my first live possum!!!!! For about three seconds before Sister Lee hit it. I have seen dead possums a lot, but this is the first live one. We were driving down the road and this huge, ugly rat thing starts shuffling across the road. We couldn't stop and there was a car in the other lane, so we just hit it. I wanted to go back and take a picture, but Sister Lee said that if was still alive we would have to hit it again and she couldn't do that. It made a really loud crunching noise when we hit it, I didn't know that possums were that big! It was pretty cool.

We got to meet the Sheriff of Waterloo and the Chief of Police in Manchester. It takes forever to get around our area and we have limited miles, so we always pack a lunch/dinner and eat it in random parks/on the side of the road. And this week the police all decided to come see us! So the mission rule is that Sisters can't knock on new doors after dark because of safety reasons. And because it gets dark at 5:30 we have to get creative. We either have to stop by members, get appointments, stop by less-actives, etc. But stop-byes get really old and we don't have a lot of appointments so when the police stop by our car and ask us what we are doing we call it reverse tracting. The people come to you!  No one has been interested yet though....

Gun season started on Saturday. We have seen various deer hanging from trees, gutted and hollow. Bit gross. There are also a lot of empty cars parked on the side of the road and deer blinds everywhere. So our car doesn't stand out as much now.

Brother Olsen wasn't at church yesterday because he was in Salt Lake singing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir - Music in the Spoken Word. He is so awesome :)

Brother F. gave us some venison sausage from a deer that his son got bow hunting. It is pretty good. Also we went to stop by Brother F's house one night and it was pitch black with only Sister Lee's flashlight. We get out of the car and I hear something in the general direction of the porch. Then this rooster starts crowing from a pine tree somewhere in the distance. And there is also this grey cat that keeps twisting around our legs and disappearing into the darkness. Then we see this huge machine thing in the middle of Brother F's lawn that looks like a portal from a sci-fi movie. It was weird. So we finally get up on the porch, which was an old dentists/barber's chair sitting on it, surrounded by a pile of hair - creepy, and we see Brother F's dog, Cheesebag, who is on a leash and eating a squirrel. Sister Lee was the first one up and she didn't' see the squirrel because she was trying not to step on the dog poop/pee/vomit. So now she is stuck between the door and the dog who is cracking the squirrel's leg bones in half, dragging it's guts all over the porch. At the same time the cat jumps up on the porch railing and onto my shoulder, freaking me out. I am laughing hysterically while Sister Lee is screaming hysterically, and then she jumps over the dog and we run to the car. It was pretty exciting.  

All in all, a pretty fun week. :) I hope you all have a fantastic week as well (perhaps with less dead animals and police stop-byes)!!!!  You are all wonderful and I love you!

Expect Miracles!!!!!

Fairfarren,

Sister Ockerman