Well, it took even a few days longer than I thought, but we finally finished framing in the Great Room.  It is now no longer one “Great Room” but rather 6 smaller but more functional rooms.

Getting Framing Done

 

I know it is hard to tell what you are seeing when you can see through the walls, but that last picture is with all the walls complete.   After this pic we also added all of the headers that you might notice are missing (if you know what they are).

Upcoming Work

The HVAC guys said they “might” be in this week to put in the venting, most likely next week though because of the holiday.  We can then do the electrical and finish plumbing for the shower/tub.   We also need to add the insulation in the outside walls.  By the end of next week we might be ready for sheetrock.

The kids have been quite helpful in small spurts.  We’ve found they are most helpful when we only take 2 of them.  If we have them all then they ALL want to be the one in charge of JR.  If we leave some at home and rotate 2 different helpers each day than they work harder, learn more (I think), and have better attitudes.   Even when we have them all though, they are all quite good.

With only 49 days to go until school starts we better work quick or we aren’t going to be done in time.

 

 

Alanna: The First Adventure (Book 1 in the Song of The Lioness Series) by Tamora Pierce

This is a fantasy book written for young teens, probably around 12.  Kristie, 11, started it a few months ago but didn’t finish it.  She said it seemed good but she got caught up in a different series at school.  So I thought I would try it out for her.  And I’m kind of glad I did.

Content

Alanna of Trebond is being sent of to learn to be a lady, but that is the last thing she wants.  Her twin brother is supposed to become a night, likewise the last thing he wants.  So they switch places.  He goes to the convent, not to become a lady but to be taught in the arts of sorcery. Alanna becomes Alan of Trebond and begins her training as a page on her road to knighthood.

Alanna forms many friendships during her training, including prince Jonathan and George, king of thieves.  Although Alanna only desire is to become a knight, she has the Gift and must learn to use sorcery as well as chivalry to succeed.

recommendation

I give this book 10 out of 12 buttered rolls.  Alanna is a heroine that I truly enjoyed.  She is quick witted and likeable.  Her trials are realistic and fantastic at the same time.  All in all, a fun read.

We’ve been teaching JR to walk, and he’s decided he likes it.  What could go wrong with his new found mobility?

 

Before you call PETA about cruelty issues, I’m talking about shooting clay pigeons!

What a Way to Bond!

As a social activity our Elder’s Quorum got together on Saturday and went out for some gun time.   A friend of one of our members owns a rock quarry on the west side of Utah Lake that served as the perfect venue.   So about a dozen of us gathered together with firearms in tow, ready to shoot!

Sorry that video is so long and boring.  I was caught between wanting to keep it short, but not wanting to cut anyone’s ‘moment’ out.  So it dragged on much longer than I anticipated… sorry.

Shooting other guns too…

We had lots of options to shoot with, not just shotguns.  There was a wide variety of AR’s, AK’s, pistols, etc.   Because everyone kind of broke off to shoot their weapon of choice I didn’t get much video of that going on.  I did get this gem of Joshua though…

I feel like everyone had a fantastic time, and came home whole.  So I’d call it a successful day!  Let’s do it again soon guys.

 

 

The weight loss attempt continues.  Despite my sense of foreboding that nothing good would come to pass, I have endured… so far.  And how has that turned out?

Weight Lost

Not a single pound!  Actually the first five days found me several pounds heavier (and wanting to give up) but I’ve lost them these last five days.  So I have a net loss of Zero… but I kind of lost some. In a way… I’ll count that as a victory.

Swimming

The swimming is going… well… swimmingly!  I’ve missed a few days because of how much I hurt when we got home from my parents, but not many.  Most days we come home and get some dinner and have about an hour of pool time left.

The mask and snorkel make all the difference in the world.  Whether or not swimming  contributes to any weight loss, the swimming without pain has been fantastic.  It is all attributable to being able to do it without arching my back.  It seems silly, but the little arch needed to breath makes swimming unbearable.  But with the snorkel I can go for quite a while.

The first few times I wasn’t able to do many laps.  My ankles tired easily and my body wasn’t accustomed to the actions.   I probably only did 3 laps (there and back) the first day.

As my activity continues my endurance increases.  I’ve done more laps with each passing day.  I think I was between 12-15 yesterday.   Those were broken into two swim periods separated by a time playing with the kids in the shallows.

Emotional Well-being

I feel fine.  Not really any better than normal, but no worse.   Everything is just … bland.   I’m hoping that persistence over a longer period of time will net some positive results.  (or is it negative results since I’m looking to lose weight?).

Overall my hopefulness isn’t really changed, largely because my weight hasn’t changed.  I’ve been better at the late hour calories, but not perfect.  I’ve really enjoyed the time in the pool.  The feeling of weightlessness is nice.   Carrying around all this weight makes gravity a nemesis, and so the buoyancy water provides is awesome!

Hopefully next time I give an update I’ll have some positive (or negative?) results to report.