Just to start off...

Just to start my very first blog off, I thought I would post the birthday cake pictures. Katie and Christian had swimming parties this summer, so that is why their hair is wet. Katie was strongly encouraged to have piggy tails so that she would look good in all the pictures and wouldn't have to worry about her hair, but refused. Then she was encouraged to brush her hair after she came in and got dressed, she refused. The next day after she saw the pictures when we downloaded them, she covered her mouth and said "look at my hair". It is in the genes. I have pictures that are in this vein also. It was a much more peaceful and educational approach this way. MAYBE, she will listen next time. She did have a fabulous time though, which was the whole goal. We almost had to change plans for the party, however. We had 110+ degree heat all week long. The forecast was hot all week long which is great for a swimming party. Then on Saturday morning we got the remnants of Hurricane Dean, thundering and dumping .91 inches in our backyard. It didn't get over 90 till after the party. But since it wasn't raining, we carried on. And yes, it is back to 110+ again. Come visit!

We are really enjoying Arizona, even with this heat. The weirdest thing to get used to is that when you set your washer on the cold cycle in the summer, you open your washer up to very warm laundry. Opposite of Idaho where I would have to warm my hand after touching my cold cycle clothes because they could've almost contained icicles. Don't miss that! I have also gotten used to going to the grocery store with coolers so that my freezer stuff doesn't melt on the way home. I actually don' know if anyone else around here does that. But Costco didn't mind when I brought mine in one time. Didn't even bat an eye. I dare you to try that where you are and tell me the results!

Mike's big news is that his baby is almost out of the paint shop. He has finally decided on a color. Royal Maroon.

Here is Mike working on taking as much of the car apart to save money on the painting as possible. He did a great job. We are saving about half by doing this and putting it back together ourselves. (It was supposed to be just Mike, but I got roped into it too.)
Anybody recognize this great Lime-Gold color from the 60's? It looks a lot better when it is not oxidized, but I am glad that it will change.

And yes, a beautiful picture of me helping with the project...
no I have not had a shower in this picture. When Mike set off determindly to do this project in the middle of July while he was on vacation, I told him he was on his own. If it was any other time of year, I would help, but not now. Notice the date on the picture, yes, that is why I had not bothered to take a shower, I was sweating profusely. There was a decision that I made that I would rather see more of Mike inside once we got it taken apart and on its way. And I don't mind saying, I was the one who figured out how to get the bolts that held the doors on, off.