Adam and Heather Hayes

Sorry for the delay in entries, but there really hasn't been much to say! I pretty much stay inside out of the below zero temperatures and get bored, day after day! Erith's school has been canceled twice due to cold temperatures. We have had some get togethers with friends that have broken up the monotony nicely. I have a cross stitch for the baby I should be finishing, a quilt that needs tied, and piles of scrapbooking I should be doing. But alas, January has sucked the motivation out of me. February please warm up my ambition! We are all doing fine and shouldn't complain so please don't give this blog too much credit!

 

Vi is trying to talk more. Adam is getting quite good at his piano playing. Erith is loving school and doing great. Tricity is doing Erith's homework again after she brings it home and learning a lot. I am reading Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy by Richard G. Scott. I like it a lot, it's very good for my state of mind right now.

We hope you are all healthy and happy, have a great day!

Erith's birthday count down came to an end. She is SIX! Looking at her in these pictures really makes me feel old. She's not a toddler anymore! She's definitely going to be tall like her mom.

We had both grandparents and the aunts and uncles over for a simple birthday party. It was a cold snowy slick night so we were glad it came together. Erith was cute as could be!

Well, a lot has happened since we last wrote so we are playing catch up.

We had a lot to do to get the new office ready for carpet which included cleaning everything out of the office... (which was a much larger task than it originally seemed.) Then I had the opportunity to lay my first tile which was a daunting task. You can see the heater we used to keep the grout warm so it would dry.

 

Finally we got the carpet laid. There were some ups and downs during the installation (we'll just say that I had a bad day and the carpet layers beating the tar out of my sheetrock didn't help.)

 

The kids loved the new carpet and posed while we were taking the pictures. You can see some of the remnant pieces on the sides of some of the pictures.

Then we took an entire day to move all the cubicles and office equipment into the new office with the help of Stuart, Grandpa Quinn, and Josh. The pictures show that we are still getting things organized where they should go.

 

I officially worked a couple of days out there... but we don't have the propane heater attached yet. We are waiting for the inspector to come and approve the install. So, it was a couple of very cold days in the office. I've been working inside for a bit while we wait for the inspection so I don't freeze to death.

 

Otherwise, everything is done and looking great. Thank you to everyone who helped make the new office possible. 

I talked to my mom last night (Saturday) for quite a while about how things are going. We are going to see them after church and it makes me sad beacause it may be the last time for quite a while.

Landon's white blood cell count is going to be checked twice a week by a home health nurse. If his count gets too low he won't be able to see any outside person especially ones who are sick at all. We seem to have a cold that passes amongst the 5 of us lately.

My mom has hand sanitizer at the door and masks for anyone remotely sick and we have a couple days till the white blood cell count is going to take a huge drop, so we're going to make the best of this visit tonight!

I just thought this information ought to be mentioned so you family understand why they can't have visitors or go out in big crowds too often for the next year and believe me it will be hardest on me and my girls! I'm sitting here wondering if I should take Tric and Vi with their runny noses tonight but I guess it's better today than in 2 days.

Erith and Tric are making get well soon cards for Landon as I write, bless their loving hearts.

Adam just walked in from his BYU Idaho 7th stake clerk stuff and he says he's speaking in stake conference in 2 weeks and this is their last stake conference to speak before they get released. (I think I'm just about ready to be honest. It's kind of an unappreciated calling because your home ward just thinks your inactive!)

Our new office is coming along. All the Sheetrock is up and most of the screw holes are mudded so we just have to per fa tape, sand and paint. Oh, and figure out how to stop the bottom of the door from leaking when it rains. Our house and now new office faces South and it takes a huge weather beating.

Anyway, we are doing just fine. Vi is an amazing trouble/mess maker and I am learning to be patient when I find toothbrushes in the toilet and the entire contents of a garbage can on my living room floor. I'll miss these days when she's a teenager supposedly so bring it on Vi!

I just told the ladies I exercise with that I didn't get flu shots because they don't always guess the right strain that hits this area.  After Tric and I coughing and running a fever for 3-5 days and tagging the next kids in line right as we got better, I'm having second thoughts on whether the flu shot is worth it!  I was pretty sure on Thursday that I wouldn't be able to go to my sister's wedding on Saturday, but I took all the vitamins and medicines I could think of, and prayed and thought possitive thoughts and I got better unusually fast and made it to the wedding.  Now I just have to get Vi and Clara over it.  I do have to take a moment and brag about the good husband I have.  He has played the breadwinner, cook, carpooler, and nurse this week with a very cranky wife.  When I'm sick, my insulin doesn't work well at all, and so my bloodsugar was running higher, and when I'm high, I'm a GROUCH!  He puts up with me somehow, and keeps cold rags on 103 degreed foreheads, and I really appreciate it. 

The relay for life was a very worthwhile experience.  It let us see lots of other survivors in the community and the family and friends who really care and support those with cancer.

This was our "camp", go Purser Potatoes!  Abi took a lot of time and effort making the campsite cool.  She put all the people on our team's names on Potato People.  Erith, Tricity, and Timber are showcasing them here.

Adam does not enjoy walking and running very much.  He'd rather get exercise from other means, so he complained the whole way there.  But once he got there, he got way into it.  He pushed Vi in the stroller and ran half of his shift.

 

 

I was not that ambitious, I had the sweat pouring just from walking.  Adam and Sleight came out and cheered/forced me through one lap of running.  They had us pick up a paperclip each lap we did, it was a good way to keep track of how many laps we'd done. Clara was a great cheerleader.  She was smiley and happy as you can see her here with Ranae.

Ranae, Grandma and Grandpa Quinn, and quite a few others came to support us.  It made it feel more like a party than exercise.  My sister Bethany had a friend who even ran 19 laps with her at 2:00 in the morning... STRAIGHT!  (They were hurting the next day!)

They had food, live bands, and games for those not on the track all night long.  You'll have to talk to my parents and brothers and sisters to find out the details on all that.  Adam and I had early shifts and we were the only team members who didn't spend the night.  (Which got quite cold I hear.)

Well, we did it!  I'm quite proud of us too!  Erith, Tricity, and Timber did at least 4 laps of their own throughout the evening.  We had such a good time, we will probably do it again next year.  Let us know if you want to join our team!

 

 

 

 

 

We had a lovely week of family fun last month.  I forgot to take pictures, so I'll try to tell our story the best I can with words.  Well, we do have a few pictures.

Adam's family stayed with us at a cozy A-frame cabin in Island Park from Monday evening to Thursday morning.  We started with a big crowd Monday night and slowly shrank in number by Thursday.

We went on a rafting trip from Big Springs to Mack's Inn.  I failed to take the camera, which is a shame.  It is a slowww float and we saw a moose and got sunburned!  There was another rafting group who kept "racing" us, it was fun even though we lost.  (They only had 1 adult and 3 youth, we had 5 adults 3 youth, HEAVY RAFT!)

Mostly we ATE a lot and played Super Nintendo and board games. The cabin had cable, indoor plumbing, and 2 bedrooms and a loft which you can see above. So now you know how much we were "roughing it!"

We toasted marshmallows in the fire pit one night, but alas I have no pictures of that.

After we left the cabin Thursday, we went to Mesa Falls.  My dad told us about this place on the way were you can feed the fish.  Once they know you're there they just jump like crazy for the bread or chex or the fish food you can buy in a vending machine.

While we were feeding the fish we shared some chex with a retired marine from California and he told the girls he would give them a special coin if they promised to be very good little girls forever.  So they promised and they got these unique coins with his name, rank, awards, and a little map of where he served in Vietnam. You can see one of the coins in Tricity's hand below.  He followed a few minutes behind us to the lower falls and then up to the upper falls.

Of course I didn't get a picture of him with our camera but we took one of him and his friend with his camera at the lower.  It is a beautiful place.  I can't believe it took me 27 years of living in Idaho before I went to see these beautiful landmarks in my own backyard.

We did remember to take pictures here. There are lots of BIG pictures of us at Mesa Falls in the Image Gallery under 2009 Vacation.

 

We ate cold cereal at Mesa Falls for lunch and then headed to Aspen Acres for my Quinn family reunion.  Camp was all set up when we got there and everyone was playing games and doing puzzles while the rest of us showed up.

We had to set up our new tent for the first time (in the scorching sun) and then we joined in the fun too.

 

We were literally right on the golf course.  The one time I went golfing a ball rolled under my aunt and uncles tent! It was a fun course, as long as I could hit the ball, right Adam and Ranae!?

We made the cutest cards one day and threw goldfish crackers on people's shaving creamed heads for a prize, and made eclairs over the fire and if you want to see any pictures of any of this fun stuff you'll have to go to my cousin Camillle's blog, because unlike me, she takes pictures of everything going on!

Saturday, the last day, my wonderful aunt and grandparents watched my kids so Adam and I could go to the Playmill with my parents and siblings in West Yellowstone.  We saw Guys and Dolls, and it was so funny!  I highly recommend it.  Here we are with some of the actors afterward.

You can see why I don't take pictures, Blurry!  We took Bethany's boyfriend with us and afterward we took him to Mesa Falls!  So here Adam is looking like a hottie.

 

 

and that was our vacation!

I know you've all been waiting months for me to finally post this, so here it is.

As you can see, we are no longer assaulted by 1972 when we walk through the bathroom doorway.  The toilet is all one color and NO CARPET!

This may not look very different, but the medicine cabinet and mirror are tons bigger now.  The cabinetry has no holes or broken runners.  The sink is not baby blue and the vanity top is all one big piece, easier to clean and less caulking. I used to have 2 drawers, now I have six.  I don't have anything in the bottom 2, it's wonderful!

The cabinetry is new and beautiful.  I have several more shelves now to keep me organized.  The tile is beautiful and not near as cold as I thought it would be.

Goodbye blue porcelain, hello jetted tub and cultured marble.  I really like taking baths and showers now.  We got a bent shower curtain bar and it is amazing how much more elbow room there is.  The cultured marble is pretty, sturdy, and very easy to clean and I would recommend it to all who like how pretty tile is but don't have the patience to clean the grout.

 

 

 

I am just having a bad. trying not to break down and cry day.  Nothing horrible has happened, I just can't seem to turn the frown upside down.  I burned my finger making gravy for dinner tonight and it is throbbing.  I've cleaned my house oh, 3 times today and it is a mess again.  My kids won't obey me until I've asked 10 times or raised my voice.  Clara won't leave my side.  People everywhere are freaked out about the swine flu.  Tricity's best friend has decided to go to the neighboring school district next school year.  Adam has church and volleyball every night this week except Saturday night.  It is so cold and rainy, I am just bummed.

Where have I been the past few months?  Well, this is Idaho, and it is winter, so believe it or not, I've been cooped up in the house.  Reading books, watching old movies, and for the past couple weeks exercising! 

I have a goal to lose at least 30 pounds this year. I've joined a group of ladies in my ward who walk 3 miles every morning (5 days a week, M-F) and lift weights immediately after on Tuesday and Thursday (our whole stake is invited to that).  I hope going from nothing to this will be a big improvement.  It has already helped my mood a ton.  January always makes me so stir-crazy.  I'm usually broke after Christmas, thus I don't leave the house much.  I feel like everyday is the same, and there is nothing to look forward to, and I just get down and sad/grouchy.  So I am LOVING the happier mind-set exercise gives me, and I'm sure my family is too. 

We are going to do a complete overhaul on our upstairs bathroom when we get our tax return back.  (Since we incorporated in 2008 we had to pay 90% of Adam and Heather Hayes' AHFX 2007 earned income AND AH Digital FX Studios Inc., so this years return should be a good one) 

Our bathroom is straight out of the 70's from baby blue sink, toilet, and tub to the blue plaid carpet. Yeah, gross, I know. So all new everything, even cabinetry.  Yes, the carpet is going, it will be replaced with: most likely tile.  Post on the comment section the likes and dislikes of all your flooring and counter tops.  We are leaning towards tile floors and granite counter tops.  (Is tile to hard and cold on your feet and does granite show too many splatters and fingerprints?)  We will do before and after pictures of it.

We'll be adding more toys to our swingset, and hopefully... laying some cement for a basketball/volleyball court. It should be a fun, busy year! 

I think we are going to have to kiss our Spring Break bye bye! It was absolutely horrible today and then at about 3:30 pm it just stopped. We had Tricity's carpool mom stuck in a 3-4 foot drift at the top of our driveway yesterday and it took Adam with a shovel and a neighbor with a tractor/plow 45 minutes to get her out! Today her husband came over right in the middle of the worst part of the storm, with a HUGE tractor and cleared us the widest path we've had in over a month, bless his heart. The piles of snow he was pushing were so big, the girls couldn't wait to get their sled on them!

 

This winter takes me back to my childhood when almost EVERY winter was like this. You'd drive down the road not able to see over the wall of snow on either side. Jenny, Nicole, Lindy, Kendall, Bethany and I would make the most awesome snow caves and tunnels you ever saw! I remember thinking I was paralyzed after going off an icy jump and losing my snowtube at the Ucon Pit. Good times! It's fun to see my girls starting to use their imaginations out in the snow. They go out to play once or twice a day wind permitting!

 

This is what Erith has to say about today:

"I found the red sled, it was burried under a mountain. We went sledding. I tried to make a snowman but the carrot kept falling out so I just ate three carrots. Tric ate one. We went in the house and drank hot chocolate."

 

This is what Tricity had to say about today:

"We went outside, then we went on a hill, but Erith ate all the carrots but one. We rolled down the hill one hundred times. Then we went on a new hill and went down it 6 times. Erith got tired so she had a nap on a different hill. Then we went in the warm house and had hot chocolate."