A mix of events

Who said it never snows in the desert? That person is an idiot!! It all started with me getting two text messages at work, one from B.J. and one from Alisa saying it was snowing. This is the most snow we as Nevadans have seen since 1979.

For my beautiful kids (pictured below) it was the first time they had seen this much snow in Henderson. Mallory couldn't get enough of the white stuff even though she was frozen like a Popsicle!

I just had to take this picture of this stupid palm tree! I hate palm trees and don't think that they belong here at all! I was hoping that so much snow would fall to take them all down. Speaking of down, some trees (including my neighbors) broke under the stress of the snow.

Looking east toward the "B" on the mountain by Basic high

Our backyard

The boys and myself went to the off road race out at the dry lake bed. We drove the Polaris ranger all the way out there. We met my old friend Bobby Joe Davis out there who brought his daughters. I thought B.J. was going to lose his mind with those girls there. You should have seen him trying to be cool and not let his big grin with those braces get in the way. Anyway fun was had by all.

The truck below is driving by us at about 100mph. It gives me such a rush to that close to the action! At one point two buggies went by us, one trying to pass the other almost hitting me. Another 5' and I would've been toast.

B.J. and RL with a truck in the background going off the jump.

These vehicles going about 10' in the air and going about 60'

B.J. has become quite the stud here lately. We all woke up to B.J. yelling "look out front!" Low and behold someone had Tpd our house. A bunch of girls that have a crush on B.J. did it.

RL and Kellie helping out! Kellie in the tree and RL just yelling because he was too embarrassed to be out there. Alisa and I just laughed and thought about how cool it that someone would do this to our house.

B.J. with his plate of goodies that was left behind for him to eat. And to answer your question he did not share with us.

Well there you have it! Hope you enjoyed this blog!

Just a quick note!

Here is a quick note to let those of you out there who actually check out this sorry blog to read what is going on in this price home!

Alisa went to the Dr. today and she is diolated to a 2! The Dr. does not think that she will make it to her due date of the 30th of this month. She (Alisa) called me today as soon as she left the Dr's office with excitement in her voice as she told me the news. Although I know the excitement in her voice was just to have the baby out of her so she can breath!! You know us guys, I'm thinking, one more tax deduction!! Although on a sad note about the baby coming I have been thinking about a comment that my brother Jim made about the baby being with my mom! I know it sounds kind of corny but I do believe that my mom is holding this baby and loving her before she comes to us. I must do my best to teach the kids ( all of them) what a wonderful person she was.

Well, with Christmas just around the corner it's actually starting to get a little cold outside. I was starting to think that it would never cool down. It was really starting to make me mad! I Prefer the colder weather (probably because I'm so fat) but the heat just kills me anymore. The kids are all very excited about what they are not getting....haha!

Work is still going for now. I don't know how much longer I will have this job, but I feel so blessed just to be working right now when so many are not. The Lord has truly blessed us this year.

Well, tonight is Kellie's band concert and she has a solo. So I must go get my stinky butt in the shower so I don't embarrass her too bad.

Hope you enjoyed this little note.

camp trip with RL and Kellie to knob hill

From the 9th of November to the 11th RL, Kellie and myself went to a place south of Henderson known as Knob Hill. It's kind of out in the middle of nowhere but its a fun place and the kids can ride the ranger and the quad all they want.

The pic to the right Kellie took of me while we were climbing some of the big rocks around camp

Below is Kellie giving Mallory and Maren a ride on the ranger. Maren is Doug and Megan Mckee's daughter. The McKee's came out with alisa on monday to have dutch oven food with us. I'm sure glad they came out to enjoy our fun and make it a little funner as well.

Below is Alisa, Megan and Mallory enjoying some yummy food.

Here is Doug trying his best to get out of the picture. Sorry doug!


A pic of camp from the rocks above.

RL too busy eating to come out and play!



Just one of the many rock formations around knob hill.

Kellie just had to take pic's if her dad....sorry everyone!





Kellie chillin' out on the rocks!

RL having fun on the quad when it would run!

RL and Kellie driving away in the ranger. Kellie couldn't get enough of driving. Between the ranger and quad they went through 15 gallons of gas.

Going for another ride.

Me with my night time happy pills. I gotta sleep somehow!

RL and Kellie enjoying some Mountian House freeze dried meals and playing connect four.













We had a great time and hope that next time we can have a few more friends show up and enjoy the good times!!

Deer hunt with B.J. & Dad

I know you guys are all in shock to see two blogs in such a short amount of time! The pictures below are of B.J's deer hunt that took place the second weekend in October. This deer hunt was very special to me especially because my dad went with us. But because of the bitter cold (morning lows about 14 degrees) dad didn't leave the camp trailer too much. But nonetheless it was a blast to have him there. The hunt took place just west of Ely Nevada.

Doing a high five with bloody hands! I love this stuff!!

This picture is of B.J. going down to find his deer just after he shot it!

I took this picture because I thouhgt it was cool looking. These are the mountians behind camp. This was one of those cold mornings I was talking about.

B.J. and dad with the deer in the back of the Ranger.

B.J. holding this years trophy a 20 inch 3x3

B.J. just after he found his deer

I thought this picture was cool because of what his shirt says

work pics

Here are some pictures from my job site on the Las Vegas Strip! All of these pics except a couple were taken from the tip of the crane. The operator let me get in the man basket and trollied me out to the very tip of the crane and swung me around so I could take these. I am 650 off the ground!

This is Herb the crane operator. He was just diagnosed with prostate cancer and is set to retire after being an operator for the last 37 yrs.

This is the man basket I was in while taking the pictures.

The view below is of the pool and Harmon circle.

The Strip

This is the North side of the tower where the manlifts are or should I say used to be! It's full of windows now!

This is level 67 and level 65.

I have been on this job now for just about a year and half. Perini has been very good to me and my family!

mixed emotions

First let me start by saying that I just read Christina's and Jim's blogs and they talked a allot about mom. Now I'm sitting here doing my best not to cry!! Oh well I will forgive them because I love them and next to my parents and my wife and kids they are my best friends!

I too, along with my siblings have had a tough time letting go of her (mom.) I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we will be together in Heaven! I have found myself wishing I could call her and talk to her especially about her birth place, Antimony. I love it there and try to tell and show my kids where grandma grew up and what she did as a kid. My mom always worked hard but I don't thing she counted on working as hard as she did to live 5 more years with cancer! She fought hard and was truly an inspiration to us all! I love you mom and I miss you!

OK, switching gears! The family is doing well and the kids are so excited about school starting. I think the only thing they will miss is the pool, especially Kellie! She is a fish! The pool has been a little bit of a headache. The pump motor went out twice so it turned a little green. But things are under control and we all are enjoying the pool once again.

We found out Friday the 15 of August that we are having yet another girl. I guess that what I get for giving my friends crap who only have girls, Yes jarvus you! It's all your fault. So if any of you have any cute girl names send them our way.

About a month ago now the wife and kids went to Kentucky to see her sister and attend a wedding. They had a great time. Everybody except B.J. loved the plane ride! It was their first time on a plane. They were gone for two weeks. While they were gone I did the single man thing and ate out alot. Dawn and Rich had me over to their house for pork chops and they were hands down the pork chops I've ever had. My mouth is watering just thinking about them.

Now for the funny thing. While they were gone to Kentucky I suffered from heat exhaustion and severe dehydration and work and had to be taken off in the ambulance! Once at the hospital and feeling better after two IV's I mustard up the strenght to text Alisa and tell her. She didn't text me back, she called and said you better be joking. I said no I'm not and then she tells me that I don't sound very sick. I said how does a person sound after suffering from this? She then hung up on me. Then I had Russell (my little brother) take a picture of me and send it to her. About three minutes later the phone rings and she is telling me that she is so sorry for being such a *#&@%. You fill in the blanks. I was laughing and I hope you are too!

Well guys, the kids are calling me to the pool so I will talk to you later.
Love you guys!

for the fans......lol

I was just reading my brothers blog ( Jim) and realized that I haven't done one in a while and figured I better get one out for my fans! lol I don't know where to start exactly so I will give you a recap of the past couple of months.

Work was pretty crazy for a while there. We were starting work at many different times and it wore me out pretty fast. Lots of long hours and many seven days a week and 10 or 12 hours a day! the only good thing about it was Friday (payday.)

My mom was in and out of the hospital for a while and to tell you the truth I thought she wasn't going to come home a few times! But as always the Lord knows more than we do and mom is doing pretty good for now! She is really a fighter and an inspiration to us all.

The kids are getting so big! B.J. I'm afraid has started to notice girls and is always going to the jim. He is starting to look more like a man than a boy. Heck he is so big that my buddy Jeff said to me that I needed to start kicking his but now because he is just as tall as I am and he's only 14 years old. He is a good kid and always gets A's and B's and works hard in band. He honors his Priesthood and is always out going and ready for anything. He just got braces put on and it is so funny to listen to him talk. I kind of felt bad for him because he got his braces on the day before finals and his mouth hurt him so bad that he couldn't eat! But to listen to him talk he did really well on his finals! Way to go B.J.

RL is not for behind B.J. when is comes to growth! To look at my kids you'd think I was giving them steroids of something. RL has discovered that he likes to work with his hands. I have taught him how to work bikes and now he does it all for his brother and sister. The kid can figure out anything just by someone showing him how to do it one time. He is so helpful when it comes to his little sister Mallory.

Kellie, I don't know where to begin! She is so out going and for the past couple of months all she can think about is which song to sing at the school talent show. This girl is not shy at all! I don't know if that is good thing or a bad thing. I'm sure when she gets older I will think it's a bad thing. Next year she starts middle school. Wow, where does the time go? I guess it's time to start drawing that body outline on the driveway so the boys can see that I'm a killer! lol.

Mallory is 18 months old now is progressing everyday. She is talking so well. She loves shoes and is always changing them throughout the day. She is so attached to her mom. At times I'm not sure if she even knows who I am. Too much work I guess!

In April we had two surprises. One is that we finally bought a house! I thought for a while that we would never be able to afford one the way prices were going through the roof here in the valley. It's a nice house and if you're nice I will load some pics in a later blog so you can see the pad. The other surprise is that Alisa is with child again! This will make #5. I am hoping for a boy but will be happy with what ever the Lord sends us!

Well, I need to run because Nascar is coming on and I can't miss that! I will talk with you guys later.




RL

good times

Last Saturday (Jan 19, 2008) we went for anothter Ranger ride. This time it included Jarvus and Cory Byington and their kids, Russell, Tanner, RL, B.J., Kellie and Kellies friend Amber. We drove down to a place called Keyhole Canyon. Keyhole Canyon is about half way between Henderson and Searchlight, NV. Once there the kids played on the rocks and ran around and played. As my friends the Byingtons can tell you I failed at trying to start a fire and little bro russ came in and save the day. With the fire going and everyone hungry we roasted some hot dogs and the Byingtons ate their sandwiches. Oh before I forget Jarvus also ate the rest of my hotdogs. So, we all sat by the fire and talked and got warmed up before the long cold ride home. Thanks to everyone who went and made this a fun time.

Sunday my sister Christy came over with her kids and we sat and watched the Giants and the Greenbay game. It was fun because she wanted Greenbay and I wanted the Giants. So of course we gave each other a hard time about the game. After all isn't that what family does to each other! It was alot of fun.

This week at work has been pretty good except for the cold I have. As a carpenter you spend half your day bent over so with a head cold it kind of sucks! We are getting ready to pour floor 50. The view from up ther is really cool. We should be topped off in about four months, after that who knows where the next job is!

Well guys, I have to run off to bed because I'm up so early.

TTYL.

Just a little note

On Saturday the boys and I went and saw I am Legend with Will Smith. B.J. and RL kept laughing at me because I kept jumping! You know your getting old when your boys are laughing at you for jumping at the movies. But I will have to say it was a good movie. That same day Alisa, Kellie and Mallory went and saw Enchanted. I think this is the most movies we as a family have seen in some time! On Sunday the kids and I left church early to go on a ranger ride. Russell started out with us but his bike started to act up so he turned around and came home. Anyway, we went down to a place called Mcullough pass. Once there we ate some sandwiches that Kellie made for us. And they were yummy! But, because of the bitter cold and some threating clouds we hurried and ate and headed back to Henderson. It's about a three hour round trip just to the pass and back. I think next time we will pick a better day and do some exploring! I will try to load some pictures for you to see.

I know it's only Tuesday but work has SUCKED!! I went to work on Monday with only two hours of sleep! After work I went to Bass Pro Shops and bought a new jacket. After that I came home, ate, showered, took a tylenol Pm and went to bed. Today I went to work in a good mood but that was destroyed by my layout partner Mike! Good guy but just drove me nuts.

Now I'm home and you know what I'm doing so I will talk to you later.