Summer Reading

I just finished Anna Karenina yesturday. What an amazing book! I have spent almost all my spare time over the last month reading these pages!! For an 815 pg. book it is a page turner! Now that I am done reading this book I really miss the characters and their lives, but I have been able to do a lot of gardening today, Update my blog, make two flowers arrangements, and actually start cleaning the house (which has been really neglected lately.)

I LOVE this book! I recommend it to all of you for summer reading. How tasteful Tolstoy writes. Anna Karenina is filled with passion, a longing for happiness, and a quest to understand the purpose of life. There is tragedy, betrayal, love, life and death.

My favorite character is Levin. He is the books moral compass for the reader and yet struggles with the meaning of life. He is always honest and hardworking although he goes through depression bouts because his understanding of the plan of life is lacking. He fails to find a meaning for his work day in and day out. Although the life of Anna Karenina is the main story in the book, the characters weave together intricately to clarify what Tolstoy percieves as the meaning of life and the way to achieve happiness. At the end of the book, through he eyes of Levin, Tolstoy sums up life's definition as man being in control of his own destiny and therefore being able to choose good and peace each day. In essence, no one is a victim of life. We all must each make our happiness and do all our works for God.

Love it!!! You should all read it! Let me know if any of you have read it already. I would be interested to know your thoughts on the book. I want to start War and Peace too- any readers?

Update on Honey Bees

Well just so happens that some people who were picking up our free planter canoe were Bee Keepers!! They removed it successfully and feel they got the Queen Bee. There were about 50 or so bees that stayed behind flying in the yard but within a few hours they should be gone too. The other bee keeper happened to call back when they were removing the swarm. Quick solution!!!

Bees are so good for our yard but they were right on the sidewalk in a residential area so we had to take them out. We are totally morally oppossed to killing the Honey Bees considering the Honey Bee Shortage. But when I found out that the Wasps in the backyard are coniverous and eat the Honey Bees- those Wasps will be gone tonight!!!

Honey BeeHive in My Yard!!!!!

Oh my goodness! Our friends called and said they saw bees in our yard and wanted to know if we were okay. I couldn't figure out what they were talking about. They had left a frantic message on our machine. Strange I thought. Maybe the bees that have nested in our backyard fence? Is this what they were talking about?? Maybe the bees that were in the nasty free BBQ Robert brought home from the side of the road??

So I called a beekeeper and he said they were very likely wasps. No biggy right- just go and get some wasp spray and call it good. I can handle that.

Well... This morning at 6 am I was out watering the yard and was admiring my plants when all of the sudden I looked up and saw the biggest beehive ( and the only beehive) that I have ever seen--- right in our tree!!!!!!! My stomach sunk low and I thought I was going to throw up. All I could think about was Macaulay Culkin in the movie "My Girl" getting stung by a hive and dying. I ran as fast as I could to save me and my unborn child. I slammed the door behind me with my heart pounding and slowly looked to see if any bees followed me.

With my stomach still in knots, my curiosity began to grow. I decided I had to take a picture of this- of course our camera sucks so I couldn't zoom in too far and get a good pic. I am posting it anyway!! How funny I thought that I just called a beekeeper last night. Now I am anxiously waiting for an appropriate morning hour to call the guy on a saturday.

I went back to his website and found a picture of a hive that looked like ours for an example. I also read that this could or couldn't be the permanent nesting place for the bees. If it is not the permanent nesting place then the bees will have relocated within 24 hours- we are getting close considering the forst spotting was 5 pm yesturday. I dont want them to relocate to my old cinderblock fence full of holes or to the side of my house as the website suggests!!!! Help- has anyone delt with this before????

Lagoon and James

Cousin Rachel and James

Rachel was so sweet to go on rides with James. She was a good friend and made him feel safe. Even though James is our little dare devil he cried when the rides went too fast and high. With Rachel though he was calm and happy. Thanks Rachel!!

Nap Time

This was right before James fell asleep. He had been crying in the stroller and so I laid him back and with in seconds he was asleep. This was the smile he gave me right before lights out. I thought it was a cute smile saying: "thanks for finally giving me the nap I need."

Over all our day was fun but a bit chilly. Robert went on lots of big rides and Mom rode Puff the Magic Dragon with James. It was fun to be with all our family and cousins.

James and Grandma Smith with Dad

James first haircut!

This happened a week ago right before church. Robert got inspired to shave the kids head so we went for it and loved it! James didn't cry and I think felt like a big boy. Right after he started to flaunt this new attitude of being big and independent and we couldn't get him to calm down all day. He really like touching his hair and rubbing his head for the first few days.

Before Picture

After Picture

He also likes to help me open the fridge in the morning to pick his breakfast - which is usually cottage cheese. He can say two sentances so far: "Mommy No!" and "Daddy Wow." We sit him on the potty sometimes so see if he gets it. He never has done the deed but he likes to practice wiping! Yesturday at church he got a wipe from the diaper bag and started scrubbing over his shorts- a little embarrassing but pretty funny. Hope you are all well!

James and Nash Feeding Ducks

I stole this picture off my friend lizzy's blog! I thought it was so cute. We fed the ducks at Liberty Park about 10 days ago and I am just posting this. It was a fun day. The boys were squeeling and laughing at the ducks. It was really fun to watch. James came home with shoes caked with duck and goose poop!! We need to go again because the ducks were not bashful, they were taking bread right out of nash's hands!!

Top 10 reasons to live in Midvale

You might wonder why we need to do a top 10 for Midvale. The name itself says it all right?! Well this post is for all of you who might need a little more convincing ...

10. They are redoing all the sidewalk corner curbing so wheelchairs and strollers can more easily glide off.

9. You can pay your water and sewer bill online now.

8. Mid-vale need I say more?? We are totally in the Middle of everything! 15 min to SLC or Lehi and 30 minutes to Bountiful or Provo/Orem area.

7. I heard they are building a Winco grovery store down the street!! This is huge because Winco rocked in Cali for prices. It originated in Idaho and they have the best pizza ever.

6. Location, Location, Location. We are close to a lot of cool places:

--Living Planet Aquarium, me and james just got a season pass for $15 a year. http://www.thelivingplanet.com/

--Lifetime fitness which I love- there isn't a better gym in Utah. http://www.lifetimefitness.com/

--TiaPan Trading, Gardners Village, Fashion Place and South Towne Mall, Steve and Barrys clothing store, Schniders Meat Market (where Robert gets pig intestine to stuff his own sausage), Cy's Market (carries fresh and organic produce at killer prices and sells bags of fresh Basil for $4!!), Jordan Temple, Jordan Commons, Real Soccer Stadium.

--I-15 and I-215 access in minutes.

-- TRAX close by - 7200 S stop, 7720 S stop, 9000 S stop.

-- Jordan River Walk/Bike Path access close by.

5. Little old ladies who know everthing live close by. I am taking a crochet class right now.:)

4. Free bingo and BBQ hamburgers in Midvale City park during the summer. James won $5 in the raffle.

3. The Midvale Mayor told us they are going to expand State Street in Midvale by 2015. Property values will sky rocket!!

2. At Christmas they give you a beautification award for having lights up and throughout the summer they give beautification awards for cool yards.

1. The two houses on either side of us are for sale-- so you can be a Midvale resident too--Because lets face it, Midvale is the new Sugarhouse.

I suck at Blogging

The title is an obvious thought that I am sure you have all had about me- every three months doesn't really cut it for blogging but at least there is a minimal update!! This is exactly how I am with journal writing and scrapbooking. I do blame it on having the crappiest camera ever, so when I want to take cute pics and post-- the pics don't turn out-- and I get sour on blogging. That happened today too- but I did get a few that I will post.





Our economic stimulus check- thanks Bush- should cover James's RSV bill just right but I think that I am going to go crazy and get a new camera and computer!!! Any thoughts on that? Should I pamper myself or pay the bill .... Our computer is literally from 1998. How do you keep working?? I cant download video and I am maxed out on pics and I only have two USB ports. I guess I shouldn't be complaining that I have a working computer:)




James is sooo cute and big lately. I have some pics of him in the backyard playing. He is a happy puppy when he can roll in the dirt for a few hours and then hit the bath. Boys are so easy- just give them a shovel and set them loose. We also got this great slide/toy thing at a yard sale for $5. It was worth every penny!!

More James updates include: getting a big boy bed in preparation for new baby (I painted the table and chairs to match his bed!!), loosing his pacifier and now cries all the time but I am sure he will get over it in the next three months, he has a full set of teeth, and he can eat with a spoon with great precision. His Grandma Janness gave him so littel garden tools that he loves to work in the yard with. We are proud of him and he is growing so fast. He gets taller every day.




























NEW BABY!

So about this new baby!!! I never announced it but it is a BOY!!!! We are excited!! Three months to go. James will now have a permanent buddy. Names?????? It is difficult to decide but right now it is Maxwell Raymond Harris (Max for short of course.) Blog and tell me your thoughts!!! Other names we like include:


Montgomery (Monte)
Chase
Charles (Charlie- after my dad?)
Teddy ( Maybe Theodore?? but call him Teddy)
Benjamin (Harris Family name)


Other then that we are nameless and clueless. So vote and tell me your favorite name and/or any good names that you can think of. I am envisioning a dark hair, dark eyed little boy.... :)
Here is some carpet we just got in our Master Bedroom! We love it and feel like we are in luxury after living on floor boards for 10 months. Well this is the update for today! Look forward to hearing from you!