May 13th through May 19th

May 13^th through May 19^th:  In last week’s post, I forgot to mention that on Friday the 10th, we went to lunch with Jim and Sylvia Mathis and Brad and Becky Derrick, two couples and dear friends from the ward we lived in when we lived on Douglas Street just below the University of Utah.  It was so great to catch up on what they are doing and what their kids are doing.  Jim, thanks for organizing that get together.  I was so sad that we didn't take a picture.  We loved it!   Last Monday mom went to work and I started early working on the stairs.  About 8:00 am, Aloha Construction arrived and wanted to start prepping for the concrete work that I had hired them to do.  I knew they were going to do the work this week, but to have them show up first thing on Monday was a bit of a welcome surprise.  I worked with them all day and they worked hard and got everything ready so that they could pour the concrete on Tuesday morning.    

The grass and part of the old pad are gone.

Grass removed for the new sidewalk to our apartment.

Gravel in and almost ready for concrete.

Formed up ready for concrete.

This is as far as I got on the stairs on Monday.

Monday evening, we went to the Family Home Evening for the empty nesters and listened to Garry and LaNell Moore speak about their recent trip to the Rome Temple dedication and the connection between the gathering and Temples. They had been the Temple President and Matron of the Spain Temple and Italy was part of their temple district.  It was an awesome evening.  

Empty Nesters, Family Home Evening

Garry Moore is in the plaid shirt.  Garry and LaNell  also worked in the temple department and were over all the senior temple missionaries when we started our service in Guatemala, so we talked regularly with them.  

LaNell Moore on the left and Claudia Watkins on the right.  Claudia and her husband served with Leonard and Marilyn May in the Cordova Temple before the Mays were transferred to the Guatemala Temple.

Tuesday right on schedule, the concrete truck arrived and by 3:00 pm the forms had been removed and the concrete was finished.  Mom went to work at noon and I worked on the stairs the rest of the day.  

Just waiting for the concrete truck.  The space on the left of the 3 x 4 form is where the retaining wall will go.

They just need to float the concrete and then finish it.

New steps and sidewalk poured and ready for finishing.

Wednesday Mom went to Katie’s house early because Kate had to leave to attend a conference. But Mom had a doctor’s appointment at 8:00 am, so I helped get Katie’s kids off to school and then tended Abby.  In the afternoon, we went to out painting class.  

I worked on Xela's hair.

Mom started another landscape.

In the evening, we went to Alex and Charlotte’s son, Evan’s, orchestra performance.  He is such a great kid.  

Evan is looking right at me.

Evan after his orchestra performance.  

Thursday I spent the day finishing the stairs and hauling three loads of cement block to the house.  This block is for a retaining wall next to the new concrete parking pad that was just finished.  I took a break to go to lunch with Lew and Grace Wilson, two old friends from our ward on the avenues.  It was great to see them and hear what is going on with everyone who still lives in the ward.  

At lunch with Lew and Grace Wilson.

The stairs are finished.

In the evening, we went to John and Jill’s, son, Jake’s third grade singing performance.  He is a real character.  

Jake has his arms folded next to the girl in the pink dress.

Click below to see Jake singing.

Jake Singing

Friday I spent the day in the rain building the retaining wall.  The block has to be filled with road base and back filled to make it solid and able to hold back the earth where we had to remove a small hill of grass in order to make a larger parking pad.  At it’s highest point, it will only be about 30 inches above the parking pad.  

Working on the retaining wall in the rain.

Retaining wall ready for the top cap.

Saturday Chris and I got up early and backed filled the retaining wall and then laid sod.  I needed to get this done before I could put the cap on the wall.  We worked in the rain.  

The retaining wall is back filled and sod laid.  I was short one piece of sod.  A project for next week. I can now get the cap installed on the wall.

I then got showed and went to the temple.  Chris had gotten a substitute for her shift because we have to be in American Fork for Emme’s dance recital by 2:30 pm, but I had gotten permission to leave early.  I had a live sealing in Spanish at 12:30 pm and when I finished I was able to leave and Chris picked me up and we headed to American Fork.   Emme’s dance recital was awesome.  She is a beauty and really talented.   

Emme during her dance recital. She is the one in front.

Short Video of Emme

Click below to see more of Emme dancing.
Emme Dancing

Emme is the one on the right.

Short Video of Emme

We had to leave right after her performance because we had a dinner invitation to Evan’s birthday dinner at Chuck-a-rama in Bountiful with Evan and his family.  

Dinner with Evan and his family.

Luke got the Norman math gene.

Tilda ready for nerd day at preschool.

Evan's birthday cake.

Busy day and busy week but the outside entrance and new parking pad for our apartment is almost done, just some clean up, the cap on the retaining wall, and a handrail for the stairs is left.