Pool Craned Over the House!

Today the pool arrived! It had several major hassles and it took them 5 hours to do the job, but it now sits in place in the back yard!

Notice that there are two pools on the truck. Unfortunately, ours is the one on the bottom. It was loaded that way at the factory in California for safer transport. Our pool contractor was not happy!





After much discussion over who would take responsibility in the event of a mishap, it was decided to first crane the top pool onto our front yard. (This pool is going to Park City, or they would have just delivered it first.)

Notice our pool in the background is still on the truck.

Larry had to bend the weeping cherry out of the way.






After they got the other pool out of the way, they lifted our pool off the truck.









Here you see our pool flying over the top of our house. Because the distance was too great for the weight of the pool (2800 pounds, Ralph!) it had to be set down in the back yard of the house next door.

The neighbors have been great to allow us to drive on their new sod (ruined), turn off their sprinkling system for 2 weeks (in 100- degree heat), and take apart and cap their sprinklers so the trucks could drive over them. Tonight we told them that we aren't going to charge them for their half of the fence. Seems only fair . . .



After they put the other pool back on the truck, they moved the crane so they could lift our pool into its' hole. Finally!












It's in! Hooray! Neighbors keep coming by to see. The guys across the street had a beer party with their friends to watch the show!

Zachido Barachido

How much stuff can you fit on a La-zy-Boy? Well, according to Justin, this is his list. (and what he put on the chair)
1. Mommy 2. Justin 3. Hayden 4. Shivers 5. Lightsabers-4 of them 6. walkie-talkies-2 of them 7. one compass 8. one map 9. 2 toy guns 10. 1 chain (to catch the monsters) 11. one toy dagger 12. 2 swords 13. Mommy's magazine that she was reading when all of this started.

We then go on our "safari" in our Safari Jeep. Justin looks at the map, decides where Africa is and uses his compass to find out which way to go. We're off. It's a little bumpy on the road, so Justin picks up his walkie talkie and calls up his friend "Zachido Barachido" to smooth out all of the bumps and holes in the road. Hayden answers on his walkie talkie and says, "Awright" and on we travel. We soon come to the monsters. Out come the lightsabers, and Justin holds off the monsters until Mommy and Hayden can shoot them with the guns. Justin ties up the monsters with his chain, and then we enjoy a nice leisurely ride back to our house with the monsters in tow. We never do use the dagger and swords, but I'm sure we'll try again soon.

A Dangerous Book for Boys

This book seems to have been a hit. It's written for boys... What every boy should know :) Mothers are talking about it here... http://mother-talk.com/wp/?p=70

Or check out the book's website.

Digging Our Pool!

Last week they started digging our pool. First they dug out a flat place. Then they spray - painted the shape of it on the ground, plus 6 inches all around. It will be a fiberglass pool, all in one piece like a giant bathtub. A big semi truck is hauling it here from California. Hopefully it will be delivered this week, and a crane will lift it over the house. Then they hook up the mechanics (filter, heater, vacuum). Next they start to fill it with water and at the same time put sand around the outside, keeping the levels even. Last comes the concrete around the edge.






The digger used a transit to figure out exactly how deep to make it.


They carried 20 dump truck loads of dirt out of the back yard.







We hope it will be finished by the time you all show up for Shelley and Rob's wedding!




The last picture is the finished pool hole, looking from the fartherst corner toward the house.

Baby name wizard

Check this amazing thing out, all you baby makers... http://babynamewizard.com/namevoyager/lnv0105.html

Try this

Google the phrase: Insane devil woman. Then hit the "I'm feeling lucky" button.

The guys at my work think they are funny :)

Check my blog for a bit more... http://shelleylyn.blogspot.com

The Cruise

I have been meaning to get these pics together and finally did. Here is the cruise that Tyler and I and James and Vicki went on May 28th - June 1st. We went to Catalina, California and Ensenada Mexico. We had a great time! It was so nice and relaxing. I highly recommend cruising! And no we didn't even get sick! It was great! Check out my blog for more fun stuff we have been up too. www.grovesfam.blogspot.com
Love you ALL!!
Love Laura

Our Cruise!

I'm almost there...

Well, I am so close to finishing school, that I can almost taste it. I am just trying to bide my time until then and bow out gracefully (not working too well, but that's okay).
The good news is that John has successfully passed, "Mountain Phase" in GA and is now actually at Eglin AFB doing, "Jungle Phase." If he passes this last phase successfully, I could get to see him in about two weeks!!! WAHOO!!!!! It's been since April 26th and it'll be nice to be like a real married person again. ;) If you would like to send him a letter, you can send them until June 30th. His current address is:

2LT John Tribe
6th Bn, RTB
RN#352m Company C
6069 Walkers Lane
Camp James E. Rudder
Eglin AFB, FL 32542

I love you all and look forward to hearing from you or seeing you soon. By the way, I am totally jealous that you all are doing fun things and I am stuck in school. Have a great week!
Alyssa

help me choose

Any suggestions on which of these three photos are best for our engagements? I have others if these all bite... be honest, it's ok to say "Shelley, you should really photoshop those wrinkles out"

Larry & Kerry Trip to Hawaii & Alaska

June 1, the last day of school, Larry & I got a military hop to Hawaii! Here we are on top of Diamond Head, an extinct volcano overlooking Honolulu, which you see in the background.












This is how we got here!
























We went snorkeling at Hanauma Bay. there were thousands of fish of all colors, about the size of my hand, and a few larger ones. that was the highlight of the trip!










Removing the pig from the roasting pit at the luau at the Hale Koa. We ate all kinds of strange things, like seaweed salad, fresh tomatoes and raw salmon. The fresh fruits and roasted meats were great. Poi is awful. It's kind of like cold oatmeal that's been blendered up to mush, but not nearly that good!






This picture is the Hale Koa where we stayed for 2 nights. The next 4 shots are all from our balcony. What a view! Larry has wanted to stay here for years, but we could never get a reservation. This time we got cancellations. Hale Koa means "House of the Warrior."











View of Hololulu and the gardens around the Hale Koa












View of the Ocean













Night view of the city is so beautiful












Looking directly down from our balcony. the pool was heated to about 80 degrees. We were so busy, we didn't get to swim here very much!











In Alaska, we took a "26 Glaciers" cruise on this catamaran, the Klondike Express. Because if was a catamaran, it could go faster and we went 135 miles through the deep fjords to see the glaciers. We saw hundreds of sea otters and several bald eagles, a mountain goat and a few moose. Larry loved it!













Glaciers are actually blue!











We got to watch several aerial refuelings en route. We laid on our stomach in the very back of the plane, and looked out the little window in the floor to see our plane "pass gas" to the plane below.

Robert Shepard's Wedding

Robert Shepard married Kirsten (?) May 11, 2007 in SLC. I thought you might be interested to see what their family looks like now.

He is now serving in Iraq and she is going to Salt Lake Community College to become an elementary teacher.








Lani Shepard, Christi holding her baby Cam, Michael Shepard, and his wife Amber.

Lani is going to Weber State in biology. Christi finished a Master's in English and is now a stay-at-home mom. She also has a darling 4-year0ld girl named Katie and a husband also named Chris. They live in Chicago. Michael will soon finish at Weber State with a teaching certificate in history and math. Amber plays violin and is trying to get iinto medical school.







Christi and Cam. He is about 9 months old in this picture.

Heidi Graduated!

Heidi graduated from High School and it was a big family party! We all felt as if we had a part in helping her finish. The girls called Wendy and Troy and all the kids and everybody cheered, even on the cell phone! We were the loudest of any of the graduates' families. Graduation was held in the Dee Events Center. There were 450 in her class. Afterwards we went to Chili's to celebrate! Hallelujah!

Nothing in Particular

Well, I thought that I would try this out-most of you know how we're doing-pretty good in general, but I certainly can't wait until our next baby is born! (The faster the better). Chris has had to take on most of the household stuff-since I can't walk very well. We still go swimming or have something to do with water almost every day-since it's the one thing that I can do, and the boys love it. Hayden just learned how to propel himself around in the ring-floatie this past week, which makes it a lot easier for me to take the kids swimming by myself. -Just in time, too, because the temperature here now is HOT and HUMID. :)

But things are pretty good in general. Chris is a lifesaver, and he keeps us all "afloat". We can't wait for all our company in July, and for Shelley's wedding-Horray! Love you all! --Wendy

Gross

So, Angela was saying our evening prayer tonight after the kids had gone off to bed. I've had a cold or allergies so my nose is stuffed shut and I'm breathing out of my mouth. Barley jumped up on the bed. Now mind you, I've got my eyes shut for the prayer. The next thing I feel is Barley licking the INSIDE OF MY MOUTH! I gagged and choked and spit all over the place. Angela laughed so hard she almost couldn't finish the prayer. It was never an ambition of mine to be French kissed by a dog, and now I really, truly understand why. GROSS! (Where's the barfing smiley when you need one?)

Music for our wedding

So I sort of stumbled on this guy who I've booked to do the music at our reception... http://www.robertlinton.com/index.htm

He'll come with a cellist and charge us $150 :) I'm glad! What do you all think?

Great Family Home Evening IDea

Well hello all! I' ve come up with a great family home evening for you all. Can anyone guess what it is?... You can all write to John in Ranger School. He's doing really well, and I actually have his current address. Keep posted as I will let you know when it changes. It is currently:


2LT John Tribe
5th Ranger Training Battalion
RN #352 Co. C
Camp Frank D. Merrill
Dahlonega, GA 30533


You all are great, and Congrats to Heidi for graduating, Aaron and Becky for celebrating their 2nd anniversary, Troy for getting a new job, and all the rest of you for living through a tough year. Love you all, and thank you for your prayers in our behalf.

Sarah's Saturday Ramblings

Hi guys, Tiff just got back from D.C. and had a great time. Michael and Andrew went to see their friends in the school Olympics and summer is nearly here! I'm soooooo ready for school to be over. We get out of school on the 14 of June and then almost right away go to girls camp. I'm so excited it's my first year going we're going to have a blast! The only downside to the end of school is finals, but I don't like to think about that. My Saturday is going well except Tiff and Andrew are both sick I think Mom is too. The people down the street set up a huge inflatable bounce palace and I'm not sure if they're trying to sell it or if they're having a party. This summer I might go up to Cedar Point with my mom and some of my friends but thats still undecided. I can honestly say that this has been the best school year since kindergarten.
I love you all,
Sarah

Heidi's graduation

Heidi graduated on May 31st! So exciting. We called Wendy and Troy so they could be a part of the action too. We cheered the loudest for Heidi. How can you not be excited for her! What a fun occasion! We couldn't be more happy for her!

Check out the link to some of the festivities...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimhenson/sets/72157594162681724/

loveya!