Today

This one goes out to the one I love...
Momma -
Happy Birthday!

P.S. I know this isn't the greatest picture of either of us - but you have to admit, that sunrise hike to Lover's Leap was awesome!

Asleep at the wheel

Harris Research has sponsored a company softball team and Martha and I both play on it. We always have so many people at the games that we have to rotate regularly through positions. We just had our third game last night and we won.

We lost our first game misserably and only scored one run (me with the RBI and Martha with the score). The second game looked like we could win and then the other team ran away with it.

Last night we started with the lead, then the other team tied the game, then we scored a bunch more. We won 11-6. The highlight for me was when I got up to bat with 2 outs and no one on. I hit what should have been a single, but thanks to an overthrown ball and my crazy sliding ability I got to second. Then Martha was up to bat and hit me in. It was exciting. I know winning isn't everything but it sure makes the game more fun.

Anyway, while we are playing we have a couple of friends that will watch Dillan. Last night we brought his tricycle and they pushed him on it. Well, further into the game, he started to get cranky and wouldn't let our friends hold him. He just wanted to stay on the trike. So he eventually fell asleep on it. We got some good pics. Here's one.

Grandma T in the hospital

Hey everyone, I don't know if you have heard but Grandma was admitted to the hospital on Monday. I don't know all the details about her situation, and apparently niether does she (I visited her last night). Apparently there is something with her heart and possibly legs and lungs.

I just thought you all should know so you could keep her in your thoughts and prayers. I think Mom knows more, but she didn't have time to tell me. (She was about to teach piano).

Anyway, have a great day and keep grandma in your thoughts and prayers.

Mark and Laura's new house

Well, I am finally getting around to posting about the house we are buying in Stephenson. It is about 3 miles from Daggett, where I work, so I will still have a pretty short commute, but a bit longer than my current walk-across-the-street routine.

The house was built around 1900, and it is 2450 square feet. It is a foreclosure that needs some work, so we are getting it pretty cheap, as it has sat on the market for about a year with no bites. We got a copy of the appraisal, which gave us some interesting past history on it. We also found out it was built by one of the branch members' grandfather, who was the first barber in Stephenson.

It is on a triple city lot, so it has a nice large yard, and about .6 acres. From the appraisal we found out that it was sold in 2006 for $60,000, and in summer 2007 it was listed for $70,000 by the owner. It looks like it was foreclosed late last fall or winter, and when we first saw it it was listed for $39,900. After we had walked through it, they dropped the price to $35,000, and we then offered $32,000 and the lender agreed.

The previous owner had started chipping away the plaster and lath in one of the bedrooms, so you can see inside the exterior walls, and see that it has no insulation in the walls at all. The attic has less than 4 inches of blown in insulation, and much of the electrical is very old, with some knob-in-tube style wiring. One window is missing, and part of one is broken, and the outside doors need new knobs. The floors are almost all hardwood, that need to be refinished, and the furnace is very old and probably needs replacing. All of this is why it had not sold, even though it was cheap.

The bank had the appraiser do it based on the value after it had been rewired, insulated, and a new furnace, and it came back valued at $81,000! So in addition to the purchase amount, we are getting another $15,000 to help pay for the repairs. I plan to do most of the work myself to save money. Even with the additional money, our house payment, including insurance and taxes, will be less than $450/month!

The first photo is from the street, front right side:

The second one is the front left side (you can see the board covering the missing window)
The third one is from the back yardThere is also a two car detached garage, and a paved driveway shared with the house next door.

Anne Finally goes to Kansas

So, as most of you know, I finally made it to Kansas and met Abby and Tanner for the first time. I was met with top notch hospitality and had a wonderful time! The first day I was there we played at an arcade in Kansas City and raced super fast go-carts. Matt beat out Darren for fastest lap by 10ths of a second. This is Darren post-action.

Look at these darling babies.....

Aren't they just precious?

Here are some shots of Lindsay in the "ready position," me on Darren's Harley, Porter and I at Fritz's (he didn't want to wear the hat, but I broke him down), and some shots of hangin out at Darren and Tracies Crib. Check up the slam dunk!

Overall, a fantastic two days. I'd like to thank the Topeka crew for a wonderful Kansas experience. Tracie - that Sunday dinner was scrumpt-diddlie-upcious. The Haddock kids were so much fun - - and so freakin cute! Allison - I had a blast with you as always. Abby is an amazing baby! Matt - thanks for having me and for taking the late night and early morning for my travels. Thank you all very much. I think you qualify to have me in your presence again someday. ;)

A pretty good weekend

So last weekend Martha, Dillan, and I went to Logan with Mom and Dad to see Grandma Tolman. We went there to help tear her old shed that had a collapsed roof from the snow this winter. We successfully dismantled the old beat up metal shed and put up a new Lifetime shed. Check out our handywork.

After we finished the shed, we went over to the Haddock home accross from the temple and walked through it with a realtor to get an idea of what it is worth and what repairs needed to be done.

Saturday night we went to a young womens' spaghetti dinner fundraiser which was actually the best ward activity that we've been to so far. At the end there was an auction for desserts and services from the young women. We got 2 babysitting sessions for $16 bucks. Pretty cheap.

Then on Sunday at church during priesthood, Dillan climbed up on the chair infront of the organ and started playing. It was cute. I took a picture.

The last picture here is of Mom (Grandma) reading to Dillan when we went to have dinner with them after church.

Now Dillan is sick, I am staying home with him today. He has woken up in the middle of the night with a 103 temp the last two nights. Martha got up with him and stayed home the first time and now its my turn. His temp is fine right now, but we want to make sure he is still fine when the drugs (tylenol and motrin) wear off.