Mapping out our lives

For those who are interested in our upcoming travels, we are spending the night in Orem, and then driving down to Monticello in the morning. We will spend the next night camping near Moab, and then drive back to Orem. We may spend the next night in Orem or come back to Logan.

What do you want for breakfast?

"Chemicals." - Autumn's response this morning. (Usually she asks for cheerios or waffles.)

A most romantic couple

A tribute to Jonathan's wonderful grandparents

Kay Devon Burtenshaw

March 7, 1932 -January 25, 2011

and

Anna Lee Burtenshaw

April 5, 1933 -March 26, 2011

He was born in 32, of parents from Rigby and the Mexican Colonies.

Bluewater, New Mexico was briefly his home,

But his parents again would start to roam.

They landed the family in Blanding, Utah.

And here is where our dear Grandpa met Grandma!

In 33, Grandma was born in Monticello,

Of the same great pioneer stalk and pioneer resilience

That helped Grandpa's ancestors survive Martin's Cove.

Her family were Pehrsons, a kind-hearted band

Who had a hotel in their basement quite grand.

Grandma married her sweetheart

And grandpa promised his bride

That Monticello was where they'd reside.

They made a life in this high desert place

Working their mechanic shop at a rigorous pace.

As husband and wife they raised three wonderful children

And taught them to work hard and also to play hard.

Many years later, when their posterity had grown

Their grandchildren and great-grandchildren would visit their home.

Each child would remember the love they were shown

By the greatest grandparents the world's ever known.

And when at last it was time to go,

Grandpa slipped away quietly as you probably know.

And Grandma endured for a little while,

But it really was Grandpa who could make her smile.

And since their lives were full and good,

And they cared for each other,

And did as they should,

The time soon came to be reunited.

On their 60th wedding anniversary,

Grandma joined Grandpa in that paradise above.

Where we know they are happy and completely in love.

Saturday Morning Hike

Autumn, Jonathan, and I laced up our boots and headed up Green Canyon for some morning exercise. It was good to get out the house and get some fresh air.
Along the way we saw a boisterous group of scouts returning from a winter overnight-er. None of them looked very frozen. From the trail we watched many cross-country skiiers zoom down the snowy road. I imagine going up hill was not as fun for them.

We also saw some siamese deer. Really. What deer need to stand that close together?

Autumn's phrase of the day is "Nine, ten, eleven, twelve, fourteen."

Sneakin' the pizza dough

Seeing-eye dog vs man with low IQ

This morning Autumn and I went for a jogging stroller adventure. We started out by stopping at a little park where Autumn practiced climbing up the jungle-gym steps and going down the slide by herself. It's nice for me not to have to put her at the top of the slide each time she wants to come down it.

Next we headed back to 600 E so we could continue on to the grocery store. Just as we got to the corner, we saw a man trying to call his giant, black, fuffy dog. It looked like a Newfoundland-Husky mix, but I'm no dog judge. This not-so-intellegent dog kept running into the busy street as cars kept slowing down for him. He would not come when called. The man yelled "grab his collar!" I wasn't close enough for that, even though the huge dog didn't seem like the biting type. The dog was thoroughly enjoying the game of tag when the situation got worse. Coming in the opposite direction down the sidewalk was a blind man with his seeing-eye dog. When the blind man heard us calling the big animal he stopped with his dog and waited a ways away on the sidewalk. All this time the owner of the big fluffy dog was trying to stay at his house and see if the dog would just come back. A man and a woman in a pickup truck noticed what was going on and stopped to help. By now the giant dog was getting really close to the seeing-eye dog all the while darting erratically into the street. The man and the woman tried to grab the giant dog, but just then the giant dog was able to start fighting with the see-eye dog. After a few seconds, they got him off but didn't catch him. One of us stood by the seeing-eye dog to protect it, while the others tried to get the giant dog. Are you wondering where the giant dog's owner is? Finally, the owner made it to where we all were (2.5 houses from his.) Then the man and the woman demanded that the giant dog's owner go get a leash. He headed back to the house, but the dog was running further and further away, so he decided just to chase it. At this point I suggested to the man with the seeing-eye dog that he could go on since the giant dog was no longer in his path. He was pretty angry. He said that it was illegal for a dog to attack a seeing-eye dog. Autumn and I helped him cross the street so he'd be even further from the giant dog. Then we went on to the grocery store. We watched the man finally catch the dog over by the hospital.

Autumn's first musical composition

Listener beware. Autumn doesn't mind disonance. Someone more musically inclined could tell you if this piece ever resolves. However, I think Autumn's musical creation is cute because I didn't start writing songs until I was much older (like 5).