New family members

Sad news. Jester the Gulf Coast Toad, that Josiah caught in our Metairie backyard, passed away about 3 weeks after our move. It was a difficult time for Josiah, with many questions and tears. It was also a new experience for Paul and I as parents. Poor little guy made it through the move, the road trip and all, but for some reason didn't do well here. He may have been too cold, or maybe the water or crickets were different. We just don't know why. Thanks to everyone in Metairie who gave us jars for his journey.

We took Josiah to the pet store a few weeks after his loss to get a new pet.

We looked at lizards, turtles, hermit crabs, and decided to get a frog.

A few days later we went back and bought a froggy friend for Josiah's frog as a pet for Jacque.

They are Cuban Tree Frogs. They jump very far, climb and hang on the tank walls.

Aren't they so cute though! They eat crickets, so we buy them weekly at a small pet store.

We gave them Cuban names, from thier home land.

We looked up Cuban names online and gave the kids some names to pick from.

Hector & Elaina is what Josiah & Jacque picked.

They are married and live upstairs where it is warmer. They have a heat lamp for sun bathing and we mist their tank daily for humidity, since there is none in Utah.

Great-Grandma's Chair

Before I married Paul, I was given my great-grandparent's bedroom set. It is very old, but I had always liked it. I think it just gave me fond memories of my Great-grandmother and also my grandma, who used it after Great-grandma passed away.

One of the dressers is like a vanity, with a mirror and a small bench. I remember when I was little, my grandma & my Aunt Darcelle, putting a new cover on it.

This furniture set has been moved with us from Utah to Cleveland to New Orleans, and back to Utah, all with that same fabric my Grandma & Aunt put on years ago. To say the least, it needed to be re-upholstered. The furniture set is now in Danielle's room. I found some very nice gray fabric to match the new coverlet and sheets we got for her. When Danielle came over a couple of weeks ago, we took off the old layers of fabric....

The cream fabric on the left was the first layer. There wasn't much of it left.

The underside was a tag: Thomasville Chair Company, Boyles Furn Co, Ogden Utah

Second layer: NICE! Very retro! Very thin, see through.

Third layer: Mustard yellow cloth. Almost like a bath towel.

The last layer. I suspect the original. Almost like a tapestry feel. It was not stapled in like the other layers of fabric. It was secured by small brads. I left this layer on.

I covered it with a small sheet of batting, then stretched the gray fabric over.

I think it turned out very nice. Poor chair is pretty beat up.

Refinishing the set will be another project for another time.

Independence Day- still catching up

American Flag in the Provo Towne Center Mall

Josiah, Jacque, Pauly, & Hannah in their patriotic colors

We went outside on the morning of the 4th of July

and saw this over the valley! The kids were so excited.

I think Provo had a Freedom Days- Balloon Festival.

--------------------------------------------

VISITING GRANDPA & GRANDMA

Preface: A week before coming to visit the grandparents, we found out about a get-together at a park by our house, for anyone with Canadian Ancestry, the public was invited. My grandmother was born and raised in Canada. Therefore, we went to the small gathering, and acquired some Canadian souvenirs. We decided to surprise Grandma at our visit. Grandma was so excited to see the maple leaf. She said that Canada has such a beautiful flag.

Josiah in his "I AM CANADIAN" t-shirt, with Jacque holding the country's flag.

You can't see it very well, but Pauly has on a Canadian one-piece outfit.

This was just a few days before the 4th of July.

We were sure not to wear this during any USA Celebrations.

This is a GIaNOrMouS moth we saw on Grandpa's RV tailer.

I always get Josiah with the most bizzarre looks on his face.

I think he was squinting because it was very hot & sunny that day.

I love this picture with my grandma and Jacque. Jacque loves to be read to &

my grandma's favorite thing to do is read. They really enjoyed each other's company.

Thanks for letting us stop by. It was so very nice to see you. We love you very much!!!!

Just catching up

Jacque is our "chip" girl, with Cheetos on her hands.

The kids have been so interested by anything "western". Josiah found a "tumbleweed" and was thrilled. I don't know if that is really a tumbleweed, or just a weed.

The Shuldberg's came to see us about a month ago. It was SO nice to see them. Abby and Jacque were BFFs in Louisiana and haven't seen each other for a year. The kids had so much fun! Colby was still a baby last time we saw him, and it was our first time seeing little Jackson, what a cute boy! Thanks for stopping by Laura! You're welcome over anytime or we'd love to meet at the park next time you're in town.

It is nice to live in Utah Valley, many people we met while we lived out-of-state are originally from this area. We hope to see many more friends when they come back to visit!!

Good times!

This was our welcome wagon. Jenny & Kody (Paul's sister & BIL) with cousins Carley, Madison, and Sterling. Thanks for being there! They took Josiah & Jacque for the weekend so we could unpack. THANK YOU! Josiah & Carley hadn't seen each other since we left Cleveland and moved to New Orleans. They remembered each other and gave each other giant hugs!

Mr. Moose in our backyard. We also see deer daily eating the landscaping.

Pauly is trying out the car coupe... finally big enough.

Josiah found a spider outside the garage one morning. AWW! I honestly have never seen one of these, in person, ever before. I wanted to kill it, but I was more scared of this, than of our old friends, The Cockroaches, we left in New Orleans. So, we somehow got it into a jar, and in the process killed her.

Hannah was being so funny. She was sliding her crackers on the floor and giggling so hard. Pauly was watching her. He actually taught her this wonderful skill, and has mastered it.

Pauly was so funny, he was walking on all fours....

We have been going to a new park, each time we go out, to see what one we like the best. This park is above the Provo Temple & has 2 playgrounds, a huge basin to roll down; and perhaps in the snow, to sled down. But, it has the best view of Utah Lake, the Temple, and the Valley.

Some pictures of our drive from Louisiana to Utah

HOVER MOUSE OVER PIC TO PAUSE

Disclaimer: The pictures in this slide show are mostly scenery, interesting views, and to show the excitement of driving from the green, humid south, into the rustic, dry west. These are pictures taken by me, Nicole, through my dirty van windows while driving. They are not meant to exhibit good photography. Many of the pictures have the big, yellow, Penske moving truck in them and some are very crooked. I only wanted to share the beautiful drive that we experienced.