Boise, Idaho

Never been to Boise, Idaho before. The reason for the trip to Boise was to help with Brad's move to Emmett. So if you say Brad moved to a town near Boise, people know where that is. If you say, Brad moved to Emmett, then they ask, "Where is that" so you just save time by saying "near Boise". Emmett is about 1/2 hour drive northwest of Boise.

So we had an adventure last week. Wednesday we loaded a UHaul truck. Thursday I drove the truck 6 hours to Emmett. Brad drove his car, mostly way ahead of me. The truck was unloaded in less than an hour with the help of three guys from the ward. Friday we dropped the truck off in Boise, and I flew home. Air time was 39 minutes.

Took the Cache Valley Shuttle home from the airport. A great little adventure.

We got most of Brad's furniture arranged in his 2 bedroom apartment. How many ways can you arrange five pieces of furniture in a room with three walls? Several ways, I found out.

Brad is within six blocks of his office and will work with the youth sports programs for the city of Emmett. Great job, nice community, beautiful valley, near a large city, great location.

We are excited for Brad's opportunity in Emmett. His address is 523 West 1st Street, Emmett, Idaho 83617. Packages are always welcome. Good luck, Brad!

Celebrating 36 years

I can't let today go by without remembering 36 years ago when Craig and I were married. It was in the Manti temple on a cloudy, blustery day in May. It was a special day with family and friends. Our 36 years together has been a great adventure. We have an awesome family of six children, three married spouses, and seven wonderful grandchildren. Each person is very dear to my heart. Thanks for sharing your love - Brad, Brian, Quinette, Cameron, Jessica, Rebecca, Jeff, Stephanie, Jonathan, Joshua, Brooke, Seth, Curtis, Megan, Nathan and Staci. The best part of our marriage now is being married to Grandpa Armstrong. (holding Rebecca - 2 mon)

The white house

The white house (all covered in Tyvex) ready and waiting for it's stucco & stone covering. The home makeover is progressing very rapidly. Thanks to a great contractor and his crew who keep the job moving. The air conditioning is installed in the upstairs floor. This will be a cooler summer around here.

Below is the floor of the deck on the west wall.

The exterior doors have arrived and we are just waiting for the four windows to come. As soon as we get the fireplace installed, the chimney will be built, and the doors and windows installed, the stucco guys can start.

We have a deck off the back west wall. It is covered and it is awesome.

We have most of the roof on. The rest will be finished after the stucco job is done.

So today I went looking for door hardware, stucco colors and stone styles and colors from homes around the valley. So many colors, styles and variety.

Estimated completion date for Phase I is 6 - 8 weeks (July sometime) Yeah!

It's for real

Well, we have gone and done it. It's too late to turn back now. Yes, we have started our Extreme Makeover-Armstrong style. We project the entire makeover will be completed summer of 2009.

Phase I is the exterior including new roof, stucco/rock exterior, new doors, and deck on the west side with a roof covering. Inside we will install air conditioning for the upper floor (badly needed), replace four windows, and install a new glass crystal fireplace in the living room.

Phase II will be inside redecorating with new painting, touch up, furniture, window coverings, and anything else I can afford.

Phase III will be landscaping. Pretty much there will be no need for yard care this summer. It is pretty much demolished. Oh the big boulders have been removed. I am keeping the slab rock for future use.

Needless to say, there have been many hours of thought, searching websites, and driving around neighborhoods looking at houses, getting ideas, and thinking, thinking and more thinking.

The biggest question is "Now that I can change the look of the house, what do we want it to look like?" I should do a survey of the family and get some input. So if you have seen anything really cool, email me a picture or a website to view.

So here are a few pictures of progress so far. Today is day 10. The best part is working with a great contractor, Nyman-Reeder. They built the house and are the best guys to work with including their crew and subs that they use. Exciting project. Perfect for the creative personality.

the rest of the story

I accidentally hit the post button before I was done. Can you believe it?

Craig is an excellent example of studying a subject and learning all about it. He studies medicine, history, computers, photography, current world affairs, politics, and gospel doctrine. When you ask a question, not only does he know the answer, but he can explain the history behind it. It is great to live with an intelligent man.

We are who we are and can only hope to become better. Just don't blame everything on your parents. We are, in fact, only human.

Balance is good in life. Creator vs. Maintainer - maybe a little of both is best.

Inherited family quirks

This may help the family understand where they get a few of their quirks from, me or dad. Craig is mostly a maintainer and I am mostly a creator. I sure hope some of you have a little of both, because then you are perfect.
I have discovered that it is best if I work on becoming a better maintainer, such as learning to clean up quickly after meals, cooking even though I would rather be sewing, find a place to put essentials, and dejunk all the unnecessary stuff in my life.When my trainer once said after being the perfect weight and fitness, "You now are on maintenance." It put me totally out of my comfort zone and I had no idea how to maintain. I have discovered anytime I go on maintenance mode, I just get lost in the day to day and totally get distracted by another new project.
I have never been good at excelling in one subject. I love to learn something new all the time and as soon as I feel I know enough about that subject, I move onto the next one. So consequently I know how to do many things, but only the basics and then I turn around and teach the basics to others. As least I know more than they do in the beginning. I am usually only a few steps ahead.

Creator vs Maintainer

I have thought about this idealogy many times now.

I have shared this idealogy many more times.

I have analyzed this idealogy for a year now.

So I have come to the conclusion that I am a creator, not a maintainer.

Read the following and see if you share my conclusions.

A maintainer is very good at the following:

- brushing teeth and flossing after each meal

- physical activity (exercise) every day

- having a place for everything and putting it away after every use

- cooking food and cleaning the dirty dishes as they cook

- when asked to get something, they easily and effortlessly find it within minutes

- they plan ahead when they have an appointment or meeting and dislike being late for any reason

- have a well planned shopping list and know where everything is in the store

- they like a regular daily schedule and are early risers

- they normally do not like surprises or unexpected events

- and the list goes on,

I think you get the idea

So the creator is about everything that makes life fun and exciting. (well at least from my point of view)

- enjoy looking at each day as a grand adventure

- making very few plans and winging the rest of the time with "what else can I do that's fun"

- being in my sewing room and especially starting a new project

- it's not essential to finish any project. It's the process that makes the project fun

- inpulse shopping for anything, especially non-essentials

- looking for something and being surprised when you find something else, that you haven't seen for a very long time. (like my marriage certificate)

- love surprises like a new car, and then riding in a new car

- planning and implementing a new project like a whole house remodel

- blogging, chatting and emailing friends and family

- vacationing anywhere

- going to work and finding 75 different ways to tell telephone sales people "NO THANK YOU" especially the ones from India.

- and anything else that uses the creative side of the brain

I have found that understanding this creator vs maintainer idealogy has helped me understand myself. It really doesn't change anything or anyone around me. In fact, those who know me think I'm either a little crazy or now have an excuse for not putting anything away. Which is true on both accounts.

So which are you? A creator or maintainer or a little of both?

to be continued. . . .