A MUCH NEEDED UPDATE

Life is crazy, I'm sure this is the case with everyone. We would just be getting home from our Europe trip, but Tyson's grandma hurt her ankle very badly, and since she was the tour guide and financial backer for this trip, we had to cancel. BUMMER!

Last week, Tyson went up to Idaho for a few days for work. He did 11 cell tower sites, which is incredible! He came back to the city, had a client lunch meeting, and then drove back up to Jackson, Wyoming to do 8 more cell sites. But this time, I got to go with him, thanks to our awesome boss! We drove through the most beautiful country. Swan Valley, Idaho and Jackson, Wyoming are some of the most beautiful places! We saw three moose, and a few bucks, and the fall colors were stunning!

We stayed in our favorite hotel, its in Teton Village, Snake River Lodge and Spa. For some strange, but awesome reason, they upgraded our normal room to a King Suite (for the same price as the normal room)! Sweet! There was a fireplace and jacuzzi, plus the room was gorgeous, I've never slept so well in all my life!

We spent 2 full days, driving from cell site, to cell site, way up in the beautiful mountains in Wyoming and Idaho. We got to eat at the best restaurants in Jackson, and we really enjoyed our time up there. Things work out, I'm sure Europe will happen another time, but I'm grateful for the mini "vaca's" that we get to do together.

After we went to the last cell site on Friday evening, we drove down to Rexburg and stayed with Tyson's brother's family for the weekend. They have six kids, and the youngest is a sweet little three month old. We had so much fun playing with the kids all weekend long. We went to Green Canyon, its a little old hot springs pool, and we played for hours with our nieces and nephews. After the kids went to bed (their bedtime is 7:00 PM), we played Settlers of Catan until midnight, new favorite game!

Our sister in law, Sally, has a favorite treat, that she can't get in Rexburg, a carmel-chocolate-dipped, candy coated, apple from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, YUM! We bought three Monday night and fed exed them up to Rexburg. They called the next afternoon very pleasantly surprised! We had a great time with them!

So, a couple other things going on, we love our new ward! Tyson was called to be the 2nd Counselor in the Young Men's Presidency, and they just called me to be the Secretary in the Young Women's Presidency, so our Tuesday's are going to be pretty busy! We are really excited though, we have never felt so welcomed and loved in a new ward like this!

One more thing, and Tyson won't like this (he, like many men, is a very private person), but I'm going to ask you all for your prayers. Tyson has had this growth thing, that looks kind of like a zit on the side of his nose. He's had it for a long time, like a few years. So, he went to the dermatologist, and they took a biopsy... and we just got the results... and yes... its cancer... specifically, basal cell carcinoma, which isn't the worst one, thank heavens! Tyson said its no big deal, but I'm a worry wort, and cancer just scares me a lot! It can progressivley get worse if it doesn't get taken care of now. He is having it cut out of face next Tuesday, and since its right next to his nose, a specialist is doing the procedure so he doesn't look goofy after they cut it out. The surgery could take up to six hours. I know this is a very long post, but please keep Tys in your prayers, he's a strong man, and I love him dearly. We know that everything will work out, but a prayer or two can't hurt, right? Thanks, Dani

FINALLY-THE BATHROOMS

Finally, I remembered to take the "After" pictures of the bathrooms, so here you go!

Bathroom #1 - Master

Before:

After:

The pictures don't really do it the justice that it deserves. The coolest part of this bathroom is the newly tiled shower. Tyson tore the existing shower out to the 2 X 4's. The plumbing was just crap, so Tys and his buddy poored a new cement floor, put new plumbing in, and then tiled the entire shower, up to the ceiling. We painted the walls and ceiling, put a new toilet in, and new tile on the floor, replacing the yucky linoleum from the 70's. We tore out the old crusty lighting and vanity and put in new lights and a new vanity. We installed new hardware, a brushed nickel faucet, towel rack, hand towel holder, and TP holder. I found these adorable towels and rugs at Target for a steal. I really wanted to do something with dark chocolate brown, and Tys loves, loves, loves the color green, so these worked perfectly!

Bathroom #2 - Main

Before:

After:

So, the main bathroom was equally disgusting. We ripped out the lighting, vanity, mirror, flooring, and tile on the walls of the shower/bathtub. We replaced the vanity and a new counter top, put in new lights, tiled the floor, painted the walls and ceiling, and tiled the walls up to the ceiling in the shower/bathtub. We also put new hardware in, brushed nickel faucet, towel rack, hand towel holder, and TP holder. We are so excited to have a second bathroom, we have family/friends come to stay with us about twice a month. In Sugarhouse, we had one bathroom, and it was a little difficult at times, we are so, so, so excited to have our guests have a bathroom all to themselves!

We are still waiting on a few more lights, so more pictures to come. This house has come a long way in just a few short, but very long weeks. We feel so blessed to be able to buy this house and make it our home. Our neighborhood is the best, the neighbors are all so nice and welcoming. They read our records into our new ward on Sunday, and everyone has been so kind and friendly. We have never had such a warm welcome, we are so blessed!

THE LADY & SONS' PEACH COBBLER

I've had some requests for the recipe for the cobbler we had the other night with our friends. Its super easy and really yummy. I just want to give a little background on how our family has become hooked on Paula Dean's recipes. Tyson's father was the President of the Mosquito Abatement in Vernal for years. They have conventions every year, and the year of 2004, the convention was held in Savannah, Georgia. They stayed in a hotel right across the street from the Lady & Sons Restaurant, owned by Paula Dean. They ate there for several meals; its Southern comfort food. They ate fried chicken, collard greens, black eyed peas, and chicken pot pie, all of Paula Dean's recipes are to die for! Anyway, Tyson's mom got us a cook book signed by Paula Dean. There are some really tasty recipes, but WARNING, almost all of Paula's recipes are super rich and super tasty, but definitely not diet food, so pace yourselves :)

The Lady & Sons' Peach Cobbler

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (1 Stick) butter

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup self-rising flour

3/4 cup milk

1 28-ounce can sliced peaches in heavy syrup, undrained

(or use fresh if available)

cinnamon for sprinkling (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. Place butter in oven in a 2-quart baking dish to melt. Stir sugar and flour together and mix well. Slowly add milk and continue to stir to prevent the batter from lumping. Being careful to not burn yourself, remove hot baking dish containing melted butter from oven; pour batter directly over butter in baking dish (DO NOT STIR). Spoon fruit on top of batter, then gently pour syrup on top (DO NOT STIR). Sprinkle with cinnamon, if using. The most important part of this dish is not stirring the mixture. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Your batter will rise above your fruit, producing the most wonderful of crusts. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream.

Enjoy!!!

P.S. (The bathrooms are finished at our new house, but the other lights are on back order, so I'll post the before and after pic's of the bathrooms this afternoon)