Life Updates...not much going on with a little excitement

So, just settling into life in South Dakota. I'm getting ready for camp to start... yup it's true, I just can't get enough of Boy Scout camp and I'm going back. Instead of being in Aquatics I have gone over to the FUN side and am going to be doing Climbing.

In all my adventures in life, I've only been climbing once in my life... ok and that was last year...
But now I'm all certified and official to go climbing and take scouts.

I went to Utah- Camp Tracy the first part of May to get my training. I was really glad to be back in Utah again, but it was a little bittersweet. First of all, Jason was back in South Dakota... so that wasn't very fun. But I couldn't even have time to go see my family. I was only about 30 minutes away from my house and I didn't even get to go home once. Luckily I did get to see my parents, so at least that happened.

But I learned a whole bunch that week. I am now a knot-tying fool (and not just by getting married... ok I know that was a lame joke). I knew a few knots for Aquatics, but now I know some pretty serious knots... my least favorite is a bowline on a bight!















These are all the people getting their climbing certification, too. Climbers are an interesting breed... that's what I learned the most that whole week.

I got to climb on a lot of real rock for practice... this was a first time. One place we went, in Dugway, Utah, was called Lone Rock and it was a pretty desolate place.















The instructors warned us about the lack of cover for any "personal" trips you would need to be taking... all that was surrounding us was 60 miles of the salt flats...















Don't I just look like a professional climber! Well, maybe a grumpy professional climber.

I got to repel, climb, set up anchors on bolts, and natural anchors. I either did pretty good, or I sure fooled everybody!

But then I got to go back home!!! I slept the whole day the next day, but that's only cos we didn't get back home till 3 am... I was not a happy camper!

But other than that... I'm pretty much boring. The excitement was we got a new vacuum. We got it with some of our wedding money... let's just say my house needed it!

And for anyone that thinks Jason wouldn't or doesn't do housework... here's the ultimate proof.














He was going to town getting all those spider web on the ceiling.

And here is the disgusting results of our vacuuming. So when my landlord said he cleaned our house before we moved in... I somehow think otherwise...




















Notice how it's past the Max Fill line... Seriously!

The last of the exciting things is Jason was growing a beard. I really didn't mind the beard, but its what he did with it. He shaved it off in series.

He went from a beard to a goatee, to a mustache, to a mini-mustache... that one was the worst.






















































But that's all for now. I'll keep you all posted with the summer updates.

Oh, here's a little photo fun-ness. I tried to crimp my hair the free and easy way... with little braids. Another "What was I thinking?" moment!!

Working with Jason

Another day in sunny South Dakota... ok at least the sun is out, but it is VERY windy so it makes it quite chilly. Waking up this morning I would never have guessed what treasures and adventures I would meet this day.

I decided to see what work is like for Jason. He was going to be working with some wood today and I thought, "Why not? I could do it too." And so I "helped" Jason today. He was working on the tops for some night stand.

We started all from planks of wood. We had to saw them to the designated length (and really whenever I say "we" I mean Jason... I was more an observer). I guess I did help hold the wood up while Jason cut it on the table saw... so I was A LOT of help.

But the next part. We had to piece the wood together so that the wood looked aesthetically pleasing once completed. I knew I was ready for this job. I never realized how careful you have to be when selecting wood.






The wood has so many colors that you can't just piece the wood together willy-nilly. There's some thought and consideration to put into this. I'd have to say we did a good job (and this time I do mean we) arranging the wood so that the white colors would flow just right with the red colors all mixed with the grey colors.

*disclaimer- not actual wood we were working with...just a picture I found on the internet.




But then I went back to being the observer because of the use of big fancy tools that I don't want to break. We planed the wood so they'd all be the same depth. And it was while planing a certain piece of wood that I noticed a little hole. I was worried that we wouldn't want a hole on the top of a night stand, but Jason said "No worries. It's just a worm hole." He's the boss so I just let it slide.

But when he was working on the next piece I was looking at this piece we had just worked on. And looking a bit closer at the little worm hole, I saw that it was not vacated... Yes, the worm was still in there. GROSS!

This is what it kind of looked like.















*disclaimer- yet again not the actual worm because I didn't have my camera on hand at the time.

I was just in shock that the worm was still there. I just never thought of that as a possibility. The little guy would just pop his head out of his hole every so often. This bothered me tremendously. I had to do something. So of course like any sane person I tried to yank it out with some needlenose pliers hanging around. It took me a couple of attempts, but I got the little sucker! And it was even more gross! It was maybe 3/4 of a inch long and stark white. It wriggled and was really squishy. He has little fangs, but Jason said that that's how he eats the wood.

Well after squirming and flailing about a little bit I finally went into action. I ran outside with the pliers in hand and flung the worm into the air and then ran. Yup, I'm pretty brave.

Now I know what its like for a day in the life a Jason. Its pretty intense!