Redd Haven Rising V

I think it is time for a little update! Progress was mighty slow for a few weeks. The mechanical guys have been soooo slow. The brick guys aren't much faster. This is about all they have to show for two weeks of work. But- we love the brick. We think its a great color.

The sheetrock-ers on the other hand have been cruising. They got the main floor and above the garage all done in one week. This is a view from the back windows in the great room- looking up to the front of the house. Seth is standing in front of the fireplace. The two openings on either side are for sliding doors between the Great room and Living room.

This is looking from the kitchen into the dinning room.

This is standing in the Great room looking towards the kitchen.

A peek at the Master Bath.

This isn't a great shot- but its the floor of the Family room in the basement. I think it looks really cool. It is a diamond cut pattern in the cement that has been stained. It has a really cool mottled look- like real stone. The cement has radiant heating. It will be warm and toasty and the kids can't mess it up by tracking in dirt. Bonus!

Thanks-Giving

Wow- can you imagine 29 pies! Yes, thats really how many there were. Considering there were 52 of us, that is more than half a pie per person. Brigham and I have never had a Thanksgiving meal with either of our parents since we have been married, so it was fun to be with so much family again. Definitely a perk to living close to home. The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving. ~H.U. Westermayer

Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow. ~Edward Sandford Martin

Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action. ~W.J. Cameron

My super cute sister and I headed out to the movies for a little "Twighlight" action. I was pleassantly surprised with the movie. I was prepared to not care for it too much, but I really liked it. It was fun, if not a little kooky. I didn't care for the scenes of the vampires acting....well...like vampires. I never could get over the ridiculous height of Edwards hair either. J and I then went out to lunch and she even stayed the rest of the evening with us. I am thankful for my baby sis- she is adorable. The kids all got together to provide entertainment. They decided on a "rock band" and had a great time putting together outfits, making instruments and deciding on their music. For each new morning with its light,For rest and shelter of the night,For health and food, for love and friends,For everything Thy goodness sends.~Ralph Waldo Emerson

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. ~Thornton Wilder

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.

Ode to the Veterans

Veterans Day was nearly two weeks ago, but we wanted to give a little shout out to all of those amazing soldiers who have fought and are currently fighting for all of the freedoms we daily enjoy. THANK YOU! Land of the free, because of the brave!

Seth wrote a poem about a soldier. I thought it would be appropriate to share here. It is called:

I Am a Soldier-by Seth Redd

I am a soldier.

I wonder if I am brave enough.

I hear the gun shots.

I see the enemy attacking.

I want to serve my country.

I am a soldier.

I pretend I am shooting the enemy.
I feel the bombs dropping under my feet.
I touch the trigger to fire.
I worry that I am going to die.
I cry, "Fire"!
I am a soldier.

I understand that I love my country
I say, "God bless America".
I try to do my best.
I hope we will win the war.
I am a soldier.

Thanksgiving Tree

Seth was in charge of family home evening Monday night. He found a pot, filled it with dirt, cut a branch, put it in the dirt, and even put a nice decorative rock border on top of the dirt. He taught a great lesson on being thankful and we commenced putting together our annual "Thanksgiving Tree". We all wrote down our thoughts on the leaves then went around the table talking about them as we put them on the branches. I loved hearing all the thoughtful things that my kids came up with. There were some pretty funny things too. Brig said he was thankful for a girl named Kendra. Wha!!!! I think he did that to get a rise. Seth wanted it off the tree the next day....He didn't want "some girls name on our tree".
Our family has been bountifully blessed in so many ways. It is a pleasure to live with these wonderful people!

Kiddo Update!

We are happy to report Brig and Katry both received straight A's on their mid term report cards. Seth, who is a veritable genius, also received straight A's from RHS (Redd Home School). I feel very happy that the kids were as prepared as they are for public school. That is always a relief, cause sometimes you have to wonder. However, I am also disappointed that school is such a breeze for them, cause I'd like them to be a little challenged. All the areas that they were so advanced in, are just going to slowly dissolve into their current education, and that makes me sad. I am very happy that they are doing so well, and amazingly enough, despite all of the naysayers out there, my kids are excelling socially. They have lots of great friends, and according to their teachers, they are very well liked, adjusted, happy kids. Socialization, was the number one concern I got from so many people, when they heard that I home schooled. It was, and is, my number one concern as well. There is a lot of "bad" socialization out there. So far, all is well, and we are all happy.
Brig is wrestling right now. He has practice five days a week for TWO hours. I think that's nuts. He is loving it though, that's what counts. Katry is playing indoor soccer. Her dad is the coach, their games start this week. Seth is playing basketball and rocking it. If it wasn't for him, their team would be in the tank. Seth also started the first phase of his orthodontics with a palate extender. He is adjusting well. Kaleb is learning to read and keeping us all entertained with his cute "four year oldness". Kai is the cutest baby around. Don't take my word for it- everyone says so.
The house is moving along. Hopefully, they will start sheet rocking this week. Uncle Darren, Aunt Duce and crew came up this weekend. Darren is a landscape architect, and is drawing up some fancy plans for us. Thanks Burnetts, we love you!
And that's our Update! Love and Hugs to all!

Redd Haven Rising IV

We now have windows in. Yea! The last two weeks they have put in the plumbing and mechanical things- heating duct work etc. The electrician is supposed to be here this week, but he has yet to show up. I tried taking some interior pictures- but they didn't turn out very well. Too confusing.

Anyway, here is a picture of the back. It is a walk out basement. So that is why it looks a little different on one side. Its coming along! Fun stuff.

Happy Halloween!

We started off our Halloween "week-o-fun", with our neighbors on FHE, carving pumpkins. Kaleb and Seth chose some incredibly challenging designs.

Tuesday night we had our ward trunk or treat activity. They also had a mini carnival that the YM and YW provided. Katry went dressed as a "girl on crutches." Her dad helped her out, providing a cast for her arm and her leg. She wore that for two days and was delighted to get it removed. I spotted Kaleb outside in a dinosaur/cowboy costume- riding his bike. Katry's jack-o-lantern.Seth's jack-o-lantern. See what I mean- this was tricky. As you can see- we didn't even finish it. For our actual trick or treat night Katry went as a mad scientist and Kaleb was a complete dinosaur. I can't believe it- but I don't have a single picture of Seth or Brig in their costumes. Seth was a ranger (think Aragorn), and Brig was a crazy clown. The younger kids had school off for Halloween so we went swimming and made "mummies" for lunch. Brats wrapped in dough. The kids loved them. The weather for Halloween was beautiful. We sat outside on the lawn chatting with neighbors and enjoying a lovely fall day. Kai was our love-able lion. We hope your Halloween was perfect.!