MJ... the black and white King snake...

So while we were in California for my dad's birthday, we went to my family's cabin which usually has snakes laying out on the dirt road when it is hot out, which it was. Dustin of course loves critters and any kind of reptile and slammed on his breaks after seeing a coiled up king snake in the middle of the road. I thought he had run him over, but, lucky us, he was alive and Dustin picked him up with a huge smile.

Next thing I know it is in a box in the back of the car on our drive back to Utah...

So last week, Dustin had all of his attention geared towards making a cage for this slithering little thing. All his attention. Although some of his attention did forget to close the temporary cage the snake was in 2 times and I found the cats trying to touch it both times. "Dustin!!!!"

One night he worked on this cage for a long time after buying a bunch of plywood and plexi glass (however you spell that). I had food poisoning that day so I didn't check out his building process like I normally would when he is doing a project. At 10pm that night I hear a bunch of grunting and a big bang as something that sounded like a gun safe being planted in our back room... I got up slowly (nauseous and dizzy) to see what it was and around the corner was a HUGE SNAKE CAGE. I knew he was excited so I didn't comment that night. I just smiled slightly and said, "yay, he has an official home now..."

The next day I kept looking at it, and Dustin noticed, "What's wrong...?" He said this in a 'what did I do wrong now' kind of voice haha.

"It's just, so...big..." Of course there was a 'that's what she said' comment and then we began to talk about making it a bit smaller. You know, a more adequate size for an apartment of course. Haha.

He spent all Saturday downsizing this thing and I hung out with him, brought him Subway as he worked, and picked out some nice white molding for the front frame and paint for the outside. (I didn't want it to look too masculine you know? :)) Then finally at 10pm that night, it was done-ish. He still wants the inside to look like a jungle of course. Dustin likes to go all out.

I actually think it looks nice for a snake cage. I'll be honest I am not thrilled about having a snake because, well, it's a snake. But it makes him happy and I like to have my happy things so what the heck.

Here are some photos of the cage making process. Unfortunately I do not have a photo of the extra large original cage...

You can see the other half of the original cage behind him...Huge.

Sooo happy :)

Don't you love the little clear glasses?....haha

Dustin giving me the look... "Will you stop it...?" Lol.

Me helping paint haha

And here is the finished product.

MJ.. because he is black and white (heehee...) and a "King" snake.

Or should we call him Jackson?

Cellphone graveyard display...

So I have been saving my cellphones since I got my first one. When I met Dustin he started saving his too but didn't have the first 2 he had unfortunately. I never really knew what I was going to do with them except that I thought it would be funny to show our kids one day what phones we used to have. I wish I had the one my dad first had... That thing was huge!!! It was like one of those long bulky army ones you see in movies haha.

Anyway, last weekend I was going through all the junk we have shoved in our closets and found the bag of cellphones and decided to make a display of them instead of hiding them in a closet.

I got some leftover wood from things Dustin has fixed at the complex and bought some molding for the frame. I painted it and then glued the phones on! I thought it would be more fun than a glass frame, because people could flip them open and slide them and stuff if they wanted... I don't know lol.

So here is my little project :)

Wa-la! A cellphone graveyard display lol

Highlights of my dads birthday weekend...

Here are some random photos to summarize the trip for my dad.

It was a great weekend and we had a lot of fun. Good times...

On dad's actual birthday we spent the day at the ocean and it was a perfect day. My mom took most the pictures so those will come later... There was a bunch of seals here and there and these two were staring at us. They were cute haha.

Dad and Bob had so many good laughs. I loved just watching the two of them tell stories...

We always have to shoot some guns of course. It was very entertaining at times. My aunt was very goofy

The cabin group

Dad and his best friends Bob and Mike.

After ending the long windy drive from the cabin we pulled into a park by the lake for my dads last hurrah with with all his old friends and family.

We of course organized a cake in the face for my dad because he gets everybody else on their birthdays... and even Alan's wedding!

Ian and Gina will be having their baby next month and I am so happy for them.

She is the cutest little prego lady and I love watching Ian so happy with her.

Uncle Alan of course always brings music wherever he goes and played for us.

Paikea...

Oh what a cutie. I could take pictures and watch this girl all day...

Dads 50th Birthday, Best.Weekend.Ever.

This last weekend Dustin, Jelina and I flew out to surprise my dad for his 50th birthday. We had been planning this surprise for a few months and we were really excited for all we planned for.

Where do I start... Well we wondered for a while whether or not we were going to drive or not because flights were high for summer and we really didn’t want to do that boring Nevada drive... Ugh. I check Southwest Ding deals every morning and found a good deal to fly out there. We waited and waited for a cheap flight back but it never happened so we decided to rent a car and drive back since it was cheaper than flying the 3 of us back just one way. We are actually on our way back right now.

It is 4:48am in Elko, NV.

I hate this drive.

Surprise #1: So our plan was for my dad to believe his surprise was just us flying out, so on the morning of his birthday we got up at 6am after he got up and snuck into his bed and climbed in. My mom got him to go to his room and he found us peaking out from the covers and he was like, “Wow! I’m impressed!” Haha it usually is pretty hard to sneak things passed my dad. We all laughed and joked about how the night before my mom pretended she was out with the girls but really she was getting us from the airport late that night. I thought for sure he would have heard us whispering around the rooms when we got in and were getting situated for bed. But I guess he really is getting older! Haha.

On Thursday the 9th, for his birthday we spent the day at the beach and it was perfect! Very warm, blue skies and calm waves. All three very rare things at northern california coasts. My dad went abalone diving and then for my dad’s choice we went out to eat at Cape Fear Cafe where we got a LOT of yummy food. Dustin got a Oyster Poor Boy sandwich and I got crab cakes. My dad got a very large breakfast plate with everything it seemed like and was very happy.

Later for dads birthday dinner he wanted barbecued oysters with his friend Reagan. Dustin liked Oysters and I had never tried them before. I didn’t plan on having any because I assumed I wouldn’t like them because of their slimy texture. But they pushed me to having one and I ended up eating about 10 of them lol. We went through about 45 oysters between the 4 of us.

Surprise #2: The next day we told my dad we were leaving for the cabin and we needed 3 cars. He didn’t understand why we needed three but we didn’t explain. We always get mexican food before we head for the cabin so we went to High Tech Burrito. Little did my dad know, his 2 best friends were there waiting to surprise him. He hadn’t seen one of them in like 12 years and the other one in 6 I think it was. Not sure. The first one he saw was Bob who lives in Rhode Island and who he was missionary companions with. He was so excited and sat right down next to him and was smiling so big. He walked right passed his other friend, Mike, who was his best man and didn’t notice him until I said, “Hey dad who is waving at you in the window?” Mike was inside and Bob was sitting outside on the other side of the window) His eyes got huge and he immediately went inside to give him a hug. It was so fun to watch his surprise and excitement to see them. That was what we were waiting to see for so long. His biggest surprise. It was funny too because he was bummed he didn’t get to go kiteboarding for his birthday... Little did he know he would get something so much better.

The time we spent at the cabin was perfect like the day at the beach. Great weather, everyone is happy and smiling, and it was just one of those overall great days you always will remember.

My dads sister and her kids came out to the cabin as well. We walked down the river, shot guns, heard lots of stories from the guys and laughed a lot. It was just awesome. Dustin and I played a video we made for my dad that didn’t quite go like I planned but it was still nice. I made a long video of short clips throughout my childhood. Some cute, some uh mushy. Haha.

Surprise # 3: For my dads last and final hurrah we planned a big surprise party with all his close friends and family. As we were coming down the mountain from the cabin there was the party waiting at the bottom of the hill at a big park. I had a lot of fun visiting with friends in the family that I hadn’t seen in a loooong time. A few were at the wedding 3 years ago but you never really get to talk to people for real at your wedding or for a long time. We had a lot of food there. Enough for a wedding party haha. They of course cooked a wild pig my dad had got. After some funny, touching, and great toasts from his friends we had to do the traditional cake in the face. 3 big cakes. He had it comin... We all got it on our birthdays and we finally got him back. My uncle Alan, Ian my aunt Michelle and me all got him good.

Oh man. It was great. :)

It was a great weekend. I have no doubt that my dad was very happy and loved every little bit of it. Good times. GOOD TIMES.

I love you dad. You have lived the 1st half of your life well and made the 1st quarter of my life wonderful.

Last time I say it... Happy 50th Birthday Dad:)

Love you!

Powell Family Vacation 2011 (San Diego)

This year for my family vacation we went to San Diego, CA in May. I’ve been slackin’ on my blogging and I finally have time to get around to recent events. We took a lot of pictures so if you want more than what I post here, check my facebook for a bigger album.

My dad reserved a beach house that was really cool. Very nice open house with a pool, hot tub, guest house and everything you could ever need.

The first morning Sierra, Dustin my mom and I went on a run down the beach which was very refreshing and well, entertaining at times with Dustin getting distracted with things on the beach. We collected little shells as we went and walked by all the beachfront rentals on the way back.

We got lucky with weather while we were there in May. It wasn’t hot but it wasn’t cold. The girls all loved laying out on the beach wearing very small bikinis and my dad got in as much kiteboarding as he could.

We went to the San Diego Zoo while we were there too. Very expensive... but worth it. Biggest zoo ever. I had never been there before and Dustin never turns down a zoo trip. I liked seeing the giraffes and elephants. I wanted to see the tigers but they were eating or sleeping when we were there so I didn’t get to see them... :(

Because it was such a large zoo our feet got super tired and couldn’t walk much more after hours of walking around. We didn’t even get to see all of the animals.. Oh well.

We of course did what girls do best and shopped. My dad went kiteboarding and Dustin went along with us. Such a good sport. My dad doesn’t know how he does it haha. I got just a couple things like an anklet, new sunglasses, a gardenia perfume and some super cheap shoes. Nothin’ like a good cheap purchase!

Last year I bought some roller blades and thought it would be easy for people to go with me but that never happened. So when we went to San Diego I was excited to bring mine since I knew they do that a lot there and the girls can rent some for cheap so they didn’t have to buy $60 blades. Some biked, some long boarded, and some roller bladed? Haha. We got some good butt workouts and sometimes held on to the nearest bike to hitch a ride lol.

We found a really cool private beach with pretty white sand and very blue water. I love finding little hidden beaches like that where there aren’t too many noise makers and white trash...

We had some good there too. Of course there is always great seafood by the coast. Dustin always has to get his clam chowder and I like fresh fish tacos. We had some yummy home cooked meals too. I made a healthy Shepherds Pie one night. Another night, Jelina/mom made their Mexican casserole they do so well. My tummy is always very happy after we visit with them. :)

It was a great family vacation and we are thankful to all the effort my parents put into it. They always make our vacations fun every year.

Looking forward to what we will do next!

Connecticut?

Dustin has family all over the place now. His sister Taylor and he family moved to Connecticut 2 weeks ago. We will still see them obviously but not as much as we did while they lived in Utah. We saw them like once a month. It was all very sudden. We knew Austin was looking for a new job but we had no idea it would be on the other side of the states. We didn’t have much time to see them before they left but we did spend time with them while they were moving out all their stuff. Dustin was very sad and I found myself sitting and pondering about it too and getting sad. I loved seeing her kids grow up over the last 3 years that we have been in Utah together and the next time we see them Addie will probably be talking and who knows what Dallin will be active in. It did make it easier to say we were planning on leaving Utah as well because we wouldn’t be leaving them. They left us first!

We will see them next month in Hawaii though. Which we are all VERY excited about!

We will miss seeing you as often Gardners! We love you lots!