Saturday, August 16, 2008

Saturday Goings On

So what are you doing this fine Saturday morning? I bet it wasn't what I was up to - vacuuming the lawn! Anyone? Anyone? No? It's not your typical Saturday morning activity, I know. My awesome parents (awesome picture to follow shortly) came over early this morning to help us out. For three weeks the refuse that was formerly our bathroom has been sitting in a heap on the back lawn. Troy had plans to start carting it all off to the dump one trailer-load at a time until our guardian angel sent us a card in the mail, telling us that our neighborhood clean-up would be at the end of the month. Yippeeeee! This means that starting today, we can pile all sorts of stuff in front of the house, and it will get picked up in the next 10 days or so. So, we are not rid of the pile yet, but thanks to my parents, the pile has quickly been moved from all over the back yard to a smaller pile on the curb. We did have to stop my dad from categorizing the garbage into piles by size and color (you get one guess as to where I get my OCD streak), but all in all, the job was quickly done. You can always count on my parents for that. All that was left were the crumbs of insulation and decrepit bits of dry wall. Thus the vacuuming. And now to the awesome picture. I have a goal to be like my folks when I'm nearing 70:

Next week they're leaving on a trip to go biking in Glacier National Park. I admire them so much.

And now, on to another awesome photograph. My dad just emailed me this shot, taken in1982 (!!!) of a camping trip that I don't remember in the slightest. We went to Estes Park with two other families we knew and loved in Boulder, both of whom eventually ended up in SLC as well. I have many a fond memory of dinner parties with these families. I'm sure the grownups thought the parties were for themselves, so they could sit and talk, like all boring grownups do, and what I now do, but really it was all about the kids playing for hours on end, each occasion being an epic adventure of crazy kid escapades. Anyway, it's a great picture. See if you can find me.

And now perhaps I'll consider changing out of my sweats. Sweats are very good, because you can sleep in them, then get up and put shoes on to help your very motivated parents move piles of trash, and then go straight back to lounging.

8 comments:

Windybrook Spinner said...

You are darling in that camping picture! Can't say I have ever even thought about vacuuming my lawn, but necessity is the mother of invention. I should have thought of it when we replaced our fence, though. We had old nails and slivers of ancient wood all over our backyard. Bad news! Yea for Neighborhood Pick-up! I don't think we have one, at least not yet. I love your parents too. Very much. They are great people. Your dad's camp name was always one of my favorites. I am sure you and Troy will be tromping off on great adventures in your "old" age too. No doubt about it.

Anonymous said...

Where did you get that picture of us in 1982!?? I have never seen it before and it's a great one. What fun parents to be willing to go on vacation with all of the kids of three families! What a lot of work!
And yes, I too want to be nearly 70 and choose to bike across the city to help my daughter move trash on a Saturday. Later that same night they hosted my picnic recital for my students in their back yard. So great.

MRL

Kate said...

Your picture is so cute! And yes, your parents are so AWESOME! I totally want to be like that when I retire. Love ya!

Nicole said...

I think you are in the middle row on the right? you look cute if that's you. Brings me back to camp up at Brighton. What amazing parents you have and I am so excited for you about the garbage cleanup. YEAH!!!

Misty said...

I love your parents! Mike and I don't look like that now ... please let us be that cool when we're their age! :)

ghd3 said...

awesome picture. Cute, cute kiddos, those Romneys....

I think Jack will be with your parents on the bike ride? Hope they have fun!

stephgardner said...

Unfortunately I don't know your dad that well, but you mom is one of my favorite people. As one of my favorite teachers at West, she was extremely influential in my life during those years where one is trying to figure out who they are. I will always think fondly of her. I believe that any accomplishments I may have had so far in life would certainly be in part to her amazing guidance. (And doesn't she look like a teenager in that picture??)

Jardinefamily said...

Your pretty dark brown hair is a sure give away. What a fun picture. I love Estes Park. James and I honeymooned there.