Forever Young's

AP Update

2008-12-19T18:27:00.003-06:00

Okay. Looks like I am the responsible one again.

Last time I made some comments on here, Sweet Thing turned the whole thing all pink and girlie. I think it served the purpose that she desired. I have stayed away from the "New Post" button since then, but I can't do it any longer.

We have some fun things going on in our lives, people. I feel the need to share. Those of you who know me, will probably think I have lost my mind, but hey, I am getting real close to 50. Even guys like me soften up a little bit with age. Just think of me as a big ol' chunk of Beef Steak ...... a little raw, a little warm, and oh so good.

For those of you who have been living in a cave since the summer sun has disappeared, we are in the middle of house building. I have lots of pictures, on my cell phone. No, I haven't taken the time to figure out how to post them here, but rest assured, I have lots, and they are pretty cool. "Just Jed" as he is called by his sweet, petite fiance, "Adorable Adrianne", was planning on helping me build said house. He returned from his mission on the 9th of October this year with big plans to help Dad. I think I got a total of six solid hours of work out of him. He was so lovesick, that all he could focus on was calling and texting "Adorable Adrianne". Well, long story short, he caved, (I really think I would have only made it about 4 hours, so I told him to go and claim his eternal love), and he was back in Utah like 10 days after he came home.

I. Can't. Blame. Him. One. Bit.

Yea for Jed, Yea for Adrianne. We love them both. They are getting married in the SLC Temple on the 2nd of January. Can I just tell Darcy thanks for helping us get him situated out there? We appreciate it much.

So, Kole gets to pick up the slack for his older brother, and truth be told, he is great help. Very bright, enjoys learning and looks ahead and knows how to read my mind. It might be only 1 or 2 pages long, but he can still read it. And we have had good sub contractors (Sandra as a laborer, and Carly as a "smooth operator") to help us along. We are planning on putting up some rafters tomorrow, depending on the weather. I think we'll get some up, regardless of the temp and the snow..... I'm just kinda stubborn that way.

Well, we love you all, and will probably get to see most of you in a week or so, when we make the trek out West. Have a very Merry Christmas, and remember who you are and why we're here.

Kev

Nauvoo/Portland/Kansas/Idaho/Nauvoo

2008-10-01T10:36:00.002-05:00

We have had a wonderful opportunity to travel the past month. First we started in Nauvoo for our nephew Russell/Megans wedding. Awesome. Always good to be in the temple with family. Next off to Portland for Swede/Jessica's wedding. First time in the Portland temple and that was beautiful!! See the bench's blog for photos'. Much fun and laughter at that one that most cannot be published LOL. The temple was awesome and gratifying. Congrats to the happy couples. Well Idaho was next for my father-in-laws funeral. Swede (the original) passed away in Pheonix Sept. 23 and the funeral was in Idaho. My good husband was able to officiate at his dad's funeral. Pretty cool. That sounds weird doesn't it? He did a great job as did the rest of the family that participated. Always a party with the Young clan and I'm sure Swede wouldn't want it any other way! Fish lies, I mean stories and all included. Never to bed before 2am and getting reaquinted with the family again. We really do have a unique family in that inlaws, outlaws, ex's and friends all attend and get along great. So good to see everyone! As the saying goes we will see you at the next funeral/wedding as the case may be. Saturday night we got to stay with Adam and Erika for some delicious dutch oven dinner and more laughter and memories. Thanks guys! Off to the airport next week to see my long long missionary son!! YIPPY then back to Nauvoo for another making of an eternal family....Haley and Tyler! Life is great and the plan is perfect. So glad I get to participate. Oh yeah... We are building the main floor walls and they are a bit heavy. Any volunteers??? Glad to work Swede's (the younger)backside off for a few days. Pictures pending my tutoring session from April.

Blogology: The study of how to blog

2008-09-05T22:21:00.002-05:00

The bills are paid, the house is quiet and it's time to get serious about how to work a blog site. It has been such a long time that I'm proud I found how to post a blog again! Since the hostile takeover of the "Forever Young" site I have been looking for that prime moment to stealthily move back into the blogging community. Alas, the moment has arrived. Watch out blogging world.... I'm back!!! The next thing you know there will even be pictures and everything as I continue my study of "blogology".

Bonnie and Clyde

2008-08-25T07:10:00.005-05:00

Most of the time, I let my kids learn their own lessons and don't share too many of their misadventures outside the family circle. But, I just can't let this one go by...... mostly because she really is innocent for the most part.

This story is about the girl that is most like her Dad. (She often tells me how much she hates that she looks like me. If I didn't know that she was really just kidding me, I could be easily offended by that remark. She usually expresses her true feelings by saying, "Dad! How would you like to be a 19 year old girl and get told all the time that you look like a 47 year old man? That is not my idea of a compliment!" ) She may have a point.

Anyway, back to the story at hand. Carly and Kim and Katie (all the names of innocent people have been changed) went out on a Wednesday night (no chance of getting in trouble in the middle of the week, right?) to go see a friend of Katie's in Gardner. It was her last night at work at a restaurant where she and Katie worked together. Katie is driving Mom and Dads Lincoln. They visit the friend and decide that after she gets off work, they will go to this guys barn with some other friends and "visit". Carly and Kim tell Katie that they don't want to go, it will be boring, they don't know the girl, or the guy who owns the barn, "Let's just go home". Katie says, "I just want to visit for a few minutes. We won't be long."

Carly and Kim stay in the car, taking random pictures of each other with their cell phones, while Katie goes up to the barn the visit. The girls see some alcholic beverages show up in an Eclipse and find it's way to the barn. In a matter of minutes, a couple of Gardner police officers happen to show up. The barn really doesn't belong to this guy, although they have used it for "a meeting place" several times before. Just so happens that the barn belongs to one of the police officers friends, who doesn't even live anywhere close, so he (the police officer) keeps an eye on it for him.

12 - 14 persons charged with criminal tresspassing. Probably some other charges too, but that's all that our three girls got hit with. My favorite quote of the night is when the officer tells Carly and Kim and Katie that they have to make an appearance in court in September, and Katie says "I can't be there, I have to be in class at K-State." Something about that statement just makes me chuckle.

I'm not sure what all the fallout from this experience will be, but one thing's for sure. I think these three partners in crime learned a good lesson.

A couple of side notes: WARNING: Family members be careful of your comments towards CJ, I might have to spill the beans about one or two of your more colorful moments in time....... ;)

And, I cleared this post with Carly (my lovely law breaking daughter) before I published it.

Hello Dolly

2008-07-30T08:04:00.003-05:00

Well, I thought it was about time for an update on life with the Young's.

First off, the house is progressing. Marc and I finished with the sub-plumbing (last Friday we pressurized everything) and the 3" perforated drain pipe (I got all that set and padded Saturday) that will be under the concrete basement floor. The inspector approved everything at 9:00 Monday morning, so now we're ready to get the concrete floor poured. I talked with the flatwork contractor yesterday and he was going to try and get some gravel out there that afternoon, but that didn't happen.

We got hit with some good rain storms that are left over from Hurricane Dolly, but those are supposed to clear up by this afternoon. So maybe by Friday or Saturday, we will have some concrete poured. I did get some rebar out there yesterday before the rain. Once the floor is done, I can start building downwalls and framing the first floor and walls. Yahoo! I am getting excited for that.

Our ground (13+ acres) borders a country cemetery on our north boundary. They (the cemetery) are building a two rail white vinyl fence. I thought they might want us to pay for half of it, but the sexton said they wouldn't feel good about that. I told him that I didn't feel good about sharing a new fence without doing something, so several weeks ago, I tore down all the old fence and cleaned up the area where the new fence is going for them. I still got the better end of the deal, but I tried.

I hope this next year goes by quick, and we get into our new home soon. I really enjoy being out to the ground. Lots of wildlife and not so many people. Yesterday I scared a couple of hen turkeys back into the woods when I popped up over a hill. I guess it all depends on how hard I work and how much money we can earn to pay for it all. It will happen, Sandra and I both feel like now is the time and this is the right choice. So press on with faith and it will all be good. ....um, ....... yeah.

Framing and Farming

2008-07-08T13:46:00.007-05:00

Two of my favorite words start with the letter "F". Now before you go thinking all sorts of bad things about me, let me explain.

We have finally started to build our home. We have a hole dug (full walkout basement type), 9 foot concrete walls poured and waterproofed (thanks to Sandra and CJ), and the plumber ( my friend Marc) and I laid out all the sub-plumbing last night. We are going to attempt to actually place the pipe and ejector pit and sump pump this afternoon. I still need to lay some drain pipe around the outside footings and cover it with about 18" of 3/4" rock, and then finish backfilling the foundation inside ( we have a 4' frost footing on the walkout) and out. We are looking to pour the cement floor in the basement within the next week. Then it's time to start framing.

I love to work hard all day long and then look at what I accomplished, and framing and farming are two of the best jobs I know to be able to do just that. There you have it then, two of my favorite "F" words ......

Sleep is over-rated

2008-06-17T10:10:00.002-05:00

Ever feel like you have way too many things to do in a 24 hour period? I'm not much of a whiner, so just let it suffice for me to give you a glimpse of my life lately...... 4:30 a.m. is such a beautiful time of day to roll out of bed and start the day. After all the morning "business", it's off to work (22 mile drive - which happens to be fun on Betty Lou), and opening up the yard and the office by 5:30. During those 9+hours, I usually do some billing, phone jockeying, punching in orders, and scanning/printing and drawing all my AutoCad stuff for the bulk of the time. I take a quick lunch 3-4 days a week, and then wrap stuff up by 2:30-3:00 p.m. Then, it's off to the new house project that we have going. I will either be there or doing Church stuff depending on the day of the week until 9:00 -10:00 p.m. Then it's back home, get reaquainted with my wife and Carly (if she's ever there) and into bed somewhere around 11:00 for about 5 hours of sleep. Oh how I miss my youthful body and the recuperative powers that went along with it. All in all though, life really is good for me....... oh, sorry this post is so short, gotta run, lots to do.

Black Cherry - CJ loves this color .. ;)

2008-06-09T14:08:00.002-05:00

This would be her ...... I added a windshield and a back rest for Momma, and there you have it. Maybe some floorboards, and definately some saddlebags, and that will be it. Happy Father's Day, Merry Christmas, and Happy Birthday to me for the next 15 years ..... Thanks Honey ;)

Back in "The Day"

2008-06-06T12:18:00.002-05:00

Erika.......

I'm a lot like The Outback Restaurant.... no rules, just right.

1. 10 years ago I was building homes and log cabins in Idaho.

2. 5 things on my to do list today...... I really don't have to do lists. I just do what needs done.

3. If I were a billionaire... I'd still work a little bit, play a lot, and help other people out.

4. 3 of my bad habits. Tend to work too much, laugh too little, and expect a lot from others.

5. 5 places I've lived. Idaho, Germany, Colorado, and Kansas...I'm a loser... that's only 4.

6. 5 jobs I've had. Road construction, Counter-terrorist extraordinaire, General contractor, Heavy Equipment Operator, Auto-Cad floor systems designer.

I tag no one, and don't tell Mom about the hostile takeover.....at least until after I get my bike.

Let it Roll.......

2008-06-06T11:51:00.006-05:00

"I think you ought to buy a road bike." I heard her right away, but I thought to myself, "be careful here Kevin .... there has got to be something that you missed in that statement ...". So, I kind of rolled my eyes, shrugged my shoulders and said something un-intelligible like "unnrrgh, whatever".

A couple days later, she went off on the most recent price increase on gasoline and said again, "Honey, I think you should buy a bike. We can pay for it with the gas money you'd save and still come out ahead. And, we'd have something to show for everything you're spending on gas now."

I thought about that for what seemed an eternity, and said after two seconds of deep serious thought, "Well, if you really think so.... Sweet! Let's do it". That was like 3 days ago. I have memorized all the info on craigslist.com for KCMO and every other town within a 100 mile radius, as well as all the inventory of every dealership within 200 miles.

I'm going on an adventure tomorrow morning down to Chanute. All the boys here at work (they know everything) have been giving me advice, and I think I have a pretty good idea of what I'm going to do. I'll clue you in after it's been done..... ;)

Hostile Takeover

2008-05-30T08:07:00.003-05:00

I have decided that I need to be a contributing member to the Blogging community, and quit stalking everyone else's Blogs while leaving no comments when I do so. I have always been open about the fact that I read about many present and past friends lives, and actually find it to be a great resource to stay in touch with what is "really going on in peoples lives", which in turn helps me fulfill my Church calling much better.

I realize that probably 80% or better of the Blogging community are of the female gender, but I have never been concerned too much about what others think of me or if I fit into the expected roles of society. So, with all this in mind, I have decided to engage in a HOSTILE TAKEOVER of Sandra's blogging space. More for the fact that I have no idea how to set one up of my own, and have no desire to learn how. Patience is over-rated. Besides, looking at her track record, it will probably be several years before she even knows what I've done.

P.S. I will try to talk one of my girls into helping me learn how to post pictures and see if I can make this fun and interesting.

Kevin

Time Limit ?

2008-01-16T09:55:00.000-06:00

I am in awe that you have not been able to find the time to keep this blog up to date. It's not like you have been busy working a full time job, (congrats on the promotion Honey) or slaving away at menial household tasks associated with the "Mom and Wife" label. I Love You. Hope things are going great for you Dear.....Kevin

Me Again

2007-04-11T15:37:00.000-05:00

Hi Sandra.......

Just keeping the ole Blogger space alive.
I Love You.

Kevin strikes again

2007-01-18T20:46:00.000-06:00

Hi honey,

I notice that you're really rackin' up the posts, so I thought maybe I'd sqeeze one in here before you ran out of space. Just wanted to say I Love You again.

Kev

2006-09-07T20:57:00.000-05:00

This is my first attempt at blogging. I'm a little apprehensive as spelling is not a strength nor is computer literacy! I thought it would be quite fun to try though. Let me hear from you any or all that is out there. Sandra