crazy...

Just wanted to say, this weekend was crazy and exhausting. On Saturday we showed up at the house around 9:30 - 10:00 am and started working. We ripped up the carpet in two rooms (the sitting room and our room) the other day.

So Saturday we began the long process of pulling up tack board and pulling staples out of the ground. Luckily my father came over and helped on Saturday. Saturday night we started to sand the floors. First we did a first pass with 36 grit paper. This was to take the paint off some previous tenants had put down. this is not a quick process as I was not done until 2:00 am.

Sunday after what little sleep Lindsay and I got I was back to the house around 1:00 -1:30 pm. upon arriving at the House I again began to sand this time by hand. before the next round of sanding this time with 60 grit paper we hand to fill in crack with a mudding type of compound. Again fortunately I had my father helping. Also by this time my older brother Lee and Sister-in-law Miranda and my nephew Dylan came over to help. Lee and my Dad did most of the mudding and troweling. Dylan was out front racking and filled close to 5 bags with just leaves. After the mudding was done it was back to sanding.

In all it was a very good and productive weekend. We got the sanding completed. Dad and Lee also cut down part of a tree that was dead. The front lawn looks great (thanks Dylan) and started getting some inside cleaning done.

There is no way we would have gotten done if we didn' t get all the help that we did. thanks again everyone.

Sweet Home...

Well we have some really big news that some already know about. As of the beginning of the month Lindsay and I are officially home owners. We own a cute little house in Provo it has a ton of potential and we are looking forward to making it our own. As we go through we will be posting pictures of all the updates we do. We are going to take it slow and try not to get in over our heads.

So why did we finally do it?

Simple there's 2 very important reasons. 



Our Kids. Growing up Lindsay's family never lived in an apartment. As for myself my family never lived in an apartment. We wanted that for our kids. We want them to grow up in a house with a yard without people living above, below or on the other side of the wall. They won't have to experience late night parties or other tenants who don't really care about their surroundings. Its our hope that our kids will enjoy growing in their home. 

Oh what a day...

Ok so as of writing this its only 2pm, So far its been a busy day. We got up this morning along with the kids, and the kids were playing in their room no problem. Then all of a sudden Ayden started screaming, as would anyone we ran into their room. Ayden had his eye shut screaming and we could see blood all around his left eye. We picked him up and Lindsay took him in and started washing his eye. His eye swelled up quick and we couldn't get it open to see how bad it might be. So the choice was made to take him to Urgent Care, so we all piled in the car and where off. Once we got to the UC  we discovered they were closed, so then it was off to the ER. We may have been over protective but we wanted to make sure that everything was ok. So 3 hours and 4 X-Rays later we were able to leave with assurance that everything was good. The swelling has gone down a bit now but everything should be fine. Only problem is we still don't know what caused the cut. 

here's the boo-boo

Here's where Ayden cut his eye one just above the eye and one below.

heres a little video. the camera I used records like a mirror so keep in mind its his left eye thats hurt

ABC its easy as 123...

Ok so recently I went with some other designers on an outing to Downtown Salt Lake City. We went there with a specific purpose. We needed to photograph the alphabet and numbers 0-9. It was actually quite fun. Each of us were armed with digital cameras and set about town. We got a lot of stares and people stopping us and asking us what the heck we were doing. I don't think any of us will forget Toothless-Quaker-McGee (trust me you had to be there). So if your interested here are some shots I took.

[Actually these photos were taken by Tracey (3rd from left) he came up with the idea for the headshot ideas.]

a thought on our kids...

So the other day (monday) Lindsay and I were talking and realized that we were really are lucky to have the kids that we have. They are (now maybe were biased) really cute kids. The last couple of months since we've been on Utah they really seam to be growing up.

Ayden - Ayden was just about 18 months old when we moved here. Looking back he was very dependent on us. Now however, if we help him with out him asking he gets pretty upset. He even has a "girlfriend" our neighbors little girl Tessa. The two of them get excited when they see each other, given each other hugs and sharing. Ayden the little player, he wont share anything with sissy but Tessa comes over and he gives her anything she wants. She is a little bit older but I guess thats how Ayden likes 'em. 

Kenna- What a little girl she is turning out to be. She is getting close to the age Ayden was when we moved here, but you wouldn't be able to tell. It doesn't matter what here big brother is doing she consistently shows that she can hold her own. She learned how to climb and now every thing she could possibly get on she does. Here favorite thing to do seams to be going over to her Grandparents house and climb up and down the stairs. Every once and a while she gets a little temper on her but it's hard to get upset with her. She is constantly hiding behind a little laugh and giggle, when that doesn't work she breaks out the eye batting.

There really are a few good people out there...

On Monday after Andrew and Holly left, we had to quickly get back up to Salt Lake. We picked up my Grandfather and took him to my Grandmothers grave site. What started as a rainy day turned out to be a really nice beautiful day. We saw the headstone that was reacently placed and it looks great. While we were there we heard a bag piper playing at another grave site. His music was gorgeous and really hit home for us. When my Grandmother passed away my Grandfather really wanted to get a bag piper to play at her funeral. For various reasons this didn't happen.

When the bag piper was done my grandfather went over and asked if he could hire the gentlemen to play for his wife. The gentlemen with his wife simply said he would be honored to play only if he wasn't payed. Again he donned his instrument and we listened to possibly the most moving rendition of Amazing Grace. I know that on that beautiful day my Grandmother was there finally getting the music she wanted.

We don't know the mans name but his simple act will be an important memory for years to come. Who ever the man was if he ever comes across this, I want to thank you. You touched an elderly man who greatly misses his wife and gave him a great day in which he wanted to honor her memory. Thank you, your example shows there are wonderful decent people still left in the world.

Let's get together...

Memorial day weekend, has come and gone now. What a weekend. Originally Lindsay and I were going to take my Grandfather to Windover NV. This trip was going to coincide with two very anniversaries. First my Grand Parents got married on the 16th of May, 60 years ago. Second this past week also marked the 10th anniversary for when Lindsay and I got married. The plan to travel to Windover was scrapped early in the week as we received news that Andrew my youngest brother and his wife Holly were coming into town. This was a very important occasion, this marked the first time that since the three Wyatt boys have been married that we have all been able to get together with our spouses.


I really think that all of us could have certainly spent more time together. We spent a great amount of time with each other laughing sharing stories. We taught Andrew and Holly how to play, what is quickly becoming the official game of the Wyatt's, the card game Scum. If you haven't played you should it's great fun being able to call family members scum. We also managed to squeeze in a very fun game of Risk. Dylan, my older brother Lee's son, joined in as the guys all went head to head. Dylan's demise marked Andrews victory. I've nver seen some laugh so much as his armies were being wiped out. He's quite the player and will only be harder to play against as he gets older.

We also contributed to Indiana Jones: and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls' record weekend. We were divided on our reviews but still enjoyed the time together. I know by Monday when it came time for Andrew and Holly to return home, we were all wondering when we would be able to get together again.

All that's going on

Well here we are Its May already and we've been here in the Utah valley for a two months. Wow, you know that saying about time, yeah I guess it's true. We've Gotten settled in our new ward the Willow Grove Ward. It is quite a change from the Harrison Branch. Going from about 40 families to over 180. Within two short weeks Lindsay and I each got a calling. We got called in the Nursery as Nursery leaders. Its fun! It's weird now to we meet earlier in the day on sunday and a few times now we jump in the car and head south to Orem and Attend Church with my Parents at their ward.

Since we've been here our little girl, Kenna,  reached her 1yr birth day. We didn't have a big party like we did for Ayden, we're gonna make it up to her though, she deserves it. Man is she getting big. We're going through a little trouble with her. She has discovered the long secret art form of the temper-tantrum. She has quickly went from being the student to become the Grandmaster. Ah little grassa-hoppa she grow very fast.

Ayden's been doing good. the last two months Ayden has really bonded with his Grand-pa and Great Grand-pa. Every time he sees either of them he throws his hands up and want's hoisted up. Ayden is learning a lot. We play the "where is" game, you know the one where you go Where's your mouth, eyes, nose , ears, hair, teeth, tongue. He points and we laugh, and then he laughs. Kenna is picking up on it as well she like showing where her mouth is just picture her patting her mouth and going ah-ah-ah.

Speaking of learning new things, several weeks ago he learned how to climb out of his crib. A new trick that Kenna performed today. The two of them are quickly showing that anything one can do the other can do better, and the cycle goes on and on.

Want to know what else is going on why not head over to Linny's blog and see what she has to say.

I've been every where man...

Al-righty people we've spent many hours the last couple of days traveling many many hours. The road is a long long way to go. As I stated in the previous post we traveled many miles total to go. All went pretty well:

Wednesday:
Picked up the truck and dolly from PENSKE.


We had a visit from Lindsays sister Shawnie and her kids DJ and Mathias.
That night we had the help of Andy Scheidegger and Dale Erskine. The two of them helped out alot. Thanks.

Thursday:
We worked on getting the odds and ends stuff in the truck. Shawnie came back over and visited, again. She helped for a little while which was an actual help to us.
That night our friend Amanda and her daughter Samara came over and helped. After which we headed over to Perkins to enjoy a meal together.

Friday:
Finally the time came after much cleaning and loading the car on the dolly we handed in our keys and headed off to Missouri. Lindsay, Ayden and Kenna, Follwed behind me in the Grand Marquie. And I was in the truck with Focker (the cat) and Jinx (the Ferret.) We pulled into Missouri Friday night and visited with the the in-laws a little before everyone decided to go to bed and catch up some more in the morning.

Saturday:
Saturday was Penny and Colin's Anniversary. They graciously allowed us to tag along. the four of us, the kids were being babysat, took in a movie: No Country for Old Men. Ending was weird but it was pretty good.

Sunday:

View Larger Map
We headed out with the intention of making it to Lincoln Nebraska. We didn't make it that far though as we had what we thought was really bad cross wind the whole way. We finally stopped for the night in St. Joseph Missouri, late in the night. St. Joseph Half way from Kansas City to Lincoln, roughly. When we stopped was good timing, it started to rain and by the time we got our hotel key it was sleeting.

Monday:
On Monday we headed out for our next stop Cheyenne Wyoming. As we were getting closer a weather advisory began to come over the radio. Now if any of you have ever driving in Southern Wyoming know it can get pretty windy. The Advisory stated that there would be gust of wind from any where from 30 to 60 mph winds. this of course were cross winds. Making it to Cheyenne we decided to push on to Laramie. Once there and looking for some rooms we decided to forgo Laramie and head to Rawlins Wyoming. The winds were incredibly bad and along the way there were several semi trucks that had been blown off the road. I had the stearing wheel literally turned half way to keep the truck going straight.

Tuesday:
This was our last push. We left Rawlins at roughly 1:30 that day.
focker our cat decied that late Monday night he would stop hiding behind the truck seat and join me in the cab. if he wasn't sitting on Jinx's (the Ferret) cage he decided he would lay on the dash.

I almost forgot what springtime ment if you where in Wyoming...


Tuesday night we finally arrived in the valley. I will try and get some pictures up of our new apartment once we are settled and unpacked.

The time has come to bid adieu

The day has arrived. The family and I are prepared and ready for the long road ahead. When I say long I mean really really long road ahead. Tomorrow (Friday) we will hopefully be pulling out of Cincinnati around noonish. First we are off to Bernie Missouri total drive time is roughly 7 hours. Now keep in mind this is projected drive time. This is if we were just traveling in a car but were not we will be heading out in a Penske Truck hauling our Caviler and Linny will be driving the Grand Marquee with the Kids. So frequent stops can be expected. We will be staying in Bernie MO for two nights leaving Sunday morning. This is expected to take 21.5 hours, again drive time. When it is all said and done we will have drove a total of roughly 1,946 miles. This shouldn't be too bad I actually like cross country driving its sort of relaxing looking around and seeing the sites. Our hope is that the kids will do alright with the trip. Last time we drove cross country-for my grandmother's funeral-The kids did really good. Only problem was that they slept mostly during the day, and then by the time we stopped because we were so tired they wanted to play and have fun.

We will definelty miss every one in Cincinnati but encourage anyone our friends or family to come out and see us. We appreciate all the help everyone gave us in getting us packed and loading up the truck and everything. Again a very special thanks to all of you. May our roads-while at times be separated by thousands of miles-be able to cross frequently to enjoy each other company again.

I'll be seeing you
In all the old familiar places
That this heart of mine embraces
All day through.

So Far, yet so very close at hand...

Well the countdown continues. Tommorrow marks the 2nd to last day with my current employer EXAIR Corporation. Yup Friday will be my last day. The family will be heading out west very soon (next Friday to be exact.) The time has come for us to move to Utah for various reasons those close to us know why. Were looking forward to the move, and the new start and beginnings so for our friends in Cincinnati please check back, you can also check out linny's site.

So what is the reason for the delay in posts? Simple I've had a lot going on the last several weeks. Planning our move has been hectic at times, but very organized for the most time - thanks to Linny. But a lot of my time has been spent updating/overhauling my site ecwyatt.com. Please check it our and back often As I plan to be updating it frequently.

Praise to the Man...

I know it has been a while since my previous post. I have been working on updating my website ecwyatt.com I intend to dive right back into updating on a more frequent basis here very soon. I just couldn't pass this time to post my own feelings about Yesterdays sad news. I received a call from my parents at roughly 10:00pm. They called to inform me that The Prophet and President Gordon B. Hinckley had passed away at the age of 97.

President Hinckley had been the Prophet and President of the Church since 1995 having followed President Hunter. President Hinckley has always been an inspiration for me and many of the people I know. His message of the Restored Gospel has always been inspired. To watch the inspiration and guidance he received was reassuring and uplifting, to know that Our Heavenly Father still speaks to us today, just as he has with Prophets of old and since restoring the Gospel in our days. He was the instrument the Lord had set apart to help in the growth of his church today. Under President Hinckley we saw the Lord expand the number of Temples from 56 to 125 functioning temples, with 12 more announced, at the time of his passing. While he will be missed, church members worldwide will see his passing as the continuation of our Heavenly fathers plan for us.