Dan the handy man

As you all know (or should know if you don't), Dan is amazing. Not only is he a wonderful husband and an excellent father, but he is also a really hard worker and such an all around good person. One thing you may not know about Dan is that he is quite the handy man. I always appreciate when he can fix things that break or do things on his own that otherwise we'd have to pay someone else to do.

When we first decided to build a home, the builder gave us some money with which we could add "upgrades" such as nicer flooring, nicer countertops, etc. One of the options was a built-in bookcase in the study. We really wanted one, but they were asking too much so we decided to wait. After we moved in, I got a few quotes to see how much it would be for someone to do and it was EXPENSIVE! Dan decided that he would like to try doing it himself. So he did. He's been working on it for at least a few hours practically every weekend since Halloween and it is finally done. I love it! What do you think?

Before (well, picture just an alcove without that wood there):

After (we're not done arranging the books):

I'm so excited about it. In other exciting news, today Sam put together two-word phrases for the first time. He said, "Mama's chair" and "Dada's shoes." We're so proud.

Last Monday Dan had the day off so we took advantage of the Houston Zoo's free day. So did a million other people. It was pretty crowded, but it was fun to watch Sam seeing some animals for the first time. We enjoyed the outrageous people watching. I wish I had gotten pictures of some outfits. My sister would have died.

Despite how Sam looks in these pictures, he did have fun. He just wanted us to put him down so he could walk around on his own.

The zoo also had a carousel that Sam really loved.

Also, does anyone know how to post video using this new format?

For the past few months, there's been someone else in Dan's life. I've been slightly jealous that Dan was spending so much time with this other person. At night, when he would get home, he'd eat with us and then be off busy for an hour or two. Finally, after waiting patiently, I'm back to having his full attention. "Who was this other person?" you make ask. It wasn't a woman, it was a wizard. His name is Harry Potter.

Dan's sister recommended the books to him even though he'd always mocked HP readers. He decided to give the first one a shot and then he was hooked. I'd request them from the library and he'd have 2 weeks per book. Since they're really long, he'd be reading all the time. I'm happy to announce that Dan is now done with all seven books! I have my husband back!

Now we have to watch all the movies. We started the first one last night. I noticed that I have hair very similar to Hagred's. (I'm sure I'm spelling that wrong. I haven't read the books.) If you'll refer to the previous post, you'll find the comparison uncanny. We decided that Dan could be Harry and Sam could be Darby the house elf. Just 9+ months to Halloween!

And here's a picture of Sam enjoying his motorcycle. And for some reason, he can no longer say "motorcycle." Now it sounds like "mama cicle-cicle-cicle."

Not much going on around here lately.

It's cold. So cold. So cold that we went out today only to go to and from church. So cold that Sam's worn his coat more often here than he did when we were in Idaho. So cold that our outside sprinkler pipe busted and shot water up into the air as high as the second-story window. (The water had frozen and then thawed.) And we weren't home. So we're not sure how long it was like that. We're afraid to get the water bill...

Did anyone watch the story on 20/20 on Friday called "Katie's Story"? (I know you didn't, Ryan, but just you know, John Stossell doesn't do 20/20 anymore if that makes you happy.) It was a sad story about a pretty girl who lived in London and worked as a model. She dated this psycho possessive freak for 2 weeks and he did some bad things to her. Then he had his friend find her in the street and splash sulphuric acid all over her face. It burned off all of her skin. I can't believe how cruel people can be. Her boyfriend got 2 life sentences but could be out of prison in 16 years. (How the heck does that make sense?) But she's used her experience to do some positive things with her life and she's now trying to help other burn victims. The episode isn't posted on ABC's website yet, but it probably will be soon if you're interested.

Now I'll post pictures of the week.

First: I wanted to do my Texas hair again. It's been a while and I had a good feeling one night that it would be glorious. You be the judge.

Before:

After:

Today Sam and Dan played the guitar together. They were both happy despite how they may appear.

And Sam wore the coonskin cap from Dan's childhood. The next Davy Crockett.

Grandma's funeral

A few days before Christmas, my maternal grandmother passed away. She lived in Idaho and I didn't get to see her very often. She's suffered from Alzheimer's and was a widow of 15 years so I'm glad that she is now reunited with my grandpa. I'll remember her as a sweet lady who always made great cookies and fed the crazy wild cats that lived under her porch. Seriously those cats were scary! She also raised some really amazing kids and I'm forever grateful for how that has impacted my life. The day after Christmas, Sam and I flew to SLC and drove up to Driggs, Idaho, with my parents, Ryan, and Candice.

The day of the viewing, we took a drive up to Grand Targhee Ski Resort and got some gorgeous pictures of the Tetons.

The funeral was really beautiful. I had to sit in the foyer with Sam because he was being a rascal, but I got to hear it all. I was so touched by the stories that my mom and her siblings told of my grandma.

View from the cemetery.

After the graveside service, we had a luncheon at the church.

I didn't get to take many pictures at the cemetery or at the luncheon because Sam was a HANDFUL, but hopefully I'll get more from my parents. (Hint, hint.)

The house where my mom was raised.

The Phillps 66 down the street where we'd go get candy and think it was the coolest thing ever. We were obssessed with warheads.

On the way out of town, I had to snap pics of the town signs. Can you believe how small their town is? Population 247!

Candice not making eye contact as she ran back to the car from her millionth bathroom trip on the drive back to Salt Lake. She has a bladder the size of a dime.

I'm really glad I made the trip, even though it was hard to have Sam with me. It was nice to learn more about my grandma and see so much family whom I don't see often enough!

Christmas was a quiet and restful day at the Durst house. We were alone for the first time in 6 years which was kind of lonesome (duh), but also nice to spend the day together just the three of us. Christmas morning I made my grandma's famous "chunky bread" (per Dan's request), we looked at our very meager stockings (I'm not a very good stocking filler), and then opened presents. Sam didn't really understand the gift unwrapping. We'd have to basically unwrap his gifts for him, but once they were opened, he was really excited. He's play happily with whatever he got until we opened the next gift, which he then thought was cooler than the gift before and would play with that one instead.

I received a CD, a cake stand, Wilton class 2 supplies (and a promise that Dan would babysit Sam while I go to classes), the gospel art kit, a calendar, birdseed (a yearly tradition), a sewing machine (thanks in-laws!) and cookies. Dan got his electric guitar serviced so that he can play it again, his mission pictures put into an album, candy, a magnetic light for his tent, a bike (thanks Dan's parents!) and a resubscription to Consumer Reports. We were spoiled.