Bit of a manic week. Happy that Diamond and Caleb were here! They helped so much, among many who have been so supportive. We're truly grateful.
We got lots of help from the kids and from Gma and Gpa M. as well with cleaning, painting, and prepping the house for staging.
Rockwell Ice Cream had a promotion. Hallie had cups to stuff. Match made in heaven!
Look who got a haircut. Kai Kai Puppy looks renewed! Grandma wanted a picture with Kai. We think she needs a different one.
Inspired by their trip to Oxford, Mike's department is looking into making a heraldry-inspired emblem. Mike obliged them by brainstorming some ideas and making some drawings.
Blazon:
Gules, two chevronels braced, in chief a mullet of seven inverted Argent between two open books proper. For a motto: Challenge the future (based on the department
mission statement). Basically, it's a red (maroon) shield with two silver (or gray) roof trusses (UM colors) that look like an M (fir Montana, of course!) and for the department's work in k-12 and higher ed under a seven-pointed star (they teach seven graduate programs) between two open books (a common symbol for learning and/or schools). They're still "fridge testing" (looking at variations) before settling on an all-red version or one in silver and red.
Now that it's spring, it's time to break out the
koinobori (carp streamers) 🎏 leading into Children's Day on May 5.
Artemis II launched April 1. Humans haven't been to the moon since 1972. What a huge accomplishment!
Mike startled one of the grazing deer on the way to work. It got a little camera shy.
Landon got into a little fender bender. Well, it may be more than a little one. Lots of lights are now aglow on the dashboard.
Hallie loved our neighbor's Winnie-the-Pooh-themed sweatshirt. "Silly old bear."
Someone got
Banana Ball tickets!
Apparently the snow isn't done with Utah yet. Hallie got dusted.
After a long day at work, love is a warm cat on your lap.
Migrating fowl over at Jakers
After several days working on the house, people needed a break. Hallie took the kids out for a yummy meal at
Hidden Peaks Provisions. After our yummy lunch we went over to
Ballerina Farm.
Mike felt like the universe was talking to him when he found this
Five of Pentacles tarot card someone left in his work building.
It brought to mind the adage he has followed ever since learning it on his first trip to Japan:
"Ware tada taru wo shiru," or "Rich is the person who is content with what he is," or as St. Paul might say, "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content." In some cases, poverty is a state of mind.
The weather in both Missoula and Springville swung pretty wildly from cold and rainy and snowy to sunny.
Fortunately, this meant perfect yard sale weather. Hallie had quite a few customers! Fergus loved the yard sale!
It's true:
Eliza saw some pretty cars when she and Mom went up to Midway with Diamond and Caleb. Sadly, they had to go back home after what felt like only a few hours instead of a whole week. Everyone wanted to stop at
Marissa’s Books and Gifts which we had seen the previous week.
Hallie needs these fun things for their new house.
Our realtor Reyna has done so much to help us out. Fergus seems to think she's good people.
Mike wandered around campus over the weekend, spying spying signs of spring like daffies that survived the late freeze and a woodpecker hard at work.
He also wanted to note some of the (heraldic and non-heraldic) history on campus in the Education Building.
University motto: Lux et veritas (Light and truth)
University seal (Yes, for about 20 years and during the time when the original portion of the building was built, the University of Montana was called
Montana State University):
Lookie what fun Hallie found at the store: honey-pot-shaped caramel apples!
Apparently these Pocket Jesus figurines have gotten quite popular (here seen at the register of one of Hallie's friends at Smith's). Happy Easter!
