The Furious Herriman Fire

So, I was on my way to Brandts families house for Sunday dinner when I saw a pretty decent size plume of smoke hovering over the southwest end of the valley. A huge fire broke out at the army base from a bullet that created sparks and ultimately ended up in a huge wild fire that evacuated 1,600 homes and about 5,000 people. The border for the evacuation was close to Brandts home. Their neighbor knocked on the door asking us to help him help his friend get their cars and as much stuff as they could grab out of their Herriman home up in The Cove at Herriman Springs where all those big nice expensive homes are up the mountain. We got over there too late. They weren't letting anyone in and they were evacuating everyone. We couldn't help this guy out. He grabbed his dog and jeep and left. We're not sure if his house was one that burned yet, but his home was apparently one of the highest on the hill, so it's quite possible. Brandt and I wanted to go up by our hiking spot to see if we could get a better view. The area hadn't been evacuated yet, but probably should have been. The fire was quite close. The wind was so strong. We got some good pictures and video of it. Three different times, we saw embers fly from the fire about 200 or so feet and start more fires down the mountain. It was pretty intense. We left just as the police were coming around to evacuate people. We saw people in their homes running around getting things, with garage doors open to vehicles with open trunks and people ready to go. It was a surreal sight. The flames were incredible!

So we took this picture and realized it was FAR TOO INAPPROPRIATE for the circumstances, I mean it's not like it's a sunset or anything.... so we decided to retake the picture and this is what we came up with... probably still inappropriate.

HodgePodge of July & August

Well, it's been a while and I thought I would post a few random things! 


The new little kiddo was born.  We are so excited to have him in our lives. 

Jacob Theodore Bailor was born at 1:46 pm. He weighs 7 lbs 5 oz and is 20 in long.  All he wants to do is eat and poop. Michelle says labor was a breeze. Thank you to Scripps Memorial in LaJolla for making her labor a much nicer experience than last time!!

Check out this picture between Jacob and my mom....I think Jacob has more Whittle in him than any other side of the family.  He looks just like my moms newborn picture!  Ha!!!! 

Such a cute newborn baby!  I know that ALL aunties think their nieces or nephews are the cutest, but dang....I really think my nephews are the cutest little guys I've ever seen!!!!  They are both so perfect and handsome and beautiful!  I can't wait to have my own babies someday!

He was the perfect baby!  No cone-head!  He was small and super good natured.  I wish I could have been there to meet him!  I'm heading out to see him October 1!  :)

This is Jacob at 6 weeks!  Someone at the grocery store thought he was 6 months!  Ha!!!!  Check out the size of that fist!  

 Noah wanted to be a good big brother and make sure Jacob was eating healthily by feeding him broccoli.  After that he and Jacob got into their first sibling fight.  Noah threw something at Jacob and Jacob belted out a squawk to let Noah know that he wasn't going to tolerate that!  haha!

This was Noahs first big spill!  He got too excited and took off chasing after a bunny!  He wanted to run faster than his little feet would go and he fell right on his face.  Poor little guy! 

 

Well, I've been doing some hiking and playing and just enjoying life!  Here's some of the things that put a smile on my face!  

This was our 311 concert!  We got kinda goofy!  :)

We went hiking up to Red Pines lake.  It was such a tough hike, but I finally made it!  We actually started up this trail when we first started dating but because of the high altitude or whatever, I couldn't make it and crapped out!  I was so embarrassed, but Brandt was nice not to judge me by my weakness!  haha!  We tried it again and took our time and made it to the top!  I later found out that it is considered "very strenuous" compared to all the hikes around and rated by avid hikers!  So I didn't feel so bad after that.  But it was beautiful and we had fun!  

Our Great Uncle Paul

Paul L. Bailor

Paul L. Bailor - Age 74, passed away Sunday, June 20, 2010.  Paul was born February 13, 1936, in Lansing, Michigan.  The son of Everett and Cora (Hill) Bailor.  He was very proud to be a Marine and serve his country.  Paul retired from General Motors after 20 plus years of service.  A loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend will be dearly missed by all that knew him.  Paul was preceded in dead by his loving wife, Judy in 2008, and father, Everett Bailor in 1989.  He is survived by his loving daughters, Julie (Lee) Nickels, and Susan (David) Pierce; mother Cora Bailor; grandchildren, Ana, Tony, Chris, Katie, Rachel, and Hannah; great grandson Tony; siblings Joanne (Len) Hiatt, Gary Bailor, and Gordan Bailor.  Also surviving are many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Friday June 25, 2010, 11:00am at the Palmer, Bush, & Jensen Family Funeral Home, Holt Chapel with Rev. Steve Exop officiating.  Interment will follow in Windsor Township Cemetery.  The family will receive relatives and friends Thursday June 23, 2010 from 2-4 and 6-8pm at the funeral home.  Memorial contributions can be made to the Disabled Veterans of America in memory of Paul.  Condolences can be sent to the family at www.palmerbush.com
Published in Lansing State Journal on June 23, 2010

*~*Little Mia Sophia *~*

This is little Mia Sophia and I just want to share her! She's the most loveable puppy ever! I never in the world thought I would NEVER want to call a dog "little princess", but she is the prettiest little princess ever! She's so loving! She loves to snuggle and just be close. She minds so well. She really listens to what you say! She's so smart! She can learn tricks in lightening speed, it's unbelievable! I taught her how to shake hands in about 3 minutes and how to sit up in about 4 minutes. The crazy little thing! I just love her!

Her hair get so messed up so fast because she plays so hard.  She loves to headbut everything and everyone... so her little pony tail doesn't ever stay in.  She was exhausted from playing all day in this picture! Funny girl!

This is when I taught her how to sit up!  She was having so much fun with it!

Sitting on daddy's lap!  She crawled up there and turned over on her back all by herself!  haha!

Just too dang cute!

Mia with her favorite friend Larry the Lion!

She always seems to have this tangled matted mess on her right ear.  I just brushed her hair earlier in the day!

And I have to give tribute to my former puppies... Yoshi the Beautiful, Tippy the Happy, and Kiki (aka Squeaker) the Gentle

They are all my babies and I love them all. 

My new favorite...

I LOVE the Chicken Chop Salad and the Wisconsin Cauliflower soup! Mmmm YUM!

California was a BLAST!!!

So, I've been back for a week and all settled back into the reality of living in Salt Lake!  Hmmm.... why do I live here!  This weekend was a reminder of the punishments winter can so harshly give... for no reason at all!  It was freezing, snowing, rainy, windy, and really bad road and traffic conditions...ALL WEEKEND!  Blahhhh!!!!!!  But Cali was great!  We started off on Friday and headed to Temecula to stay with my Ryan and Michelle for a few days. 

We drove down to La Jolla and went to the UCSD Aquarium and saw some pretty cool fish!

I loved the life-size statues of the whales and now want to go whale watching!  One day I will go!!!!!!

We drove around a lot while we were there... Found this AWESOME neighborhood with ranch style homes with tons of property and horses... so beautiful!  It was called Los Rancharitos or something like that!  I could live there :)  We drove around Fallbrook and thought it was also so beautiful!  I just can't get enough of the vinyards and green lush hills.  I loved it!  So, after a few days in Temecula, Brandt and I finally decided to go to Disneyland!  It was a spontaneous thing and we tried to get really cheap tickets for the day cuz neither of us wanted to spend $100 each but Disneyland is always worth it!!  But  we decided to just head to LA anyways.... the traffic took way longer than normal and by the time we got there, we decided to just hit the beach instead!  We set off down SantaMonica Blvd, which was interesting!  We drove past famous Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive...and ultimately down to Santa Monica Pier.  We started walking to find a restaurant to eat cuz we were starving and tired from driving... we kept walking and walking and walked right into crazy Venice Beach!  We had both always wanted to go because we had heard so much about it, but dang.... I felt like I was on another planet or in a mental institution...one or the other!  It was CRAZY!  There were some weirdo's....and when I say weird.... I can't even describe!  It was scary!  It's a wonder how some people function in life sometimes!!!  We decided to get off the walkway and head down closer to the water and walk the rest of the way back on the sand by the ocean.... which was so much more peaceful and what I needed after CRAZY-ville!  We took some pics on the pier and couldn't find anything we wanted to eat, so we headed to Subway!  Yep.... Subway became a staple on our trip!  Cheap and healthy!!!!  :) 

After our crazy day in Santa Monica and Venice Beach, and no Disneyland... Brandt had an idea to head up to San Jose to stay with his sister and her family and go to Great America/Six Flags!  YESSS!!!  So I wrangled a few more days off work and we drove a long drive up to San Jose.  He arranged for his sister to do my hair (I'm a blonde again!), and got tickets for the Monteray Bay Aquarium!  We got there and found out that Great America was still closed for the season!  LAME.  But we played wii with his neices and nephews and had so much fun!  The Monteray Bay Aquarium was amazing!  So many great things to see and learn about.... and the bay was beautiful!

These are Leafy Sea Dragons...kinda like Sea Horses!  The coolest things ever!

After the Monteray Bay, Brandt wanted to go to Hollister where he grew up and just check things out.  It was really cool.  He used to live on this big ranch and had a lot of horses and did a ton of work when he was growing up.  His grandfather sold the ranch and some big houses were built on the property in a gated community.  We got threw the gate and were able to drive around and check things out.  We found the old house he lived in! 

Brandt was like a little kid on Christmas day!  You should have seen him!!!!  We got out of the car and walked through the "long barn" (one out of three-they had nicknames for each barn) and he was telling me all the stories of what happened in this place and what happened in that place.  It was really cool!

This was an old piece of equipment that Brandt swears was in the same place when he was a kid!  He loves nostalgic stuff like that, stuff that doesn't change!  Haha

We saw this horse that was head and shoulders above all the other horses...I'm not sure how many hands high he was, but he was HUGE!!!! I was a little scared of him!

In this picture, you can see the horse in the next stall... see his head doesn't quite come up to the top bar and this guy that I'm petting.... he is so much taller!  WOW!!!!

Brandts sister Tanya did my hair!  She cut it off and dyed it blond!! 

This was our scenery on our way home through Tahoe.  It was really pretty, but cold! 

We had a good time, but my camera batter was mostly dead the whole trip and I tried to get pics with my phone but the lighting in the pictures kept turning out bad.  Oh well... it was a nice trip!  Maybe we'll do it again in another couple of years!!!