SNOW SNOW GO AWAY

I WANT FALL TO STAY. So hard to believe that about 3 weeks of Fall was all we got until we were blasted with COLD and SNOW on Saturday afternoon. It even started sticking on the ground. CRAZY! I am so so so not ready for snow.

Our LAST Camping Trip of the Year?

We went up the canyon for one "last time" this season (a slight possibility for another jaunt). We had some extra kids and a friend come up with us. Too bad the friend's hubby couldn't come and keep my hubby company. There were about 8 kids and 3 adults. A little crazy but fun. Our 9 year old was the photographer for the night...including a self portrait of him and his gum.

The weather turned chilly but held out until we packed up Saturday morning when it began to rain. Our oldest had a great time with his buddy who joined us in the
trailer for a little sleepover that night.

Happy 31st Birthday!

I turned 31 yesterday. Not an exciting age to turn by any means, but it was a good day. At breakfast my husband and the kids gave me the Nike chip and iPod adapter to use in my exercise training...especially running. I used the chip today. I calibrated it running for a half mile, and then walking for a half mile, and then I tested it out running for another half mile. Then you upload your run to Nike and it keeps your results. It'll even map your course. It's awesome.


Besides the fact that I had to fold tons and tons of laundry, I was able to take a break and go to lunch with some friends. Then I was able to go out for a great dinner with my hubby to Sundance Foundry Grill. It was delicious and wonderful. I love it up there. After dinner my husband gave me a beautiful book with a great inscription in it. I'm excited to read it. It was a great birthday!

Fall is Here, WINTER IS COMING!!!

We woke up Monday morning to snow on the mountains. You can see exactly where the cloud line was. Pretty cool!
Then we went to visit my Grandma where we met up with my sister from the north end of Salt Lake and her kids.

Fall Camping

We took the kids out on Friday night for our first Fall Campout. The weather was perfect. Cold enough to really enjoy the fire...but not so cold that we had to put on more than a long sleeved top. But thank goodness for the trailer...no getting out of the tent in the middle of the night and making that long freezing walk to the outhouse.

Dirty faced Spencer.

Game TIME!!

The next morning we kept breakfast really simple (oatmeal and cereal and hot chocolate) before setting off on a hike. As I was cleaning up breakfast though, I almost stepped right on a TARANTULA!!!! Another "Thank Goodness for trailers instead of tents" moment. I've never seen one in the wild...neither has Rhett in all his camping and hiking. I screamed of course, more at the thought of it crunching and squishing under my foot than the thought of it biting me...it was pretty cold and slow moving. After Rhett rescued it to the other side of the campground, we set off on a little hike up the mountain.

Sushi anyone?

Saturday night, after returning from camping and watching a great BYU football game, we were visted by one of my college friends and his wife (Seth and Cari Cardall). He was in town interviewing for a job and I invited them over for dinner. Rhett was AWESOME and made his best batch of sushi yet as an appetizer (california roll). I wish I actually had a picture of the one he did but it was every bit as beautiful as this one in my opinion...and it tasted great. After a good meal of sweet and sour pork, some peach pie, and great catching up, it was time to say so long. Thanks for coming to visit, Seth and Cari. It was great to see you. Come back any time and good luck finishing up that residency!!!

Crazy Hair Day

The kids had "Crazy Hair Day" at school on Friday. Here's how Jacob and Spencer directed their "DO's"...

Goofballs! (Jacob said he wanted to wear his hair like this every day...sorry bud, not gonna happen!)

Hit 150 Miles

Well, I hit 150 miles on my bike the other day when we went on a couples ride with our neighbors. It was fun. Our neighbor did the LOTOJA (a race from Logan UT to Jackson WY...about 220 miles). He did really well. He's a real cyclist...I'm not by far. But I am getting used to the bike and used to solo rides a bit more. I put another 11 miles on today while my daughter was in preschool. So I'm up to 161. Next season I'll have to really put on the miles... since it took me until a few weeks ago to get up the courage to go by myself, I didn't go so much this season. (the picture is another from the triathlon)

Bottled Up

Even though today wasn't the most convenient day for it, the peaches I bought had to be bottled. They ripened a little faster than expected...or the days just went by too fast. Anyway, after getting the boys off to school and setting up my 3 year old with paints and paper at the counter, I began peeling and bottling, peeling and bottling, peeling and bottling...well you get the idea. I just got the first 6 jars out of the canning pot when it was time to get my youngest off to preschool. After she was on her way, I quickly changed and jumped on my bike to get some exercise in for the day. I did a 10.3 mile ride with no incidents whatsoever. I'm getting much more comfortable on the bike now. It was fun. So after returning home to a quick shower, I picked up my preschooler and headed off to her dance class. While she was there, I made a quick trip to the grocery store for milk and other staples, picked her up, went to the bank, and rushed home. I unloaded the groceries and had 10 minutes before my boys walked in the door from school. So what the heck, I made them fresh (pilsbury) cinnamon crescent rolls which they devoured the minute they came home. As we did the usual homework routine, I set the next 6 bottles in the canner and started processing them. My oldest was off to scouts at 4:30 and I whipped up some chocolate chip banana muffins with the remaining bananas that were browning too rapidly on the counter. Whew! I love it when I get a lot done in a day...but my shoulders need a good massage. Too bad my hubby won't be home for another couple of hours. I'd better end this rant and go get dinner out of the oven.

First Tooth Lost

My little shy 6 year old lost his first tooth last night. It was fairly loose but not hanging by a thread when he asked me to come pull it out after his shower. I told him I could but it might hurt because it was still gripping on pretty good. He said to go ahead and yank it. After it was all over and the blood was rinsed from the cavity the tooth left in his gums, he said, "I don't think I like loosing teeth." But this morning he was pretty happy to find a dollar under his pillow. I asked him if anyone at school today thought the tooth around his neck was from the space in his mouth...he just rolled his eyes at me and said, "Nooooooo. Everyone knows I have LITTLE teeth." (By the way, it's a buffalo tooth around his neck)

"I can TRI challenge" at Alta Rec Center

I participated in my first triathlon (sprint distance) this morning...and I finished! Not only did I finish, I did better than I thought I would. The tri consisted of a 400 meter (1/4 mile) swim in a lap pool (not as hard as open water), a 9 mile bike ride, and a 5k (3.2 mile) run. The swimming was the easiest part for me by far. Then the bike...well it wouldn't have been hard except for 2 HUGE hills that I thought my thighs would burn up on. I loved the downhill part though and went faster than I ever have on those (33.6 mph). Changing from bike to run (the part I HATE) was the hardest. My legs felt weird trying to run after biking. And there were 2 big hills on the run too. But I finished as fast as I usually do a 5k and I was proud of that since I'd swam and biked prior to running. I finished in 1 hour and 17 minutes. I was 6th in my age division (30-34 females) out of 19. I was 30th out of ALL the females (97 of them) and I was 82nd over all (out of 184 participants). The time on the run killed me and the bike put me back a bit too. But on the swim, I was 52nd out of the 184. All in all, not bad for my first triathlon. I've caught the bug! (watch the video)

First Day of Preschool

I can't believe it. The house is absolutely quiet...I already miss my little princess' singing. It was her very first day of preschool today. She'll go 2 days a week for 2 hours. She was sooooo excited to get in her new clothes and walk to school. There was no separation anxiety on her part at all. She was so glad to finally be going to school like her big brothers. Click on the picture to see it bigger.

A Day at the Cabin

My sister's husband's family owns a little cabin in the Utah mountains. They invited us up to spend the day today. We had a great time as did the kids. It all started with a little archery, which even I tried my hand at for the first time in my life. I hit the target quite a few times.

Then after a bite to eat, the kids hit the water (this is a little tributary stream to the bigger one...safe enough to play in for the little ones)


Then the big boys tubed the river (my oldest and his cousin are just 10 days apart in age)...


Meanwhile, my 6 year old and his cousin took a break from the heat indoors with dominoes.

And it's always hard to say goodbye. Thanks for a great time! (My little princess and her cousin)