Swim Meet

I can't believe I am really going to admit this but here goes...Alex had to be at the pool at 6:30am for his swim meet. I took him and wasn't sure what to do since the meet didn't actually start until 7am. I decided to park the car and take a little nap. I woke up to my phone ringing at about 8:45am, it was Alex wondering where the heck I was. I told him I fell asleep and missed his race.
He came out to the parking lot and we went to the gas station and got a donut and diet coke. He is on the relay team so we went back to the pool and I was glad to be able to at least see one race.
They took first place in the boys 9-10 freestyle relay. He is getting so good and with some more practice I know he will improve and get even faster!!!

Max is a Genius!!!

I came home for lunch and was driving down our street watching a few kids riding their bikes, I did a double take when I realized that it was Max on a two wheeler with NO TRAINING WHEELS!!!! I asked Max who taught him how to ride the bike and he said: "I just got on and started riding it."
He told me a few days after his birthday that he could ride his bike without training wheels now because he was a "four year old." I was going to have Rich take them off his bike and teach him to ride but I guess he doesn't need the lessons!!

He amazes me, he is naturally talented in many ways and I guess coordination is one of those gifts. I remember learning to ride a bike and my dad holding the back and having to balance me while running up the street, over and over and over. I was so excited for Max that I wanted to go to Wal Mart and buy him a new bike (but I resisted). When Rich got home he took the training wheels off Max's bike. After Max went up the street and back he was disappointed because apparently his bike isn't as fast as the neighbor kids.

I am just praying that he won't get into too many accidents, I was kind of a bike riding klutz and had many many accidents and countless amounts of road rash, even stitches!! I hope I had enough for the both of us!!!

Swim Meet

The kids and I got up super early to get Alex to his FIRST swim meet in Lehi. He had to be there at 7am. We didn't know quite what to expect and Alex was a little nervous. He signed up for three races but somehow they only had him down for 1, the 50 freestyle. I was kind of upset that we drove all that way for him to just do 1 race but after sitting there for almost 2 hours before that 1 race I was pretty glad we could leave and not have to wait hours for the other races.
Alex is in the lane by the wall and he did a great job. His first lap he was ahead and doing really well and then he got kind of tired and slowed down a bit. He is a natural in the water and with some coaching I think he will make a great swimmer!!
Max fell asleep on my lap for most the time and he was grumpy when I woke him up. We ate breakfast at McDonald's after the race and then headed home.

BEAR

At pack night tonight, Alex recieved his "Bear." He and Rich worked really hard to get all the requirements done in time. They do alot of the stuff at scout meetings but there is still quite a bit of work that needs to be done at home.
Alex turned 10 and he had until the next pack night to get everything done so he could get the award and he did it!! I am so grateful for Rich and all his help with the scout stuff, I am pretty clueless about it all!
Alex had just got done with his baseball game adn was pretty embarassed he had to wear his uniform but I told him it didn't matter!! I am so proud of Alex for his accomplishments!!

History...Who Would Have Guessed??

I received a letter in the mail from the Jr High. It said that my student was receiving an award at the 8th grade awards assembly and that I should come if I can. I showed the letter to Alexa thinking she might know something about it but she didn't. She told me that probably everyone got it, but she asked her friends and none of them got one. We were both pretty curious about what it would be.
She was picked by her US History teacher as one of the top students. There were not very many who received this recognition and I am very proud of Alexa. She is a great student and she makes me very proud. She has all A's (with the exception of the pesky B she got in SEWING of all classes). She will be able to achieve anything that she sets her heart on!!!

The Hershey Track Meet

It was a cold and windy morning and I had promised Alex I would go to watch him at the track meet today!!! I had to run into work for a bit first and got delayed so I ended up missing his first race...the 400 meters. They usually do that one later in the day so I was disappointed to miss it!!
I got there just in time for the 100 meter race but not in time to get a picture!! He ran hard though!
After that race he headed over to the long jump. We ate Subway for lunch and hung out with Stephanie and Parker. It was really pretty cold all afternoon but the sun did come out a little which helped. Thank goodness we were prepared with blankets and jackets!!

Our Yard

I just wanted to post these pictures of our yard because for the last week I have worked my butt off weeding all the flower beds!!
Last year after we put in the curbing Rich got tons of bushes and trees and some flowers from the nursery where he helps out. I didn't take a picture of the yard last year after it was all planted and looking pretty so I wanted to make sure and get a spring shot and then I am going to try to remember to take some pictures in the summer when the flowers are in bloom and looking pretty!!! The trees have already grown quite a bit since they were planted and I love watching the progress!

I don't love yard work but it is very rewarding to see all the beautiful new life that appears in the springtime!!!

Thanksgiving Point Half Marathon

It was a good thing that we got a hotel room in Lehi because 7am comes too early!! We quietly got ready and left the kids asleep in the room. We jogged over to the starting line and waited for the race to begin!

The sun was shining and I knew it was going to be a beautiful day for a run!! Rich used my earphones and didn't put them back in the van so I was without music, that's OK I think it helped me keep a better pace!

The course was awesome, we ran through the gardens at Thanksgiving Point and along the Golf course and the Jordan River. There were some uphills and downhills and the aid stations were spaced well and always had plenty of re-fueling!! I averaged 10 minute miles and that is a good pace for me. I hope to get faster and maybe one of these days I will finish in under 2 hours!!!

Rich of course was the first one to finish so he was in charge of going back to the room to get the kids and bring them back. I thought they would be there by the time I crossed the finish line but I didn't see them! I was a little disappointed, it is always good to see friendly faces when you are done running 13.1 miles!!
Alexa took this shot of Rich and I while Monica was...
getting a relaxing massage!! She finished 2nd and got in line, by the time I was done I didn't want to wait in the line, and I was feeling pretty good!!! They had tons of food and drinks at the finish line (which is a good thing because I have done races that have run out of water and that is terrible)!! I think I drank like 4 or 5 cartons of chocolate milk!!!
Max was mad that we "left him" because he wanted to race with us. He had to wear my medal because he thought it was so cool!
Alexa was getting pretty bored waiting for the awards and raffle, she would have been happier back at the hotel watching TV.

Here are the official results for the three of us:

Rich finished 8th overall in 1 hour and 28 minutes
Monica was 229th overall in 2 hours and 3 minutes
Angela was 366th overall in 2 hours 14 minutes (PR)

There were a total of 583 finishers in the 1st annual Thanksgiving Point Half Marathon!
Rich was 1st in his age group and got a little trophy and a Road ID gift certificate! We had a great morning and I will for sure want to run this race again next year!!!

EXPO

Janean and Carrie both had booth's at the Women's Expo this year. I helped Carrie in hers and Alexa and Paige were "models" for Janean. They missed school for this event and truly acted like "diva's" all day!!!
The first fashion show was at 2pm and they were both excited to go up on stage and strut their stuff!! They actually pretty much just stood there, but they looked fantastic!!!

I took them to lunch after the first show, guess what they picked?? McDonald's, not very "model like" but that is OK by me!!!

The last show was at 6pm and this time they knew what to expect! They had a good time being models for the day and I had fun watching them and walking around the expo!!

Photo Shoot, 2 Beautiful Girls

Ok so this post is obviously about the photos!!! My sister Melanie has been taking some photography classes and she had some homework so after we ate she took the girls out for a photo op. The weather wasn't the best, really windy and then too bright (McKenzie had a hard time opening her eyes)!! I LOVE the way these turned out, I am sure Mel is a great photographer but with beauties like these two...how can you not get good results???
ENJOY!!

Plastic Bag KITES!!!

Someone came up with a great idea...tying yarn to old Wal Mart bags and flying them like kites!!! Well it WORKED and I think it was even better than real kites!! The kids had SO MUCH FUN!!!
It started out with Alex and Brooklyn and Brinlie and when all the other kids saw them having all that fun, they all needed one too!! It was fun to watch them outside running around in the wind and not having a care in the world!! At least the wind is good for something!!!

Harper's Blessing

Today we went to the blessing of Harper Reed Summers. Steve gave her a wonderful blessing and the meeting was really good. We all headed to their home for lunch after. It was a FULL house!!! We ate and ate and it was all SO yummy!!

All these pictures were taken by Melanie, she is getting really good and I am quite jealous!! Harper was really happy to have all her family there to celebrate her day but she was getting pretty mad at all the pictures being taken of her!!!
We stayed all day and so lots of people ended up taking naps. Alexa was great at putting all the babies to sleep. Korver snuggled right up and was out!!
Max and Owen and Lilly and Haley had a great time in Harper's room reading her books and putting together puzzles!!!

It was a great day and we are so glad to have Harper in the family!!