Lake to Lake

I ran into a friend about a week ago. She's a friend from Jr. High but also a runner. I asked her what races she had coming up and she told me she was doing this Lake to Lake run in St. George in about two weeks. I told her it sounded fun and if they had any holes to give me a call. She mentioned her friend had two holes and said she'd pass on my name if they still wanted to do a team.

I went home and talked to Chris about doing it with me as a pre-relay for our race this summer. I thought it would be good practice, but I wasn't really sure we were even going to get a spot with this stranger.

I asked my friend later if they still had holes and she said yes and they wanted us. Awesome! Chris agreed and now we're running a race this weekend in St. George together. I am so excited to do this with him. I hope I don't end up killing him or getting him injured. He's a fabulous, strong runner but he's not really experienced yet, especially with outside and hills or running on dirt. I'm sure he'll be fine.

So now, we have a family vacation planned in sunny St. George and a race to run. I can't wait!

Glow Explosion

While Christmas shopping for his siblings Patch found this glow explosion pack and bought himself and early Christmas present. Me being the awesome mom I am, never got around to doing it. Really it was because you should do it when it's dark and we are always gone in the evening and/or get home too late to enjoy a project like this. 

Anyhow, after weeks of Patch begging to finally do this activity, we had a free night and went to work. 

He opened each color and glow powder and mixed them up.

 There were four colors. Orange, green, blue and yellow.

 He had two containers to pour the glow stuff into (it came with three but we misplaced the third). 

 With his dads help he created these bad boys!

 It was really close to bed time when he finished so he got to put them in his room and watch them glow as he went to sleep. 

The glow only lasts a few hours, but it was fun while it lasted!!

My Little Valentine

It's kind of nice having all my kids in school now. This is Patch's first year (not counting preschool) that he gets to do valentines for his class. I love watching him write his name, he is such a proud speller.

He's also enjoying reading anything and everything. He even loves correcting himself when he gets a word wrong.

 It's hard to believe Tyler and the girls used to be this little.

Even though our lives are full of crazy business all the time, I'm really trying to enjoy it. I love being the mom, running kids here and there, teaching them, putting them to bed, figuring out how each of them work. Of course sometimes, okay a lot of the time I'm overwhelmed and stretched thin but I still am really glad my kids are so involved in the things they love and that Chris and I can provide that for them. I love my sweet family!

BaSkEtBaLl

I have to say, this sport is crazy. For a non contact sport there sure is a lot of contact. 

We are having so much fun watching Caely grow in athletic ability. She is doing a great job and learning so much from her amazing coach and the girls she plays with. 

 Chris and I have done a lot of talking to Caely about believing in herself while she's playing. Her old coach was great but he always had her pass the ball to "the shooter" and Caely never believed she was good enough. Every time she would get the ball she would look for the pass instead of taking the shot or even just dribbling it around the other players.

 Melissa has her doing all kinds of things. She makes great plays and knows exactly what she's doing. Caelys gotten a lot more confident and we see that in her play. It's hard because she's the youngest on a 5th&6th grade competitive team so they are definitely out there for the win but Melissa is great at helping the girls remember it's just a game and to have fun playing. I've noticed Caely is playing a lot more which means she is getting better and better.

Before each game Chris and I have given Caely the challenge to take x amount of shots and to make at least half of what she's shooting. Last Wednesday they played a hard team, Caely ended up playing a lot and all her hard work payed off, she got a basket! I'm just glad she took the shot but getting the points helps too.

This last weekend she played a tournament in Ogden. Caely would text me after each game telling me how she did, how many shots she took and how many baskets she made. They had three games on Saturday, winning 2 out of 3. I'm so happy she's found something she loves.

Idaho Falls Weekend

Tyler's team had a Round Robin event up in IF this last weekend. Chris was supposed to go and take the boys. Caely had a basketball tournament in Ogden on Saturday so I was going to stay with the girls. Thursday Chris got hit with a flu like bug. He had aches and chills and was super sensitive.

Change of plans. Chris stayed with Caely and I took the other three up to IF for hockey. We left Friday after school to make it to their 8:30pm game. 

On the way up we weren't really hungry so we got all the way to Pocatello before we stopped for dinner. When I left West Jordan I was on 1/2 tank of gas so I really needed to fill up. After a much too long stop at Subway for dinner we were back on the road. I didn't realize until I was hitting/missing the last Blackfoot exit that I really needed gas and that was the last stop before Idaho Falls. Uh-oh.

I said a little prayer and found comfort in knowing I wasn't too far away, 25ish miles. My friend Kristy lives up there and I knew she would save me. I figured I could also call someone from the team to find us. 

The next exit we found for gas was also the exit we needed for the hotel. Yah! We decided to head straight to the game, I didn't want to take any chances getting lost. 

 They played a killer game. The third period ended 4-4 tie so they went to sudden death over time. No one scored so now it was down to a shoot out. Tyler was in net and let me tell you, it was a nail biter! He did fabulous and we ended up winning 8-7.

 They played the next morning with Tyler in net the whole game. They ended up winning!

 Since two hockey games weren't enough the boys set up their shinny hockey nets and had a competition that lasted most the day. I took Patch and Alexa to the pool to play.

 Some of the boys knees were rubbed raw from playing all day.

 We took a break for lunch. Some of the moms put on a nice spread of salad, pizza, sub sandwiches and chips.

 After lunch Lexi and Patch settled in for some cable TV and a nap. The nap never happened but the kids had fun. We headed back to the pool before their third game of the weekend.

 Their third game was extremely hard but they still played like champs. They lost 0-5, but we were the lowest holding in goals from the team that beat us. Everyone else they beat by between 6 and 8 goals.

 Sunday we packed up and headed to the last game of the weekend. Mike, the other goalie started out the game. He played great and didn't let in any goals. Tyler played the second half of the game. A kid on the other team got a break away and scored a goal for their team. Tyler was devastated. With 45 seconds left they pulled Tyler so they could have an extra player on the ice. 15 seconds left and we got the tie winning goal! Now for another sudden death over time with no goals scored and a shoot out.

Tyler had a complete shut out! He was amazing, I'm so happy for him and his team. They all worked hard for their 3 out of 4 wins.

It was a great weekend. I think getting away with the team really helps them build their friendships and strengthen their game.

Rumpelstiltskin

Friday I got to do Fairy Tale Friday for Patch's class. 

That's where you read a story to the kids and do an activity with them.


We read the story and then I tried to teach a bunch of 5/6 yr. olds to braid yarn. What was I thinking?!?! 

Tyler had late start to school so he came to help me out, thank goodness. 

Patch got to pass out the yarn, so he held on to the extra and made himself a mustache. 

Grizzly Game

Friday night was the county hockey night at the Grizzly game. Since Chris coaches multiple teams he got extra tickets so we got to take the entire family. 

We went early to watch the teams warm up before the game. As they were warming up, all kinds of fights broke out, which was not a good sign for the game to come.

Sounds like they got a good talkin' to in the locker room, so it wasn't too bad during the game.

We had tons of fun. Our whole section were kids from Tyler's team and their parents. 

 The kids ate treats and hung out with their friends. The girls were totally bored, but at least they got their faces painted.