I was tired

- I trained and finished another triathlon.

- Seth and Jesse were there cheering me on the whole way!

- Huntley and Riley were sad they didn't get to see me cross the finish line and kept wanting me to go do it again!

- When I crossed the finish line I felt like I was going to puke!

- I cried because I missed my parents and wish they were there. They were my biggest fans!

- I love doing triathlons for the challenge.

- In all honesty I was a little disappointed with my performance.

- After it was over I was tired and wanted to take a nap.

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24th Celebration

Pioneer days in Snowflake is one of my favorite times of the year! I get to see people I haven't seen in a while, enjoy the parade, hang out with family, eat, go to rodeo, enjoy fireworks and other festivities going on!

This was the first year Seth was able to come and enjoy the festivities! The parade was awesome with home town feeling, home made floats and it ended with a down pour of rain!

Patiently waiting to get in the bubble!

The kids loved these bubbles! We got to see fast cars and hang out!! It was a great weekend!

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T-ball

 

Riley decided to play T-ball this year.

I thought she would go out there pick flowers and dance,

however she went out there and played.

Some games were really hot, but she did AWESOME!!

She had some of her friends on her team so I think that helped.

She got to play all the positions and it was fun to watch!!

 

 

 

 

Riley's activiites

Riley started gymnastics a few weeks ago.

Growing up I loved gymnastics and I had a feeling she would as well.

I was nervous about the first day but she did great and of

course she LOVES it.

I guess I should say that is an understatement because she counts

down every week until the next time she gets to go.

 

 

 

Huntley of course wants to do it as well however I think if he got

out there by himself I don't think he would like it as much.

 



A little dance

She had been practicing for weeks.

She was very excited, mainly because she likes to wear make up

and be front and center.

The curtain went up and I felt a twinge in my chest.

We sat there like proud parents watching our girl.

Tears rolled down my face as she danced her little heart out.

She looked so cute and did awesome.

She told me that she wanted to end the program with 5 red roses and 5 pink roses because she is 5 and because that is what you get after you perfom.

Her wish came true.



The weather is beautiful

It was a beautiful day outside.

Seth filled up water balloons and we launched them with the balloon launcher.

The kids thought that was great.

Riley and Huntley played in the mini van that Seth brought home for hours.

They thought it was so cool to touch a button to open and close the doors.

We decided to go on a bike ride.

I am sure I was a sight to see.

It was actually easier than I thought it was going to be.

Riley wanted to ride a long ways.

Huntley was just excited to be in the front and say Hi and I love you.

We were going down a hill and she wrecked.

She scraped up her knees but not much else.

She cried but got back on the bike after much pleading and encouraging words.

We got the baby stuff down from the attic.

The kids wanted to try each thing that was brought down.

It was a good day.

I LOVE my family.

Spring Break

(Hanging with Daddy)

Feeding the ducks and running up and down this hill at least 5 times.

(mesmerized by this Rhino)

It is crazy to think that I have a kid in school who actually

has a Spring Break.

Are you sure that she is old enough....it makes me sad that she is growing up so fast.

We decided to go to the zoo.  Riley talked about it for days until we finally went.

What did she want to see first....The Tiger...when we finally got to the tiger it was asleep, but then she began to yell at it and it kind of got up for a few seconds and then laid back down but that was long enough for her to see the face so she was happy.

They were pretty facinated with all of the animals but had enough after a few hours...the heat could have been a factor in that since it was 90 degrees outside.

The next day we went to K-town where they were having their

Pioneer Days.

They have a parade, and carnival.  It was AWESOME.

The kids loved it...especially the carousel.

We also got to visit Robb and Kelly this weekend and I am happy to say they are rockstars and

 look GREAT rockin their halos and all.

It was a good weekend and the kids had a great time!!

Tri in the Pines

It had been 12 weeks since I started the training program and I thought this day would never come, at one point I didn't think that I was actually going to make it to race day.  It was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be but very rewarding. 

I started out with a 625 yrd swim (25 laps) then went onto a 12.3 mile bike ride and ended with a 3.5 mile run.  I didn't sleep the night before with excitement and jitters running through my mind.  I got to the pool and finally calmed down a little bit as I had to wait for a lane to open to begin.  I had a HUGE support system which was very comforting at time because it was them that got me to the finish line.  I felt pretty good on my swim and bike but when I got to my run I hadn't drank enough water so I was trying to run but didn't have enough energy....they had a water station but have you ever tried to run and drink water at the same time...you don't get much water in your mouth (at least I didn't). 

The run was HARD and when I got to my last lap I wasn't sure I was going to make it but I did.  I finished my 1st triathlon in 1 hr 25 min which was within my goal so I was happy.  I ended up 5th overall and 1st in my age group.  It came to me as a shock I was just happy to have finished.  I had a great time and look forward to the next one.

A HUGE thank you to my #1 supporter Mr. Gaston, he is my ROCK and without him none of this would be possible, he was always encouraging me and cheering me on up until the finish line.  Race day wouldn't have gone more smoothly if it weren't for my amazing Mother n law who always seems to step in and know exactly what to do without

being asked. 

To all my family that showed up...thank you it was great to have you there

cheering me on as well.

Mud Run

Seth participated in a Mud Run with a few of his friends and really seemed to enjoy it.  It looked like fun and at one point I wanted to jump in.

 His first of many puddles he had to jump into.....I think he was trying not

to get  his face muddy :)

 Everyone that I saw had a hard time with these monkey bars.... Seth did

two at a time like it was nothing....me on the other hand probably would have grabbed on and then fell face first in the water.

 The End result - not as muddy as I expected but a whole lot of FUN!!

 The course consisted of 3.5 miles and 15+ obstacles, including a slip n slide, a lake of water you had to swim through, bunch of tires, hurdles, ladders to climb, walls to scurry over, logs to crawl over or under and a whole lot of MUD!!

Riley did not want to stand in the picture with her dad seeing how she had just watched him go through all this mud, but Huntley wanted to be right next to him!!

Family fun

Seth got this bad boy for Father's day. When we went on bike rides it was just me and the kids or him and the kids since we only had one bike.  Then he found this front seater one for my bike and one for his and the kids are in heaven.  Riley use to ride her bike along us because she didn't want to sit in the carrier

behind the bike and Huntley didn't like sitting in there by himself. 

The kids LOVE to be front and center.

Swim lessons

Riley started out in Preschool level well mainly because she isn't around water very much and she is kind of afraid of floating on her back.  A few days into the lessons I realized she should have been in the advanced preschool class so the next time we signed her up.  Every day she would wake up and immediately put her swim suit on and ask if she was going to swim lessons.  She really liked the lessons and I feel she learned a little from them as well.  She is definitely more comfortable in the water (which makes me more nervous) but when we went swimming she did great kicking her legs and staying a float.

This was Huntley the whole time she was in the water...usually yelling at her or squatting down to be right by her.  On one of the days she had to watch a safety video and he cried "where's sissy" the whole time until she came back into the pool area. 

He definitely LOVES his sister.

A new year

(Our view going to the top)

Have I mentioned how much I love this guy?  If not A LOT.  We had a special visitor this weekend who allowed us to go and spend the whole day together (something we haven't done.....well I can't remember the last time).  We rang in the new year around 9:30 ish with some bubbly and then again at midnight when we heard fireworks (courtesy of our neighbors)! 

The next morning Mr. Gaston and I got up and headed to the slopes...it was -3 when we left the house and by the time we got to the slopes it had warmed up to 0.  Mr. Gaston had never been skiing but was willing to go because this was something I wanted to do...we both skied and it was a BLAST...however our last run my legs were burning so much I was glad we were heading

to the car.

Some exciting things to remember from 2010 

(in no particular order)

10. Riley started preschool

9. Seth had the privilege of racing a dwarf car

8. Huntley turned 1

7. Seth won in the bomber car division TWICE

6. Riley became potty trained

5. Our relationship has gotten stronger

4. We celebrated 5 years of wedded bliss

3. Riley's new LOVE - horses

2. Huntley's new LOVE - climbing

1. We were sealed as a family

Wishing you all a Happy and prosperous New Year!!

A slide for them

 Riley ready to play in the snow

 Huntley ready to go down the slide

Have I mentioned how much I like the snow in the winter time?  We finally received some much, and Riley kept telling me she wanted to throw a snowball..Mr. Gaston had a better idea.  Riley went outside to help him (she didn't really help it was just her ploy to get outside).  After a little while Huntley went out there as well and to their and my surprise Mr. Gaston had built them a slide with all the snow from the driveway.  Riley LOVED it and I was a little skeptical with Huntley but he LOVED it as well.  After she would go I would go to take the sled so Huntley could go down and she said "No mom Huntley wants me to go with him" but wouldn't let Huntley go when it was her turn (smart girl--she had figured out what she needed to go everytime the sled was at the top).   We had a good time outside until we all got cold and came in for some much needed hot chocolate and whipped cream!!

The pumpkin patch

 

We went to the pumpkin patch this year and what a blast it was.....this was our first picture and I love it....typical Riley

and Huntley not looking at the camera.

 

What the life huh, to be pushed around in wagons or strollers and just kick back, wouldn't it be nice to be pushed

around every now and then? :)

The crew we went with, all  were related but we were happy to tag along, Riley didn't mind she seemed to make herself fit right in and pretend she was just as big as the others.  We went through the corn maze and answered questions and if you got it right you went to the next question if you got it wrong you had to go back and start over...she thought that was great.

A nice man at the pumpkin patch took all of the kids minus Huntley for a ride in these barrels around the field where all the pumpkin's were and they all enjoyed this. 

This little "sheep" however later I found out it was a goat Riley could not get ENOUGH of....she kept going back to this stinky thing and then she got put on top of it and rode it around and she LOVED it....my friend told her to tell her dad to get her one so she told her Papa instead and he assured me she would have a BIG red bow on one for Christmas!!  :)

Riley thought it was pretty cool that we got to pick out our own pumpkins and she got to pick out a little pumpkin for her dad and had a meltdown when I put the pumpkin in the people we were with wheel barrow because they were going to the front (we weren't done yet) because she thought they were going to take her "daddy's pumpkin"....she was relieved when she saw that it was ok when we got back to the front.  It was a good day so now every time we see a pumpkin she asks if we are going to the

pumpkin patch!!

The places we go

We took a trip down to K-town this week and boy did we have a great time.  We got to spend time with the cousins from Colorado, Auntie, Grandpa, and Granny.  We got to ride around on golf carts, do a little golfing (which to my surprise I have totally lost my game), ate pizza, played games and spent Granny's money on little trinkets and on this car that the kids could not get enough of, went fishing, fed the ducks (even though there were no ducks in sight) hopefully they came back later to find we had left them a lot of bread to eat, swam in the pool, and just tired ourselves out.  It was great to see our cousins and spend a little time with them since we don't see them enough.

Our favorite past time

Our new favorite past time.... we get to be outside which Riley loves and I get to ride my bike (which I haven't done since having Riley) we haven't been able to ride it much because it has been windy..... but we are looking forward to the many days cruising around town.

A hike

Seth and Riley spent the day at Shovlon Canyon hiking and fishing with some of her cousins, Uncles, and Papa. It was a windy day so I am not sure how much fishing they actually got in but they all had a good time and Seth and Riley got to spend some daddy/daughter time which they both enjoyed very much. He is so good with her and she loves him as much as he loves her. I think he liked the whole backpack idea until he had to carry her out of the canyon (why is it always easier to go in than out.....


Can you see her hiding behind his head?


The kids and Seth


She loved getting to ride in this backpack


All tuckered out after a long day in the wind........

When all else fails check under the bed

The house is quiet (which is unusual because I have a 23 month old in the house), I start to worry (maybe a little panick) because I am calling her name and getting no answer and wondering where she is...I start looking in the usual hiding places under the cupboard in our bathroom, in our closet except the doors aren't closed so I know she isn't there, in the clothes hamper, then I stop and listen...I hear her moving around, and to my surprise and relief she is safe and has found a new hiding place, one where she can take some stuff and store it until she visits again, she is happy and content under the bed reading her book and eating some grapes....