Blue Mt. Invitational

I finally got to attend a track meet this year, the Blue Mt. Invitational held at San Juan High School, on the 23rd. I helped Curtis run the javelin event but was able to watch and photograph the girls when we had breaks.

I didn't see Hannah long jump but she was part of the medley relay, running the 400 leg. Something she had never done before this day. I think it turned out to be harder than she thought it would. When she finished her leg, she fell to the ground and said, "I'm NEVER doing that again!" However, she was pretty excited when her team won, even against a 2A and a 3A team.

Here she is waiting for her handoff...

She was the first to receive her handoff and off she went...

I thought for sure that the other girls would catch up with her...after all it was her first time running this race... but she just kept going and kept her lead. Here you can see how much of a lead she had.

Here she is coming in to hand off to the 800 leg... We were all yelling for her!

I was so proud of her for giving it her all and very excited for her to have done so well.

Cambria has been helping with the runners as an assistant coach this year. She works with the relay teams, helps with starts and handoffs... it has been fun to watch her as she coaches her runners. I think she should look into becoming a coach. Curtis says she does a really good job.

Here she is coaching one of her runners as they come around the last 2 turns...

Here she is consulting with one of the boys' relay teams

Then I wandered up to watch Sadie throwing the discus. She decided she'd do track if she could throw only. She did not want to run. She throws discus and shot-put. (I wasn't able to watch her throw the shot because I was busy measuring javelin throws.) She has worked diligently to learn the techniques. It was fun to watch her. Wish I'd had the guts to do track in high school. I'm impressed with her dedication to learning and always trying to improve and perfect her throwing.

warming up

competing...she did set her new PR (personal record)

I took the boys with me that day, because I had no one to stay home with them. They had some fun, but then got really bored and antsy to go home.

Soren letting us know he was bored.....

James discovered that rolling like a log down hills is fun! 

Till you whack your head on the ground!

He did get up laughing.

I love watching Curtis coach our own kids/team but I love that he truly wants to help each athlete there do the best they can do. Here he's talking to some javelin throwers from Monument Valley about hand positions and how to plant their feet when they throw, keeping the tip up. 

He just cares about helping people and that's an awesome thing.

James is Registered

Another day that has been looming on the horizon has come and gone. The day I register my youngest child for school for the first time. On Wednesday, James and I went to the elementary school to fill out all the paperwork and find out where's he's at and whether he's ready to go to Kindergarten. He passed with flying colors and I think I filled out all the paperwork correctly, so it was a go! 

James with his Kindergarten readiness sheet that shows he is READY!

James had to sign a couple of papers, he was very businesslike about it. 

Then because of a record snafu we had to go up to the clinic to get the correct information about his immunizations. While we were there they asked if I'd like to have him get a quick check-up. At first I declined because I had not made an appointment but they said that we didn't need one and that they were making it very fun for the kids. They were having a free "KinderKlinic" event. So since we were already there.....

They tested his eyesight...he got to keep the eye-patch.

They weighed and measured him. 

He almost looks too little to be going to school....

They taught him about washing his hands and gave him a little timer to use so that he washes long enough...
They also gave him a 'germ' to take home (a sticky-hand type of monster toy)

Then a Princess listened to his heart, lungs and stomach and checked his reflexes.
He got an inflatable hammer to 'fix' things at home with.
He also got a penguin backpack to put all his treasures in. 

Here are his vital stats. He's physically ready to start Kindergarten also...
except for a couple of pesky shots he still needs. :(

Montana and Katie Visit

Montana and Katie came to visit us during their break between semesters. We were so excited to have them here. It was Katie's first time here and it had been 16 months since Montana had been home! It was definitely time for a visit. 

They came late on Saturday night, after spending most of the weekend with Katie's family. (Her brother got married) We enjoyed a nice, peaceful Sunday together, with a little Strawberry shortcake to sweeten the day.

I LOVED this! The boys wanted me to get out all the family pictures so their wives could see how cute they were as kids. I loved that we all sat around and looked at pictures and reminisced. Perfect activity for my little T2 heart!

Everyone chowing down on strawberry shortcake...

It's a favorite springtime treat :)

On Monday we decided to play tourist and go to the Needles Overlook and then to Moab to the Rock Shop and lunch. The last time I was at the Needles I was incredibly nervous that one of my little guys would be running and slip and then slide right under the fence and off the edge. It was very nerve-wracking. This day we only had one little guy with us and he is now big enough to allow me to be a little less overwhelmed when we're out in nature. It was a beautiful day weather-wise and it was fun to show Katie some of the amazing places near our home. I think I need visitors more often so I can get out and enjoy them too.

Montana and Katie taking a selfie

James loved all the rocks and lizards and 'hiking' I had a hard time keeping up with him and Curtis 

         It's a long way off the edge….Here you can see the Abajo mountains in the background

We just circled around the point following the fence line and looking at the immensity of the desert below us

 Looking over the edge. It makes me dizzy, as its hard to tell where the ground is, 

since everything is the same color

We went on to Moab and ate lunch at the Branding Iron. It's become our favorite place to eat there. Then we went to the Moab Rock Shop and meandered around. It was my first time there and there is SO much to look at. I found a few beautiful rocks but didn't buy them because I had no idea what I'd do with them if I bought them. Montana bought a couple and James bought a crystal arrowhead. It's a great place for those who are enamored with rocks. 

My mom and Hugh were just coming back to Bluff from Price, so we stayed at the Rock Shop and met them there so they could say hi to Montana and Katie. We had had a plan to go to Bluff that morning, but then found out they weren't even there, so we headed north instead. And I'm glad we did. It was a great day.

Montana and Katie left to go back to Rexburg the next day. I am so thankful that they took the time and made the long drive to visit us. It was wonderful to have them here! Thanks for the visit!

Prom 2016 (April 1)

The invite

It all started with a little scavenger hunt which concluded with this invitation…
She responded with an answer on his truck. She set up a bunch of army men on the hood of his truck with a poster that said, "It would take an army to stop me from saying yes!"

 Then it turned into finding a dress to wear. Buying one was not in the picture so we asked around and finally found this beauty. It belongs to her friend Amy's, sister, and it fit her perfectly except for the length. We shortened it by pinning it up a bit more with safety pins, which worked incredibly well since it was already gathered and ruched all over. What's one more gather or ruching?

 Finally the day arrived and she had lots of help getting 'beautified' for the big dance, after they had gone to dinner and she had been dropped back off to get ready. Cambria did her hair and Annsheri helped with makeup. She looked so grown up and lovely. Looked like she could have been on Miss America. (I certainly did not look so mature for my Prom…)

Her date, Talon, arrived to pick her up for the dance. There was the usual awkward putting on of boutonniere and corsage and then pictures. I guess she didn't want to be extra sparkly since she did not smile showing her teeth and braces. Her date was very gentlemanly, telling me their schedule and asking what time she should be home. I was impressed with him. A nice young man.

 The Promenade was scheduled for 8 pm. In a break from longstanding tradition this year, the actual dance was held at the Community Center down by the golf course, but the Promenade was still done in the High School gym. I actually really liked it done this way, because there was sufficient light to really see the kids do the dance they've been practicing for so long. Not so much to put up or take down either.

 Here Hannah is announced and she is accompanied by and danced with Amalio. He's a funny kid. :)

 They danced well together and it was fun to watch them do their thing. I love that our school has not abandoned the tradition of introducing the Jr Class members and dancing the Promenade. LOVE IT!

Following the dance, the Prom Royalty was announced. Hannah was chosen as 2nd attendant. She was on the prom committee and worked a lot of hours in prep for it, as well as on concessions at sporting events last year. It was a happy moment for her.

 After the royalty dance, then it was the parent dance. Shandon brought her to her dad and off they went to dance. I know Curtis doesn't love Prom, but I love watching him dance with his lovely daughters. It'll be my turn again in a few years when the boys go to Prom

 Ford and Shiala also came to watch so Ford danced with Hannah and Curtis danced with Kami. So cute!

 What a fun thing to remember, dancing with Grandpa!

On Saturday, Hannah and Talon and some of the other kids took 4 wheelers and went down to the Falls near Canyonlands. They had a good time and no one was injured, thankfully. (there was a boy in another group that was hurt in a fall down a cliff near Moab. He happened to be Allie's date. Yikes! He broke quite a few bones, but he's ok and recovering. So scary!)

Another Prom come and gone, 5 down, 4 to go! It was a great event and I'm happy it was a good experience for Hannah. I hope she has great memories of her Prom.