Memorial Weekend

Well, I don't have many photos to prove our adventurous weekend - but we had a lot of fun with Aunt La-La visiting us from Georgia. I wish she lived closer!! It was a great week to have time for 4 of my 5 siblings to be together and just love being in one-another's company. We spent some time in Heber - including a fun "hike".... well, it was a long, slow walk when you have 5 kids under the age of 7 together! But we survived our adventure in the woods and got in the car just as it started to pour. Whew. We also enjoyed a visit to Bridal Veil Falls and Shayne was crazy and took Danny and Hunter WAY UP HIGH.... my camera doesn't have a zoom to prove why their mommy had a LUMP in her throat the whole time they were up there. Glad everyone survived and had fun. Thanks La-La for visiting us - we LOVE YOU! But we vote you bring Greg next time too - we missed you Greg.

Flashback for Boyd

Several years ago, Hunter made this special book with help from his personal scribe, Boyd. Hunter knew the stories he wanted to tell and the picture to go with them. I wish I had written down the year he wrote this - but I'm certain it was before school days. Enjoy!

White Trash

Yeah, we went to the Motocross despite the forecast of snow (in May).

And yeah, I thought my coat was rain proof (& snow proof).

Of course, when I realized my coat was lame, I put on a trash bag.

And yeah, that trash bag kept me dry.

White trash, I know, but we weren't the only ones.

And I could NOT believe how many young families were at this event.

Even more surprising was that their children were NOT whining from the cold and snow. Mine would have been before we got to our seats.

So, one thing for sure, my first Motocross experience was one to remember!

Century Ride #1

Yeah, even within 48 hours of that ride, I'm already thinking, I want to do that again! Yes, I'm a little sore - but honestly, the sun burn on my arms (I forgot to put sunscreen on them!) is the most painful part of my recovery. Yes, I'm tired and luckily, I got a nap in today! Here are a few pics to help me remember the entire experience:

Me and Rach - how lucky am I to have such a great friend who drove me, took pics for me, and told me I could do it over and over again!?! Very lucky indeed. Thanks Rach. I look forward to many years of riding together!

I got to know Rach's Sis-in-law. She had arranged the hotel room for the lot of us. Originally there were going to be 8 women, but in the end, it was just the 3 of us. We drove up to Logan Friday afternoon, and had the evening to check out the fun booths and merchandise for sale. I was seriously tempted to by a water-repellant jacket that evening. There was a scare of rain and I seriously thought I was going to break down at any minute and just start crying. Sorry, but I'm just not equipped for a rainy bike ride - nor was I prepared to buy such apparell. Lucky for me, the day of the ride was PERFECT!

I did this ride by myself. At times I would fall in behind groups I could keep pace with (and draft) and other times, I just passed a lot of other riders. I was very happy with my pace - I rode the first 50 miles in 3 hours. It took me 3 1/2 hours to do the next 50 miles. So, with my 1/2 hour lunch break, I crossed the finish line in exactly 7 hours! The hardest part was mile 70-79. I hear people talking about hitting a "wall" and I'm not sure if that is how I would describe it. But it was a tough spot to mentally keep those legs spinning. It was a tough climb with wind and no one else riding close to me. When I took the next little pit stop (mile 79) I felt rejuvinated and ready to finish the last 20 miles. What's 21 miles after doing 79??!?

My favorite part of the ride was the valley. It was absolutely gorgeous. I was riding through tiny little farm towns that were so enchanting. I wish I could have had my camera with me - but it just wasn't an option with all my "fuel" foods and my jacket. Besides, I would have stopped every few miles for another postcard perfect picture! It was absolutely beautiful.

Here I am approaching the finish line.

The beloved banner letting me know I was FINISHED!


Barely able to walk after being on a bike all day, I'm smiling and famished. They had great food at the finish line and I'm ecstatic that I've REALLY DONE IT!





My hubby and boys did not come to the race. They had soccer games and it would have been a long trip for them to see me ride across a finish line. When I got home, my sweet husband had these beautiful flowers waiting for me. Thanks sweetie! Not for just the flowers, but for supporting me and letting me take the time to pursue this goal. I couldn't have done it without your support..... or your bike!!

PS When I got in my car to drive home, I found myself trying to do the "stop" signal with my hand (fist behind my back) as I pulled up to a stop sign. I had to remind myself that I was in a car and obviously, I did not need to do the signals!

1st Grade Grad

This young man got a certificate for passing the 1st grade. I thought that was funny but I did tell him it was an important little document. It meant he did not have to repeat first grade, nor does he have to do SUMMER SCHOOL! He was appalled that such a school exists and was relieved he had done his school work.

Hunter says he'll miss:

1) Jacob O. - his best friend (and at times his worst friend) who taught him to do the monkey bars, played tag with him, and played on the swings too.

2) doing art projects, they were fun

3) his teacher, she was really nice and helps us learn a lot

The kids made self protraits for their class shirt. I love Hunter's art work!

Graduation

Cole graduated from Preschool - whew! I asked Cole to tell me his favorite things about preschool:

1) I love to color

2) I love my teacher SO MUCH

3) I love sitting on the ground to do the puzzles and stuff

4) and I love the secret playground with the secret door to the castle.

(ps the playground has been a 'secret' all year, despite the fact that everyone walks past it while going into the classroom!)

This is Cole with his best buddy and neighbor, Connor. They are constantly running back and forth between our houses!

Does anyone suspect a class clown in the making?

Nervous

SO, I am obsessed with weather.com. It stresses me out that the one thing I'm MOST NERVOUS about when I do my century ride is the one the thing I have absolutely no control over - WEATHER. I've started checking it several times a day and I see the window of time closing up. I can almost see the "BIG DAY" of the century ride on the 10 day forecast. I feel physically ready for the century ride, but if the weather stinks, ...... well, I just don't know what I'll do! Will I seriously stick to it if I'm MISERABLE in wet, cold weather? Please, PLEASE, PLEASE don't rain. I think cold is manageable - but rain isn't my friend when I'm on a bike.

Prayers

For the last couple weeks, Cole has added a standard request in all his prayers:

"And please make all the bad robbers DIE. Really, REALLY DIE!" (or variations on that same theme!) If you are one of those bad robbers, you had better watch your back!