After a while they were pretty tired and ready to go but they had fun!!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Swimming and Biking
Julie, Ruston and crew were in town for Ruston's family reunion. They invited us to swim with them, eat dinner and then go mountain biking. The kids had a full day but loved playing the pool with cousins and then going biking. The place they went was in Green Valley past the Green Valley Spa. It was evening and the sun was going down but they had time to find some hills to bike over. Courtney rode her own bike for a little while and then hopped onto the tag-along behind Bryan. Ethan loved going down the hills.
After a while they were pretty tired and ready to go but they had fun!!
After a while they were pretty tired and ready to go but they had fun!!
Bryce Canyon and Panguitch
Friday we drove to a camp area between Panguitch and Bryce Canyon to meet up with my parents. They have a new motor home that the kids were BEGGING to sleep in. When we got there, we unloaded our van and then we all went into Bryce Canyon to look around. It is gorgeous there and so much cooler (temperature-wise) than in Zion's and St. George. It was great. After dinner and s'mores, Bryan took a bike ride up toward Bryce Canyon until it got too dark.
Saturday morning we woke up at 5:45, got ready and went into Panguitch for the hot air balloon festival. It was fun because you could stand right on the field where they were launching the balloons and watch them get ready. We had a lot of fun guessing what the balloons were and betting on which would get up first. The kids had a great time and there were muffins and cocoa for everyone! It was a fun time.
After the balloons, we loaded everything up and the kids got to ride home in the motor home. They loved it and I loved the quiet drive home with no kids fighting in the backseat!! BONUS!
Saturday morning we woke up at 5:45, got ready and went into Panguitch for the hot air balloon festival. It was fun because you could stand right on the field where they were launching the balloons and watch them get ready. We had a lot of fun guessing what the balloons were and betting on which would get up first. The kids had a great time and there were muffins and cocoa for everyone! It was a fun time.
After the balloons, we loaded everything up and the kids got to ride home in the motor home. They loved it and I loved the quiet drive home with no kids fighting in the backseat!! BONUS!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Swimming Lessons
The kids just finished their first session of swimming lessons. We take from a woman in Diamond Valley who has a pool in her backyard. She is a great teacher and the kids love going!
On their last day of class they got to show off for all the parents. It was fun to see what they have learned and to watch them swim. Courtney is really coming along. She is a bit afraid of treading water, but she can do it just fine. Ethan is really good at the underwater swim. He can swim from one end of the pool to the other completely underwater. It makes me a bit nervous but he loves doing it!
They are going to take more lessons in the next session and are pretty excited.
On their last day of class they got to show off for all the parents. It was fun to see what they have learned and to watch them swim. Courtney is really coming along. She is a bit afraid of treading water, but she can do it just fine. Ethan is really good at the underwater swim. He can swim from one end of the pool to the other completely underwater. It makes me a bit nervous but he loves doing it!
They are going to take more lessons in the next session and are pretty excited.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Happy Father's Day
Bryan had a good Father's Day. The kids went nuts!!! On Saturday morning, after we had volunteered at the Utah Summer Games, we went to Home Depot where Ethan and Courtney built a mini-tool box for Bryan. They wanted to run to the store to buy some candy bars to put in it. Then Ethan came up with the idea of making Bryan find his presents on a scavenger hunt. Santa did this for Christmas when he hid the kid's presents and they had to figure out the clues before they could find them. They loved it and so now it is that they want all the time.
Ethan wrote the first clue by himself and then he and Courtney helped me write the others. They were so excited and all night kept trying to put more and more presents (things they found in their rooms) in the hidden places. It was cute.
On Sunday morning Ethan brought Bryan the first clue:
Hello Dad. Are you awake?
If you are, listen to this case.
Your presents have up and disappeared
And we think it's really weird.
They left a clue for you to use.
Find it in your running shoes!!
Bryan had to go to the closet to find his first gift from Ethan...a trophy for Best Dad (along with a frisbee, golf ball and baseball). With those gifts was the second clue:
Something sweet and just for you
Is waiting up in Courtney's room.
Go over to her desk and you'll see
A present and clue number 3.
In the cabinet above Courtney's desk was a bag with her mini-toolbox filled with two Kit Kat bars (one of Bryan's favorite). With that present was another clue:
You slept just fine I know you did.
You don't know where the last is hid.
Present number 3 is hid
Under where you slept in bed.
The present was under our bed. This one was Ethan's mini-toolbox with a Twix bar in it (another favorite of Bryan). With that was the final clue:
You worked up quite an appetite.
You've worked real hard with all your might.
Out in the kitchen is your last prize.
It's what you eat....at Sunrise!
Bryan's breakfast of fruit, juice and an english muffin were on the table with his Father's Day cards. The kids were so happy with how well their hunt went! They had a great time doing it and they certainly love their dad.
The Bishopric gave all the men candy bars for Father's Day after Sacrament Meeting. Bryan got a Reeces Peanut Butter Cup. He was in heaven. That is three out of his four favorite candy bars!!
We had my parents over for dinner (grilled lemon pepper chicken, melon, wild rice and strawberry shortcake).
It was a great day! We love you Bryan!!!
Ethan wrote the first clue by himself and then he and Courtney helped me write the others. They were so excited and all night kept trying to put more and more presents (things they found in their rooms) in the hidden places. It was cute.
On Sunday morning Ethan brought Bryan the first clue:
Hello Dad. Are you awake?
If you are, listen to this case.
Your presents have up and disappeared
And we think it's really weird.
They left a clue for you to use.
Find it in your running shoes!!
Bryan had to go to the closet to find his first gift from Ethan...a trophy for Best Dad (along with a frisbee, golf ball and baseball). With those gifts was the second clue:
Something sweet and just for you
Is waiting up in Courtney's room.
Go over to her desk and you'll see
A present and clue number 3.
In the cabinet above Courtney's desk was a bag with her mini-toolbox filled with two Kit Kat bars (one of Bryan's favorite). With that present was another clue:
You slept just fine I know you did.
You don't know where the last is hid.
Present number 3 is hid
Under where you slept in bed.
The present was under our bed. This one was Ethan's mini-toolbox with a Twix bar in it (another favorite of Bryan). With that was the final clue:
You worked up quite an appetite.
You've worked real hard with all your might.
Out in the kitchen is your last prize.
It's what you eat....at Sunrise!
Bryan's breakfast of fruit, juice and an english muffin were on the table with his Father's Day cards. The kids were so happy with how well their hunt went! They had a great time doing it and they certainly love their dad.
The Bishopric gave all the men candy bars for Father's Day after Sacrament Meeting. Bryan got a Reeces Peanut Butter Cup. He was in heaven. That is three out of his four favorite candy bars!!
We had my parents over for dinner (grilled lemon pepper chicken, melon, wild rice and strawberry shortcake).
It was a great day! We love you Bryan!!!
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Volunteering
After Bryan's last triathlon we saw the volunteer coordinator for the triathlons asking for volunteers to help with the Utah Summer Games Triathlon. The swim was going to be held at Gunlock, the bike route went right past our house to the high school and the run was going to be on a biking path new our house so we decided to volunteer. We even signed the kids up to help. Ethan was a bit upset at us because we didn't ask him if he wanted to help but he lived.
We got the phone call on Friday afternoon telling us to show up at Gunlock Saturday morning at 5:30 a.m. We told the kids and we all tried to go to bed early. At 4:30 a.m. our alarm went off and Bryan and I got up, got dressed, loaded a bag with snacks and water and then he woke the kids up at 4:45. We were out of the house about 5 a.m.
When we got to Gunlock it was breezy and cold!! We found the volunteer coordinator, got our bright green t-shirts, ate our donuts and then sat around for an hour until the athletes began to arrive. They were bussed up from Snow Canyon High School, where the run finished.
Bryan and Ethan were given the task of checking all the bike handles to make sure they were properly plugged on the end. If they weren't, they had to put a penny on the hole and tape it down. Courtney and I stood around watching them work. ;)
When it was time for the start we made our way down to the water to watch. The water was about 68 degrees, the same temperature as the water at Quail Creek when Bryan did his last tri. But with the wind it felt a lot colder to me! Some hardy...or dumb...people weren't wearing wet suits. One lady was in a bikini. Go figure.
Anyway, the swim began and we watched for a little while and then made our way to the beginning of the bike section, where the timing mats were located. Our job was to tell the people to "mount after the line!" No one really listened to us but I felt like we were actually doing something.
It all went pretty fast considering there were around 200 athletes. When the last woman and her son (who stuck with her to make sure she was okay) finally exited the water and began biking, we helped to take everything down. The kids did a great job!! They helped to dismantle barricades, pick up bags of clothes the athletes left behind, pick up trash and do anything else that was needed.
We were out of there at about 8:30! Not a bad way to spend the morning. Then we drove to Home Depot so the kids could build something (but it's a surprise for Bryan so I can't tell you what it is), we went to breakfast at Golden Corral, did some shopping and then went home to relax and take naps!
Ethan was so happy with how it went that he now wants to volunteer for every event in St. George. I guess he has forgiven us for signing him up to volunteer without asking first. And we now all have a cool, bright green t-shirt! SCORE!
We got the phone call on Friday afternoon telling us to show up at Gunlock Saturday morning at 5:30 a.m. We told the kids and we all tried to go to bed early. At 4:30 a.m. our alarm went off and Bryan and I got up, got dressed, loaded a bag with snacks and water and then he woke the kids up at 4:45. We were out of the house about 5 a.m.
When we got to Gunlock it was breezy and cold!! We found the volunteer coordinator, got our bright green t-shirts, ate our donuts and then sat around for an hour until the athletes began to arrive. They were bussed up from Snow Canyon High School, where the run finished.
Bryan and Ethan were given the task of checking all the bike handles to make sure they were properly plugged on the end. If they weren't, they had to put a penny on the hole and tape it down. Courtney and I stood around watching them work. ;)
When it was time for the start we made our way down to the water to watch. The water was about 68 degrees, the same temperature as the water at Quail Creek when Bryan did his last tri. But with the wind it felt a lot colder to me! Some hardy...or dumb...people weren't wearing wet suits. One lady was in a bikini. Go figure.
Anyway, the swim began and we watched for a little while and then made our way to the beginning of the bike section, where the timing mats were located. Our job was to tell the people to "mount after the line!" No one really listened to us but I felt like we were actually doing something.
It all went pretty fast considering there were around 200 athletes. When the last woman and her son (who stuck with her to make sure she was okay) finally exited the water and began biking, we helped to take everything down. The kids did a great job!! They helped to dismantle barricades, pick up bags of clothes the athletes left behind, pick up trash and do anything else that was needed.
We were out of there at about 8:30! Not a bad way to spend the morning. Then we drove to Home Depot so the kids could build something (but it's a surprise for Bryan so I can't tell you what it is), we went to breakfast at Golden Corral, did some shopping and then went home to relax and take naps!
Ethan was so happy with how it went that he now wants to volunteer for every event in St. George. I guess he has forgiven us for signing him up to volunteer without asking first. And we now all have a cool, bright green t-shirt! SCORE!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
The "Old Men" vs. the Young Men
The Young Men in our ward, specifically the Priests, have been mouthing off for a couple of years saying they could beat our Elders/High Priests (the "old men") in basketball. The old men have said they would play whenever the young men would arrange it, but it never happened. Some believed it was out of fear.
Well, the young men needed a fund raiser and were feeling pretty good about their basketball skills ... they won the region championship for Church ball this year... so they arranged the "Big Game." We have 3 of the Snow Canyon basketball coaches and the vice principal in the ward so the game took place in the high school gym with the sound system and scoreboard going. The vice principal was the MC and he did a great job of it. He even found a "pacman" song to play when Bryan got in the game. ;)
While the Priests were playing ball, the Teachers Quorum washed cars for a $10 donation in front of the school. Then there were all kinds of treats and raffle tickets sold to make some more money. They even had an auction for Tuacahn tickets (which I won for both shows!).
The Beehives were the cheerleaders for the Priests. Courtney felt bad that the old men didn't have any cheerleaders so she grabbed a couple of friends and they were the cheerleaders. They even asked the MC if he would let them do a half-time show (well, fourth quarter show) and they were really cute. Courtney has no fear getting up and dancing in front of everyone and she can move! During the breaks in the game they had kids games to play. Courtney twirled around a bat to get dizzy and then ran to shoot a shot. Ethan had a bunch of friends at the game and they played capture the flag and other games. Everyone had a great time and I hope it becomes an annual thing.
Unfortunately, despite their age and knowledge, the old men lost the game. They didn't play that well, although many will blame the officiating. But I think they were just out played.
Well, the young men needed a fund raiser and were feeling pretty good about their basketball skills ... they won the region championship for Church ball this year... so they arranged the "Big Game." We have 3 of the Snow Canyon basketball coaches and the vice principal in the ward so the game took place in the high school gym with the sound system and scoreboard going. The vice principal was the MC and he did a great job of it. He even found a "pacman" song to play when Bryan got in the game. ;)
While the Priests were playing ball, the Teachers Quorum washed cars for a $10 donation in front of the school. Then there were all kinds of treats and raffle tickets sold to make some more money. They even had an auction for Tuacahn tickets (which I won for both shows!).
The Beehives were the cheerleaders for the Priests. Courtney felt bad that the old men didn't have any cheerleaders so she grabbed a couple of friends and they were the cheerleaders. They even asked the MC if he would let them do a half-time show (well, fourth quarter show) and they were really cute. Courtney has no fear getting up and dancing in front of everyone and she can move! During the breaks in the game they had kids games to play. Courtney twirled around a bat to get dizzy and then ran to shoot a shot. Ethan had a bunch of friends at the game and they played capture the flag and other games. Everyone had a great time and I hope it becomes an annual thing.
Unfortunately, despite their age and knowledge, the old men lost the game. They didn't play that well, although many will blame the officiating. But I think they were just out played.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Camping!
Last Friday we went camping at Pine Valley. It is a lot cooler, temperature-wize, up there than in St. George and it was nice weather! We took the kids fishing, ate dinner, made s'mores and then went to bed. It was fun to watch the kids casting their lines out, but we didn't catch any fish....which wasn't bad for me because I didn't want to clean them! ;)
Saturday morning we woke up, packed up and came home (I had a baptism to attend) but we still had time to play around and have fun. I really love camping with my family.
Saturday morning we woke up, packed up and came home (I had a baptism to attend) but we still had time to play around and have fun. I really love camping with my family.
Soccer Camp
Courtney wanted to sign up for soccer camp this summer so I found one offered by the Women's Soccer Team at Dixie State College. They offer it twice and we signed her up for both sessions.
Last week was the first session and Courtney had a BLAST!! It was from 8:30 to 10 am and she loved it. There weren't very many kids signed up and there were 8 players offering the camp, so they got a lot of personalized attention. Now Courtney can't wait to see her coaches play when the season starts at Dixie!
Last week was the first session and Courtney had a BLAST!! It was from 8:30 to 10 am and she loved it. There weren't very many kids signed up and there were 8 players offering the camp, so they got a lot of personalized attention. Now Courtney can't wait to see her coaches play when the season starts at Dixie!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
The Kau Wela Mini-Triathlon
Bryan had a mini-tri out at Quail Creek Reservoir. It was the first time for this particular triathlon and we were a bit nervous that there wouldn't be many participants. There were 42 who started the swim, so it wasn't too bad.
The water was 67 degrees, so Bryan had on his wetsuit and was ready to go. He started off great in the swim but pushed himself too hard at the beginning and got tired. When he finished the swim he said, "This may cure me of triathlons." It was a 400 yard swim
But then he got on his bike! He sped by quite a few people and made up a lot of time. It was a 5 mile bike ride. His run was equally impressive. It was 1 1/2 miles. The course was pretty hilly.
We are proud of him!
He was contemplating doing the Utah Summer Olympic Games Triathlon in 2 weeks but we decided to volunteer as a family to help with that one. It is at Gunlock and will ride by our house and then run at the high school. I think it will be fun to help out!
Putting on his game face:
After the bike:
On the run:
Finishing:
The water was 67 degrees, so Bryan had on his wetsuit and was ready to go. He started off great in the swim but pushed himself too hard at the beginning and got tired. When he finished the swim he said, "This may cure me of triathlons." It was a 400 yard swim
But then he got on his bike! He sped by quite a few people and made up a lot of time. It was a 5 mile bike ride. His run was equally impressive. It was 1 1/2 miles. The course was pretty hilly.
We are proud of him!
He was contemplating doing the Utah Summer Olympic Games Triathlon in 2 weeks but we decided to volunteer as a family to help with that one. It is at Gunlock and will ride by our house and then run at the high school. I think it will be fun to help out!
Putting on his game face:
After the bike:
On the run:
Finishing:
Ethan's Tooth
It was tooth week at our house. Friday night we took the kids to see "Kung Fu Panda 2" at the movie theater. About halfway into the movie, Ethan turned to me and said, "Mom, I may need to go out." I asked him why and he said, "I'm going to pull my tooth out.....never mind, it's out." I grabbed some napkins to have him stop the bleeding and put his tooth (wrapped in another napkin) in my purse for later. We didn't notice until we left the movie that he had blood all over the front of his shirt.
What is it with Ethan and pulling his teeth? I really think he should be a dentist. He needs to work on his timing though!
What is it with Ethan and pulling his teeth? I really think he should be a dentist. He needs to work on his timing though!
My Tooth
Courtney wanted popcorn so I made her some and thought I would have some along with her. I bit into a soft piece of popcorn (it wasn't even an old maid) and I felt something go into my gum. I thought it was a husk of a kernel or something but when I fished it out...and it was a part of my crown.
I called the dentist and they were able to fit me in. I took the kids and ran to the dentist's office. My parents came and picked them up so they wouldn't have to sit there until I was finished. The dentist told me that my porcelain crown had spider cracks all through it. He said he could fill it in and make it look good but because the other piece broke off so easily, he thought it would only be a matter of time before more pieces began breaking off. So I decided to have the crown removed and a new one put on.
Luckily that tooth had a root canal on it when the crown was put on or I would have been in serious pain! It took the dentist 45 minutes to get the crown off my tooth and it came off in little slivers of porcelain. It wasn't fun! I think I swallowed most of the crown. But I now have a temporary on my tooth and I have an appointment to have the new crown put on in 2 weeks. No fun!
And...the kicker...we had just been to the dentist the day before! Oh well. I'm just glad I don't have the dentist my mom had when she was a kid. He would give the Novocain shot, go to the bar for a drink, come back in 30 minutes (a bit tipsy) to see if you were numb, and then went to work. Yes, I appreciate my dentist!
I called the dentist and they were able to fit me in. I took the kids and ran to the dentist's office. My parents came and picked them up so they wouldn't have to sit there until I was finished. The dentist told me that my porcelain crown had spider cracks all through it. He said he could fill it in and make it look good but because the other piece broke off so easily, he thought it would only be a matter of time before more pieces began breaking off. So I decided to have the crown removed and a new one put on.
Luckily that tooth had a root canal on it when the crown was put on or I would have been in serious pain! It took the dentist 45 minutes to get the crown off my tooth and it came off in little slivers of porcelain. It wasn't fun! I think I swallowed most of the crown. But I now have a temporary on my tooth and I have an appointment to have the new crown put on in 2 weeks. No fun!
And...the kicker...we had just been to the dentist the day before! Oh well. I'm just glad I don't have the dentist my mom had when she was a kid. He would give the Novocain shot, go to the bar for a drink, come back in 30 minutes (a bit tipsy) to see if you were numb, and then went to work. Yes, I appreciate my dentist!
St George Live...Again!
Last year I took Ethan, Courtney and some of their friends on the St. George LIVE tour. It's a tour of historical areas in St. George where they have local actors portray prominent people in the history of St. George and the surrounding areas. Many of the actors are descendents of those they are portraying. It passed off some Wolf requirements for Cub Scouts.
This year Ethan wanted to go again and it would pass off some different requirements for his Bear, so I took Ethan, Courtney and Ethan's best friend, Brennon. They had so much fun. There were some new stops on the tour so it wasn't all old hat, but the boys had fun anticipating what stories would be told.
It was a lot of fun. It was 2 hours of free (well, kids under 12 are free and I was $3) fun and entertainment. And the weather has been so wonderful around here that it wasn't hot at all!!
This year Ethan wanted to go again and it would pass off some different requirements for his Bear, so I took Ethan, Courtney and Ethan's best friend, Brennon. They had so much fun. There were some new stops on the tour so it wasn't all old hat, but the boys had fun anticipating what stories would be told.
It was a lot of fun. It was 2 hours of free (well, kids under 12 are free and I was $3) fun and entertainment. And the weather has been so wonderful around here that it wasn't hot at all!!
Courtney and Bryan
Bryan rearranged our bedroom a bit and he had some help from Courtney. She was a big help!
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