Rockin the 24 hour race

The last few years Kevin has been on a team for the 24 hour round the clock mountain bike race.   This is a  race that you can either do solo or in teams. You try and crank out as many times through the course in a 24 hour period. It is like a relay, your team has one time chip that you pass like a baton as you cross the finish line. This year the guys on the team were nice enough to let me do a leg of their race-I was nervous but really excited. I raced just before Kevin-so I handed off to him and of course no pictures of me racing, but I did it, I promise. I was really happy with my race time and the guys had nothing to complain about as I beat a few of their times. The team was really relaxed and the atmosphere was really fun. I would love to do it again and sneak in another lap.  Way to go team High Life!

-Kevin headed into the finish line-This course is 15 miles of fun and some of the prettiest scenery around. 

-Both of us after we finished our rounds. 

Spring is in the air

Spring means a crazy busy schedule at our house. Between both kids in soccer-games and practices, scouts, dance, tennis, track, and piano, we are extra busy at out house.

The trampoline is up and in full use, the kids would say FINNNALY, the sand box hasn't seen happier days-Lincoln is in heaven with his trucks and the sand, and we can't forget the beloved swing set. It is time to get outside! Yesterday the kids jumped on the trampoline for almost 8 hours straight. Kids energy is insane.
 
Conor has really worked hard at the piano this year and for his spring recital piece he played Beethovens Fifth symphony No. 1. He did fabulous!

We had our first cook out of the year and we were lucky enough to share it with Roxie and Hudson.

-Brooklyn and Josie on the sideline cheering on their team

-Josie guarding the goal

-Conor joined a Rec team this spring called the Ninja Sharks-he had a wonderful time playing with some boys he goes to school with. 

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Conor playing in the recital-he was concentrating so hard here.

-Hot dogs and Smores-need I say more?  The kids told Hudson we were going to have a fire and he said,  fire?  What's that?  So cute, he had a great time at his first cook out.  Thanks for sharing him with us Kash and Cara. 

Last of Spring Break

We stopped in Utah county for a day as we headed home and we were able to meet baby Grayson and let Lincoln and Kaiden play together.  We took a quick photo for posterity of the amazing construction of the Provo tabernacle/temple.  I remember sitting inside this building for stake conference many many times, willing the clock to move faster. 
 
Conor had to spend his entire birthday in the car, so when we finally got home we let him blow out some candles on an icky hostess cake-Happy Birthday Conor.  He thought it was actually a pretty good birthday, he watched movies all day, and Mom never asked him to pick anything up off the floor or be responsible.  Heaven for a 10 year old. 

We got home and had a few days of stay at home spring break, which was extra nice.  We always need a few recover from vacation days.  We celebrated my birthday and had some friends over to play and relaxed.  We were actually ready to head back to the routine of school.  Vacations are the best!!!!

-This was the only picture I could get of all of the kids in the frame...Kaiden and Lincoln were having none of leaving the toys to come pose for my picture. 

-Baby Grayson!!!!  Josie was quite enamored with this little sweetie

-The amazing Provo tabernacle, such a landmark.  How cool and amazing is this???  The whole building is completely on stilts. 

-Birthday boy-officially the big 10.

-Happy Birthday to me! 

- I added this one to show me trying to blow out the candles before Lincoln!  You gotta watch your candles when this kid is around.  I have some super funny videos of him singing and stealing the blow out moment. 

-Kevin bought me this cute cake and cupcakes!  way to go Kevin.

Day 10 & 11-Easter and heading out

We got to celebrate Easter in St. George, we went to church with Grandma and Grandpa then we were able to have an Easter egg hunt in the backyard for the kids and they loved it! A lot of the Easter eggs were filled with money.  Lincoln had no interest in these eggs, he was all about the candy...yum yum. 

-Josie hunting for eggs

-Inspecting the eggs

Day 11

Our Last Day in St. George, some more mountain biking, some tennis, some swimming, some Nelson Frozen Custard then it was time to head out. So sad to leave but we got to spend some extra time this trip and such a great time it was! Thank you Mom and Dad for letting us spend time here with you.  We love and you!

-Kevin doing what he loves

-The beautiful view from Grandma and Grandpa's neighborhood!  Until next time...

Day 9 - Snow Canyon

The Witt's are headed out today.  We are so sad to see them go, fortunately we had time to do another hike in Snow Canyon and celebrate Conor's birthday.  Conor's birthday is going to be spent sitting in the car headed home, so we opted to "move" it up a few days so he could celebrate with the Witt's.

-Conor, Josie, Kenzie, Jessica, Janet, Grandpa, Megan and Galen

-Daddy and Lincoln-Lincoln was such a trooper on all this hiking,  He walked a lot and demanded to wear his "ribbit" shoes constantly.

-Conor, Jessica and Josie-I love how cool these rocks look

-One of those rare "couple" pictures

-Snow Canyon

-Happy 10th Birthday Conor! 

-Last time Conor can show his age by just using his 2 hands.

Kenzie, Josie, and Janet enjoying birthday cake-I think this was Josie's 4th piece.

  After the Witt's left, we did another mountain bike ride, and a day in St. George just wouldn't be a day without some time at the pool.  It was so fun to spend time with the Witt's.  We hope to meet you here again next year. 

Day 8 - Red Hills

On Day 8 we got up as early as a vacation dictates and headed out to the Red Hills to do some bouldering.  Final Destination "the Crack"  We had so much fun climbing, hoping and scrambling on all these cool rock structures.  There is this really cool place that you can wedge yourself through if you are no wider then 8 inches when you stand sideways.  Really!  If you have your head facing one direction as you squeeze through you can't turn it around and you need to expand all the air in your chest.  This was one time when I was glad I was a negative A Cup for sure.  Another fun adventure in the books!  After some bouldering we headed to the brand new Chick-Fil-A for some good eats, then back to the pool some cookie thieving and relaxation. 

-Our miniature crack photo-see Conor in the back?

-Jessica and Josie

-Mackenzie, Galen, Kevin and Conor-on top of the world

-Me-looking for everyone. Fun thing about this place is the exploration and elevation vantage points. 

-Looking down at the mouth of the crack.  Kenz, Josie, Kevin, Lincoln and Me

-Headed in

-We are in the middle of the crack here

-Self portrait in the "larger" portion of the crack

-Kenzie sharing an insect moment with Lincoln

-The whole gang overlooking St. George-see the temple above Kevin and Lincoln?

-Grand Opening at Chick-Fil-A.  Wish we had one of these in Spokane

-Galen discovered in the pantry eating cookies...just a funny memory for me

-Now Galen is locked in the pantry by these great jailers!

-Brick oven for Dinner?  Yes please!  They had this awesome pizza buffet, the kids had their own table and everyone had a smile on their face. 

Day 6 and 7

Day 6 we did some early morning biking, the boys went golfing while the rest of us went to the playground.  Some shopping, some swimming, some watching of BYU basketball and some relaxing at the house.  Can you ask for more?

-Headed into the rising sun

-Conor and Jessica and the crazy swing

-Josie, Jessica, Conor and Kenzie

Josie, Conor, Lincoln, Mackenzie and Jessica

Dinner time finally! 

Day 7

Vegas it is!  Some more early morning biking, then it was time to head to Las Vegas.  We had tickets to the Donny & Marie show and it is always fun to wander down the strip for a few hours.  Kevin so graciously chose to skip this trip.  We decided our little family would be much happier swimming, so he was on Dad duty and the rest of us headed out.  Many times I was happy for this decision and I was free to wander the strip without shielding little eyes, just my own.

-We stopped at the Vegas temple before we headed down town-keeping it all in perspective.  Always neat to know that good prevails even when evil seems to be taking over and in this city, a very visual reminder is available.   

-Check out the size of this box of Nerds

-This jawbreaker was almost the size of my head

-Inside the Venitian

-Those flower balls are all real!  Pretty amazing stuff inside these hotels-I think this is inside the Wynn.
 

-Close up of the cool flower ball

Donny & Marie here we come!

-Julie and Janet just before the show.  Excellent show I might add.