1...2...3...

Last week, we played hookie and went downtown. We walked through temple square, ate lunch at the Nauvoo Cafe, watched the Joseph Smith movie, and took a tour through the visitor center and visited the Church History Library. It was fun, yet exhausting. I wanted to take a picture of the kids in front of the temple, but it was super hot and super bright. So, I told them to close their eyes, and when I said 3, they could open them...Here's what happened...I said THREE! and everyone but Haley opened their eyes... By the time Haley opened her eyes, Kristin couldn't take it anymore...oh well...

About Tennis...

In March, the boys high school tennis team put on a clinic for kids. It was 3 days, 3 hours a day, and like $25 per kid. How could I not do it. I will admit...it wasn't the best - but they hit the kids balls, and the kids had fun - so in the end it was worth the $75. All of my kids were mad at me for signing them up. In fact, Kyle told me while I was visitng my favorite friend Erin, that he was going to play professional football - so he didn't need to play tennis. How do you tell your kid...look, it's not going to happen...luckily, Erin knew the exact thing to say (she always does). She told Kyle - "Well, you have to learn to play both, and when you play professional football, you don't have to play tennis anymore." See? Perfect. Anyways, my reasons for wanting them to play - is for a few reasons...
1. Tennis is a gentleman's sport. Not many sports are - and I think it's important for kids to have to keep their cool...compliment an opponents good shot...and be gentleman like.
2. Tennis is a sport you can play your entire life. A few weeks ago - all my brothers were in town. My WHOLE family played tennis. Parents, siblings, spouses. It was so much fun. Who can say that when their whole family was in town they all spent HOURS playing a sport? When I worked at the tennis club during high school, I met MANY old people who would play almost daily. When Troy's sister and her husband come - we always have a blast playing doubles.
3. Great exercise.
4. It takes using your head. There is a lot of strategy in tennis - and accuracy...even if you don't hit the ball super hard - if you are accurate, you MAY be able to hold your own.

I know there are probably more...but for now, that's what I can think of. The problem is - I can't teach my own kids how to play. They don't listen to me. The other problem is - there is snow on the courts for almost half the year, and indoor courts are super expensive. There isn't even really a place within a 30 minute drive I can take my kids for lessons...next summer, I am really going to look into lessons...unless my brother, David, wants to do it?

Here are a few photos from way back in March...
Here's my favorite one...I just love it!
Nice form, Jake...
Kristin viewed it more of a social event...which is fine for her age...

Reasons...

I always knew I didn't want my blog private. I don't know why, I just didn't. I received this email the other day, and am so happy I didn't have a private blog(no offense to anyone who does, for some reason, I have not ever wanted to make mine private, who knows what the future holds)

"Hi Jen, this is probably the strangest contact request you have received from your website but here goes... I was an old "best" friend of Lindsay Bell's (5th and 6th grade to be exact). Our families were stationed in Rome NY at the same time and after the 6th grade she left for Utah and I to Colorado. The last time we spoke was our senior year in high school and I thought of her often between now and then, because as you would know even two years being friends with Lindsay was enough time to create unforgetable memories. I tried to find her with help of the internet for quite some time and never could, boiling it down to marriage and a name change (I even searched her families names, but to no luck). Out of nowhere I tried again tonight, but this time I searched thinking to use her middle name and stumbled across your blog posting from 2 years ago about her 30th birthday. (This post...)My heart sunk to the pit of my stomach just reading the first line. I know much time has passed but I would love to extend my thoughts to her parents ________ and ________. Do you have a mailing address for them that I could send them a letter? Thank you for taking time to read this email, thank you for posting that special moment on your blog so that I now have closure to my search of an old friend, albeit what was found unfortunate, I have even more reason to remember why I was searching in the first place. Condolences,Chrissy ___________(maiden name _________ as she would have known me.)"

I have since replied. SOrry for posting this, I know you probably don't care, but it's something I want to remember, so I posted it here.

The Spudman - Triathlon

I'm a triathlete. I finished the Burley, Idaho Spudman Triathlon on Saturday. The Spudman is an Olympic Triathlon. This consists of a 1 mile swim, 25 mile bike ride, and a 10K (6.2 miles) run - in that order. In February, Cherice, Kenny, and I (and a bunch of their neighbors) signed up for this. We have been training ever since. I got a road bike. Troy has been training with me since May, and wished he would have signed up as well. We got to Burley on Friday night, in time to pick up my packet - which included my racing chip(as seen around my left ankle) along with a t-shirt (that was so big, it is now Troy's), and a potato. We dropped off my bike and everything I would need after the swim. I wouldn't see my bike again until after I swam. We had to make a last minute stop at a gas station to fill up my water bottles that are on my bike. I left everything there, and was confident I didn't forget anything. It was so crazy checking in, getting my packet, taking my bike to a different location, that I told Troy, I don't care about the $90 it cost to sign up, I'm done. I have no desire to do this. That night I barely slept, and as Kenny, Cherice, and I headed to the starting point that morning, I was still trying to decided why I had signed up for this! My start time was at 7:30am. 30 minutes after the first wave had gone. My wave consisted of 30-39 year old women. I have been told that the swim was a piece of cake - that since it is done in the Snake River, that there is this great current. Well, I took off, swimming with all of my might, and I looked up after what felt like a few minutes, and felt like I had swam in place! I thought, where is this current everyone is talking about? So, I swam further out into the river, hoping to 'catch the current'. I never felt like I caught the current. But, after what seemed like an eternity (really, only 28 minutes) I was out of the water. I ran to my bike, put my helmet and gloves on, and put on shoes and socks, and I was off. My bike computer (mph, mileage, etc) wasn't working, and it sounded like I had a card in my spokes. I pulled over and tried to fix it. It still wouldn't work, other than telling me the actual time, but it stopped making noise. (In hindsite, I should have checked the bike computer after the long drive to Idaho, before I started the race.) I didn't see Cherice after I got out of the water, and assumed everyone was ahead of me. So, I set off. Not knowing how far I had gone, or how fast I was pedaling. People kept passing me. They really were so nice, telling me good job, commenting on my pink road bike. So, I thought it was really awesome when I passed someone up. I decided to keep count, and keep my mind busy. I stopped counting at 30. I really was proud that I could pass anyone. After I had ridden for 54 minutes, I finally decided to ask a fellow biker how many miles we were at. He shouted..17! WHAT????????? 17 miles? In 54 minutes?? I only had 8 miles left?! I had thought it would take me 2 hours on the bike! I had been averaging at least 17 mph! It gave me the umph to finish up the last little bit. I finished the bike ride in 1 hour 25 minutes. As I drove into the bike drop off, I took my helmet off, put on some shorts over my biker shorts and guzzled some gatorade. This next part was the run. The part I had been DREADING! Last week my foot had started hurting again (like it had done when I ran the half marathon) and so I didn't run all week. Before that was girls camp - where I hadn't run...so I knew I was weak. I also knew my legs were like jello. Literally. Right before I set off for the run, Cherice pulled her bike up, and we started the run together. I knew there was no way for me to keep up with her, so I sent her on her way, and took my time. I walked a lot. But the thing was, I didn't care. I was so proud of what I had accomplished, that I listened to my body (mainly my foot) and did what I could. I was actually really shocked at the amount of people who did walk during the 10k. As I got to the end, I sprinted it out. I have done that for every race I have run, and it's a great feeling. No looking at the camera for me, I needed to get to the finish line. Here are photos from the race. The time clock in the final one shows the time as 4:08:something....I started 30 minutes after the first wave, which is why it's not my correct time. I LOVED running this race. (Well, I refuse to call it a race) I don't get competitive. I will definitely do more tri's. That says a lot, 10 seconds after I finished the half marathon, I vowed to NEVER do it again. The tri took me a lot longer, time wise, but wasn't nearly as boring. Way more fun. I'm not sore at all either! I have a few 'chaffing' issues - as results of doing so many different things soaking wet. In odd places: armpits, butt cheeks(sorry, tmi), legs. That's the only weird thing. You don't dry off much during the bike ride, and during the run, you're so hot, people spray you with hoses...you really are wet the whole time! Anyways...sorry you were all bored with this long post, but I wrote it for me!
Cherice came in first (out of Kenny, Cherice and me). She did so awesome! It has been fun training with her - the few chances we got to train together.
This is Cameon. She finished after Cherice and right before me. We talked a bit as she passed me on the run. She's an awesome friend, and used to be Kristin and Jake's preschool teacher.
Here I am! FINALLY! Crossing the finish! I know, I hesitated posting these photos. They are definitely not flattering...but I am what I am! Here comes Paige, Cameon's husband! He's nice enough to look and wave to the camera. I was too busy sprinting...next time I'm gonna practice a flattering 'run in pose'. HERE'S KENNY!!!!!!!!!! Kenny did the biking on a mountain bike - which is a HUGE difference. He's awesome...and nobody saw any junk. (sorry, inside joke)So, these are the goods I got when I was finished...2 water bottles, a medal, and chaffing! WAHOO! For any of you who think I'm photogenic...I beg to differ... Cherice and I did it! Here is the big group of neighbors. I only know 2 or 3 couples other than Kenny and Cherice, but they are all super nice and were very supportive. I will be glad to be in another photo with them next year! I couldn't have done this without Troy. He got up early with me, pushed me, rode on HORRIBLE bicycles so I could get training runs in...watched kids while I raced...took pictures at the end...I could not have done this without him, and I don't know what I would have done if him and the kids weren't at the finish line. I don't know how to describe it, but having people cheer you on is the greatest feeling. When I was at mile 4 on the run, I started getting teary, thinking I was almost done, and that my family would be there to cheer me in. They were...I am so grateful for them!
Until my next crazy race...or sporting event...

Back to School

Yes, I realize it is still July, but for year-round schoolers, that's the way it rolls. Kyle is in fifth grade this year, Jake second, and Kristin first. I have 3 out of 4 kids at school all day. It's crazy. What are me and Haley gonna do? I am excited for some time with just her. She's pretty easy going that it will be fun! I am mainly just excited to not have to be home at 11:30 for the kindergartner. I have had 2 years in a row with a kindergartner, and I am happy for a break. Haley starts preschool in September, and she is WAY excited to go!

Kyle's Birthday Bash

We had a very last minute impromptu party for Kyle this year. We took some of his friends swimming at the Kearns Oquirrh Mountain Swimming Pool. This place has olympic sized pools, diving boards, and platforms along with a kiddie pool with a huge bucket that fills up and spills every few minutes. The kids had a blast! Here are some of the photos I got!
The above is my new favorite photo...
Jake and Dax were weenies. They wouldn't go off the big diving boards, so they just hung out together, so it all worked well!
Disclaimer...lady in the background...shaking my head...we WERE in West Valley...when we got home Kyle told me how he had seen LOTS of tattoos and LOTS of piercings...nice...anyways, Kristin LOVED diving. She did it over and over until lifeguards changed, and then all of a sudden, she wasn't old enough...go figure...

Check out Conner. These were 9 foot high diving boards. They did this over and over and over again. Connor gets the award for the best tricks...FOR SURE!

Kyle's favorite birthday toy...the whoopie cushion...if he's lucky, I won't have thrown it away by the time he gets home from school today!

Kyle is 10!!!!!!!!!!

I can barely believe it! He is 10 years old today. To commemorate this big event...I am going to share a photo with you that was taken by Erin in February...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KYLE!!!!!!!!!

Independence Day

I think one of my favorite holidays is the Fourth of July. Yep...I can say that it is - in fact - my favorite...we do the same thing every year, and it is just awesome...First is the Copperton Races...Where you win...MONEY!!!!!!!! Everyone races...even adults. This year they did a father/daughter 3 legged race, and a mother/son 3 legged race. It was awesome.



My dad won first in his division...I think it was over 50. My dad and I also won first for the 3 legged race.


This year Kinlee was the only special needs kid to race. She did awesome! She got lots of money, too!


Ahhhh....we are so cute...
Allison's mommy had to work, so Aunt Kara walked around with her...this one's for you, Marisol.
Troy is holding up the sack - THE POTATO SACK - I know this photo looks bad...
The 2 monsters....
Nora's dad fell down doing the sack race...she thought it was pretty funny!

Seriously, July already?

I truly try to keep this blog up, but I have had a rough few months, personally...I admit...but things are looking up. So much has gone on the past few months, I just don't know where to start.

June...We went on a family camping trip with a few other families. We went to the Sand Dunes...and I - proclaimed camper hater - enjoyed it. I told Troy if I had a trailer I could do it MUCH more frequently. The kids had an absolute blast. The literally played in the sand CONSTANTLY for 3 days. No fighting...just playing...it was a great situation for everyone. Let's see if I can find a few photos...Here you go...



Kristin finished her first softball season. She would NOT play the infield. She actually got 2 hits, but naturally, it was when Troy and I were in Chicago. My grandma turned 80, so we got to go to Myton for her party. Here is the birthday girl and some other photos...


Jake finished up his soccer season. He LOVES to play goalie. Jon, Donnarae and Annie came to visit. We only got in 1 tennis match, dangit...but I got to take some photos of them...



Troy and I went to Youth Conference. It was amazing. We have amazing, incredible youth. We did things that we would have probably never done...hike Ensign Peak, camp at This is the Place State Park, play some game(mix between football and soccer), talk from Jon Bytheway, stroll through the Salt Lake City Cemetary with a guide and LOTS of background of the people who are buried there, photo scavenger hunt around temple square, the Church History Museum, which I LOVED and want to take my kids back to, Amazing Race and chocolate covered crickets...and TONS more...it was GREAT having Troy there to experience everything with me - thanks to family who watched my kids.


Are you starting to forgive me for not blogging???? There's still MORE! We raced in our 3rd Annual Amazing Race. We were the white team this year. It was so fun. We got to go down the Bobsled at the Olympic Park...these were summer sleds, but it is the same track they used in the olympics. Most of us never want to do this again, and I think the general consensus was that the very back is not very fun, but it is awesome to say I have done it. We came in 2nd - or 3rd - this year, 2 teams tied for first and we came in right after them - so whatever that makes us. It was fun...we played frisbee golf at a special frisbee golf park...we were given a photo at the mall, and had to find and dress in that outfit(which is why in the photo, Troy looks like a gay man.



Kyle earned his Bear in scouts. He will be 10 in just a few weeks. Sniff...sniff... Kristin graduated from Kindergarten. For her program, she had to dress up as what she wanted to be when she grew up. She chose Cheerleader...nice eh? Kyle finished up a county report. He got Juab County, UT. I could type for hours on the hell that this report was and how I think cursive is stupid - they should teach typing, the correct way to do rough drafts, etc...etc...but it's done. THANK HEAVENS! On top of all of this, I did 2 engagement shoots, 2 bridal sessions, and a wedding. I leave for girls camp next week...I am hoping July is not as exhausting but just as fun as June was.