Swimming

They were taking underwater shots today at swim lessons.  These two were my favorites.

Red Rock Relay

I decided in January that I was going to be part of a team for the Red Rock Relay.  It's a 70 mile race down in Moab that goes from sunrise to sunset.  You enter as a team of 6 and each runner has to complete two legs.  I was super nervous about it.  Running has never been my thing, but I figured this would force me to lace up my gym shoes at least a few times a week.  We rented a mini van and headed south on Friday.  I barely slept that night because I was anxious and full of adrenaline.  It was an intense day.  I had some high highs and low lows (sick joke of a climb up into the LaSal Mountains).  I challenged myself in a huge way and I am so proud of what we accomplished.  Will I do it again next year??  Ask me in January!

Waiting to start.  If only I could bottle the energy I was feeling at that moment!

Rounding the bend during my first leg.  6.5 miles out of Moab and up the Colorado River.  The scenery was great!

The last few steps of leg one and I was very ready to slap the bracelet on someone else.

The team! Seventy miles in 12 hours and still smiling at the finish.  Maybe I will do it again next year :)

Happy 4th Birthday Miles

We celebrated Miles' 4th birthday on Saturday.  We had a backyard BBQ, complete with a bounce house and a huge inflatable slide. We also had the best weather Salt Lake has seen in a long time!  I always stress about these gatherings.  There is a lot of prep and expense that goes into them and we have been busy and Iris has been sick, but at the end of the day I always decide it's worth it and then some.  Miles was so excited!  He loved having the backyard transformed into a playground full of his friends and presents and cake. 
Happy Birthday Miles!  We love you!

Miles, Ava and Ruby on the slide!

Miles and Mary.  I love my neighbors!

Grandpa borrowed the church bounce house and it was a hit!

Miles and Ivy with his How to Train Your Dragon cake.  Not quite as cool as the roaring T Rex cake from last year, but I think we will have trouble ever topping that one.

Hottie grillmaster with a dragon pinata over his head. 

Ruby sporting some cool bangs and holding a very sick Iris.  Doctor said possible pneumonia so she is on antibiotics.  The only good part of that was the nap she took from 11-5! 

We'll miss you Sara!

This is definitely not the best picture of the kids, but I wanted to get a shot of them with Sara.  This was taken on her last day teaching at First Steps.  She's been an awesome teacher to Miles for a long time.  I'm excited for her because she got a new job she really wanted, but it's always hard to say goodbye.  So Sara...thanks for your patience, thanks for your energy, thanks for your friendship, and thanks for giving these kids so much love. And don't worry about never seeing them again.  I'll be calling you soon so Jeff and I can have date night!  Good luck girl!

Mothers Day

I had a great Mother's Day weekend.  We spent most of Saturday out in the yard.  Iris discovered the planter and she apparently loves the feel of dirt in her hands!  We had some limbs and twigs to burn so we made a fire in the copper fire pot.  Miles got a taste for fire on the camping trip last weekend, so he was excited to have one right here in the backyard. 

 

Getting a lesson in sawing.  You can guess how thrilled I was with this.

Holding his own custom made bamboo poking stick.

This tree is slowly dying off bit by bit, but it still blooms in an awesome way every spring.

I included this picture because I love this little dress!  It was passed along from Eleanor.  It is so bright and it just makes me happy.  Dressing girls is definitely more fun than dressing boys!  She was on the move so I only got a shot from behind.

Goblin Valley

We took our first camping trip of the season.  We headed south to Goblin Valley with a group of friends.  Other than some awful wind the first night it was a great weekend.  Iris stayed in SLC with Grandma and Grandpa.  A big thanks for that since taking her would have made the trip a whole lot more challenging. 

Miles is already a desert rat.  He was so excited to sleep in the tent and hike and poke the campfire.  Jeff actually let him move a few logs around, and for those of you who have camped with my husband, you know how big a deal that is!

Miles, Amber and Grayson.  This little posse went non stop.

He was so excited about the "antlers" he found!

Cool action shot!

This is the closest we got to a family photo for the weekend. 

Miles in the goblins.  This is the coolest playground for kids!

Jeff's smore making technique was popular with those who had enough patience to let their single square of chocolate melt before completing the smore.  I prefer to crack off 6 squares, hurry with my marshmallow and call it good enough!