The Sweet Things in LIFE

My two little boys, Casen and Crew are so much fun! I love seeing them together. They both get so bored without the other. They are just 2 years apart and they are the best of friends. Casen takes care of Crew...keeping him out of trouble. And Crew just adores Casen....wants to do everything Casen does. I love it. These two were playing on the deck the other day and I had to get a quick pic. Love it!

Weekend Filled with Exercise......EXHAUSTED!

We sure had a great weekend filled with tons of exercise. My two older kids decided to run a 5K for a charity event. There was a boy in our ward doing it for his eagle scout project, so we decided to donate and participate. He was raising money for a fund that helps kids with hearing problems get hearing aids. Corey or Cade had never run this far before. I knew Corey could do it. I was a little worried about Cade, but I knew that I did not want to run super fast because I had a bike race in the morning...70 miles. So I was kind of glad Cade was there to slow us down, so I did not push myself too hard and be warn out for the bike race. Remember here people, I AM NOT REALLY A RUNNER!

It was super fun too because it was at night...9 PM and it was glow in the dark. So we had to bring some fun glow in the dark stuff. Alot of people went all out and got crazy lit up. Super fun! Corey was really fast and wanted to go ahead of us, but I worried she would get lost or kidnapped or something so I made her stay with us. Cade wanted to walk alot cause he had a side ache and I had to keep egging him on. We did get a time of 38 minutes which was not too bad.... Corey probably could've got 30 minutes or so, but we slowed her down. It was a fun experience. Cade said he never wants to do it again. Corey wants to try a 10k now or a 5k but faster!

Our cool glow in the dark t-shirts that came in our packets....

I slept like a baby Friday night after our 5K race and Saturday morning I woke up and was ready for a 70 mile bike race.....my longest bike ride to date. I was riding with my neighbors again...Kyle and Alyson. And they brought their family along too.... Dave and Nikki. It was fun! We were a little late getting started because Alysons babysitter was late, but we headed out thru Wellsville and Hyrum and finished thru Mendon and Wellsville.  It was so freakin cold......like 45 degrees when we started. And we were dressed for the occasion. It took a good 10 minutes to warm up.The weather was perfect later on. The first of the race was a little slow....waiting for Alysons sister in law Nikki. But it was still fun! Nikki only did the 40. The rest of us did the 70 miles. After Nikki left to finish the 40, then they were all waiting for me. Then I was the slowest. I was struggling a little to keep up. Once we started drafting and I could hide behind Dave, we got booking. He made a good wind-blocker. We did it in about 4.5 riding time hours and 5.5 hours all together. And I think  we kept a pace of almost 16 mph.

This ride was a little more difficult for me this time, than our last race in August (63 miles). I think the 5k the night before effected me a little bit. Then I forgot to take IB profin 800 before the race that morning. The Trenton hill we had to climb really tired my legs out and I also started my  monthly lady friend half way through the race. So that last 15 miles was a real killer. I was so excited to be done!

My legs were super achy all weekend too, after the race. My muscles were not really sore, just fatigued and achy. IB Profin was my friend all weekend. I love biking. It is so much fun...especially going with people you know and people that are good friends and want you to do well too and they wait for you too.... I love it. I want to do 100 miles next summer. Don't know how I will do it, but I want to.

Fun Times with Aunty Em

My sister Em was in town this weekend or as the kids call her Auntie Em. She is so cute with the kids. I was so tired Sunday and so she let me take a nap and have 3 hours to myself while she played with the kids downstairs. And this is what they did.....they made a haunted house. It was so cute! They seriously spent like 3 hours doing all this. And don't forget this was all in the dark and there was Halloween Music playing. I had to turn the lights on to get a few pics. But it was cute! Matt, Casen, Crew and I went through the haunted house while they tried to scare us. What was really funny was that Casen helped build it, but he was so scared going thought it. He was grabbing onto my leg like he was going to get eaten by a monster. And Crew was freaking out too. Crew was even freaking out afterwards when we showed him that it was Cade and Corey. He did not like their make-up. Em sure is good to me and my kids. We love it when Em comes and visits.

Annual Diabetes Walk

We headed to the annual diabetes walk this year again to support Chad and Teisha. It was pretty crowded, but our extended family was a little smaller this year. Everyone is so busy and weekends get busy. But we still had fun and got our exercise in. Corey always loves to run it with her friends and cousins. Cade got to run about half of it and then he had to go to his soccer game. I got some pics of my kids, but you know how it is trying to get a pic with 4 kids. IMPOSSIBLE. So we got some cute ones, but not everyone is looking in all the pics.

CHEEZER...Grandpa Norm calls him Alvin (The Chipmunk). He really looks like him in this teeth picture!

Once again, Crew won't look at the camera!

Corey, cousins Reygan and Ryley and her two friends Brooke and Olivia from soccer. They had a game right after the diabetes walk too.

Boys loving on Daddy! Crew is obsessed with Matt.

We somehow ended up with all the girls signs. We look like a walking band of protesters. But really we are a walking band of supporters!

Love ya Teish and Chad!

Derby Time with Kiddos

 We decided to take the kids to the Demolition Derby. We have not done it in years because the last time we went, Cade was about 2 and he bawled through the whole thing because it was too loud. So we tried it again and it was a hit, except for the fact that my 18 month old kept running away from me. (He is not scared of anything and he does not care if I am with him or not. He will just go and explore the WORLD. Kinda annoying!)

Casen thought it was too loud at first and then he got use to it and loved it. Cade loved it too and so did Corey! The food was cheap too....just like a derby and rodeo should be. I love the derby's too, but Crew was wearing me out and I was already so sore from Crossfit (just started again that week), that I was exhausted by the time the night was over. Crew will be so much easier when he is like 3 or 4. Hopefully! It seems like he is just getting worse and worse. Little Stinker!

It was more of a truck derby, but my kids loved it. Corey and Casen even joined the dance competition with all the kids in the middle of the MUDDY ARENA! So glad they did not get too muddy. Kids were sliding in the mud in their clothes. Craziness! Cade did not want to go out and dance cause he had his new school shoes on and did not want to get them dirty! I thought it was a great decision! Fun Times!

Much Needed Matt & Jen Getaway

 Pool time at the Luxor

Matt and I had a much needed get away this last weekend. We always go on trips with other people, so we decided to go alone this time and it was so nice. We actually never ran out of things to say and it was so relaxing! There was a Carpet Cleaning Convention/Trade Show in Las Vegas, so I agreed to go, if we only had to go to the trade show for a few hours.

So we left Thursday and drove all the way to Vegas. We stayed in the Luxor again. Such a great deal! We got there later Thursday night. But we still got all checked in and dressed and went out on the town for a few hours.We went and checked out the new trio of hotels...the Aria, the Cosmopolitan, and the Vdara. They were super pretty!

Then Friday we went to the Convention, ate some breakfast, laid by the pool, ate at the WYNN's Buffet (Which Matt was in love with), and then just walked around a few more hotels.....Treasure Island, the Wynn, oh and of course we watched the TI Pirate Ship Show!

Saturday, we ate the best Crepe breakfast ever. Then we had to check out. So we decided to save Saturday for our shopping day. We went over to our favorite outlets on the north end of town. We shopped for a few hours and then we headed to St. George to stay at Nan and Norms house. It was so relaxing. We got to St. George at a decent time. So we went shopping again at the outlets, ate some dinner, and then just vegged the rest of the night. It was the first time I have ever been to St. George without my kids. It was nice! I was just wishing we could have stayed another day and had our bikes.

I loved our trip. We really needed it. We talked alot and grew closer, just being the two of us. I think we need to do little getaways like this, just the two of us, more often. The ride in the car was even nice because it was so relaxing. I got to nap and read and talk with Matt. These trips really help me to come back and be a better mom.

Poor Becca, my sister....she had my kids all weekend and Casen had diarrhea all weekend. I felt bad that she had to deal with that all weekend, but I guess at least he wasn't fevering or throwing up, but she is a real trooper. Love ya Becs! Thanks so much. I will repay you the favor when you an JR have kiddos. 

Pretty Wynn Gardens.

Wynn Fountain Outside!

We stopped at the Pawn Shop on the way out of Vegas. Matt wanted to see it. It was on a Saturday, so of course the MAIN GUYS were not working. But it was still cool to see!

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day Weekend was alot of fun! I actually went to Park City to Swiss Days with about 15 girls in my neighborhood. It was alot of fun. We went Thursday Morning thru Saturday night! We ate good food, we had great conversations, we laughed alot, and we shopped ALOT. I usually never get shopped out, but I actually did. On the third day, I was so shopped out, that I took a book to the outlets and just read for an hour or so, while the other girls finished shopping. I love girl trips. They always bring out the best adult conversation. I also got to eat at the MELTING POT for the first time. Super good and such a great social setting. The meal takes like 2-3 hours, so it was super enjoyable.

While I was gone, Matt actually took all four of my kids camping by himself. He met about 5 or 6 other families up Strawberry Canyon Friday night to Saturday. They were going to go and pick Huckleberries. I guess the huckleberries this year did not grow or there were very few. They could not find any. The kids were all pretty bummed! But Matt took the kids up and camped. I was so impressed. He even took the pain in the butt CREW! He said it all went pretty well. Crew was a pain in the butt by the fire. But he slept well. So that was good. But I did feel bad, cause when he got home from camping on Saturday, the power was out and he got locked out of our house for 3 hours. He had a garage door opener but no house key. (I am hoping I can get a few pics from some of the other families that might have my kids in some of their pics.)

Then of course, Monday, we went over to Wellsville and watched the parade and went to my Grandpa Allans labor day party! It is always a great celebration. The kids love the parade and get lots of taffy! Then we always go and watch the Sham Battle and then have lunch at grandpas. This year alot of my uncles and aunts and cousins were there from San Diego, so that made it alot of fun! The kids ended up in a water fight with some of my boy cousins and grandpa. It was fun to see everyone and get caught up! (I a m not very good at taking pics, so I did not get very many. Where is my mom when I need her?)

A few pics of our weekend in SLC and Park City......Melting Pot in SLC

 

Can you tell who's bday it is? We are mean friends! HA HA HA!