Sara's teacher really loves the STEM fair that the schools have to option of participating in. I had heard great things about her teacher before the year started and this was one of the reasons. Sara was pretty excited to figure this all out too. Her teacher had a great outline of when they needed to have certain items completed and she gave them time in class to complete it. So, I helped Sara come up with an idea but beyond that, she did it all herself. I was very proud of her. She is very detail oriented and if she wants to do well on something, she does. In fact, she pretty much does it to perfection. Her project was really good. She painted one can black and one white and then put them in the sun with a thermometer to see if the color black really did absorb more heat. She had a great real life application in that she said it would help her choose her clothing when she was going to be outside: black for the winter to help her be warm and white in the summer to help her be more cool. Her journal and poster was so neat and well written and all the graphs were perfectly labeled. In her interview at the school, the judge gave her 100% on the entire project. I wasn't surprised. She's that good! She qualified for the district fair which she was excited about! Yay Sara!
All through December and the first part of January we had had some smallish snowstorms. They were good storms and fun, but we hadn't had that big storm yet that dumps a couple feet of snow. Well, we finally got that storm on MLK day. It was great that the kids didn't have school and Jerry had a light day at work so we started up to go skiing. I was just along for the ride and to hang out in the lodge with anyone who needed a ski break. Well, everyone else had the exact same idea and the roads were just terrible. We got stuck behind some cars that couldn't make it up a small hill and so we tried a different route to get to the canyon, but by then, there were too many cars driving up and the canyons were even being shut down for avalanche control. It was crazy. As we sat stopped in traffic, we watched cars going the other direction slipping and sliding all over the place. At least it was entertaining! Finally after 90 minutes of trying to get up the canyon and only making it to the parking lot of cars at the mouth, we called it and decided to just go sledding with some friends. It was really fun. We actually all went to breakfast at Kneaders first and that was fun.
Matt decided to build a huge snowman that after the following videos we turned into a snow fort. That was fun.
We loved playing in the snow with Dean. He was really funny about it.
Everyone else was pretty bummed about not getting to ski the amazing powder, but we still had a fun day together!
The same weekend I hurt my shoulder Abby was having hard time staying healthy. She started with a case of strep throat which was no fun. After the normal doctor's visit we started her on amoxicillin. And then she got another cold/flu sickness and then she had an allergic reaction to her amoxicillin. So she had a really rough 10 days. I had never seen an allergic reaction to amoxicillin and it freaked me out a little. I went in her room to wake her up for school and she was covered in these spots. My first thought was allergy but right with it I thought this looks like measles. I mean I knew it couldn't really be measles because she had the vaccine but it looked so similar.
I took her to the doctor and he confirmed the allergy but he did say, "If you've ever wondered what measles looks like...here ya go." Crazy. Poor girl had them all over her body. They switched her medicine but it still took several days for them to go all the way away.
Even though she didn't feel sick, I still kept her home with me while the others were out skiing and having fun. but it didn't mean we just had to sit at home and be bored either. We took Tulo for lots of walks on the river trail and watched the ducks swim in the cold water. It was still nice to be outside and get some fresh air.
We had been having a great season skiing and snowboarding so far. We had some storms in December and January and were hoping for more of course, but still having fun. All the kids had a random Monday off so we decided to head up to Brighton. Jerry woke up not feeling well so he stayed home with Abby. The older three and I were having a lot of fun. Matt has really been wanting to work on his jumps so we were spending a lot of time jumping off rocks and other little hits. It was fun. We even saw a porcupine waddle past us in the trees we were in. That was super fun. So it was all a great day until my back edge slipped out and I couldn't recover my balance because the snow was pretty hard packed. So I rolled backwards a couple of times and then was just sliding on the snow and I couldn't get my edge into the hard packed snow to stop me and then as I was sliding and I had my arm out, I felt my shoulder get pulled out of it's socket. I was immediately bummed out and as I finally stopped myself and rolled up I tried to push it back in, but I couldn't before the pain just overwhelmed me. I knew as soon as I got it back in the socket it would feel better, but I couldn't get it in by myself. So I had to wait for the ski patrol to get me which took them a really long time to get to me. I was right near the lift and I saw it stop for like 5 minutes. I was dying knowing they were probably on the lift and they were stopped. Kate stayed with me while Sara had gone to get Matt who had been ahead of me. They actually got back to me before ski patrol did. And then when ski patrol got there they wouldn't relocate my shoulder on the mountain so they had to put me in the wagon and take me to the other side of the mountain to the emergency office. And then they wouldn't relocate it until they had taken an x-ray to make sure nothing was broken. I was dying, or at least I literally thought I was. My entire right arm was numb by now. They finally started the relocation process and it took them three tries and the loudest pop I have ever heard to get it back in place. It was terrible. And the worst part was that this was the 5th time I had dislocated it so I knew I had a long recovery ahead of me. Not fun.
The dislocated x-ray. Luckily, there were no fractures.
The two relocated x-rays. I showed them to my dad and brother and they both said the reduction looked really good and definitely no fractures so now the healing process begins!
We were so excited about the policy changes that were announced in the church in December. They affected our family so much in such great ways. When I found out that Sara would be able to go into young women's in January instead of waiting all the way until the next November I was so excited for her. I even drove to the school and pulled her out of her class so I could tell her. I knew it would be the best news for her! She was shocked at first and I think it took a few minutes for it to all sink in and for her to realize what exactly that all meant! We were also excited because Matt would be able to be ordained to a Priest in January instead of waiting until June. He was really excited for that opportunity. We couldn't wait to take the three older kids to the temple. As soon as everyone had all the necessary recommends and ordinations, we went. It was such a cool opportunity. It was Sara's first time and she was so excited. And Matt was able to baptize Sara, Kate and Jerry. It was really cool to watch all that happen and was definitely a highlight family memory for all of us! We just missed Abby and I know these next 5 years will go fast for her even though it feels like forever for her now!
Matt texted me one day asking me to take him to lunch because they had an assembly or something going on later in the day so, of course, I jumped on the chance to take him to lunch and spend some time with him. Abby came with us and he chose Chick-fil-A which is our favorite. And then he saw some other friends there...and left with them...and left Abby and I all alone! We laughed and laughed about that but Abby and I didn't let that stop us from having a great day together!
He's a good looking kid even if he is a quintessential teenager!
We loved not having to worry about school and schedules and all that boring stuff! The day after Christmas we went skiing.
You know you've had a few fun days when you fall asleep at the table in the lodge!
We also went bowling and had so much fun. Kate and her bowling form just cracked us all up!
I enjoyed some quiet moments while they were either sleeping in or playing together and I could have some hot chocolate and begin studying the New Testament for the upcoming year.
We also got to spend some time playing in the snow in the "backyard". I love my daughters. They are always up for having fun and laughing. It makes me so happy to spend time with them. Matt is great, too, but doesn't always put up with our goofiness!
We had such a fantastic Christmas Day! It was so nice to all be together. My favorite time of the day wasn't planned, but as we started opening the presents under the tree, we all ended up sitting in a circle and slowly opening one at a time and talking and laughing. Even Tulo was laying there with us chewing on the bone we got for him. It was just the moment that was so perfect where we were all happy and having fun and I just loved it.
For Christmas Eve, Peggy and her family came over for dinner and games. We had a great time. We also did our annual 90 second talent show. Abby showed everyone the house she built in Minecraft which was actually really impressive, Kate played her flute-the flute part of the song her band played- and Matt and Sara each played an instrument. I was really impressed with their songs because they usually play behind closed doors so I had them play their songs again on Christmas day.
During the women's meeting of General Conference, President Nelson challenged all the women to read the Book of Mormon before the end of the year. Kate, Sara and I all took that challenge and we all finished before Christmas Day. They beat me, which they loved rubbing in. I loved reading the Book of Mormon so quickly and during the Christmas season. I loved reading about the Savior's teachings and the prophets experiences and testimonies of Him at the same time that we were celebrating His birth and trying to find ways to serve others. It was really special. I was proud of Kate and Sara, too, for focusing and finishing this challenge!
Kate's school band had a Christmas concert. She worked so hard on this song. It was definitely a challenge for their whole band to get it all worked out and Kate was worried they wouldn't be able to perform it. Luckily, they all worked hard and they were able to perform it. I loved it. It was a very fun song!
Right after Sara went back to school after being off track for all of November, Abby went off track for all of December. It made for some stressful Christmas shopping, but mostly that just got done online! We tried to have some fun together because that's the most important. We were excited to get some snow right at the beginning so we started off the no school days with some sledding!
We had to spend a lot of time in the car running errands and picking all the other kids up from school and stuff. Neither of us like it, but we like it when something funny happens like the day that Abby put on her seatbelt and then zipped up her coat around it! That was hilarious!
We also built a snowman...and then watched it melt in the funniest way!
Everyone in the neighborhood commented on and laughed at our stooped snowman. We laughed at it every day when we drove home. Finally, one day, Abby and her friend just kicked it over and put it out of its misery!
Abby also did another round of swimming lessons. It's amazing how quickly she learns each new thing. She doesn't love putting her face in the water and I can totally relate to that, but she's getting so good at learning those strokes!
She doesn't love going to swimming lessons but she seems to have fun while she's there and the teachers are so nice and she's definitely gained some confidence, so I keep making her go.
We saw some awesome sunsets!
And tried to catch a few more z's on Tulo!
And as a family we went downtown to see the lights at Temple Square. That's always one of our favorite Christmas traditions. We survived the off track time and were so glad to have everyone home from school for a break and some family time over Christmas!
Sara's choir had a performance at the Festival of Trees. She was part of a small group that sang a song just them. She didn't look happy but she does love to sing!
We beat the storm to Durango and had an awesome Thanksgiving there. Sara and Abby didn't let a little snow stop them from jumping on the trampoline, after they got it shoveled off, of course!
Even though the whole weekend was fairly chilly, they spent so much time out there jumping. They both love it. They were lucky to talk some of the rest of of us into going out with them sometimes, but they were definitely the die hards!
We were also glad we got to see cousins the last night we were there. Abby had fun with Daniel and Matt and Sam stayed up all night making videos and playing video games. Matt was glad he got to see him for a night.
We ended up being gone for a long time, but it was a really good trip to end fall on and get ready for winter and ski season!
When I get a case of the Wanderlust I can not just pick the shortest route to any given point. Wednesday we left Moab, but it's a quick drive to Durango and we'd driven past Newspaper Rock before but never stopped at it so it was on the itinerary even though it was a little bit out of the way. I don't think the kids like it very much when I get like this, but they are good sports and I hope in the long run they will have good memories!
We laughed that morning that Matt and Kate were matchy matchys!
Newspaper Rock is this really amazing rock filled with petroglyphs. It's on the way to one of the sections of Canyonlands National Park and really close to Indian Creek. Good times.
Arches is one of my favorite National Parks because there is a lot to do that is kid friendly. We were excited to hike to some new arches on Tuesday. The main destination was Landscape Arch but we checked out a few others on the way.
Landscape arch was really cool. It is amazing how long and yet how thin it is. It was pretty amazing. It was a cold morning hiking, but it was all worth it!
I love hearing Abby laugh. It is definitely one of my favorite sounds!
We took Jerry to Sand Dune Arch because he hadn't ever been to that one.
I love the desert and I love the variety in terrain that Utah has. There's always new things to explore and even the same things look and feel different depending on the season! Some time in the desert made my heart happy!
Monday my legs still weren't up for much activity so Abby and I hung out at the house and played on the playground while the big kids and Jerry went for a bike ride. We had fun, they had fun, it was a good day. Abby and I played hide and seek and we discovered she could hide in this cupboard. We laughed and had fun showing everyone when they got home.
The next day, Sunday, we took it easy. We went to church that morning and then we just drove around Moab to check things out. We drove on some of the race course so I could show everyone where I ran. That was fun to see it from the car and show them. We hiked out to Gemini Bridges because it's really cool.
And then we drove around on some 4x4 trails that we'd never been on before. That was really fun to check out new places and see things from a different angle. We drove down to the trail that hikes up to the bottom of the Gemini Bridges and that was really cool to see them from that perspective.
The kids were happy being out and about and enjoying the cool fall weather.
It was a beautiful day to be together and enjoy the beautiful earth!
So, Saturday was the big day! I had been looking forward to this race for, honestly, a year. When I first found out about it I thought it sounded like something really fun and I kept it in the back of my mind. I had fun training for it and I didn't have any goals except to enjoy it so I didn't really fell any pressure. My plan was just to not go out to fast so I really tried to just hold back in the beginning and just be in the moment and enjoy it.
I took this picture while I was running because I was just so amazed at how beautiful it was and the weather was perfect and I was having fun and I wanted to remember this feeling!
My family drove out to about the halfway mark. It was so awesome to see them!
I was lucky enough to meet one of the photographers the next day when we were driving along part of the course and she was running it. Her knee was hurting and she asked for a ride back to her car. So as a friendly gesture for that, she sent me these pictures. I could never take pictures these good so I was pretty excited about that!
The race went so well. My nutrition was on point. My pace was solid. Everything just went really well and I seriously loved every second of being out there...except for about the last mile or so! I ran most of the race by myself, but there was always someone close by. There were lots of people ahead of me that I never really gained on or got dropped by so that was cool. The last 5k was pretty tough. I was tired and there was a long, mostly gradual climb before the final downhill and flat to the finish. So I kind of just went for it on the uphill. I kept telling myself that uphills are my jam and I found another gear to get up the climb, but then I was just tanked. The downhill didn't carry me quite as much as I hoped, but that was ok. I did take a little tumble on the smoothest surface of the entire course. Doh! There was another runner right behind me who made sure I was ok and then chatted with me for a minute before he cruised on in. When I was close enough to hear the announcers at the finish line, I heard them announcing the 5th and 6th place finishers! I was shocked. I had no idea I was that close to the front. It was pretty awesome! And then when I finished I learned I'd won the masters category! I was so excited and surprised. I hadn't made any goals along those lines, I just had fun. It was such a great race. I loved the 30k distance and I love running in Moab.
After the race, Jerry took the older kids on a bike ride on slick rock. Sara just rode part of it and then hung out with Abby and I. I love the desert and loved seeing the fall colors with the red rock. My legs were trashed but I managed to hobble around with Abby!
This was definitely a race I'll remember. I'm so glad I did it and am now considering a 50k, but we'll see...
