Utah Game

H & O at the Utah vs. Weber game

The family in the tunnel after H's big moment.
H running to get the "tee", note the lame-o Weber kicker coming back as well (the other team was informed NOT TO PICK UP THE TEE).

Note H is kind of stunned Stopped as lame-o picks up the "tee".H at the 30 yard line making it across the field. What a babe. Once he figured out that the Weber guy made a mistake, he was cool, and loved the attention of people around the stadium that would recognize him.

Mom (AK did warn me my hair was kind of crazy, it was at the pre-game dinner, so a little late!) & PJ and her Ute tattoo.

Thanks Mom for the pictures.

Grateful Sabbath

Dear Diary,

Where to begin...

Last night H was the "Kickoff Captain" of the #15 ranked Utah football game, in which his darling self was pre-filmed and posted on the big screen as he waved and smiled with a huge "U" painted on his face (Maama has pictures), then proceeded to run across the field after kick-off to retrieve the football holder ("tee"), but he got snaked by a lame-o Weber state kicker, stealing the moment from the stoked kid. I think he was confused and disappointed but overall okay, and loved being recognized as "that kid" throughout the game. As his family, we were given the full on V.I.P. treatment, prime time parks, pre-game dinner, fun, facepainting (well, anyone can get it, O got the black undereyes, P got a tattoo on her cheek, and H got his face painted as previously mentioned (I thought the face painter was joking when he said "a U on his face" and motioned his whole face, I was thinking cheek...he wasn't joking. We had killer seats and were on the field until the kickoff thing, seeing the huge football players up close, and the basketball coach and team as well, and of course, Swoop. We even were delivered ice cream to our seats during the game. It was awesome. Oh, and H got a official football with the coach's signature. For a true Ute fan - a dream of a lifetime. And that would be me, but not so much Andy, who yes, graduated from the U (as I remind him when he balks at my "Utah Man Am I" singing and my annual suggestion that I would really, really like season tickets!).

Women's Conference - Utterly speechless. Almost. In our own Presidency, I think all of our directives were answered and delivered and/or discussed. The spirit is totally with our Relief Gang President who was already totally and completely in tune with the General Presidency and President Uchtdorf's messages. The last month of so we had been discussing our "Relief Society's next big task" and other such things as our Sidney "feeling like there is something we should be doing" and it was exactly what Sister Beck said, it was trippy. The rest was fortifying and inspiring and I've already watched President Uchtdorf's talk twice. There are so many aspects to "being creative", I definitely see the necessity with the Economic crises as well...jumping ahead of myself. If you don't have the capability or forgot to record the Conference like me, I watched it from LDS.org and was amazed at the new program, its clarity, etc.

Some good scripture study. Long story short, I have written a goal and plan to study the 'Preach My Gospel' manual, slowly and thoroughly and giving myself until June 30, 2009 to finish, and it's going well. I am hoping my "companion" will jump on the band wagon, we'll see... I have scheduled only to study about a page a day, but I read through and mark (in purple) each scripture mentioned and read on and about and so on and note take so it takes some time. It has already enhanced my scripture "study" (really just reading mostly) so much, I am always excited for that little bit of quiet time to do it. So get on it and we can discuss or something. I envision a 'Preach My Gospel' study group, but am terrified to take it on right now.

Read 1 Timothy 4 and let's discuss. I found it fascinating today.

Got a great early morning bike ride in yesterday, not strenuous or hard, just smooth and good talk with darling Cat. Good soccer games yesterday, O & Caroline J. scored goals from the kick off, gotta love it. No goals were scored on H again. And the boys were perfecting their spirals (football) yesterday in the yard, which was awesome to see.

The primary program was today and despite seeing it two times previously and crying each time, I yet again, bawled like a baby. The boys did great, despite not memorizing their parts (totally my bad - I wrote Owen's "5 or 6 lines" during his rehearsal last week!) they spoke rather clearly and sang every note. Owen kept putting his arms over his head during his talk and while singing, which I don't quite know what that is about. H looked either ticked off or tired since he hadn't quite washed off the red "U" paint from around his eyes. P was cute watching and singing along and when O came up, she stood up and was wagging her finger and saying "No, no, no" at him. She is really walking all over and it's so cute to watch her in her short-alls and short skirts and her long, long legs sticking out almost looking immodest, since every thing looks super short, and/or is because of her incredibly long, long legs. She wants to see her friends in nursery, but she certainly won't stay there! So, we were toting her about again, and since Andy and I were both conducting this month, I took her today. Thanks to Liz and her containment skills, it turned out okay by the end. I will learn...

Andy is cracking some eggs (in his hopes to someday get Sunday dinners going again) so I'd best go help.

Aujourd'hui

Morning hair. Incredible. I begged him to keep it like this.

Holden dressed himself. No, it is not goofy dress up day. He won't wear what I pick anymore. It's great he dresses himself and will actually wear this to school right? I noticed the socks came down by end of day. Also, today P really took off on walking, not just 2 or 3 steps and crawling but walking all over. It was fantastic!

The girls at the beginning of the play date. I tried to get them both standing up, but between my lame 7 year old camera and the girls, not happening. After this, we went on an almost hour long bike ride wherein the girls' very close proximity in the trailer led to many tears, AJ's shouts of "Help Me", pinching, pulling hair, and surely hitting (mostly the brutal stuff from PJ, the screams and shouts from AJ). It was lovely.

This picture really says a thousand words, don't you think? Breakfast this morning.

Faker

So, except for 3 pretty mellow bike & trailer & great conversation rides with other Mom's riding with me, last week, I haven't run, gone swimming, or biked in almost 2 weeks. I just can't seem to get up right now and DO IT! So I am feeling like a faker with all my triathlete talk.

P.S. Mrs. Dub had an awesome financial blog, check it out.

P.P.S. It is so incredibly beautiful, the family is going hiking. Does that count? I am just saying I need some sweat and some serious heart rate work, you know?

Poem

Let her,
Swim,
Climb mountain peaks,
Pilot airplanes,
Battle against the elements,
Take risks,
Go out for adventure,
And
She will not
Fell before the world
...timidity.
- Simone de BeauvoirI got the poem quote from the very first page of this book I picked up at the library today. The into talks about how so many more women today are in sports than ever before. My Relief Gang President is occasionally remarking about the 20-somethings in our area that all seem to be very into fitness and exercise (and which I always love chatting to them about). And how the previous generations aren't as into athletic endevours. I see that in our area, but my grandmother played on her college (Utah State) basketball team, and my mother finished her first triathlon this year. I have been very fortunate to have athletic sisters, friends, a mother, grandmothers, and mother in law, and many women and men that have encouraged this by their own athleticism (Ron & Sue R., Pres. Warner, our Point Loma Princeton/Pac Life tennis neighbors who taught me how to play and let me endlessly borrow their tennis balls and play against their garage and were also always the one to get to run the Spirit Run because they would win and if you signed them up you would get the glory). I just think it's cool and really loved the quote and wanted to blog about it.

Grateful Sabbath

1. We had the great opportunity (and took it) to go see the replay of this morning's Regional Conference addresses. A few years ago we went on a fantastic family hike in the snow instead, and regretted it for at least a year, when we kept hearing about how fantastic it was, and not knowing what all the great fuss was about. So we repented and went and glad we did. It was full of fantastic addresses to fortify and teach our young family and develop a more Christ-like home. I took notes, despite juggling the boys and trying as hard as I could to get them to at least listen to the Prophet, to no success.

2. I am grateful for our health and safety this week.

3. I am grateful for parents that still attend my events, seriously, I can't think of one (okay one in Arizona, but they weren't even close, and my in-laws came, so that counts too!) event since I played pee-wee soccer. Amazing!

4. I think it's awesome that the Mountain West is pounding on the Pac 10 (BYU stomping UCLA and beating Washington last week, and UNLV beating ASU, while Utah killed UNLV last week).

5. AK got to go to the BYU game and celebrate with and at Mr. BYU's Provo house (S. Kimball) after the game. He had a great time!

6. I am grateful I recorded SNL to watch Tina Fey "do" Palin.

I finished, I medaled - Ogden Tri 2008

Brooke & I, She is my tri-idol, this was like her 10th tri this summer

At the bless-ed finish

So the timing is really odd since it was an equalizer race combining men and women to compete against each other "equally", and so I am completely unclear about my finish times. But I know I rocked the swim, less than 22 minutes and that's even on my watch. I tried to go as fast as I could on my bike, making it average 18 mph, but the run was really, really tough for me. I averaged around 10 minute miles, but walked more than I would've liked (and especially since I've been doing that the most lately). So go figure. And yes, I got a 5th place medal in the 39 and under Clydesdale/Athenda category (and supposedly 89th overall out of 500 or so, but I am still confused about the time thing). It was fun. I am still hungry. I am craving Molcasalsa (a fatty and delicious bean and cheese), but I have no car seats. AK took them to the BYU game (aaargh), where they are completely and legitimately killing UCLA. Go Mountain West Conference! Oh and I almost did it under 2 hours, my total time was about 2:02. That last "1/2 mile" was a killer (I don't think the 3 mile mark or that people yelling "1/2 mile to go" were really in the right place! It was great. I can't wait for the next one.

Andy's Back! 400th Blog

Nothing of terribly interesting note. Been watching the new 9-0 and it's full of drama and awesome cars and cute new 9-0 people. The kids were actually dreamy this week. It was nice to have access to Kate's Wii for bribing purposes. P's taking some steps. And now expects everyone to cheer when she stands. Owen's art prowess is still amazing us. And Holden's math skills are wicked quick. Andy was gone this week and was able to Wahoo and play with the Phelps. I've been mentally preparing for the Ogden tri this weekend (Brooke I've got to call you!), since I couldn't really train anymore, with AK gone, and since I guess I should rest before. I'm very nervous about competing mid-day, since I am definitely best first thing in the a.m. with no breakfast. I even got to practice changing a tire this morning as I was getting ready to cruise P around town and found my front tire completely bamboozled. AK will be attending the BYU game tomorrow with college buddies. And I've babbled like at least 400 times in the last few years. What a Friday.

Spencer is such a TOOL!

Grateful Sabbath

1. Grateful I got to go to the Utah game with great neighbor Leigh. It couldn't have been better. We walked there. Got to go straight onto the field. Then take the halftime activity Rice & Eccles jersey frames to the 5th floor Rice Luxury box, then geek out walking past President Uchtdorf and his wife on their way to the luxury box. Then up to the 6th floor to meet and hang with Runge of the game announcer fame and Fox13 sports (Leigh's buddy). Oogle over the views, East and West. Then down to our 50-yard line seats to watch touchdown after touchdown for a Ute victory. For being a huge Georgia fan, Leigh was quite a trooper to my geeking out about the Utes and President Uchtdorf hallway passing. Yeah for Kim and Leigh.
2. O's first day of school on Friday. And his first soccer goal on Saturday.
3. P's first steps and continuing to stand on all tables and boxes???
4. H's real deal soccer game. He was the goalie for the 2nd half and loved it, complete with a little too mellow for Mommy's nerves saves, but he did fantastic and no goals were scored.
5. A great neighborhood paella and swim, in which we missed the paella but had a great time swimming.
6. A fun family Friday night trip to Midway with the Berretts and dreaming of a home there someday.
7. Surviving yet another week of PTA. And thinking I have 2 weeks "off" until the next meeting/activity.
8. Getting a good open water swim complete with super byuoant wet suit yesterday in preparation for next week's triathlon.
9. Some fantastic and great talk 6, 5, & 5 mile runs this week with Kate P. & Susan.
10. Getting over the cough/cold virus of the last few weeks, yet unfortunately P is in the brunt of the barking cough, runny nose, and feeling icky. It was inevitable, the boys are still barking after 2-3 weeks.
11. AK for being AK. He is simply a fantastic father, coach, driver, worker, breakfast chef, and hubby. I am grateful he's been fishing more the last few weeks than he did all last year. And he gets to go to my hometown this week for meetings (specifically the Hyatt of my deb ball). Okay I am jealous, but happy for him, knowing he gets Wahoo's, gets to see my siblings and nieces and nephews, and maybe a little surfing time too.
12. So grateful for an honorable Bishop. For his counsel and peace he brings to me and our great ward.

I Just Lost a Bet

We are watching "What's Up Doc" with Madeline Kahn, shown above from "Young Frankenstein" and I swore it was the same lady from "Freaky Friday". Andy disagreed, we shook on it (as if to bet something, but nothing was officially betted), I was sure I was right. I was not right.

This is Barbara Harris from "Freaky Friday". Aren't they similar though. They both shriek the same.

Kate, It's 20!

The Short Version of My Deleted Rant

Please see this...and tell me you were surprised by these "findings" after knowing people were injecting a poison (botulism) into your head.

Love this site!

I'm off the plastic surgery high horse (in case you saw my last very opinionated post, which I deleted for my judging).

And now I am loving this new site Rachel introduced to me so I no longer have to go on a run or bike ride and then later waste time and gas doing the route again in my car to find out the mileage. Here it is. Mapmyrun.com (which also works for bike rides).