Dalen's 8th Birthday

Birthday Boy
Dalen had a great birthday, and it was successful, he is another year older. We went to his soccer game where it was his turn to bring treats (it's all about the treats you know), then we went to El Matador for an early dinner. From there we went to a new store on 25Th street called Color Me Mine. It is a ceramics studio where you get to pick out the ceramic you want to paint, sit at a table with every color paint possible, and paint your choice. Then you leave your creation with them for 1 week where they glaze and fire it for you. We had a great time and even the Dad and Grandpa got in on the action! We had a blast and Dalen will always have his skull head to remember the day.

Painting at Color Me Mine

Working on our creations

Non-Labor Day...

Our wonderful friend invited us to go to Flaming Gorge over Labor Day weekend. It was a well needed trip for Casey and I. Our schedules had been hectic so a little down time was just what the doctor had ordered. We got there Saturday morning and had an amazing breakfast on the boats (thanks for the recipe Kristi). The kids swam and paddled in the air raft. Then we rode to the other side of the Gorge to find a place to camp for the night.

Although the beach we picked was far from ideal, the kids had a blast playing in the mud. It was quite amusing though, watching people get stuck. It didn't help that the mud seemed to get deeper the drunker we got!!!

We went to the Parade of Lights in Lucern to watch Traci's dads boat compete for the best decorated. The kids loved it. There were boats with huge metal and light sculptures on them. There was one of Nemo and another with a U for the Utes.

When it was time to leave the kids were crushed. However there are preliminary plans to do it again next year, maybe just longer. Thanks guys for an unforgettable weekend. We love you!

What were we thinking...

Here is a brilliant idea! On one of the busiest weeks of our lives, my friends Candice, Robyn, and I decide to attempt suicide by running. After spending countless hours getting our kids registered for school, dealing with PTA functions, Back-to-School nights, soccer, tumbling, and not to mention a sudden rush of work, we decide to run a 5K at Sugarhouse Park.

We spent Friday night in Salt Lake as to avoid a very early drive to the race. We however didn't know the area surrounding the hotel we chose to stay at. Needless to say, when there is a 16 yr old hooker checking in with her john at the same time you are waiting for your room keys, you're not at the Ritz Carlton. I will say they had a very decent continental breakfast. I think we could have slept in a cardboard box and still had fun though.

Just a piece of advice for those considering running a 5K, you may not want to stay up talking and giggling like school girls till 1:30 am and a healthy well balanced meal the night before rather than breakfast at Village Inn is also recommended. We also decided against hydrating ourselves and went with a stint in the hot tub and a Dr.Pepper right before bed!

At any rate we actually pulled it off quite well. Robyn and Candice came in at the 35 min mark and I came in at about 38. I am attributing my time deficit to PMS and cramps. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!! Next year I do think we should try a spa date instead ;-) Love ya guys!

He can finally do it!!!

Sunday was a lazy day for us. Dalen, however, can not sit still for anything so he went outside to play. Through our bedroom window, Casey and I could see him on his bike puttering from the backyard to the front. He didn't know how to ride his bike and didn't have any interest in learning so this was really strange for him. Since it was keeping him quiet and busy we just left him alone. Later in the evening Casey went out to finish doing his fireworks with him. Dalen grabbed his bike and said "watch Dad" and off he went. The little turkey had taught himself to ride his bike. We were so excited and proud of him. He has always been the cautious one so it was a very big deal that he did this all on his own!!!

Way to go Buddy!!!

Hiking Timpanogas...

Since the new school year is creeping a little quicker than we expected, a few moms and I decided we had better get the kids outside for a hike up to Timpanogas Cave. At 7:30am (to beat the heat) the 11 of us set off. Once we got to the canyon and bought our tour tickets we found a picnic bench and ate since we had a couple hours to wait. After some lunch we headed up the mountain. The older kids were way too cool to stay with us so they got as far ahead of us as possible. The little boys were too busy with their walking sticks to worry about anyone else. After a long trek (and a little whining) we made it to the cave. We had a chance to rest and get some pictures before the tour. Of course refueling with some snacks since we had mostly growing boys with us. Then it was cave time. The kids were excited and a little apprehensive at first. Our guide was great and answered all the kids questions without hesitation. It was so much fun and the kids had a blast. After the trek down we beat the afternoon heat with a stop by Dairy Queen. Thanks Peggy and Candice for the awesome afternoon. Can't wait to do it again soon.

The Hike Up!

The fearless leaders!

The pool inside the cave.

Slip and Slide...

Casey took Friday off of work for a fun family day in the sun. We took the kids to Cherry Hills. I hadn't been there since I was a kid and man has it changed! Dalen was a little apprehensive until he knew he could touch at the bottom of the slides. Once he was comfortable he was gone. Kenna is our little daredevil and needed no reassurance of any sort. She would bungee jump tomorrow without a second thought! Casey and I were completely content laying on the tubes in the lazy river. We went around in circles for at least an hour and a half. It was one of those great days. We topped it off with ice cream from DQ and a movie night in our bed. A truly great day!

Parade, party, and my favorite people!

This 4th of July was a complete blast! We started off our holiday with the Hooper parade. Dalen had fun gathering the hand fulls of candy and Popsicles being thrown at him. He appreciated the help he got from Uncle Toby. Sadly, Kenna was too old for this behavior this year.

Grandpa checking out Dalen's loot bag

Good morning sunshine!

Then it was off to Skip and Colleen's for our 4th of July/Skip's 50th birthday/Kristi's birthday party. There was great food (as usual), swimming, water balloons, volleyball, Razr racing, fireworks, and a bonfire. Needless to say, the kids slept good that night. We of course had the family clowns (Kathy and Kristi) to keep us entertained during the slower times. There is never a bad moment with our family. We love you all!

(See the slide show above for all the highlights!)

Dalen's turn to shine...

Yes, another blog about soccer. It is our life.

Dalen got to compete in his first soccer tournament with his AYSO team from this year. They changed their names from the Green Snakes to the Green Dragons to sound more intimidating. All their games were held in Hooper so it was nice to have them close by for a change. They played some hard teams but tried their best. Danny, their coach, was very proud of how well they played. Despite their best efforts they didn't win any of their games. You would never have known it by looking at them though. They had a blast and it was fun to watch them put all their hard practice in to good use. It was great to watch a team go out to just have fun and not worry so much about the winning.

Halftime huddle with Coach Danny

Dalen going for the block.

We are the champions...

Here are our girls, in the pouring rain, receiving their silver medals at the 2009 Utah Summer Games. It was amazing to see the looks on their faces despite the down pour, and the pride in Travis's (their coach) eyes. This was a big moment for the little team that had been built and not chosen. Most of these girls have been together since they played on an AYSO All Star team when they were 8 yrs old.

Silver Medalists Rampage TW!!!

We say go, you say Rampage...

5 games in 4 days...

McKenna's Rampage soccer team traveled to Cedar City to compete in the Utah Summer Games. The team went 2 years ago and left with all three games in complete shut out. We didn't score a single goal the entire tournament. This year was a far different story. Our girls played the most amazing games and fought against some of the hardest teams we have ever played against. Our first game was the night we arrived against the Spitfire, our long time rivals. We were shut out 1-0. These girls fought back in their second game the next day against the Sharks to a 1-1 tie. Later that day we played the Bombers who we shut out 2-0 for a good end to a tough double header. That moved us to the Semi-final round where we played Dixie Dragons and won 1-0. This was the most emotional game for all of us because the winner of this game got to play in the Gold Medal round the following morning. After this win there were no dry eyes in the house! The next morning, at 8 am on a windy Saturday morning, we entered the Gold Medal round against none other than.....Spitfire. All things considered, they played like the champions we always knew they could be. We were beat 3-0 and still came out the winners in the long run. Our team won the Silver Medal in the U-12 girls division, but in the hearts of everyone who saw how far they had come, they were the champions!

5K Walk for Briggs

Kristi, Kathy, Staci, Me, and Mom

We had a very busy Saturday, we also did a 5K charity walk for a little boy named Briggs. He is the little brother of one of Dalen's good friends, Quayden. He has a form of brain cancer and they arranged a walk to raise $ for his medical care. Since it was a more than worthy cause, 6 of us got out of bed early and walked 3.1 miles (5K) around the streets of Hooper. They had a great turn out and we had a lot of fun. Realize this was 8 am and I had worked till 11 pm so forgive the fashion statement we are all making. Here are your pictures KATHY!

Three generations of walkers!

Kenna and Grandma happy it's over!

Rock on...

Saturday was Casey's first "gig" with his band on an actual stage, at a venue where people have to pay to get in. They have played family parties before, but this was their first official hired "gig". They played at Lorin Farr Park along with the car show and MMA fights. Unfortunately it was sort of a bust but a good experience to get their feet wet. They are hoping this could lead them to some other "gig's". It was still just family and friends for the most part, but they sounded great. It was such a difference listening to them through professional sound equipment rather than in a basement or backyard. The show started with Angel Street, then Brewster Cogburn, then Shadow. They are all friends of ours so it was awesome to have them all on the same stage. The weather was wonderful and I was so proud of my hottie of a husband!

Angel Street

Daddy's little roadie

The "crowd"!

Shadow

The Fam

Hooper Field Day...

Dalen and Tiernan at field day

Friday was the elementary school Field Day. McKenna has hit the elite position as 6th grader, therefor earning her position as a dunkie for the Dunk Tank. It just so happened that her group was chosen to go at the exact same time the first grade was having their turn at field day. Dalen was more than happy to take the first shots of his sister sitting atop the dreaded white board. I was volunteering that day for the PTA and was witness to this blessed event. Dalen took great pleasure in enacting a little revenge on the Big Sister. He also enjoyed the sheer look of terror on her face as she realized what was about to happen! Even though he didn't hit the target with the balls provided, he still gave her the splash she deserved.

McKenna in the aftermath...

Good Job Bubba! It was hard to see this event as one of the last they would ever share at the same school. Now she is moving on to bigger and better things, and soon he will be the one in the dunk tank.

Her first dance card.....

6th grade dance card

McKenna and the rest of the tortured sixth grade had their very first dance. They had a luau theme with fruit and slushes, a blow up tiki hut, and inflatable palm trees. Each kid had a dance card that they had to fill with names of the opposite sex and those were to be their partners for the dances. Kenna's group of friends and her friend Austin's group of friends sort of stuck together. They worked for weeks with their teachers to learn line dances and partner dances so they should have felt prepared. After they got the first dance under their belts the nerves subsided and they were having a great time. Their teachers were great with the planning so nobody was left out. It was fun for the mom's to watch, too. Till it hits you that you are now old enough to have a child who is dancing with the opposite sex!!! The beginning of the end..........

Kenna and Austin's first dance

Getting the "go away mom" evil eye!

Kenna and friends under the tiki hut!

Go Green Snakes

Dalen's soccer team has been undefeated this year. They call themselves the green snakes and Dalen is #6. The boys are playing great together and may be playing in the AYSO fun fest this year. Dalen is very excited at the prospect of playing in his first tournament since he has been drug along to his sisters games and tournaments for 4 years now. It is so fun to watch them run in a herd and knock each other over despite Coach Danny's attempt to explain their positions.