cherry pit spit

My dad and Kristine and I were part of the cherry pit spit today. Unfortunately, none of us made it to the finals. My best spit was 26.3 feet. I now have one year to improve my pit spitting techniques so I can dominate the competition next year.

Addie is taking swimming lessons and doing quite well.

She said it is the best part of her summer

My boys are enjoying life. They really enjoy wagon rides. They even enjoy it when it is boiling hot outside. Probably because they are not the ones pulling the wagon. I can't believe summer is almost over. I am kind of sad about it.

24th

Well, Carlene and I ran the speedy spaniard 10k on the 24th. It was fun!! stats: 63/350 female age group 18/86


Afterwards we went to the parade. In the late afternoon we went to the DeGraffenried 24th celebration bash. We had boat races and forklift rides.

The big treasure hunt is always the favorite. The kids learn about their ancestors with each clue and then get big bags of treasures at the end of the hunt. It is split into 2 hunts. The first one is for the children 5 and under and the second for 6 and older.

6 and up

5 and under

landan, the children and I played basketball. I was showing the kids how it is done.

A cat adopted us. One day he/she (haven't checked) showed up at our door and hasn't left. Apparently the cat doesn't know my track record with cats. The kids named it Quincy.

PJ loves Quincy but I am not sure Quincy loves Pj.

Vegas Baby!

Landan and I just returned from our anniversary trip to Las Vegas. We stayed at the Stratosphere. We watched a lot of people jump from the top and they paid 100.00 to do it. CRAZY! Here is Landan looking down from the top while drinking his dew.

We of course had to play the nickel slots.

We spent some time at the pool. I was trying to get rid of my neon legs and farmers tan. And of course I had to bring along a trashy magazine to read.

We were able to go to dinner with our long lost family who lives in Vegas. It was fun to see them.

My boys didn't seem to care that I left them. Upon my return they just made their list of requests such as waffles and chips and to watch "little Einsteins" Addie was sick the whole time we were gone. Poor girl! and poor Carlene!!.

The kids in their 4 for 10.00 t- shirts from Vegas. I guess it is good to be home.

full house

This week I had the joyous opportunity of tending Carlene's three kids while they went away. After four nights of very little sleep, I am beat! We had so many adventures like the water park, where they played in everything but the water

They had pillow fights

and we went on bug hunts

They entered the Macey's coloring contest.

and spent a good share of each day on the john deere. We also watched movies, ate Wendy's, attended library reading time which was also a photo shoot for the City's website. Afterwards we went to the Red Barn for ice cream. Hallie and Waylon got to spend some time with their Grandma Ruth. Trey and Waylon had a playdate with Aunt Lacee, Maddux and Swayzee. Grandma Carla did her share of entertaining. I guess it takes a village to babysit Carlene's Children.

I saved the best news for last... Now it is Carlene's turn to take our kids and we are off to Vegas to celebrate our 12th anniversary.

summer days

Peyton is such a pain in the butt. He listens to no one and he is in to everything. As my mom says, it is a good thing he is cute.

I ran another 5k on Saturday. It was the Mona run through the lavender fields 5k. I have to say I was very shocked to discover that there were over 1,000 runners.. I finished about two minutes slower than my average time. I was disappointed with that. However, I really enjoyed running through the lavender fields. Quite a fun run for a race.

My race statistics

Overall: 126th

overall female: 38/629

age group: 8/93

I am now in the process of training for a 10k, 3k and half marathon.

Trey singing high school musical song

happy 4th or 5th

We decided to be different this year and go to the zoo instead of the parade. It was very crowded I probably won't do that again. Grandma Patty came along for the adventure. We had a lot of fun.

Peyton and Grandma on the train.

Addie was being sassy, so landan tried to feed her to the giraffe.

We went to Red Robin after the zoo to eat lunch.

Later in the evening we went to Grandma Carla's and Grandpa Jim's, for a barbecue and fireworks. It was a very fun day for the kids. Especially since they got to stay up until after 10 pm.

Addie got new hair. She really wanted to blond hair so Carlene added some into her braids. She thinks she is pretty cool.

Hallie, Addie and Ariana got braids. Ariana which is Hallie's cousin on the other side looks so much like Addie it is scary. She definitely could pass for Addie's younger sister.