Re-do of Wellsvilles

Marker on top of Box Elder Peak.

View of Brigham City, Great Salt Lake, Willard Bay

Brynne, Janet and Scott

On top of Wellsville Cone with dogs.


We hit the trail again. This time we went end to end. It took 7 hours to make it to Sardine Canyon. It was 11.4 miles. We had to forge snow in several spots. The view were amazing. I am so glad that we made it the whole way through and the weather was perfect!

On the home front, JT has passed the written and driving part of his getting your license steps. We only need to go back in and pay more money and actually pick up the drivers license. He has basketball tryouts and girls choice dance next week. His competitive basketball team won the championship this week. He played awesome.

Adventure Day

Emily and Janet taking a break.
Enjoying view of Tremonton and Cache Valley.



Brynne the tuff climber! Behind her is North side of
Brigham City and Tremonton. You can see Willard Bay
and Great Salt Lake.


10.21.10
Adventure Day~ Place Wellsvilles~ Peeps; Emily, Janet, Brynne and Me.
What a hike! Awesome day..... Where Janet and EM are sitting having a break in top photo is where you can see Cache Valley and turn and see Brigham City the other way. On this hike you can make it from Mendon to Sherwood Hills in Sardine canyon. About 5.20 miles in we had to turn back because I needed to go to JT's Xcountry race. I would really like to finish this hike.
Round trip the hike took 5 hours and came to almost 10.5 miles. Even as I write this today my quads are letting me know how steep the climbs and descents were!
Thanks to the Adventure Day Crew!

Cross Country

JT running to finish at Region Cross Country. JT is really excited to be done with the season. He won't admit it but I think that he enjoyed being on the team!

I am a mean mother!

Shane was gone to Alaska, so I decided to take the kids on a hike. Not a big hike, just up to Willow Flats Spring. The boys complained the whole time getting ready. Arie and Molly were excited to go. We had a great time even though some of us walked through stinging nettle!

Can you guess what I got for my birthday?

Fall 2010

Pre and Post Salsa Making!

HALF IRON-MAN

August 28th 2010~
I completed my first Half-Iron Man (Bear Lake Brawl). The race was delayed almost an hour due to a storm that had gone through the night and still lingered in the morning. Janet and I left the cabin at 5:00 am to head down to the lake. While driving down to the lake, lightning was really lighting up the sky. I was kind of half hoping maybe they could cancel the swim and make us ride a few extra miles on the bike!

I won't bore you setting up transition details, but Shane was a great help to me. The swim went really well for me. I was one minute behind my friend Janet who is a really good swimmer! I was a little bummed to see two ladies start with the men, because that meant they had a 5-10 min. head start on the rest of the women.

I headed out on the bike and I was really makin' some bacon! It was a great ride until I turned on the North Shore at Bear Lake. The winds had started up. After I turned around at the 1/2 way mark the wind was a little more bearable until I turned to go back on the east side of the Lake. I figure that the winds slowed me down by at least 20-30 min. JT, Shane and Arie would drive by and cheer for me. It took around 3 hours and 11 min.to bike the 56 miles.

I was happy to get off the bike because of the wind......but I think I should have stayed on the bike! The wind on the run was even worse than on the bike! I was by far the worst run I have ever had in my life! It was almost half walk/ half run. My body had no more to give, especially fighting the wind. The aide stations were out of water and gatorade. I started to cry when the volunteer told me that there was no water...he took off the lid and poured me out the last few drops of water. Luckily Shane, Brynne, JT and Arie came by soon after and Brynne had a little water left in her bottle. I told them to go back and check on Janet, because she would need some water also. They kept checking on me every few min. which was nice. Shane was really nice to tell me I was looking good, (which I really was not!) I was able to run/walk with a guy for awhile which was nice to visit with someone. I gave him some of my swedish fish and sport beans. He was worse off than me some I moved on. Shane told me that everyone in the race was walking, the wind just simply took it out of you. The best part of the race was when I had less than a mile to go Shane drove by in the truck holding a bottle of Diet Coke out the window!

I didn't make my goal time, but I did accomplish two of the three goals. I did work really hard all summer to do this, and I am not so sure I will do it again! It was the worst organized race that I have ever attended. I am now excited to ride my bike! I have missed riding my bike as much as I am used too!

Race distance for Half Iron Man- Swim~ 1.2miles Bike~ 56 miles Run~ supposed to be 13.1 but this race was 14.

Pictures to follow----maybe :)

BIG 16!

Today is is JT's 16th birthday! Wow, it is hard to believe that he is 16 and that I am old enough to have a 16 year old! (I don't feel that old!) He is such a good kid! You just couldn't ask for any better! His nickname of late around the house is the BFG (big friendly giant). He is so kind hearted, he will do just about anything to be with Shane. When Jace and JT have been away from each other for a few hours or days they lay in bed visit to catch up on what they did while away from each other. Another great thing about JT is that he loves my cooking and enjoys eating a home cooked dinner. He loves to ride his motorcycle and was able to go to the sand dunes for a early birthday celebration. I am so proud of JT and the great person he is growing up to be! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JT!

My New Life

Funny Call(s)

Yesterday I was driving home from soccer practice. My cell phone rings I answer thinking it was my sister. All I heard from the other end was some breathing, so after saying hello for a few times I hung up. A minute passes and the phone rings again and I answer thinking again that it was my sister.
Me: Hello....Hello.....Hello
Caller (niece B): Hi, Kara.
Me: Hi B. What are you doing?
B: I am riding my bike with one hand.
Me: While you are on the phone?
B: Ya, I can ride with no hands and talk on the phone!
Me: Do you have a helmet on?
B: (laughing) no, I am in the house.
Me: Oh, that is good.
B: Is Arie there?
Me: No, She is at home. I can have her call you when I get home.
B: Okay, Do you want to talk to T (little brother)?
Me: Sure
B: My mom says "No".
Me: Ok, I will have Arie call you when I get home.


On to the next call.....about 30 minutes later. Phone rings, I answer and it's B again. She says "Kara you told me that you have Arie me and she didn't call me!" I tell "B" let me get her. I give the phone to Arie and they visit for a bit. I was worried that B is calling to say thank you for some clothes that I sent down. (Arie is a hoarder and doesn't get rid of anything, unless her mother sneaks it out of the house.) But it turns out that "B" has just called to visit with Arie, wanting to play and go to the mall with her. The call ends. Another few minutes go by, the phone rings again. I answer and it is "B" again.
"B": Hi Kara I just called to say that I miss Arie really bad. (In a really sad voice.)
Call is then interrupted by parent taking away the phone from her, and apologizing to me and promising to hide the phone better. The parent tells me that (B)know how to look up my number to call. I thought the calls were just great!

Don't mess with the Zohan! (Arie)

I went to PTC for Arie today. The report was great. Her reading score was amazing. No complaints from the teacher. This kind of PTC makes a parent proud! Until......I had heard that Arie had been sent to think time. Arie wouldn't tell me all of the details, so I asked the teacher what had happened.

The story goes like this: Arie was playing with her friend Vanessa at recess. AJ (a boy in their class) wanted to play the kissing game with Vanessa. Arie being the good friend that she is, intervened. In the teachers word "she took him out". The teacher said that it was some type of karate/take down move. She was giggling a bit telling me what had gone on. Remember Arie weighs 40+lbs. The teacher wasn't too mad because Arie was taking care of her friend. But she would like to see Arie resolve problems with talking rather than violence! I am glad that Arie is on my team!

The Big Nine!

Tomorrow Arie will be 9! Where has the time gone? It doesn't seem too long ago we were celebrating her 1st birthday with a really big party! She had her oxygen on, her new pink dress and a new pair of shoes. The years have flown by. The oxygen is gone and the getting up several times a night for "Bear Milk" are gone. Some things have not changed though. Arie still loves parties, loves new dresses and shoes. She wants me to wake her up early in the morning to open her presents. (She already knows what she is getting.) Arie makes our home complete. She is always excited and animated about everything. She tells you every detail of the day. Today's big event was that the computer lab teacher was the devil today! Most days she loves school. She loves to ride motorcycles, her bike, go snowmobiling, go sleigh riding and play with anyone who will play with her. She is a great helper and likes to tend her cousins. Arie will try to carry them even though they weigh as much as she does.

Arie started playing basketball this winter. Of course I worry. She is one of the best defenders! She told her coach last week that she gets the offense and the defense. After last weeks game she sent a text to Shane saying: "the other team was hitting, scratching, and biting us. I dribbled the ball down the court 2 times and Ken was there." I love how confident Arie is. She is not afraid of anyone or anything! I love how Arie loves to snuggle, if she beats you awake in the morning, you can bet that she will be in bed next to you! She loves animals, even though she has been praying for Riley to die! (So she can get a new puppy!)

I love you Arie and hope that you have a Fantabulous Birthday!

Jace is 13!!!!!!!!!

13 years ago Jace entered this world and our lives have never been the same! He was 8pounds 15 ounces, with a really big head. He was often called the Michelin Baby! He is the source of great entertainment in our family! He has many talents, like contorting his body, doing origami, playing soccer, and the best talent is figuring out how to not work too hard! He is so smart, he is fearless. He has a few quirks. He has been known to be funny about food. For awhile the only foods he would eat was chocolate milk and instant oatmeal. He has since expanded his foods. (Just don't try and feed him fast food.) Jace has a kind heart, you can often find him playing with a younger cousin or a younger neighbor. He is quick to forgive (forget). Over the years as I have gone to parent teacher conferences the teachers would all say just how cute Jace was.....being cute does not help the bad grades! Jace has been known to strip down to his underwear and swim or shower in public. He loves to be with JT, it is fun to watch them. Ater they have been apart for awhile and they see each other, they can't stop talking to each other. And often they stay awake in their room talking. Jace gets excited to tell Shane things, especially things that have to do with explosives! Jace makes my heart stop every time he rides wheelies up the road. He rides some of the best wheelies I have every seen! He has been known to come down with sudden cases of paralyzation and an occasional case of amnesia. His future hopes for a occupation are always changing, some include; homeless, working and McDonalds, pyrotechnician and the latest was a exotic dancer. He told me that he would give me free lunch everyday when he works at McDonalds. He can dance a mean "lawn mower"! As you can see he keeps me on my toes! Jace, thanks for keeping me on my toes! We love having Jace in our family! Happy Birthday!