WHS-XC-MMXIV

I really applaud Mallerie's dedication to her running. She was up and at it at the crack-o during the summer to train. She was in great shape by the time the season started and was able to run Varsity in all her races. Matt and I volunteered at the Soldier Hollow meet. It was a beautiful morning in an even more beautiful setting, watching and even MORE beautiful runner!

Soldier Hollow:

She leaves it all on the course.

And makes the Wave on a regular basis.

Rock Canyon:

Kei met us there to cheer on Mallerie. She is a hard core runer herself so when she asked if she could poor water on Mallerie as she ran by I said, "I guess!" Mallerie was so focused she hardly even noticed.

It was so hot that day! By the time I walked up and down the spectator hill I wanted water thrown on me. 

At least I wasn't carrying TWO babies in my arms like Kei! She showed up with not only Gio in her arms but a little doll she was babysitting. We relived part of her load by taking Gio with us to Heber for the weekend. They had a gig and we are more than happy to help. The kiddo's ooh and aah at everything Gio does. 

Park City:

As the season neared an end the meets got a bit chilly, like the one in Park City. We met Matt there. He was on his way home from SL after a long day of work. We were ready for a night out after a long day at home. After the meet we parted ways and I had a date-night with the babies in Park City. 

We rode the free tram, saw the cat's in Dolly's bookstore, bought a treat at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, and looked at the fun window displays up and down Main St. I have never noticed how many night clubs are on Main. Maybe they just stood out to me since I had my babes in tow. I wouldn't trade the fantastic night I had with these two for a night in any club!

Course we were big bird brains and left our shopping bag from Dolly's on the trolly and I had to drive up to Lost and Found in between conference sessions the next day to retrieve it. All's well that ends well.

Kawanis:

Matt slowed this video down but it also slowed his voice down. It's cracking me up!

Mallerie's season ended disappointedly for her during Region. After training and feeling great she was tripped at the starting line. She got back up and gave it her all but it wasn't enough to go to state. She was so upset when I saw her after the race and my heart broke for her. But what was done was done and the fact that she got up and finished is to be celebrated and is a good metaphor for life as well. She also had Kei and Ademir, the Whitmore girls, and Granny and Grandpa there cheering her on. We love her no matter what. And her time nearly matched her PR!

Awards Banquet:

 The banquet was held the evening of election Tuesday. There were a few hot button issues that were going to be on our local ballot and Matt and I both wanted to make sure we voted. When Matt got to the polling station the lines were so long he texted me and we decided to go after the banquet. However, Mallerie had a long winded coach and we nervously watched the hands on the clock tick closer to 8 pm, poll closing time. I had to make a decision, leave and miss my daughter's awards, or possibly miss voting. I chose my daughter. As soon as her coach sat down we literally ran to the car and sped over to the polling station. They were just locking the door. The lady Matt home teaches works there and we could see her through the glass. Matt knocked. She shook her head. We left. Darn long winded coach. 

At the awards banquet Mallerie she was awarded "Most Inspirational" for the second year in a row. She was also nominated to be a team captain next year. I congratulated her in the car, she said, "That means you get to be a Team Mom and organize the schedules and snacks, and decorate the bus for region..." I said, "...wait, WHAT?!"

Book of Mormon Celebration Sept 24, 2014

We sure had a neat B of M celebration with the Stake YW. The decorating committee did a wonderful job turning the cultural hall into a mini Zarahemla. They had a tent and ficus trees. They had an awning coming over the food table draped with Indian type blankets. We had all brought our Ikea furs and they were draped around with flickering electric candles. The girls sat for dinner on the blankets on the floor, eating finger foods like sandwiches and fruit. Then for the program different prophets from came and posed on the stage. Nephi (holding Cade's Liahona) was first. A couple YW narrated an anonymous girl's testimony of Nephi with passages from the scriptures quoted. Then out came Alma the Younger, Abish,  and 3rd Nephi. Then we shut off all the lights to be pitch black and the sounds of destruction were loud all around us for quite a while. Then a slide show played the savior coming to America with music http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glQYsxJhv_E After that, Mormon came out (with Cades sword) and then Moroni and the plates (mine). It was cool that they really are a father and son from our stake. Then all the prophets and Abish came to the front of the stage and all the YW stood and sang, "Armies of Helaman." The spirit was so strong as they started singing acapella, "We have been born as Nephi of old…"  Then four girls bore wonderful testimonies of their experience of doing our challenge to read three pages a day from spring to fall. Then we heard from a member of the stake presidency. Then we passed out cards and papers for the girls to all write their testimonies to give to the sister missionaries who were there to put in Books of Mormon they give out in our community. This event has been a year in the making with so much prayer and fasting. We have gone to the temple as a presidency, and had a fantastic committee called where we have met and brainstormed. Ultimately the inspiration as  exactly what should happen came to Sally our pres, as it should. But it was wonderful to be a part of!

It's fun that we in the presidency all have 7th grade daughters. As soon as the last one turned 12 we made it a point to go to the Provo Temple Together. It was a great way to spend a Saturday morning. My old Orem ward was there also doing baptisms for the dead. I recognized all the leaders waiting to do initiatories. Then the other leaders were coming out of the baptistry when we went to get our daughters. My presidency was teasing me that I knew absolutely everybody at the temple that day. As we got to the car I said, "There is my mom!" They didn't believe me till I hugged her hello and passed off the names I had just done. Ha!

High Conference Council Sept 14, 2014

September was a time of change, we got a new bishop, our beloved friend Mike Eriksson, and Matt was put on the High Council.

That Sunday we had Regional Conference so we took advantage of the early out to go to the Conference Center for a tour finally. My parents are serving an 18-month mission there. They gave us a fabulous tour. Every other missionary couple we saw there assured us, "We sure love your parents. They are great people!"

I was also glad to come across this picture of Matt with his best buddy Sean. I am glad they still find time to lunch and golf together oft.

Katrina was laughing at me as I told the story of how Matt and Sean met. I said, "It's really a beautiful story. They met in the singles ward two days after Matt got home from his mission. They moved into an apartment that very week. Then Sean followed Matt to Utah where they were roommates again. They've been inseparable since!"

From Tween to Teen! Sept 11, 2014

Ava's birthday was on a Thursday. Since she wanted to have a late-night party we held her friend party on Friday night. We still wanted to celebrate on Thursday though, "Arriba!"

I'm glad they offered fried ice-cream because she was not thrilled with my BOXED cheesecake. I should totally know better than to try and pass that off.

The jelly topping did not help it's cause...

Back at my High School reunion in June, I was talking to a fellow classmate and she remembered in vivid detail one of my birthday parties from grade school. My mom had a list with strange words that coordinated with a mystery menu.  This girl, Karen, was an immigrant from China and was used to eating such things as pig ears. She was delighted to be served green jello (welcome to Utah!)

I told Ava about this and she decided that is what she wanted to do for her 13th birthday. She turned 13 on the 11th, but her party was on the 12th. 11th, 12th, and 13. Got it?

Four Course Dinner Menu

Please circle one selection for each course

Course 1

·     Crisp spuds in experienced tangy cream

·     Rounded wafer topped with cultured dairy and refined Italian pith

Course 2

·     Crimson sentiment quivers

·     Drained squash consommé

Course 3

·     Crusted elbow half rounds in blonde paste with Gala Sauce

·     Sustenance coated poultry or probe with French spuds with Gala Sauce

Course 4

Ruby topped precious buttercream atop golden confections

·     Please choose Pink, Green, Blue, or White

Name_________________

Graham and Callie insisted on being part of the rotating courses, much to Ava's chagrin. However, I told her, "As a mom I am more interested in giving my kids a good a time than friends a good time." It's true! But Grayson was a lifesaver when it came to bringing trays up and down the stairs with full and then used plates (he was unusually helpful I must say- I wonder if all those cute girl's barely older than him had anything to do with it... ) He also numbered the chairs so the girls could rotate for each course and counted the marshmallows in the jar. This was another one of those parties where I was making it up as went along. I hadn't even gone to the store! That afternoon as I was typing up the menu I had to look deep into the cupboards to see what I could come up with and then change it to sound mysterious. 

Each girl (and Graham) circled one choice for each course and then had to wait and see what she was served!

Course 1 Translation:

Ruffles potato chips with sour cream dip

Ritz crackers topped with cream cheese and pepperoni.

Course 2 Translation:

Red Jello Jigglers in a heart shape

Zucchini soup

Course 3 Translation:

Macaroni and Cheese (hey, it was Home made!) with Applesauce

Chicken nuggets with Tater Tots and Applesauce

Course 4 Translation:

Cupcake with colored sugar and a maraschino cherry on top.

The ratio of what the girl's ordered was perfect for the meager amounts of food I had on hand. I used every dollop of dip, every slice of pepperoni, the last drop of soup, and all my tots. Things like that always work out for me.

The last game served as a party favor as well. I gathered things that I had in my spare closet for the girl's to pick out of a mystery bag. They had to try and sell it to the crowd by doing a mini commercial for it. Then the next girl could either take it or pick out of the bag. Some of the girl's were hilarious with their sales pitch. I couldn't believe I had exactly enough little items on hand for each girl. See, it always works out.

Best of all it was fun to see Ava laughing and having such a good time with so many great girls. They are lucky to have HER! As are we. She is the best. Binnie is the best! She was a good helper as well. She set up the table downstairs for her party since the guests had to be away from the kitchen. 

That same weekend both Ava and Mallerie volunteered with me at Heber City's 125th celebration. We worked the food booth for several hours. That month when Ava spoke in Sacrament Meeting on Community Service she talked of this experience, she said, "I was able to help out at Heber's 25th Celebration." I realized when you are 13, 25th and 125th, are pretty much the same thing.

Labor Day 2014

I really kick myself for not pulling out my camera more at family outings. This was a fun one over Labor Day weekend when we met with Matt's side of the family for canoeing, ziplining, and a BBQ in lovely American Fork Canyon. It was the first time we had seen Katrina since the big Move!

MT TIMPONOGOS 8-30-14

BACK TO TIMP! 

The perfect end to a great summer.

After much ado, the date for the now annual hike to the top of Timp was set for August 30, 2014, the Saturday after Matt and I got back from Seattle. Me, Matt and Mallerie, met up with Jon, Will, Kate, Shafer, Cade, and Ashley in the wee hours and were on the Timpooneke trail by 6:30 am.

 Above: Can you spot me? Below: Fresh faced and ready to go!

There is  always a moment of panic starting that hike and realizing how far there is to go. Especially since I had failed to grab the hiking poles out of the dark trunk that morning. My motto became, "Put one foot in front of the other." I ate too much sugar the day before and hadn't gotten enough sleep that week and boy did I feel it! My legs felt like 10 ton bricks. Frequent but brief stops seemed the only way to keep going. 

One of the saving graces was that I was in such good company. Who can think of burning legs and heavy lungs when you are laughing? I also kept snacking. 

I spotted a mountain goat way off in the distance below us. I pointed it out and we all gathered to try and peer at it. Some hikers were coming down the trail and so we pointed it out to them. They said, "There are a whole bunch up at the top." So we had that to look forward to. We also saw three moose. Moosen?

It was nice to not be hiking in snow this year. Nonetheless, I brought lots of warm clothes, which I got a bit of flack for, until we reached the saddle and the icy air blasted against us. 

Matt was the only one who turned around at that point, he was hurting pretty bad and the view from the saddle is pretty enough. Everyone that was coming down from the shack said the temperature was 30 degrees colder up there! Ashley looked at me with the look of, "Are you in?" She wasn't sure and I was scared! Then I told her, "My mom has done it." That was all the motivation we needed to press on. Thanks Mommy!

One foot in front of the other.

We MADE IT.

I was pretty comfortable temperature wise as we trudged up to the shack. Because Mallerie and Kate hadn't bundled well, I felt a bit guilty actually. 

As we started our decent I remembered I had two ace bandages in my pack and we fashioned them each a head piece to cover their ears.We all took turns signing the log and writing our names on the wall.

Being at the top is exhilarating. It doesn't take as long as it looks like it would from the saddle.

*If we would have tried to coordinate with my Aunt Linda a time we could all go hike Timp, it never would have happened. It worked out best just to run into each other! Cade spotted them first. He said, "Whoa whoa whoa, big surprise around the bend up here!" We were so curious as to WHO?? Linda and Sam were almost to the shack while we were coming down. She is a trooper. I also ran into our Senior Class President who I had just seen at the reunion, and a member of our Orem ward. Matt said, "you saw all those people just between the saddle and the shack?"

Matt was long gone by the time we got back to to the saddle where we settled for lunch. This picture was taken before Ashley knew the mountain goats were going to kick rocks on her head as she tried to pass underneath.

Don't let their Scottie dog faces fool you. They are mean little suckers.

As they started kicking rocks, Cade yelled down the mountain, "Heads!!!" He also would hike ahead of us and hide so that as we rounded the bend we heard, "Roooooaaaar." I loved it.

Shafer taught us all about adding to the Carin's along the way to mark the non existent path along the rock section.

We were halfway down the mountain before Mallerie and Kate took those head pieces off. They said, "I can hear so much better!" They also quit getting sympathetic looks from passing hikers.

I literally feel like I am stealing from Picasso by using these pictures that Cade took. They are so beautiful aren't they?

This time we took the Aspen trail on the way down. More beautiful scenery to take in and we got to see Emerald Lake.

At the end of the hike was a fantastic waterfall. I started taking off my pack for a nice rest, everyone said, "Nope! We are pressing on!" We did. Boy, by the time I got to the bottom of that mountain I was hurting. We finished at 6:30 pm. Wow. That hike is INTENSE.