2 for 2!!!!!!!

 

Wild Waters has been open 2 days.

We've been there 2 times.

 

I thought it might be a little windy or too cold....

but nope!

IT WAS PERFECT!!!!!!!!

 

Oh my goodness.

Ella is in her little floaties loving EVERYTHING.

Eli is all about making friends and bossing them around leading them in sand castle construction.

The girls are wave pool addicts making new friends too.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love this picture of Ella (above) because I told her to open her eyes.

 

Dad you are THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

27 Minutes 59 Seconds

I am not gonna lie. Today was a GOOOOOO DAY!!!!!!!!

 

I'm so happy Jody and the kids could come to the race.

 

Eli was PHENOMENAL!!! He was 6th place at 10 min. 14 sec for all the children 6-12. Yes, he isn't even 6 yet and was rocking it. Didn't even walk.

 

I gotta say, I was in the zone. I really thought I was doing sucky. I felt slow and hot and it just wasn't enjoyable. There was these 2 girls I was neck and neck with for the whole race. I even passed at one time, but yeah... the 19 year old and 16 year old eventually re-passed me.

 

There was a man who pushed me the last leg because there was no way in hell he was passing me on the last leg.

 

So I ended up with a 3.1 mile race finished in 27 minutes and 59 seconds.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh sheeeeaht.

That's a 9 min 3 second mile average!!!!

 

I'm still kinda on cloud nine thinking about it.

I can do an 8 min. 30 second mile, but only for a mile.

I had no idea I had the stamina to keep a pace like that.

 

I got 4th place out of all the women. (There were probably 40)

I got 2nd in my age group.

 

It's funny because before the run Jody said to run with baby Joe and clear as day I heard my mom say, "I'm offended."

 

Like he thought she didn't run. But the funny part is then she said, "I run faster than your ass now."

 

I didn't run with my mom. I didn't enjoy the run really at all. But I do like pushing my body and beating other people. Shoot. I'm not gonna lie.

When girls all skinny and I've got thunnnnnnnnnnnder thighs, but these thunnnnnnnnder thighs gon' beat yo' ass.

 

Forgive me. Maybe it's the tractor fumes talking.

Like for real... my first run was on a farm.

All country.

 

Girl, go on with yo' thighs.

You had 5 babies. 5 BABIES!!!

 

 

And I love this pictures because really, I'm like all cool because I got 4th place but look like complete crap. I swear my hip is hurting too.

Ol' Laaaaaaaaaadie.

Run Fo-rest. Run.

 

I'm so proud of Eli. Man. Kid is FAST!!!!!!!!

 

Some of the ladies who ran. We made it!!!

Even though, really, I look like a man.

 

But this man-she just rocked a 9 min mile pace!!!!! Wooooooo!!!!!!!

 

Do I want to sign up for another race?
Not really.

But maybe 1 a year wouldn't be too bad?

Quote: "Papa was right, this place is a dump."

 

My dad was really nice and watched the littles so I could go with Maria on the Virginia City fieldtrip. He also gave her some spending money because I'm a cheapo and let us take his car.

AWESOME!!

 

First on the agenda, cemetery scavenger hunt... tons of infants that died.

Not tons of fun!

Grateful that at least Mountain View cemetery where Joe is buried isn't as bad as this one.

 

The way it was museum.... interesting.

Kind of.

 

The kids then went on a tour of a mine and adults waited 1 hour.

I went with some friends into a haunted bar and we all griped about how we weren't that impressed with this year.

True story, I went into the room that was haunted and just felt really heavy hearted. Don't know what that means, but would never go back... that's for sure.

 

4th ward school. There was a really nice dad that I got to chat with. Maria was smart and divided up the work with her friends, then they all came together to share their answers.

 

I should mention... the whole time... it was FREEZING COLD!!!! Just because of the wind!!!

 

Maria is such a beautiful little girl. She is so smart and pleasant. She is clever and witty. She is funny. She is kind. I can't rave enough about her and am so grateful for the time, just the two of us. She kept up with my crazy walking pace without complaining. She's just a star... plain and simple.

 

PAPA!!! Maria's favorite part thanks to you. She shared her goodies too!!

 

It was a very nice time for Virginia City. Glad that we don't have to live there.

Mother's Day

 

I must say, the food for Mother's Day was glorious!!!

 

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with Blueberry Sauce

Loaded Vegetable Egg Casserole

 

Steak (Jody grilled!), Potatoes, and Parmesan Squash

Tomatoes with Feta

 

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream with Strawberries

 

My mother would have definitely enjoyed it all!!!

 

We all worked together to make breakfast and it was really nice to spend time together, all working, all smiling.... it was a beautiful morning!!

 

We enjoyed a walk to the park and then had a lovely day at church.

I got to go to Relief Society and Jody subbed for me in Nursery with a couple other men. (Thank you gentlemen!) The quote of the day that made my heart happy was when a toddler asked Jody, "Where did our other friend go?"

 

The kids were precious. They have been working so hard to clean up the garden. They've been painting, weeding.... It really does look amazing and I can't wait to take pictures of the finished results!!

 

The day before we went to Yaya Sofia's for an hour to give her some cards. We love her and are so grateful for her.

 

Mothers and grandmothers are such a blessing. I love mine more than words can say. And I'm so grateful to be a mother to the most wonderful children on earth and in the spirit world. Truly, I am so blessed. They are my greatest blessings of all!!

Nina & Daddy's Six Flags Adventure

 

Christina had the opportunity to perform with her school orchestra at a high school near Six Flags in Vallejo, CA. They did wonderful at the competition and got 2nd place!!! So proud of her and her natural ability with music!!

 

VIOLA GIRL!!!!

 

They got to ride the bus together, Joe slept... Nina didn't.

When they got to Six Flags they did non-stop roller coasters!!

Nina's favorite was the water ride and of course the got soaked right as it got cold! Dinner was at a fast food place, but Nina would rather starve than eat fast food.... so she starved. A random 8th grader laid down in the McDonald's drive through but fortunately wasn't hit.

 

Joe said the teacher was yelling from morning until night.
God bless middle school teachers.

God bless them.

 

Snapchat!

 

Glad that they were able to spend this time together and make such special, happy memories!!

The Fourth and Final Swimmer

 

Ella's energy was contagious!!! This little babe was ready to swim!!!

She had her face in the water, she was kicking up a storm, and she was non stop smile.

So grateful to Papa for the lessons!!

May the 4th Be With You

 

It was a glorious day celebrating Stars Wars!

Sometimes we have fun.