PETE'S BIRTHDAY :)

PETE TURNED 27 ON APRIL 3RD. I KNOW HE IS GETTING REALLY OLD, BUT WE ARE NOT READY TO TRADE HIM IN ON A NEW ONE YET. WE GO ALL OUT TO CELEBRATE SUCH SPECIAL OCCASIONS. LISTED ARE A FEW OF THE FUN THINGS WE DID TO SHOW PETE HOW MUCH WE LOVE HIM....

• I TOOK THE KIDS TO SEARS AND LET EACH OF THEM PICK SOMETHING OUT FOR PETE (BECAUSE I KNEW I COULDN'T DO ANY BETTER). HE RETURNED TWO OUT OF THREE; WE WILL SEE IF THEY CAN DO BETTER NEXT YEAR.


• PETE AND I GOT A BABYSITTER AND WENT TO TARGET SHOOT HIS NEW 45 HAND GUN IN THE RAIN.


• THE KIDS FILLED DAD'S CAR WITH BALLOONS AND THEN HID IN THEM TO YELL SURPRISE.


• WE WENT TO MESQUITE ON SATURDAY AND HAD DINNER WITH OUR PARENTS.


• WE CAME OUT AHEAD AT THE TABLES, AND I WON BINGO YEAH!

A special thanks go out to Kalli for staying with our kids so we could go away for the night. We love you Aunt Kalli!

Autumn & Sadie GO DISNEY!

Autumn and I went with Grandpa Brad
and Grandma Jan to Watch Aunt Kalli

Cheer at Nationals in California. We had
so much fun hanging out in the sun at

the beach, and we spent a whole day

at Disney, just the two of us. I enjoyed

this Disney experience so much that

I now have a goal to take each of the

boys on a solo trip to the Magic Kingdom!

Highlights.....

• Grandma Jan and Autumn buying a sea shell, hiding it in the sand, and then making Grandpa believe they found it.
• Autumn's little pink bucket full of shells from the beach.
• Autumn serving everyone food from the buffet.
• Having Autumn say after every ride (and at least an hour wait to get on), "That was worth the wait!"
• Watching Tinkerbell fly above the castle to start the fire works.
• Autumn went on BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN like a rock star.
• The smile on Autumn's face after she had blue butterflies painted on it.
• Our special meal of poptarts, apples, and chips at midnight.
• Watching Aunt Kalli cheer like a rock star!
• Dragging the traveling suit case with Minny Mouse, that Autumn had to have, six blocks back to the room at midnight.
• Having Autumn tell me, "Mom this is the best day of my life!"
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

We were worn

right out!!

SPRING BREAK

Spring break brought beautiful weather to Saint George, and we enjoyed every minute of it. We frequented the park instead of school, and I got out on my bike three times. We started the week by popping corn for family home evening. When nobody was looking Drake made his way up onto the table to devour the last of the bowl. He is officially rounding on the terrible twos, and I am going to need eyes in the back of my head for at least the next 18 months.

The kids begged their Dad for lunch at IN-N-OUT, and they didn't have to twist the arm to hard to get their way. We do enjoy the burgers, but the stickers and hats are icing on the cake for the kids. Brad loves to put his stickers directly on his person, and Autumn chooses to keep her stickers for weeks on end until Brad finds them and puts them also all over his face while she screams for mom.
On Friday I took the kids and headed to Beaver for what else but PROM! Only those of you who understand Beaver living will get why my mom, my sister, my daughter, and myself went to the Beaver High Junior Prom. To redeem myself a little bit I have to add that I went to do hair and to see Kalli for her B-day. However, that said the prom was just to tempting to turn down, and Autumn even found herself a genuine Minersville Cowboy.

We saved the best for last. Sunday was the funnest day of all. After Church me and the kids made green snicker doodles, (they always have to be some wild crazy color because it is more fun), Pete made the most amazing homemade pizza from scratch, dough and all. His talents amaze me and my children make me smile and smile. I love Sundays.

We still have Monday off from school, so I think we will head back to the park for a picnic lunch weather permitting. I think Tuesday is going to make me a little sad..this has been so much fun it makes me look forward to summer.

Tuacahn Duathlon

My wonderful family spent Saturday morning supporting my racing addiction. Jamie and I signed up for the Tuacahn Duathlon. We participated in the sprint, running 1.5 miles, then biking 12, and finishing up with another 1.5 run. I came in 4th overall for the women, taking home the 1st place award in my age category. My kids get so excited when they see me coming in at the end of a race. I love to hear them cheering me on. Autumn says she now wants to do a race that has running and biking, so I am looking for a kids race in our area that we can do together. A big thanks goes out to Pete who puts up with all of my training, and drags the gang to the finish line. I LOVE you baby!

My BIGGEST fans!

The Red Dirt Adventure

While Autumn was at school I decided to take the boys to dig some red sand. When you live in Saint George Utah you can get red sand for free, and I decided that I needed some for my house. We are very proud of our red dirt and it is a must have inside if you want to be a true Dixie Dweller.


First the
boys did
the digging!
They loved
this job as
you can
see.








Then the
dirt was
placed in
these jars
for all to
enjoy!

ANNIE OUTCOME

So we received the word, and Autumn was not selected for one of the coveted spots in the Tuacauhn's upcoming production "ANNIE". She made it through two of three callback rounds, but when it came right down to it I think she was just a little bit smaller then director was willing to cast. She took the news a little hard at first, but she has now moved on, and will settle for seeing the play, "more then once" this fall. We are so lucky to live close to these kinds of opportunities, and Autumn looks forward to another try, after all she has drama in her veins.
Autumn we are so proud of you. Chin up.

ROUND 2

Autumn showed up for round 2 of ANNIE auditions ready to dance her little heart out. Little did we know that she would also show up the very youngest kid still in the running. Autumn was the only six-year-old that passed the vocal audition...the next youngest dancer on day two was eight. Autumn was not at all intimidated by all of those older girls, and she just went in and did her very best. For those of you with little girls in dance you know that two years dance experience can make a big difference. The number of returning girls was right around 50, most of them were local, but a few were called back from Salt Lake, LA, and Chicago auditions. We have been sent home to await out another round of call-backs for line reading next Saturday. We should hear by about Friday one way or another. Because Autumn was the smallest girl at the dance auditions, if she does not get called in to read for the role of the smallest orphan "Molly" she will most likely be done. Autumn has been so amazing through this process. I only wish that I had half the confidence and bravery that she does. Good Luck Autumn or should I say "MOLLY" I love you girl!

\

ANNIE

So Autumn has some exciting news to share with the world. Yesterday we went out to the Tuacahn Amphitheatre for ANNIE auditions. It was so much fun, and Autumn was so brave. She left the theatre yesterday feeling really good about her singing audition, and we came home to wait. Today we got a call back for round two. They want to see Autumn again tomorrow at 1:00 pm for a dance and speaking audition. We are so proud of Autumn, and we want to wish her good luck and lots of love!

Here are some pics from yesterdays audition....

I guess that I better start updating my blog since Margi gave you all this sight so that you could get to know me. Lets see...breifly...I have three kids Autumn 6, Brad 3, and Drake 1. I am married to Margi's older, and only, brother Pete. I live in Saint George Utah so running at sea level is a real treat for me. I love to run, but I train for tri. I do all of my run/swim work-outs at 5:00am starting with a 6 mile run on Monday. Tuesdays and Thursdays I swim 2500 meters. Wednesdays I run an 8-10 mile major hill run, Fridays I run 3 swim 1000, and Saturdays I do long runs between 10-20 miles. I bike and spin in the afternoon and evenings when I can find arrangements for my kids. I love to race and am looking forward to the relay. Good luck as you run your miles.

Just a thought for the day..."Mental toughness isn't genetic-it's honed through experience."
-Bradley Young, Ph.D., sports psychologist