2,4,6 Wait! Back to School we Kinda Hate

 No, mostly we're glad. We were getting kind of bored. :) This year we have a 2nd grader, 4th grader and 6th grader! They are getting so big and grown up and somewhat responsible!

I only took a picture of Jack by his class. I had to sneak a peek to make sure Cole and Talmage made it into their classrooms. Cole pretended he didn't see me, even though I was only 4 feet away from him, so I kept on waving and waving and waving, till he acknowledge me. There were no parents in sight in the 6th grade pod, I managed to restrain myself from going into Tal's class and giving him another hug. At some point you have to stop embarrasing your kids (sorry Cole, you're not old enough yet!).

I think that this summer really prepared the boys for another school year. They have picked up some great skills this: shooting skills, fishing skills, cliff jumping skills, tent raising skills, chore doing skills . And you know, girls dig guys with skills.

Speaking of skills. Check out Tal's jump off the 7 meter platform at Cottowood Recreation Center the last Saturday before school.  Cole did this one too, even though technically, you were supposed to be 10-years old. Unfortunately with my phone, all I got of Cole and Jack were splashes.

This is off the 10 meter platform. Money did exchange hands. We believe in bribing our kids to new  heights. But I was impressed that both Tal and Cole did not hesitate to take the challenge. They are normally so cautious! Jack JUST did the high dive. That alone took major guts for me when I was a kid.

This was at the party that the other ward always throws on the first night of school. Bouncies, a greased pole climbing contest, snow cones, popcorn, KFC. They really do great parties.

A Day in Box Elder County

It was the last Monday before school, so we took ourselves to the top of Utah and went to Golden Spike State Park. It was a LOOOng drive, but we arrived at 4 p.m. just in time for the steam engines' demonstrations. These are exact replicas of the 119 Union Pacific and Jupiter Central Pacific engines that met on May 10, 1869.

Here is the location of the tie where the two gold, one silver and one iron spikes were hammered in to join the east-west connection. Travel time from Iowa to California changed in one day from: 6 months, with likely death of at least one member of your party; to seven to 10 days.

Talmage has been obsessed recently with morse code and he asked the ranger if he had one he could use. The Ranger brought one out and Talmage had fun tapping out S.O.S.

Then we got to drive along the old track bed that was carved out by Chinese laborers. It's since been retired, as a causeway was built across the Great Salt Lake only a few years after the original connection was formed, saving 70 hours of travel time.

This was the Chinaman Arch. Now known as the Chinese Arch. PC in the form of less descriptive, if you ask me. I've never seen a Limestone arch before! But from what we learned at Timpanogos Cave it was easy to see how it was formed as there were rivulets of water running down the underside of the arch.

 

The overlook was very foreboding. Clint said if this was the view the saints had when Brigham Young said, "This is the place," they might have turned around and walked back to Nauvoo! Look at those salt beds and the dry, dry earth.

Then we went to ATK (formerly Thiokol) Rocket Museum

It's not every day you get to play inside a section of a booster rocket that launched the space shuttle.

They kept this up for a half an hour.

Then for the inspiration part of our family night, we went to the Brigham City cemetery and visited Lorenzo Snow's grave and those of his eight or so wives and many children. It was interesting and we realized we need to learn more about President Snow.

Blackridge Herriman Triathlon

This expression tells exactly how I feel about competition--ugh...

Pull! Squeeze!

So I really bombed on the swim. I did great for the first 100 yards, then I got totally overheated in that wetsuit and I spent 5 minutes treading water, catching my breath and trying to reach my zipper from behind so I could pull it down. Once I unzipped it and all the cold water flowed in I felt better and I completed my swim--with a nice amount of drag from my wet suit, I'm sure. I finished about five minutes behind anyone in my age group. Really hate that part of the triathlon, but I finished it and I'm proud of that!

Ugh some more! Actually, I loved the bike. I passed and passed and passed and no one (permanently) passed me. I really love going fast on a bike. I usually hear Queen when I'm riding my "Bicycle, bicycle! I want to ride my bicycle. I want to ride my bike..."

I felt as spent as I looked on the run. I just tried to keep going. It was only a 5k and I did it in 8:30 splits--felt like 11 minute splits.Clint and the boys were waiting for me at the finish line and the boys ran beside me to help me get to the finish line. That was my favorite part of the event. So sweet.

Now my knee is bothering me again, which it hasn't for years, since the last triathlon. So I think that is it for triathlons. But now Clint and I are entering our own fitness competition which will involve a lot of lifting of weights, running, swimming and biking--but not ever on the same day! Stay tuned.

Trace-isms

To the Librarian: "So, are you the guy who makes little kids cry when they talk loud in the library?"

General proclamation as he karate-chopped through the kitchen: "Kung Fu Chicken!"

General proclamation as he karate-chopped through the living room: "I'm Chuck Norris!"

Timpanogos Cave

Mondays in the Summer are the best because Clint is off of work and we often get to do something fun. Last Monday we got a check off of our Utah Bucket List and visited Timpanogos Cave. We'd tried last summer but at 10 a.m. it was sold out. This time we got reservations in advance.

Trace getting his science on.

Trace, and all the boys, made it all the way up the 1000 ft ascent/1.5 mile hike without a complaint. We stopped a couple of times to rest on the benches, but it was always the boys who said, "We'd better get going!" On the way down was a different story for Trace, his shoes were too tight and the downward trudge pinched his toes. Clint carried him most of the way down.

I don't know why I love these shots from behind so much. I find the postures so expressive.

In situations like these it's so great that Clint equips his boys so well. They feel prepared for anything.

The rangers were impressed with the boys enthusiasm and called the boys "real cavers"!

The calcite cave formations are all translucent to light. This particular formation glowed mint green because of its nickel content. There was red, purple, yellow, black and orange in the cave.

The Heart of Timpanogos--three or more stalagtites, joined together. We had a wonderful ranger guide who piqued the kids interest by telling them we were going on a treasure hunt.

Lemonade for Sale!

Last Saturday, the boys decided to make a lemonade stand. How handy that we live right across the street from the park.

Jack was the marketing genius behind the operation. He made this poster and waved and spun it at passersby. He gave personal invitations to everyone who entered the park, "There's a lemonade stand over there. Fifty cents a glass!" (I also noticed he was careful to only invite each person once). After two hours the boys had made $12! Not a bad first run, I'd say!

Treehouse Museum

This summer the Treehouse Museum was a designated "Blue Museum", which means they offer one free day to military families during the summer. If I'd known what a fabulous museum it was I'd have arrived the first thing in the morning, instead of an hour and a 1/2 before closing! The boys loved it!

They spent the first hour in the Castle Room and would have stayed there longer!

Tal and Jack had fun in the Teepee.

This was Mom's favorite room. I have a lot of love for this state of Utah! There are so many wonders of the world right here in our state! I asked Cole to state on his favorite part of Utah and he picked Huntsville. 

Trace doing some bull riding!