2012 London Games

We get a little excited about the Olympics around here.  Over the past few weeks we've slept very little as we find ourselves glued to the tube and Bob Costas giving us our prime time updates.  I've cried through lots of victories and medal ceremonies.  One morning I was catching some of the previous nights events.  Of course I tear up - I turned to Charlotte and said I've got to turn the Olympics off and get myself together (we had friends on their way over).  Some of my my favorite athletes of the games in no particular order were the amputee runner from South Africa - amazing and inspiring, Gabby Douglass who won the all around gold, Jordyn Weiber who didn't qualify for the women's all around gymnastic competition but was the most sportsmanlike team mate, smiling and cheering through it all, Michael Phelps's mom :-), and Misty and Kerri the three time Olympic Gold Medalists. My favorite was definitely the new rising swimming star - Missy Franklin.  Her personality was gold!  She was always so humble, and showed so much gratitude.
This was our pre olympic craft - some olympic ring headbands.  I think we made a total of eight.  Rozlyn was quite the crafter.

This is what Olympic fans eat for the breakfast on the morning of the Opening Ceremonies.   

This is what Olympic Fans eat for dinner who wish they were watching the games live in London and not on their TV in America.  Roast beef and potatoes, yorkshire pudding and Olympic Ring mini cheesecakes.  

Snuggling up ready to watch the Opening Ceremonies.  I loved them.  They were so impressive, from the James Bond skit with the Queen skydiving, to "Mr. Beans" orchestra/Chariots of Fire moment, J.K. Rowling, Mary Poppins, Paul McCartney, David Beckham, etc. - I loved it all.  

This was a sign of what was to come.  This is how we were found many a nights watching the Olympics when we just couldn't keep our eyes open for another moment.   

Last night we had some friends from Chris's work, the Hamiltons and Stevens, come over for some of our own Allen Olympics.  

Maren showing off her archery skills.  

The Graham's rhythmic dancing.   

The cute medals at stake.  Gold, Silver and Bronze.  

There was also the javelin throw and some horseback riding but I was to busy watching to get pictures.   It was only fitting that the home team would win gold.  We're so proud.  

The Hamilton's had a Makayla Maroney moment:( (the silver medalist on the vault).   

Tonight are the closing ceremonies.  Also tonight....... the countdown to Rio 2016 will also start.  

NSAI Olympics 2012

Chris's company work party might make the top 5 list for summer fun.  The kids love it!! Petting zoo's, rock climbing walls, unlimited soda, snow cones, popcorn and dessert, crafts, face painting, bounce houses, playground, water balloons and the list goes on.  This years theme was the Olympics and even in the 100+++ heat we had a great time.  If Chris tries to make a career change our kids might protest.   

The petting zoo:  Charlotte and Mallory LOVE it!  Rozlyn tolerates it and Mason and I hang out in the corner watching.   

The rock climbing wall.  The kids all did it, even Mallory.  Once was enough for Rozlyn and Mallory but Mason and Charlotte did it 3-4 more times.   

They had a fun kids playground. 

Face painting at it's finest.  I posted Mason's face painting picture onto Facebook and my friend commented that Mason looked like mini Chris - haha. Mason came up with this on his own.  There were no examples of it, he hadn't seen a picture of it he just climbed up in that chair and said I want side burns, a mustache, a beard and some glasses.  The artist worked her magic.  

Mall received a special invite to be an honorary member of her siblings mustache club.  

Crafting corner - go ahead kids, go crazy - all the glue, glitter, sand art and paint you can handle - and it wasn't in my kitchen or at my table - perfect!

Creepy hand torch centerpieces with the Olympics on the big screen in the background.  

Olympic relays.

Mustache enhanced egg toss.  

It was a great night.  I remember the little details of my dad's company parties as a kid, the games, the food, the prizes that I sometimes won, and I think it's so fun that my kids get to have the same experience.  It was a late night getting home, followed by showers and face paint cleaning to be up and ready to go for our 9:00am church the next day.  It was totally worth it!  

Options

Mallory always cracks us up with the way she thinks and the things she says.  At church on Sunday we were looking at a reverent book during the sacrament that showed Jesus on the cross.  She looked at me very seriously and said "Mom, I don't' want to die on the cross".  I tried to reassure her that she would not.  You could see the wheels turning in her head as she turned to me and said, "give me my other options".  How do you respond to that?  I love conversations with a 3 year old.

Padding the Resume

I just added a new line to my mom resume - bike riding instructor.  It's a very proud moment for me.  I figure I've already done this two times with the older girls but it wasn't a moment that stands out. Mason on the other hand.......it was a process.  We've worked with this guy for a long time with no desire.  I probably should have given up because his lack of desire wasn't getting us anywhere.   He's the most content, laid back kid and riding a bike was not worth his effort.  The rest of us love to go on bike rides as a family and at 6 years old, I just couldn't pull him in that bike trailer any more, for his pride and mine.  While Chris was out of town I got the wild idea to do this.  It was practice every morning with the incentive of having some Wii screen time everyday he didn't complain or cry.  The added bonus was 3 donuts on Friday if he'd mastered it.  At the point we were at I would have probably offered a full dozen.  It was just enough incentive because he had the biggest and best show and tell for his dad when he got back.  The girls were the best cheerleaders and we were all so happy at his success.  

Ready

Set

Go!!!!!

Long Distance Relationships

Here is how our nights go down while Chris is away.  We can't get Skype or FaceTime to work so it's texting pictures back and forth while on speaker phone.  Not quite modern technology but better than nothing.

"Here is what I look like right now"

"Here is what we look like right now"

Today we had a few sad injuries to report on too. :-(  Poor Mallory.  First she fell and chin planted into some wood chips at the park.  Then she was running down the sidewalk and fell and skinned her knee. She likes to refer to it as her "blood."  "My blood hurts, don't touch my blood, my blood's getting wet, etc."

After all the details of the day are shared, we read scriptures, say family prayers on speakerphone and all say our goodnights.  Three more days to go - we're over half way!  

Grown-Ups Club

Chris and I have been together for 14 awesome years.  Sunday was a first for us.  He left on a 7day business trip.  I think we're real grown-ups now.  Prior to that he'd only gone on overnight adventures for work.  It seems everyone else's husbands travel for business regularly so I probably shouldn't be so wimpy or complain about the whole thing.  I texted Amy who's an expert in the subject for advice.  She told me to sleep in the middle of the bed, park in the middle of the garage and have pancakes for dinner.  Making lemonade out of lemons.  I'm used to long hours, so it's not even his help that I want - except he's an awesome helper when available- I just love having him close, knowing he's close and being able to share the details of the day during pillow talk.  Absent makes the heart grow fonder - and I was already especially fond of the catch I caught 14 years ago.

The Great Getaway 2012

We're back from our amazing 2012 summer vacation.  We had an amazing time with so many friends and family.  We were so spoiled by those we love.  The night we got back we were all hungry and wondering who was going to do anything about it.  The whole time away of being fed and entertained by everyone else kind of made me forget all about being a responsible adult.  Our life is good!!  So many times while I was away I had to stop and take in the awesome moments, the scenery, the people, the places that are a part of who I am and it makes my life good.  Being back in Idaho Falls is always a blast from the past.  Southeast Idaho is part of who are family is.

Here's a few numbers from the trip

Miles driven: 3500
Hours in the car: 60
Different Sleeping Locations: 7
Days gone: 18
Siblings visited: 7
Cousins visited: 26
Friend reunions: 8

Things I think about when I think back on the trip:
Road trip, pizza party, POPS, movies, hiking, beautiful scenery, sleepovers, Ricks College, running through campus, seeing family, Mrs. Powells cinnamon rolls, Gringos, Rexburg Rapids, Bear World, Red White and Pork, the parade, Reeds Dairy, the miracle of the burgers, fireworks, friend reunion with Sushi, girls lunch at Great Harvest, Pizza Pie Cafe, family talent show, Dad's magic show, Tate's b-day, hanging out at Angey's, Roaring Springs, Bounce, DK's delicious BBQ, Amy's homemade yummy dinners, Ticket to Ride, Clue, Halli's birthday, all the sugar cereal you can eat, the Lion House Pantry, temple square, Alisa's, Chris seeing Marshall and Jaren, just dance, visiting Brooke, Tera, Rochelle, McKenzi, Sarah, and Alisa, Heber City, Arches, 4 Corners rain storm,

COLORADO:

Horse Tooth Falls

Our first stop was Eaton, CO to visit Mike and Brandii in their new home.  We were so excited when they moved from California.  Living so far away for so long made 900 miles seem pretty close.  It was so fun to have a stopping point that wasn't a hotel and hang out with family.  Chris had been training the kids all summer for a "hike".  We found a trail, Horsetooth Falls, just out of Fort Collins and had our first family hike.  It was the first of three hikes that we took on our trip.  It was hot, really hot, really really hot!

REXBUG:

At the Gardens

After a few days we caravanned up to Rexburg with Mike and Brandii.  Spencer and Allison's family's  were already there and the reunion festivities began.  We re-visited our past and let the kids see the College and Richards old office and building.  Between Chris's family who grew up there and Brandii and I who went to school there, I think we had a story for every building on campus. 

Mason teaching us some of his wisdom

There were sleepovers, and adult talk time a plenty.  The very late nights, night after night, lasted the whole vacation.  Monday morning Stu's family arrived.  We hit the new Rexburg  water park, and a nostalgic dinner at Gringos that night. Tuesday we hiked R mountain.  There were quite a few of us on the trail.

At the top of R mountain. 

  We went down to IF where the boys saw a movie and the girls went to the salon for pedicures.  Chris and the kids also got to stop by Richard's cemetery.  We went to Bear World that night which was so awesome.  For years I've driven past, never bothering to stop.  I really was missing out.  I loved seeing the bears and wildlife and we had the park to ourselves, including the cute amusement park rides.

IDAHO FALLS:

The height train - maybe a new tradition

This family's got talent

There's no place like home, especially for the 4th of July.  The tradition of Angey's Red, White and Pork breakfast continues!  Then the usual, parade, Reed's Dairy ice cream, (where you can personally thank up close the very cows who made the ice cream so delicious), BBQ then the Melaleuca Freedom Festival.  We forgot to take our radios which was a bummer but the fireworks were still great.

The next day the grown ups had fun playing games while the kids were entertained by Tom and Jerry.  Everyone was happy so nobody complained. :).  We had an awesome family talent show that night.  One big regret of the trip is that nobody recorded the fine display of talent - and there were some amazing acts!!! Some favorites were, Lance and Chris's mini man duo, the Toody Show, Jimmy Hot Fudge's Bench, the invisible bench, Charlotte playing the piano to a strobe light effect thanks to Mal, and Mason and Rozlyn's giant hungry worm skit just to name a few.

TABLE ROCK HIKE:

On Friday Chris, Tate and Derek woke up early and headed up for a big hike.  They were supposed to go on Thursday, the weather looked horrible on the mountain.  The phones were checked a million times hoping the news would improve.  The guys were optimistic and packed up there stuff the night before to be ready - the packing was a great memory.  Everything after midnight is usually funny - including packing for a hike. Who knew?  Anyway, Thursday morning they woke up, got dressed, checked the weather, saw the severe weather warning, felt sad for 2 seconds and went back to bed.  There are some amazing pictures that capture the hiking day.  It makes me a little jealous that I had to miss out this time.

SATURDAY:
If we could erase a day from the vacay, this would be the day.  It was bad, really bad.  The morning started with Mallory throwing up.  It happened to be right before Chris was leaving to go back to Dallas for work.  The timing seemed more then unfair.  I wasn't looking forward to being the nurse in someone else's house and we thought about just throwing the stuff in the car and driving back together. I decided to be a big kid and not freak.  More throw up followed (including at Wal-Mart and all over her carseat).  Angey was so nice to let us hang out, while we cleaned things up and Mallory rested.  We got to celebrate Tate's b-day especially with Angey's cooking - yummy.
Chris had his own bad luck. He was sad to leave us in our condition.  He then had a delayed flight, boarded, de-boarded, waited, re-boarded, took off, flew around for a few hours only to to return to SLC.  His flight was then delayed again and finally cancelled.  He had to find a hotel, and didn't get back until the next day.  He missed church, which was the point of going back on Saturday and missed being with us.  Worst day.

BOISE:
More sleepovers, more delicious food, 2 days of water parks, late nights of games.  I loved being in Boise.  I loved all the cousin time that my kids had.  I loved sleeping in and relaxing and not having any big to-do on the schedule.  I loved spending more time with my sister who came down and sister-in-laws.  I love them all.  I'm so happy I had that week.  We split up our time between Derek and Lance's house.  The only sad part was no Chris, I feel bad that he had to be home working while we were playing.  We got to have a mini surprise party for Halli, her birthday was only a few days away and when do we ever get to celebrate cousins birthdays, never.  So we did and it was awesome.

UTAH:
On my journey back to Utah we got to stop in and see some old friends.  It was great.  That night we met up with one of my first neighbors from BYU and had a mini reunion.  It was so good to see Alisa - being around her and at her home made me feel so happy.  The bad news/good news was that before we even made it inside Mason threw up-on her doorstep.  Literally.  I was ready to put the kids back in the car.  We put him on a hammock instead and still had a great night.  While his timing was horrible, had it been 5 min earlier, there's no way I would have gone.  I'm so glad I got that visit in.

The next day Chris flew back!!!  I took the kids to the Humanitarian Center and then we got Chris and walked around City Creek, spent time at Temple Square and ate at one of favorite places, The Lion House.  We then headed up to join my dad's family for his reunion in Heber City, UT.  It had been awhile since I'd seen those cousins and that part of the family so the reunion was needed and great.  We all reminisced about our favorite memories of growing up and Grandma and Grandpa Morris.  I'm sure they were smiling up above.

Freezing cold in Heber City

DESTINATION ALLEN:
After 16 days away we started our journey back.  We went through Arches National Park, went on a mini hike and got awesome pictures.  We then went to see the 4 Corner Monument and took the necessary photo to prove we were there.  We had to get drenched in the rain to do so, but we did it.  We drove out of the way to see it so we had to see it, torrential down pour and all.  We waited for a while for a little bit a clearing then went for it.  It was a muddy mess, but we can check it off our list now.

Whatever effort was put into planning and carrying out this trip was so worth it.  We've made countless and awesome memories with so many people that won't be forgotten.  I could make a huge book with all the pictures taken and I might.  I just wanted to capture the moments so I'd always have them with me and for my kids.