Family Pics

We finally had some new family pictures taken after almost 3 years...the last ones being those great Target specials. We knew we needed some but finding a good photographer who you can trust is hard. We lucked out when Trystan's preschool teacher had some pictures taken of the class and they turned out great. The gal who took them was a family member of one of the kids in the class and just happens to be related to other people I know...one is in our ward currently. Anyway, we were excited to get them done and I think Heather did a great job. I do not photograph well and don't really enjoy having my picture taken...my husband and boys on the other hand look great behind the camera. But saying as these were "family" pictures I knew there was no way of just getting pics of my handsome boys...although Heather did a great job of making me look better than normal. We love how so many turned out and can't wait to get some printed and hung up. Here are just a few of our faves. Thanks Heather for working with our crazy family!!!!

Grand Canyon State Games 2008

HE DID IT! Yep Marc ran and finished in one piece at the Grand Canyon State Games. He ran the 100 and 200 meter sprints and did a GREAT job!!!! I was so proud of him! He and Bro Heninger (the one who got him roped into this in the first place) both did fantastic for being some of the "old" guys. For only having a month to train Marc ran two great races and finished under the times he wanted. The best part is he came away with no injuries! We all went down as a family and the kids got to cheer their dad on...we had tons-o-fun. We look forward to doing it again next year. I only wish they did these things in the winter time here when the weather is not 110 and heat exhaustion is not only a worry for the runners but for the spectators too. I know I may be a wimp for the heat, but by the end of the day I felt like I had run a marathon and wanted to collapse. It was all worth it though to see those sexy legs come running around the track!!!!! Good job Marc...you certainly are my champion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are a few glimpses of the day...sorry they are so blurry. I definitely would never be hired on for Sports Illustrated.

Marc and Brother Heninger pre race

On your mark...get set...GOOOOOOOOOOOO

Coming around the corner for the 200m...look at the speed of that man

Future runner perhaps...only problem he was running the wrong way on the track

First time for everything...

So we were trying to think of some fun summertime activities to do with the kids and a friend in our ward suggested we go rollerskating with the boys. Well my boys have never even touched a roller skate and it has been a very LONG time since I have. I did grow up in the eighties though and that was the big thing to do back then...hang out at the roller rink every weekend. Well I figured what the heck what is the worst that could happen...besides a broken bone...so we headed out. I have to say we had a blast and the boys did great for their first time (not even so much as a scratch from all the falls). My friend and I even showed off our "stuff" since she too used to frequent Skateland as a kid...and I might add we did pretty dang good! It is kind of like riding a bike.

Anyway, just a few pics of our fun experience. My only complaint would have to be the music...or lack thereof. After listening to far too many songs that I cannot even find the words to describe I went and requested some "good" eighties tunes. Well the DJ admitted up front that his selection was slim but he would definitely give it his best shot...which ended up being "Billy Jean" and "Thriller" by Michael Jackson. Some things have definitely changed at good ol Skateland.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ETHAN!!!!

Well we just celebrated Ethan's 3rd birthday and it was great. It is hard to believe he is 3, and then at other times it is more than obvious. It has been a very fun three years and our family would just not be the same without him. I have a couple of friends who did fun posts for their children's birthdays. They wrote down the number of things they really loved about that particualar child that corresponded with the age they were turning. I thought it was a great way to give a little tribute to the kids, so I decided to do the same (thanks guys for letting me snag your ideas).

1. One of my favorite things about Ethan is how incredibly snuggly he is. He has always loved to be held tight and snuggle right into you, and still does that today. I love having him just crawl right up in my lap or come up and want to be held so he can give me a great big hug. He loves to come in right before we get up in the mornings and just snuggle in bed with us. He is such a love bug and I hope that never goes away.

2. I also love how caring Ethan is. He wants to make sure the older boys are OK and tries to take care of them. He understands the lessons he hears about how Jesus treated other people and will remind us that is the way we should be treating each other. He lets people know when they have done something to hurt someone else, or will come up himself when it is he who has done the wrong and wrap his arms around you and give you a big hug and say he is sorry. He has taught this family a lot about doing what is right and that we should be as little children.

3. And finally Ethan has the funniest little personality ever. He is constantly doing the craziest things that just make the entire family laugh. He brigtens the mood in our home and makes us smile a lot. He is fun to watch with all his cute faces and listen to his funny voices. Ethan brings joy to our home in a way no one else can and helps us remember to stop and enjoy the moment before it is gone.

Ethan we are so grateful you are part of our family...WE LOVE YOU BUDDIE!!!!!!

P.S. We have also started the potty training experience...and we will just say we are getting there. He is trying hard and we look forward to him being a big boy like the brothers (hopefully my sanity will last that long).

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Hall of Flame Museum

Last weekend my wonderful husband took the boys to this very fun, very boy museum. It is a museum full of stuff related to fire fighting from way back in time to the present. The boys love this museum and it has been awhile since they have gone. I was out for a few hours in the morning and the boys were getting a bit bored, so dad decided to load them up and go for an outing with them. He is so good at being spontaneous and thinking of something fun to do and then just doing it. The boys had a blast, Marc probably the most of all since it was his first time, and had to give me the full rundown when they got home. Marc did a great job of documenting the whole experience. They love their dad and think he is the best...and I have to say I think so too!

The horse display Brandon is standing in front of is a tribute to those firemen lost in 9/11

Marc said this was the most entertaining part of the whole visit. Brandon and Corbin had a bit of a struggle to get up the pole at first...but the "little monkeys" just cruised right up. I guess it is from all the practice of climbing the light poles on our street.

Kind of looks like some runaway circus clowns does't it...

You are going to do what?!?

So Marc comes home from home teaching last week and the first thing out of his mouth was "I totally regret going home teaching today". Of course being a bit confused I had to ask why...well one of his families he home teaches is a counselor in the bishopric so my first thought was he got a new calling he would have never expected. Nope that was not it, although I was close. He did go to this wonderful family and did have a nice chat with them. At the end of the visit they got to talking about running and how Marc used to be a runner in highschool (I would like to remind you that was not just a couple of years ago). After this man found this little tidbit out about Marc he did not extend a calling to Marc rather a challenge. This great brother will be running in the Grand Canyon State Games here in June and told Marc he had better see him there competing as well. Now Marc is a good runner, and has competed in the Grand Canyon Games LONG ago, but certainly was not prepared for such a challenge. Being the guy that he is instead of graciously decling the challenge, maybe out of respect for a man in leadership, he accepted this rather crazy offer. So when he came home and told me all this my comment was... "You are going to do what?"

Now I have to hand it Marc he started right in training every night after work at the grassy area right next to our house. The best part is he has been including the boys in his running and excercising, which makes for tired boys by the end of the night (big bonus for mom). The neighbor kids who are good friends and in our ward have been running with him, I know their mom appreciates it too. So here in the next few weeks we get to go and cheer dad on in his running debut...the boys can't wait! I am excited for him as well and just hope we do not need the services of our neighbor (whose kids have been running with him) after all is said and done...he is an orthopedic surgeon. Winning is not really the object here...just finishing and staying in one piece is!

Here are some of the prerun stretching pics I got the other day with all the kids...kinda cute. I will have to admit Marc is looking pretty good in just the short time of training...those good lookin legs still have it!!!