Spring Break 2012

I just realized I haven't posted since EASTER!  Wow!  We've been busy since then for sure!

The week after Easter was the kids' spring break.  We decided to spend a few days camping in Moab that week.  We rented a camper and hauled all the bikes down with us.  We visited Arches to see the parts we didn't get to see the trip before and so Riley could earn his Jr. Ranger Badge.  Now he has badges from Arches, Zion, Bryce and Kenai Fjords.  We also went riding for a day while we were there.  Kendall and I broke in my new quad and the boys rode their dirt bikes.  Riley learned some good lessons for riding in sand...Poor boy struggled in some deep sections but he did really well considering the conditions.

Sadly, Riley got sick while we were there.  He threw up numerous times and it was always a huge mess to clean up!  Ugh!  The worst was when he threw up in the middle of the night!  Less than 24 hrs. home and Kendall was the one throwing up!  Thankfully they didn't both get it at the same time and each only lasted about 24 hrs!  We were lucky no one got sick on the way home in the truck!

Some views from our Moab Trip:

 In Arches National Park

Near the Firey Furnace

Hiking back to see the Landscape Arch

Lots of sand hills around

Kendall didn't like the sand in her shoes!

We finally found it!  This is Riley's favorite arch because it's in the Utah book we bought before we moved here!

Out in the distance are snow capped mountains!

The scenery while on our ride!

From the Gemini Bridges Trail

Snack and drink break!

Our second visit to Moab was again, too short, but one that was much needed!  We all got a chance to spend quality time together and get away from everything at home!

He Is Risen!

This year I found myself too busy, too tired and too overwhelmed to do some of the things I had hoped to do for Easter this.  I did manage to do some things with the kids that were most likely even more powerful in helping their understanding of Jesus love for us than what I had originally hoped to do.

This year we did our Resurrection Eggs again, which the kids LOVE!  Each egg has something in it to represent the story of Jesus death and resurrection.  They know why each item is included and can even repeat some of the scriptures to me.

I was searching for some Easter programs to record for my DVR and I came across Jesus on GMC.  It was awesome!  The kids actually BEGGED me to turn it on after school one day instead of playing outside!  This is a great updated version of the story of Jesus' life.  Riley and I actually got out my bible and were trying to figure out which parts they left out and which parts were from a gospel we were less familiar with.  Turns out this movie is closest to the gospel of John than the others - at least at the end.

Friday was Riley's last day of school before spring break.  He went for chapel services for Good Friday.  Later that night we took the kids to Good Friday service at our church.  We kept both kids with us in the auditorium.  Riley decided he wanted to take communion with us that night.  He knew what it meant and how important it was to take seriously.  It was such a sweet moment to share with him at such a young age.  He thought it was really awesome that our pastor allowed everyone to come up front and cut a piece of the tapestry (curtain) to represent the curtain being ripped from top to bottom in the temple at the exact same moment that Jesus took his last breath.  Riley understands that because of Jesus death, we all now have direct access to God because of Jesus' sacrifice.  He treasures that piece of fabric.

Today we went to church again to celebrate Jesus overcoming the grave and proving "he is who he said he was" to quote Pastor Paul.  I worked in the 3/4 classroom with Kendall while Andy went to service and Riley went to his class.  We spent the rest of the day relaxing and rejoicing and then settling down to a delicious Easter dinner.  It was a glorious day to take in the sunshine and how much we are loved.

Here are few pics of our little Easter bunnies from today:

I'm Not Alone...

Once again, the demons started in on me last night as I realized Andy was leaving us again for work.  I was an emotional wreck last night as I silently prayed for strength to make it through yet another crazy week of being a single mom.  I mentioned in an earlier post how alone I often feel here in Utah and then this morning on my way to home from picking up Kendall from school, I heard this song on the radio.  It was Kutless's Carry Me To The Cross.  I have heard it before (the album was just released last month) but never paid much attention to the lyrics.  Today I heard each word, loud and clear.  It was as if God himself played this song, just for me, at the right time.  

God's timing is always perfect, isn't it?

When the path is daunting
And every step exhausting
I'm not alone
I'm not alone, no, no
I feel you draw me closer
All these burdens on my shoulder
I'm not alone, I'm not alone
You pull me me from this place

Hallelujah
You carry me every day
You carry me all all the way
Hallelujah
You carry me to the
You carry me to the cross

How your love has moved me, yeah
To the foot of all your glory
I'm not alone, I'm not alone
I'm not alone

Hallelujah
You carry me every day
You carry me all all the way
Hallelujah
You carry me to the
You carry me to the cross

All of these cities you have built
And every cathedral you have filled
To all of creation you gave life with your hands
And with those hands you comfort me
You lift me up from my knees
And carry me
You carry me

Hallelujah
You carry me every day
You carry me all all the way
Hallelujah
You carry me to the
You carry me to the cross
The cross
You carry me to the
You carry me to the cross

Me? A Soccer Mom?

Yes, it appears I may become just what I swore I'd never do. (I don't drive a mini van yet so there is still hope!)  Some parents from Kendall's school are getting a bunch of 3 & 4 yr. olds together to play 5 v 5 soccer this spring.  So Kendall and I headed out to go get her some equipment so she could practice before the season starts next month.

Here she is!  Sporting her shin guards (aka leg warmers), her swim goggles to keep the sun out of her eyes, her 'new to her' petticoat skirt and her new pink soccer ball!  It's all shades of pink so technically she matches, right?

I think I'll need lots of lollipops to consume during her games so the coach in me stays quiet - my players use to supply me with them so I wouldn't get myself in trouble with the officials during games!  ;)  Maybe the skirt with the shin guards is early preparation for field hockey?

Getting Inked!

Last Saturday night (while consuming green drinks and jello shots) my dear friend Alyssa and I finally decided to go through with getting inked.  Both of us had tats already, but we've been talking new ones about this for a while now.  We got the name of the guy who did my friend Cara's and Alyssa called and set us up with appointments.

We were both so nervous the day of our appointment.  I was actually sweating on my way to meet her!  I have this tendency to "google" everything and all I kept reading that morning was how much more a tattoo on your foot HURT compared to other places!  Ugh.  I was a wreck for someone who already has a tattoo!  We went to see Matt Miskol at Yellow Rose Tattoo.  It's in Sugarhouse and a very clean, attractive tattoo parlor.  We had to wait over an hour until he was finished with our designs and ready to start work on us - that didn't help matters.

We finally go back to get our new ink and I end up going first - I did that with my last one too.  Probably a good thing so I couldn't chicken out!  Matt started on my tat and thankfully it wasn't nearly as bad as I had envisioned or as bad as I had read about.  The worst part was when he got to the bottom side of my foot.  Thankfully I didn't have a lot of ink down there!

I was so thrilled with how it came out.  It's pretty close to my original design - we had to modify it a bit because I wanted it as small as possible without losing too much of the design elements.

I was inspired by Deuteronomy 31:6 for this tattoo:  "Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."  Hebrews 13:5 was also encouraging:  For God has said, "I will never fail you.  I will never abandon you."

I have often felt alone while living here in Utah (not something I've shared with many people).  Part of it is because Andy's been gone so much of the time, but the other part is because I'm so much further away from my friends, my family and all that is familiar to me.  It's not a feeling I'm comfortable with or use to.  I am thankful for my many dear, sweet friends here, but it's difficult to overcome it somedays.  Through a bible study I did at our church after I first moved here, I realized that no matter where God leads us on this journey, he will never leave us.  This tattoo is a great reminder for me when I'm going through those moments of loneliness.

This was the worst part of it - that spot hurt the most

After I got home that night.  

The night I got it was the worst for me.  It was throbbing and I had to take some Advil and prop it up to sleep.  The next morning I felt completely fine.  I'm dreading the healing process when it starts itching like crazy!  Sadly I can't wear shoes right now until it heals - and my new cowboy boots are scheduled to arrive in 3 days!  Ugh!

Spring + Skiing = SUNBURNED Faces!

Yesterday we decided to take advantage of the 50 inches of snow that fell in the mountains through Monday by going skiing.  Andy took a day off of work and we twisted Riley's arm to miss school for one day (He hates make up work).  We headed up to Snowbird to spend what may be our last day skiing of the season.  The morning conditions were fantastic!  We had a blast.  Andy took Kendall on her first run of the day - supposed to be Big Emma, but he followed me and Riley down Lower Bassackwards.  That's a BLUE not a GREEN trail!  Ugh!  Poor girl wasn't happy about her warm up run being the most difficult of the day!  Then we headed over to Baby Thunder to show Dad the Mini Miner's Camp as well as some of their favorite runs.

Riley and Andy spent much of the morning together - zipping down the empty slopes like they were in hot pursuit!  We met back up for lunch at Creekside where we determined we were going to take the kids up the Tram to ski Mineral Basin after lunch.  Riley has skied Mineral Basin, but Kendall hadn't been up there before.  They loved riding the Tram to Hidden Peak (11,000 feet).  We snapped a few pics and then headed down the other side.  It was slushy over there, as was to be expected with all the sun yesterday, but we had a great time.  We all stayed together on the green trails and had so much fun.

Riley and Andy decided to ski down from Hidden Peak via Chip's Run (another BLUE trail) so Kendall and I took the Tram back down to the Snowbird Center.  We met up with Andy and Riley on our way back over to end the day on Big Emma.  Riley and I made our way to Gad Zoom with intentions of heading to Gad 2 to go all the way up to Bananas, but the lift was closed so we just came down Bassackwards to end our day.  While we were on Gad Zoom we were looking over towards Big Emma to see if we could spot Andy and Kendall making their last run.  I didn't have to see them, I could hear Kendall's "whoo hoo!" all the way from Big Emma, past the Mid-Gad lift to the Gad Zoom lift.  There was my little Powder Hound zooming down Big Emma squealing with delight the entire time!

Sadly, we all forgot to apply sunscreen yesterday and all of us are beet red!  Riley has raccoon eyes from his goggles.  Kendall and I have bright red cheeks and noses.  While Andy has fried his entire face!  I applied a tea compress to the kids and I this morning which is supposed to help with sunburn (thanks to Pinterest!).  Hoping we heal quickly!  Everyone knew why Riley missed school yesterday when they saw him this morning!  Poor kid!  Thankfully the kids aren't in any pain from the burns.  That will teach me, huh?

Taking a break while waiting on Sissy

No wonder we all got sick with "powder flu!"  Look at that blue sky!

Awesome conditions to start our day

My happy, little, Hershey kiss-eating ski buddy!

 Lunch Break!

From Hidden Peak looking towards the Heber Valley

I think I'm winking in this one!  ;)

The Salt Lake Valley is behind us

Little Miss Kendall skiing down Lupine Loop all by herself!  It's a rather narrow pass, but she knows to stay near the inside so she doesn't fall off the other side!

What a gorgeous day!

Here she comes!

We couldn't get enough of the beauty surrounding us!

Andy and his shadow

Breathtaking!

Waiting for Sissy - I figure by next year, they won't be waiting so long for her!

My three most favorite people in the entire world!

Love the scenery (and the little snow bunny in pink!)

Momma and her munchkins

Riley thought it was pretty cool that you could ski from Snowbird to Alta - he was bummed to learn he didn't have a ticket to do both!

Looking down the canyon

Absolutely beautiful!

Riding the Tram back down - not nearly as crowded as on the way up!

Some signs of spring - snow melt

We had a fabulous time together!  I'm so glad we were able to spend the day with each other.  Thankfully Andy had few interruptions and that was a welcomed change.  He's been so busy and gone so much from us that it felt great to spend time doing something we all enjoy for an entire day!

Joe Paterno Tribute - Lubrano for Board of Trustees

Love this video regarding the BOT and Joe Pa.  Worth watching if you haven't already seen it.