The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

I seem to be pretty good at posting all of our happy memories...so I thought I'd better show the "flip" side. Kysa and Shay were both ready for bed when I filmed them throwing these tantrums last night. YIKES!

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Pictures from Grandma Rue's House

Grandma Rue's Swing

Yard Work

Football and Fair Season

Skyline played Rigby last night in football and we all went to the game.
Rigby lost by a point in a really great game. Today Ty took Raleigh to his
first soccer game and I took the girls down to the Eastern Idaho State Fair
Parade in Blackfoot. Hannah, Olivia, and Emma rode on a float in the
parade, and I took Kysa and Shay to visit Grandma Rue.

swimming at Apple

My spinning workouts are nothing compared to the workout I get taking the
kids swimming! It's a lot of fun though. I got these Spongebob swimsuits
for the girls on clearance at Kohl's a couple of weeks ago.

Kelsy went swimming with me, Ky, and Shay today while Raleigh was at
kindergarten. Kysa learned how to "ride the horsie", or in other words,
straddle a foam noodle and paddle across the pool. She called it that on
her own, kinda funny. Kelsy headed to Gramma Rue's this afternoon after we
dropped Raleigh off at gymnastics. Raleigh had gymnastics and soccer
practice today after school. He has his first soccer game on Saturday at
11 at Cloverdale elementary. It was fun to have Kelsy come visit.

Kelsy's Visit to Idaho Falls

Kelsy came up to see us tonight and the kids were excited. Raleigh loves
playing Game Cube with Kelsy, especially since she is the expert. (We got
the Game Cube from Dallas and her.) Alicia Jones was here watching the kids
so I could get in a couple of games at Ty's open gym. She didn't believe
Kelsy was my sister when she arrived. Kinda funny. Kysa went to gymnastics
today. We were actually just going to drop off Raleigh and when we went
through the doors she said, "Mom, I don't cry." Which meant, " I want to go
to gymnastics!" She did great. Raleigh's coach worked him hard and he told
Ty afterwards, "He was trying to kill us!" Ha.

Prison Break Half Marathon

This looks like a RIOT!

Alice Schenk is doing this "Prison Break" half marathon in Boise and I would LOVE to join her. I think it would be a fun thing to do on my birthday weekend. Check out the You Tube video of last year's race:

Fun Run at Community Park

The Pediatric Center sponsored a free fun run on Saturday. Raleigh did
great. I was really proud of him. Hannah, Olivia, and Emma stayed the
night and came with us. They are good helpers. Hannah ran with Kysa.
Olivia got third in her group and won a trophy. Rebecca and Kelly Nead
brought their kids. We also saw the Tolmans and Sydney Richins from Ammon.

more kite pictures

We love going to this park that's only a couple hundred yards from our
house.

Look at that kite!

Kysa is watching Raleigh fly a kite in a park near our house.

Eventful Day

Raleigh started kindergarten today and Ty took him and picked him up because Kirby and I played in the Potato Grower Magazine golf scramble at the Idaho Falls Country Club.  He has a very nice teacher and several friends in his class, and I am so excited for him. 

 

He gave an awesome talk in primary yesterday, which he ASKED if he could give last Sunday.  He got rave reviews from the Primary President and she wants him to give the same talk as part of the fall primary program.  He felt proud of himself.  We stole the talk DIRECTLY from Sadie Fox’s talk Camille posted on her blog.  Raleigh even watched the video of Sadie giving the talk a couple of times.  Raleigh can’t read yet like Sadie, but he was able to memorize it for the most part.  I wrote it out and he helped me draw some stick figures next to the text to help trigger his memory.  It was a fairly short talk, but plenty long for a 5 year old.  I need to tape him giving it like Cam did.  I’m hoping she can provide me with talk material for the rest of my life. 

 

The Twin Falls Temple dedication was GREAT.  I really enjoyed hearing from President Monson’s daughter, President Eyring’s wife, and all the other people that spoke, highlighted by the Prophet of course.  Two thoughts:

1) it’s not easy to be good and I have to fight for it and work at it every day  2)  Faith and testimony—REAL things, but if you don’t use them you lose them.   3) President Monson loves Dickens book the Christmas carol.  Ponder upon these lines, some of which he quoted from:  "Oh!  captive, bound, and double-ironed," cried the phantom, "not to know, that ages of incessant labour, by immortal creatures, for this earth must pass into eternity before the good of which it is susceptible is all developed.  Not to know that any Christian spirit working kindly in its little sphere, whatever it may be, will find its mortal life too short for its vast means of usefulness.  Not to know that no space of regret can make amends for one life's opportunity misused!  Yet such was I!  Oh!  such was I!"

 

"But you were always a good man of business, Jacob," faltered Scrooge, who now began to apply this to himself.

 

"Business!" cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again.  "Mankind was my business.  The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business.  The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"

 

It held up its chain at arm's length, as if that were the cause of all its unavailing grief, and flung it heavily upon the ground again.

 

"At this time of the rolling year," the spectre said "I suffer most.  Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode!  Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me!"  --Charles Dickens in A Christmas Carol

 

Now back to today—Andrew was so great to babysit and I had a blast playing golf with Kirb.  We played with Jayce Howell and a guy named Todd and were almost in the money at 8 under.  We easily could have hit 10 or 11 under but couldn’t get the putts to drop on the last few holes.  The highlight of the round was when Kirby dropped a 47 foot putt for Eagle after I hit a nice drive and a 4 wood to put us in position on a par 5.  It was an INCREDIBLE putt, such a rush to see her drop it.  She has a great short game, and hopefully someday we’ll be able to play in a lot of tournaments together.  She also hit her driver well today.  Thanks to her we at least one a hole price--$50 each for longest putt on that hole. 

 

Interestingly, we actually tried to get out of the tourney because of the conflict with Ral’s first day of preschool, but they wouldn’t give us our money back so we played.  It worked out thanks to Ty’s help with Raleigh, and Andrew’s help.  Mom had originally planned to come up, but then had to work in the grain.

 

In the evening Kysa came with me to my last weigh-in for the Idaho Falls weight loss challenge.  I lost 26 pounds and 15% of my body weight.  I also lost about 17 inches.   Not only do I feel tons better, but I won the challenge and got $722 in cash for taking first in percentage of body weight lost.  The other winner lost 41 pounds, but not as high of a percentage.  He also lost the most inches so he took home 2^nd and 3^rd prize and went home with $722 as well.  So that was totally worth the time and effort!  Kysa and I were on the Channel 6 news briefly. 

 

Ty took Shay and Raleigh to open gym and Shay at about half a bag of Cheese Nips.  Then she came home and at a bunch of food.  She was playing with the foam noodles with Raleigh and Ty and saying, “Hi-Ya!”  When Ty asked the kids to sing, Shay started singing first—her rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.  She understands so much of what we say…it’s really getting FUN.  It’s wild, but the kids are so stinking cute right now. 

 

Wow, so many things to write about.  What a busy day!  I hope I made some sense because I haven’t taken any time to proofread this.

Tickle Wars

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Google Olympics

Ty and just watched Shawn Johnson win gold medal on the balance beam.  She’s a doll, and her teammate Nastia did a great job and got the silver medal.  Nastia was awesome in the all-around, as was Shawn.  The scoring has been frustrating throughout because it hasn’t been consistent, but they got it right on the beam. 

too bright!

Brentwood Ward BBQ

Raleigh went to the ward BBQ with our 11 year old neighbor Amy and her parents from across the street. We came shortly after, but Ty couldn’t make it because he had his last city league basketball game for the summer with some of his former Skyline players—Eric Davis, Tyler Bird, and Jeremy Kuns, although Jeremy wasn’t there tonight. They lost by a few to Jeremy Barrett’s team.

The BBQ was fun and I got some help from the Valentines waiting in line, and another neighbor girl named Makenna who would like to do some babysitting for me. YAY! The more babysitters the better. So far I just have Alicia Jones. I think Amy will be good once she gets more experience with kids. She’s an only child, and Raleigh just loves playing with her. She is sweet with the girls but she hasn’t had any experience taking care of little ones.

I took a bath with Shay tonight for the first time, and she decided to celebrate the occasion by pooping in the tub. She at a bunch of raisins this morning—enough said. First and last time for that.

A couple days ago Ty was playing with Kysa and pointed to her and said, “Kysa smart.” Then pointed to himself and said, “Daddy smart.” Kysa pointed to Ty and said, “Daddy fart!” Big chuckles. Then she said, “Raleigh fart ALL NIGHT.” Bigger chuckles. Kysa likes to tell us about doing things “all day” and “all night.” I don’t know where she picked it up.

Shay continues to change every day. She’s got quite the little personality. She’s very aggressive with other little kids, and I’m sure it’s because of Kysa. I really have to watch her.

I have been working out a lot, eating better, and drinking a lot more water instead of diet pop. I was about 173 pounds after the 4^th of July and as of Monday I was down to 157. I think when I got married I weighed around 145. I think I’ll get there. I ran (and walked) 7 miles today in 70 minutes plus did about 10 minutes of stair stepper. I have impeccable timing as far as motivation goes because of the Olympics—I’m just dying to work out. I LOVE WATCHING THE OLYMPICS!!! The thing that got me going was a 6 week weight loss challenge through the City of Idaho Falls, but run by Herbalife distributor Deon Brady. She’s in amazing shape and has been inspiring, but I think the reason I’ve been diligent in eating better and working out is the accountability of weighing in on Mondays AND the fact I’d like to win the challenge. I am committed. I haven’t been since I had Shay, and it feels good. I think it has impacted me more than I’ve realized. There is something to be said for self-actualization. Life is one indivisible whole! When I don’t feel good physically, I am not at my best emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and socially. I don’t know if it impacts everyone the same, but since I know what it’s like to be in shape it’s really hard not to be.

Idaho Falls Greenbelt Duck Races

Ty was sick all day yesterday with a weird flu that made him chilled and
achy, but didn't make him throw up. He's doing better today, but Shay and I
have a head cold and Raleigh and Kysa have barky coughs. We still went out
to the duck race activities yesterday and Raleigh helped me a lot because I
couldn't push both strollers by myself. Kysa kept asking to "go swimming"
and "get on my swimsuit", but she settled for putting her feet in the water.

Bode playing for New Zealand in the Olympics

We’re so proud of Claire:  http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/share.html?videoid=BK1H-BJ-SD02-081108-085004

Check out the video!

Incredible Olympic Moment

Here are highlights of the first few SWIMMING finals. They haven't posted the AMAZING USA VICTORY in the men's 4 x 100 relay yet, but I will post it as soon as I can find it. http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/player.html?assetid=0810_hd_swb_hl_l0128&channelcode=sportsw

Out of Control

Open Water Swimming

No guts, no glory...
No pain, no gain...
No lines, no lanes...
No walls, no mercy...

www.10kswim.com

The newest Olympic Sport!

Here is an Open Water Swimming Event I'd like to do--the La Jolla Rough Water Swim. It's the oldest continuously held open water swim race in the United State, dating back to 1916: http://www.ljrws.com/site3.aspx

Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremonies and Twinkle Twinkle

We have been watching the opening ceremonies and it's been spectacular. I took Shay to Apple when Ty got home so I could do a workout and afterwards we went grocery shopping. She was doing her best to sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little STar", and repeated it to Ty when we got home. She doesn't enunciate the words but she definitely has the general idea and the tune. It was pretty cute.

Annual Trip to American Falls

We met Grandma Ro and Grandpa Jer-Bear at the Reservoir. The girls stayed
for a couple of hours and then headed for Paul. Raleigh and Ty stayed with
Grandpa Jer-Bear until the evening.

Nochie Photos from Spudman Weekend in Paul

No or Meow?

It's True...

"Nothing great is easy."

--Matthew Webb, who completed the 1st Recorded Solo Swim Across the English Channel in 1875

GIve Said the Little Stream

What a fun week! Some good friends invited us to sit in their box at the Chukars game on Wednesday night and it was an extra inning game that had an exciting finish. The guy that hit the winning run signed a ball and Raleigh got it when he went down on the field to do the traditional run around the bases with all the kids. Pretty cool. Then on Friday night the same family invited us to the War Bonnet Roundup Rodeo, and they had enough tickets for Shane, Nancy, and Connor to go. THe rodeo was great but I commented to Ty that we were the ones who were STEER WRESTLING, because Kysa and Shay are so hard to handle. They can't even sit still at a rodeo let alone sacrament meeting. Just before the bull riding they had a touching performance of one of my FAVORITE songs "God Bless the USA." During the second chorus they put the spotlight on the stage (which had been dark) and there was a battalion of soldiers who had recently returned from Iraq. It was SO COOL! I was overwhelmed with gratitude and emotion. Lots of people shed tears and I was proud to be an American. I left a bit early with the girls, but we sat in the car and watched the awesome fireworks display before heading out and beating the traffic. Ty and Raleigh came home with Shane.

I taught Kysa the classic Primary song "Give Said the Little Stream" tonight and as we were singing it to Ty (after practicing about 3 times), I paused before key words so she could sing them by herself. This is how it wen: (My words are in regular type and Kysa's are in bold italics.) "Give said the little stream, give, oh give, give oh give...Give said the little stream, as it hurried down the....MOUNTAIN!

(For everyone who doesn't know the song, it's supposed to be HILL.)

Ty and I got quite the chuckle out of it.

Kysa went to bed tonight with a pair of swimming goggles on. She said, "Mom, I want to wear my goggles to bed." Whatever!

Kysa is very good at seeing something and then being able to do it. Ty went golfing with Shane today in the Taylor Chevrolet Bestball at Teton Lakes. So I took the kids to Apple and worked out, then we went swimming, and then we went to a gymnastics open gym over at Elite Gymnastics. I was exhausted by the time we got home but it was fun. Kysa impressed me by pulling herself onto a regular sized balance beam and standing up, walking to the end, and jumping in the pit without help. I was right there to catch her but she was adamant about doing it by herself and did NOT want me to touch her. She is BOLD in the gym, and if she gets hurt she shakes it off (unless it's realy bad) because she just wants to keep at it. She fell pretty hard on the preschool size uneven bars a couple times but it didn't slow her down much.

Shay is getting really good at the trampoline. Tonight we jumped for quite awhile after dark. Shay did five seat drops and bounced right back up to standing when I asked her to, which Kysa doesn't know how to do yet. Raleigh learned how to do front flips, although he doesn't land on his feet yet. Kysa improved her somersaulting ability.

Another development this week is that Raleigh discovered that playing h-o-r-s-e with Ty on the little hoop in the basement is great fun, so they've been doing that a lot.

My dad is supposed to be coming through tomorrow with Perry on their way to Clark Canyon Dam outside of Dillon. I'm excited for him to see our house because he hasn't made it up here since we moved in.

Pictures from this week to be added later! I didn't actually take many this week, but I bet I have some good ones from our fishing trip last week to American Falls.