Wild(life) & Parties

One afternoon, Sport spotted a tiny bird on the porch.  It seemed unwilling/unable to fly away, so he went out and made friends (like a Disney character! Now if only the bird came in and tidied up while I sang...)

Sport picked the bird a flower.

The Saturday before school started, we spent the morning on the back porch cutting all the mens' hair.  Sissy was banned to the trampoline, and she wasn't happy about not being in the middle of the action, but she managed to give herself a new hairstyle anyway.

School started the Tuesday following Labor Day.  As a last hoorah to summer, we invited some friends and neighbors over for an Ice Cream Sundae Social.  We had a fun evening, but the weather was cool, like not ice cream friendly, so I only got  a snapshot of the people brave enough the stay outside (the men and children).  The womenfolk took their ice cream into the living room and pretended not to have children.

Butte Kicker 2014

Towards the end of August, we participated once again in what we hope will continue to be a family tradition, the Bridger Valley Butte Kicker.  It was awesome to have so much family on our team and we hope next year to make it an exclusive (as in elite and awesome and open to anyone related to us) family group.

It rained for a couple days leading up to the race and then most of the actual race day accompanied by wind (just ask Jill!).  The race is almost all run on dirt roads (think mud and giant puddles), so combine that with a high of 60 degrees and what you're left with is some dedicated runners, no matter what our previous training may look like.

Dan was awesome! He was one of our high milers and even herded a few cows while running.  

Dash handing off to Colt.  Dash did incredible! He ran two solid one mile legs (at about an 8:30 pace!) and then a couple of half miles, plus he helped out on the hills.  

Colt's performance was also mind blowing.  Some of our non-family teammates suggested that we not "make" him run a full mile at a time, but we couldn't talk him out of it! He ran between two and three miles total and insisted that no one run by him.  And the best part...he grinned every step of the way.

Brand was our top mileage guy.  He ran over 12 miles at a fantastic pace.

We loved having Brady and his family as a part of our team.  Brady also ran some big miles (and big hills) and Angie jumped out and helped us run hills.

Boe and Kamber were super fun to watch.  They were both incredible troopers.  They never once wanted out of the rotation and even insisted on finishing the miles they were originally assigned, which I believe was about 4 miles each.  It was impressive and inspiring.  Oh, and don't let the sunshine in this picture fool you -  it was cold!

Jill will try and convince you she isn't a runner, but she did awesome.  Her first leg was straight up a hill, into the rain and wind, through a mud puddle, but she blew through it and was out for more later.

The week before the race, I did something to my groin/hip that the doctor originally diagnosed as a hernia (that's right, a hernia, like an old man).  Fortunately, it didn't turn out to be anything so serious and I was able to run pretty comfortably.

Towards the end of the race, Sport finally changed his flip-flops for sneakers and put in a few meters.

Kazlee and Brady dodging mud puddles and racing in  on one of the last legs.

The kids (and yes, I realized that Brandan and Brady are in the picture, but still, the kids)

The kids ran the last 800 together.

Kamber also ran the last 800, but at a faster pace than the boys.

Our team! The winning team actually, I almost forgot to mention.  The three gals on the left are some last minute recruits that made a huge difference on our team.  Hannah Stoddard (one of my YW) and Hannah Behunin are cross country runners and Nora Laho is a teacher and great runner.

Announcement

You know the saying - "the Lord only gives you what you can handle"?  Clearly, Brandan and I can handle very little.  Our lives have been blessed and relatively bumpless.  I think that is why we had such a hard time earlier this year when we lost two pregnancies.  I miscarried early in a pregnancy in January and then again at 11 weeks in April.  The second miscarriage was especially hard because I needed to have a D&C procedure while Brandan was out of town at a math conference in Louisiana.  I'm grateful for good friends and family, however.  One friend drove me to the hospital at 5:30 in the morning, while another friend babysat my brood at that early hour.  Then later, Aunt Mel and Patti brought over a week's worth of food.  I'm also grateful for priesthood blessings and prayer.

We're very happy for this pregnancy.  Things started a little rocky when the first ultrasound showed the beginning of a twin pregnancy, but one of the babies never developed a heartbeat.  I miscarried that baby, but was able to keep the other baby who is at this very moment bumping and kicking away. I trust Heavenly Father completely.  I'm grateful for the Spirit that calms my worries and soothes my fears and I'm looking forward to February!

Soccer!

Soccer is in full swing in Mountain View and Dash and Colt are both playing again this year (Sport is still not old enough, something he laments several evenings a week).

Dash's birthday moved him up onto the 8-10 year old team.  He is almost certainly the youngest player on his team, but he puts up a great fight and holds his own.  

Dash has a fantastic soccer coach who really teaches the kids the mechanics of the game.  Coach admitted to me one night that there are only a small handful of kids who understand the skills needed to play goalie and Dash is in that group.  Here he is making a spectacular save.

Dash is good at a lot of soccer aspects, but his coach (and his parents!) is really impressed with his ability to read the field and pass to his teammates.  

Colt is also a fantastic soccer player, but he didn't get so lucky with a coach.  Much to his vocalized disappointment, I'm his coach again this year.  Luckily, his Dad is willing to put in some time at the school playground.  Brand helped Colt perfect his turn around and now Colt is one of the best stealers on our team!

Me and the team...and a stow-a-way. 

Colt has a really great power kick.  Here he is booting the ball down the field.

One thing I really appreciate about Colt is how he never gives up the chase after the ball.  See that determination?

Madsen Family Reunion

Early in August, we headed to Palisades for the Madsen family reunion.

It took Sissy quite a quite a while to warm up to everyone, but she finally found a special friend in Debbie.

Brandan and I were in charge of the Madsen reunion this year, so we decided to take a page out of Cam's book and do a birthday themed reunion.  Here we all are decorating cupcakes.

And eating cupcakes!

 After our "party", several of us decided to head down to the lake for a dip/wade.

The crew.

Grayson.  He really reminds me a lot of one of my own boys.

Most people chose to swim in the water, but Colt and Sport had a different idea.

Wallowing

Sissy padding through the mud.

The Ball family spent an extra night at our house between their reunions.  Sport thought it was so cool that they had the same shirt  Here are the little twinners eating raw noodles in the pantry.

It's Great To Be Eight!

Dash's long awaited eighth birthday finally arrived.  He had been planning elaborate parties and outings for weeks, but I finally talked him down to something more simple.  The morning of his birthday, I called around to several different friends and invited them over for a splash on the slip n' slide.  We decided not to tell the guests that it was Dash's birthday so when they arrived it was kind of like a surprise party in reverse.  It was a rousing success, with lots of water, cake, shouting, running and balloons.

The Party

The Cake

 We decided to play a little birthday present trick on Dash.  After his party, we gave him our "gift".  I wrapped up a few pairs of new school jeans and handed them over.  He tried hard to put on a happy face, but he was devastated.

A fake smile to match his fake gift.

 Next we gave him his baptism suit, which he was bit happier to see, but still slightly disappointed since he had repeatedly asked for an NBA jersey.

His baptism suit

 After letting Dash marinate in his disappointment for a while, we finally gave him his real gift, a LaBron James jersey.  He was pretty happy.

Happier

 This birthday wasn't just about presents and parties, Dash has been looking forward to his baptism for a while now.  We invited family and guests started arriving the night before.  Dash got a little nervous the morning of the big day, but it was a special time and we are so proud of him.

Dash and his Dad in their whites.  Brandan was asked to give the talk on baptism and he stood in front of the chapel in this handsome getup.

We were so grateful to all the family that was able to come support Dash at his baptism.

The family at the baptism.