Hickman Half

We had our 2nd annual Hickman Half while we were in Utah.  We started the 13.1 miles at 6:00 am.  The race starts at my parent's house and makes it way through Kaysville, down to west Kaysville and up through west Layton and then home.  

Here's a few before shots.  I'm wearing the shirt from last year's run.  

I love Jason Herman's face in this one.  

Here we are post run with this year's shirt.  We started a tradition of having a movie quote in the design that Blaine makes for the shirt.  This year the quote was from Labrynth:  "Come on, feet."  The run was a toughie, but we had all trained for it, so it wasn't too bad.  We came in at different times and cheered each other on at the finish line.  

The Ray fam

The older grand kids also ran about 2 miles.  Check out their red, sweaty faces.  

sick of pictures

Most of the grand kids.  We missed Bryan, Chelsey and Archie :(

Grandpa turns 60!

We were lucky enough to be in Utah for my dad's 60th birthday celebration.  It was such a great day spent with our family.  Bryan, Chelsey, and Archer surprised everyone when they flew in on Friday night.  Uncle Rob and Uncle Jim came with their families to the party we had on Sunday afternoon.

The gift was a success!  We gathered sweet letters from all of Dad's siblings, mom's siblings, his kids, grand kids, and some of his friends over the years.  I compiled them into a little book.  He loved it!  It was so touching to watch him read the letters and get emotional.  

Ryan, Ella, and Archie

Sweet Ella.  I love this girl.  

Jason, Beth, Blaine, Lindsay, and Josh

Abbs and Lucy

The originals.  Me and the immediate fam.

Me and my sweetheart

Grandpa and all 10 of his grand kids. Check out Benny's grin.  

A Poem from Lucy Goose

Back on Mother's Day, Jason and I were lucky (NOT) enough to speak in church.  I was ticked.  Seriously?  Mother's Day?  Just have men speak, dangit!  Lucy got to speak with us.  By the time she was done with her talk, I was grateful that we had the opportunity.  Without it, I wouldn't have this literary genius:

My mother is special because
She takes care of me very well
She washes our clothes so we don't smell.
She is the one person that I would not sell.
She buys me food and water plus clothes to wear.
I'm so glad I have her there.  

Pure awesomeness, right?

We love the Wrights!!

Our fabulous friends, the Wright family, came to visit us in June.  It was just the distraction we needed with our upcoming move and the stress that comes when you are anticipating such an event, but can't actually pack yet.  We had a fabulous few days!  I LOVED looking through all the pictures that Kalleen took with her sweet camera.  

Lucy and Lydia found a project to dive into.  They made friendship bracelets.  I love the concentration.  

We spent a beautiful day at the beach.  It was a warm day, so that made it even more enjoyable.  

Here's the boys of the group.  

I had to include a few shots of sweet Claire.  I love this girl!  She is so little and petite compared to my big Ben-O.  

One of Kalleen's cool shots.  

It was warm enough that I was willing to squeeze myself into a wetsuit and boogie board with Lucy.  

I love this picture.  They both look like they are having a great time.  

Check out the sand on that face.  He hasn't ever minded having a face full of grit.  He'll eat his snacks or whatever with a sand all through it.  Nasty!  

Love these cute kiddos!

Graham doesn't mind the sand too much either.  We've caught him licking it every once in a while.  Awesome.  

Sweet friends.  

We spent another afternoon at Marina Park.  They have a cool zip line that the kids love to ride on.  

Here's Grayson taking a turn.  

I love how quickly all of our kids pick up where we left off the last time we saw them.  There is always minimal shyness at the beginning and then they jump in and have a great time together.  

Campin' with the Kiddos

We had an opportunity to go camping for the night back in June.  Jason was called as Scout Master in our ward just a few months before we moved to Phoenix.  He tried to fit in as much as he could before he took off.  So, he planned an overnighter the first week in June.  Well, only one scout could come.  So, the kids and I joined Jason and Ethan for a night up at Lake .

 We brought the bikes and the skateboard.  Lucy and Graham got adventurous on this hill by our campsite.  

 I love that they are rockin' their jammies.  

 Jason and Ethan Cryder.  He was a good sport having dinner and breakfast with the Ray family.  

It was short and sweet, but we had a great time.  Jason loves camping, I don't hate it.  I always have fun when we get there and I'm grateful that Jason talks me into it.  The work to fun ratio just isn't right when it comes to camping.  Luckily, I'm married to a wonderful man that does all the work.

Dancing Queen

Lucy decided to give ballet a try this past year.  She liked it, although she hated the drive out to Camarillo every week.  She said she didn't like practicing the same thing over and over again.  I tried to explain that's what "practicing" is, but she wasn't convinced.  She wanted to have more than once recital over the year to work for.  This girl loves the spotlight.....one performance at the end just isn't enough for all the work they put in.

My tiny dancer.  

Jason and I were very impressed.  We, of course, thought she was the best one.  We were sad to hear that she didn't want to do it again next year.  We think she's pretty talented :)

I love this picture of her after her performance.  What a sweetheart.  

Afterwards we went to dinner with our ballerina.  She looks way too grown up with her "stage makeup" on.  

My attempt at a ballet pose.  Don't mock.....I took a year of ballet back when I was 7 or 8, too.  It didn't last.  I'm with Lucy, too much work with too little glory.