Vaulting Competition -- Vegas 2010

In November we took a family trip to support Mac in her Vaulting competition in Vegas. It was lots of fun...none of us wanted to come back. Who does when you can get away from everything. Yes, Jared and I tried our hardest to "change our stars" and pulled a few slots. Good thing loosing money makes me sick it only took a few pennies before I was finished. Maybe that's the other thing--who really wins pulling penny slots?
McKenna did great I thought (I tend to be a bit prejuice though). We cheered our hearts out. She wasn't able to compete in her class because it was changed to Sunday (and we were trying to stick to principle) --so she preformed in a class above for just judge's comments (I haven't actually seen those so I don't know what they thought of her--I'm sure that they couldn't say enought good :)). She did compete on the barrel and placed 8th, Jared got some really great shots. She really loves vaulting , she loves her coach, Kylynn and all the girls she vaults with. They are their own little family that I'm glad McKenna is a part. They met the night before at the Excalibur and did the lazer course. It was fun to watch them all. I feel really grateful that she's able to do something she loves--and she hasn't given up hope that one day she'll own a horse. I keep telling her to find herself a good cowboy because it probably won't happen any other way.

Halloween!!!

Our "Spidey Man"

Doin' the Spidey Thing

The girls!

I know what your thinking....REALLY?? Cause that's what I was thinking. Didn't we do Ash Ketchum like 10 years ago. I guess Pokemon is back!?!

The whole crew in their getup!

Kids in full trick-or-treat mode

So, here is our funny Halloween story. As you can see we dressed up as hippies. Jared likes to really get into his costume and candy presenting...shall we say mode... we knew it would be rainy and borrowed a canopy from his sister. Jared spent about 30 minutes setting up. He had a shag rug, lava lamp, swing chairs, strobe lights, Halloween decor..It looked pretty dang good. Then out of now where the wind picked up blowing the canopy away (by the way we are now buying a new canopy for his sister). Jared started yelling for me to come help him take it down. So, I ran outside, by now it's raining pretty good and lightening also. We're trying to hang on to the canopy and take it down at the same time when it started HAILING!! My first instinct was to run inside but we had to pick up all the stuff! So there Jared and I are drenched, cold and screaming --hail hurts. When we finally made it inside we couldn't stop laughing.
Jared still got his fun--when we took Gannon around the neighborhood he really got into his hippie part :)

Needless, to say we all had a great time!

No Hair

We did it....and I was so sad. We shaved Gannon bald. His hair was kind of a mess and not growing in so well so we decided we'd start from scratch. It took my little baby boy and turned him into a big boy. I wasn't ready for that :( I'm glad to say it's been about a month now and growing in great! [That poor kid has had more people rub his head than I could count. Too bad I couldn't charge a little money :)]
Right after the buzz he'd keep touching his head and saying "no hair, no hair". It was cute though, randomly he'd say "Thanks mom, Thanks dad for my hair cut"

Yep, that is our little Mac, and yes the horse is moving, and yes I am right at this moment having a mild heart attack! She has now been vaulting for 5 years! She absolutely loves it and has improved a lot. I love to watch her preform.

Renaissance Festival

Last weekend our family headed up to Ogden. McKenna was preforming at the Renaissance Festival. We decided to make a weekend of it. We had a great time! It was really nice to get away and just spend time together. In addition to the great sites we saw we had fun hanging out at the hotel pool.



The Festival itself was really fun (not as good as the one in Arizona--but pretty cool). There is a story behind the picture of Gannon. We were walking down the little path when this man approached Gannon and wanted to "Knight" him. He made him kneel on a little pillow, he had him pinkie promise to be a good Knight and then sealed the whole deal with his finger print. Gave him a sword and then turned to us and said "that'll be 5 bucks". (Meanwhile a woman had taken Kennedy off to the side and was making her a fairy.) So my 5 bucks quickly became 10. I was so taken back.....I didn't know whether to be mad or impressed with his marketing. Gannon took the pleage to heart--only I think he may have been a dark knight-- many a knight was hit from behind so I figured it was worth the 5 bucks to watch grown men run from a 3 year old that approches and says "FIGHT".

The jousting was really good too. I didn't realize it was an actual sport. Our show had a near catastrophe which only added to the realism.

Ok, this was the BEST children's museum I have ever been to so far. My family was grumbling a little when I suggested we check it out. But we ended up spending three hours and even Gunnar said he had fun--in fact they already want to know if we can go back! You might be able to tell from the pictures that McKenna had way tooo much fun.

Dinosaur Park

I always knew they were little snots!

A little Dino Digging

While in Ogden we decided to hit the Dinosaur park there. If you have never been---totally worth it. Gannon of course had the most fun but all the kids enjoyed it. There were over 50 dinosaurs through out the park.

Gannon Goes to School (Catching up)

Gannon now attends the preschool at Riverview. (Hopefully, at some point we will be able to understand what he is saying!) As you can tell by the pictures he was so excited. I have to admit I was too. Three free hours twice a week. I didn't see the sadness in it. He really loves it. He did get sent home with a note.....let see...his third day....for pushing a little boy into the table. We've talked and talked about being nice. He came home on Monday and I asked him how it went. He told me he kicked "Sam" (this is the same boy we got the note about) when I asked him why he said "Sam hit me". So I knelt down and tried to explain to him that if we get hit we go tell teacher. He looked at me and said "No, I kick".
Ok then, he obviously is a 'I'll take care of it myself' kid.

Little Wild Horse Canyon Hike

This was the funnest hike. We didn't do the whole thing--not enough time. But it was a great hike. I thought I took more pictures...

Goblin Valley

I had never been to Goblin Valley. We went with a family from our neighborhood. It was really cool. The kids had a blast! How could you not with endless climbing and cave exploring. The only down was dessert camping! Not very fun--especially when the wind is blowing.

Love of My Life, Pain in my BUTT!

Well, we have officially hit the teenage years, and I am trying to find the joy in that. Sometimes I look at him and wonder where that cute little curly, blond headed kid went? Where is the little kid who would snuggle next to me for nap time and talk and talk and talk until he literally fell asleep mid-sentence? Where is the kid who could sit and do puzzles for hours? Or the one that love to go for walks with Mom? He has some how turned into this creature that is constantly demanding things, slamming doors, glaring and occasionally daring to smart off to me. He now spends hours gaming, and is too cool for Mom. Wow, time flies! I love that little teenage pain more than life itself. I long for the day when I get the "thanks mom" call. It will all be worth it then right? In his defense I did get a hug the other day---in public. (A quick one but one nonetheless)

The Big 3

I can't believe he's three! Time sure is flying by. It was so fun to see how excited he was for his brithday this year. I hung streamers from his doorway the night before (tradition)-
when he woke up and saw them he just kept saying "thank you mom thank you"
(that sure warms a heart).

Gannon's really wanted a Bolt Cake. I had planned on just buying a topper (you know save some time) but I procrasinated and couldn't find any. So....I ended up making it.
After all the hype of the BOLT cake he took one bite and then said "no bolt cake, no bolt cake" I guess he didn't like it. Or didn't like the fact he was eating him.

School Birthday

Boy this kid's got a cheesy grin---I love it!!

Gannon's last day of Kids Who Count was April 1st. They make the kids a crown and sing. Everytime they've done this Gannon was always upset he didn't get one. Finally he big day arrived! A crown just for him!! He wore it the whole day!

*like the eye? Our first real trampoline mishap. This is actually a few days old.

Aaaahhh Tradition

Easter Egg coloring at it's best.