Random Happenings

Since I haven't blogged forever, here is a random sampling of our Haymarket Happenings the past month.

It started with the first day of school. More importantly, my first day with no kids in 14 years.

Ahh...

Here is our street's bus stop.

Elementary School: Ethan (4th grade), Tate (1st grade) and Ashton (Kindergarten)
Middle School: Sommer (8th) and Calvin (6)

They are so cute together and such great friends. Calvin is loving his first year of middle school. He even made the football team being only one of two sixth graders who made it!


Then we went to the Renaissance Festival in Maryland.

Garth is the biggest fan of this annual event. And we love to take him!

Here he is getting ready to win an ax throwing contest. Yes, he did win. He says he was born in the wrong time.


The kids think he is a stud...so do I (minus the donkey hat).

Very tall man...

Our little Fool.

Our Gossip...

Another fool and a sloth...

They were punished and quickly repented.


And then just this past weekend I ran my first triathlon. The only problem is I still haven't swam or biked...maybe next year. Being on a relay was the only way to go...and much warmer.

Here is my teammates: Stephanie (biker extraordinaire) and Vicente (he could have whipped us in any event but since neither of us swim he had to take that slot).

We ended up getting fourth (by 30 seconds...not taking the fall for that one) out of 20 or so teams) and missing the podium...boo.

Garth was sent to Utah to see the BYU game (I won't mention which one). He had a blast with ALL of my siblings (boo again...wish I could have joined in the fun)! Thanks Matt, Mark, Mike and Hilary for showing him a super time!



Why so dorky?

Love my boys!

When Your Happy...

I love the song, "When Your Happy and You Know it..." I am happy. I know it (I am clapping my hands right now by the way). Nothing spectacular is going on here to make me extra happy. No glamorous vacations planned, money is still tight, so are my pants. Kids still think I am a mean mom, the basement has MESS written all over it. And so on.

But I will tell you a little secret:

I have been getting up early these days. We read scriptures with the kids (sometimes only a verse but reading...), get them all off to school without too much craziness (last year I was awaken by my daughter each morning as she sweetly said from the front door, "bye Mom, I love you." Yes, it is true, I was lazy). We kneel to pray as a family. The dishes are done, lunches are made all before 9 am.

I believe more in the council, "Early to bed, Early to rise." I am still working on the early to bed wisdom but getting up each morning is putting an extra spring in my step.

Get a Grip

I need to get a grip and start writing on my blog again. I have been so busy I feel like the most I can do is write a one sentence blurb on Facebook these days!

So much has happened the past month:

1. We moved west
2. Had another child
3. Got another dog (and a horse and a coup of chickens)
4. Garth had a face lift
5. Sommer graduated from High School and entered BYU
6. Calvin went on the golf pro circuit and placed!
7. Ethan finished and published his memoires
8. Tate joined the circus
9. Ashton took over as manager at the local McDonald's (mostly for the free chicken nuggets)
10. I retired from running and eat bonn bonns all day.

Wow! I really do need to post more often!

Maybe next week!

Bunny Day

Finally have a chance to explain bunny photos. We were out of town when the neighbor kid's taking care of Joey hear and see a small animal in his mouth. It ends up being a baby bunny. They find the nest in our backyard, move it to the neighbors safe yard (no kids, animals). Next morning two of the three babies have passed and no sign of the mother. Calvin brings bunny in and checks internet on how to take care of a newborn bunny. Off to Petsmart for "kitty milk" and a bottle. Calvin and his friend Jackson stay up all night to give bunny feedings. The bunny, also known as Thor, lives in their care for 2 days. He passed later the 2nd day and is buried with tombstone (or tombpaper) in our backyard. Precious watching these tough boys taking care of the little creature...