2015 two hundred seventy-three

Fiery HOT does not even come close to describing this ghost pepper sauce Sean Miller gave Cade.  This stuff is so intense it creates blisters on your tongue if you get more than a little dab or it isn't diluted in a liquid.  Just ask this boy right there.  A little bit doesn't go a long way, a little bit is way too much!

2015 two hundred seventy-two

Tonight we had the Yoders over for dinner.

Mick and Cade have been home teaching them for a while and we all love their family.

Since Abby is taking Mandarin Chinese at school Rose had to check her work and make sure they are teaching her right!

 I love this group!

2015 two hundred seventy-one

I had to send these journal entries to my Mom today.  Cal loves Boston so much and apparently he's the only subject worth writing about.  There were many more similar gems but I narrowed it down to these 4.  

2015 two hundred seventy

Our bookend best buddies showing off one of their tricks

2015 two hundred sixty-nine

Race Day!

This is the second time I've done the Saints and Sinners Half-Marathon here in Vegas.

My SIL, Zina, came down again to run it and Kristen and Megan from my ward were my training partners.  We had great training with no injuries, etc. and then today the weather didn't cooperate!

Here we are before...we should have been suspicious with the sun already beating down on us at 6 am.  Last year we were all bundled up at the starting line.

We did it!  It was sooo hot during the race we all wondered if we would finish & actually thought we might die of thirst.  From about mile 2 on my head felt like it was going to explode it was so overheated.  I kept dumping water on the top of my head every time I hit an aid station and that would barely get me through until the next one.  My time was about 10 min. longer than last year, but I definitely had nothing left when I crossed the finish line. 

 It was kind of a bummer when I came through that no one was there and the crowd was really mellow.  Mick and the kids were late and I was the first one of our group to finish, so that part was kind of anticlimactic, but I could not have been more relieved to be done!!  There's nothing like that post race feeling!  Oh, and my family did show up eventually.  Yay!  I'm sure I'll forget all about the negative aspects of today's race and be out there again soon enough.  I did think of 13 people-one during each mile-again this year.  It really helps when I'm running with a more focused purpose like dedicating a mile to someone I love.

Later on that day, we cheered Cade on during his basketball game.  He did awesome!

We all slept good after a packed day!

2015 two hundred sixty-eight

Game On!

 Friends are Friends Forever

  

LHS Varsity Cheer Squad

2015 two hundred sixty-seven

Always happy kids (& Mom) when Dad is home in time for pick-up & BONUS-It's free dress Friday!! 
(Well, not for Dad.)

2015 two hundred sixty-six

Check out this fancy breakfast for dinner courtesy of Cade!  He did a really impressive job!

2015 two hundred sixty-five

Bree volunteered to take the class geode home to crack and how awesome is this?  She was so excited that she texted her teacher, Shawna Shepherd, who also happens to be our good friend from the ward,  to show her how cool it was inside!  Her class was really excited when she took it back to school the next day.

2015 two hundred sixty-four

Art on display by Breezers

 

Art on display by Briggers
We are pretty sure he has a hand in sunsets as amazing as this! 

2015 two hundred sixty-three

things to remember from a regular day at our house...

Breezers was super happy she's getting away with drinking out of the bottle

 Cal trying backwards style at the piano & actually making it sound pretty good

And some pictures I can't even find words to describe, like this beauty below!

Selfie on this fine Sunday

I love how these two play and imagine the days away when we aren't running around like crazy.

2015 two hundred sixty-two

Cade, Abby, and I spent most of today at an Organ Workshop across town put on by BYU.  Cade thought it was some of the biggest torture of his life to date haha.  Abs and I enjoyed just vegging.  Things started to look up for Cade when we had a delicious free lunch.  

Here is Cade on the big screen during one of the demonstrations.  He did think that was "okay"

2015 two hundred sixty-one

More Friday Night Lights Fun!

Love. Every. Minute.

Abby is having a blast cheering and especially flying this year!
She looks like a pro up there.

 On the boxes

 We seriously can't get enough of watching this girl!

 Two best friends livin' the high school dream.

 Awesome work lady patriots!  Oh, and the football team isn't too shabby either.  Confession: Sometimes I have to remind myself  that there's a football game going on & to look past the cheerleaders!

2015 two hundred sixty

I seriously couldn't hold back the tears when two days in a row friends sent pictures like these while they took care of my kids.  It helped my aching heart knowing everything was good at home and these littles were lovin' life when I was gone for the funeral.  

2015 two hundred fifty-nine

Honoring Aunt Marge

This was such a surreal day as we celebrated the life of one of my favorite people.  Well done, Aunt Marge.  You will be missed more than words can express.  Each talk and musical number was just perfect.

One positive thing was spending time with so many cousins and family members we don't get to see very often.  Many came a really long ways to be here for this occasion. 

 God Be With You 'til We Meet Again!
I love my family!!

2015 two hundred fifty-eight

I love how I can count on Abs for gorgeous nature shots at any time!

Rainbows are one of my favs.
Today I drove with Boston to Grand Junction for my Aunt Marge's funeral.  I saw some of the most brilliant rainbows I've ever seen in my life while I was driving.  Messages from above for sure!  

2015 two hundred fifty-seven

Scripture Study Snapshots

Usually we meet around the kitchen table at 8:30, tonight it was after ten and we all crashed in our room-Boston included!

  I should let my Mom know how handy he is as a scripture holder.

2015 two hundred fifty-six

FAMILY WRESTLE!

A favorite pastime for this bunch

2015 two hundred fifty-five

Cally's first soccer game (& I forgot my camera-this is not a good track record I'm making)!  
He was on fire, as usual.

I love watching his intense little face and his speedy fast legs.

It was awesome having Hurricane cousins and Aunt Jen there to cheer him on.

2015 two hundred fifty-four

My SIL, Jen, is so creative and talented.  

She offered to bring a fun drink to dinner tonight as they were coming to stay for a cross-country meet.

This flavored lemonade was to-die-for!  I couldn't decide which flavor I liked best!

strawberry, cucumber, carrot, regular

Yummm!

2015 two hundred fifty-three

My view when I woke up this morning.  

Cal and Boston-best frenemies forever

2015 two hundred fifty-two

Boston loves sleeping on the cold tile underneath the kitchen table.

He is pretty fun to have around.

2015 two hundred fifty-one

I've been a little distracted since Marge has been so sick...can you tell?

 At least I didn't feel too bad when Cal passed up eating the main course of dinner...again.  
I don't blame him haha!

2015 two hundred fifty

Today we made the drive home from Grand Junction.

There was one happy little boy and one 'not so sure about this' cute dog.

2015 two hundred forty-nine

Today was a sacred day we will never, ever forget as family came from near and far to be with this incredible person who has a special place in all of our hearts.

 Mom had everyone in order for the big welcome home!

Lucky...she got a Cal hug!

 Aunt Marge & my brother, Curt who is always there for everyone everywhere!

 Marge had books and books of pictures of the family she has created through the years.  We loved looking through them and reminiscing.

Wishing all of my sisters could have been here, and so grateful for these two. 

 More good times with the photo albums

These three.  A.MAZ.ING!!

No words.

 True Love-lived & defined by Marge and Steve

 Cade's turn

Trina, my cousin who is more of a sister.  She is a pillar of strength and has always been really close to the spirit.  I caught her really listening to her Mom with her heart on several occasions since Marge wasn't able to speak with her trach.

We can't forget Happy Wendy!  What a girl!

 The Welcome Home Team

Couldn't love them more. 

It is a really unnatural & indescribably difficult to say goodbye to someone knowing it will probably be the last time you will ever see them in this life.  There's no doubt we cried a river of tears.  What a rare experience for Marge to have sort of like a "live viewing" where you don't hold back expressing your feelings & love to those who mean the world to you and have made such a difference for good in your life.  God be with you 'til we meet again, Marge. Love you!