July-how did that happen? I keep thinking that I will come back and start blogging again. It hasn't happened. I think about it. I guess that I am behind in so many things that I just get overwhelmed by one more thing! I need to take some wise advice and not worry about eating the whole elephant-just one bite at a time!!!!
There are quite a few things that have happened in our family since I posted.
I need to write a list of the most important ones. These are not in order or by importance.
Poppa Carrigan's passing
Uncle Duane's passing
Christmas
Visiting Grandmas in Idaho
Easter in California
Lake Powell for Memorial Day
Emily, Dave, and Ashley's Birthday's
School ending
Tennis camp for Emily
Swimming for Justin
Grandma Dalley getting sick and staying with us for awhile
New washer and dryer
Mom's healthy eating challenge
New deck and cover
Manti Pageant and visiting Tina
Trek for Mitch and Emily
These are a few of the things off the top of my head that I want to write at least a tiny bit about! Hopefully, it doesn't take me 6 months to do it!
Monday, July 08, 2013
Friday, May 03, 2013
Time passes!
Wow! I just realized that it has been months since I updated here! I will be back- so much has happened!
Friday, January 04, 2013
Wednesday, January 02, 2013
October-Halloween 2012
October is all about Halloween! Justin and Emily started thinking about costumes and candy!! We had an early freak snowstorm! It dumped about fifteen inches of snow. I had driven Emily to piano lessons in Morgan and returned in a blizzard! I grew up in Idaho so I know a blizzard-this was crazy! Both canyons were closed so there was no traffic moving through for a few hours. The elementary schools were both cancelled due to the roads and teachers that were stuck on the other side of the canyons!
I got to go to the pumpkin patch with Justin and his class. It was fun to watch all the busy 2nd graders!
Cousin Josh gave Justin an awesome pumpkin to carve! Dad got to work with the saw and Justin cleaned out all the goop!
Justin dressed up as a zombie and Emily was a nerd. The sad thing about Em's costume is that the glasses she wore are the glasses(without lenses) that I wore when I got married!
Justin dressed up as a zombie and Emily was a nerd. The sad thing about Em's costume is that the glasses she wore are the glasses(without lenses) that I wore when I got married!
Justin made a haul on candy!
Justin got to go to his first pack meeting as a new cub scout! They went to the fire station. The fireman did a wonderful job explaining all that they do! Justin is so excited about cub scouts.!
Justin's Baptism Day-Oct. 13, 2012
Justin was so excited about getting baptized. This is a very special day for members of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is a huge step towards following our Savior.
Justin was glad to have his Dad baptize him. He was also happy that his grandparents were able to be there with him, along with other family and friends.
Happy 8th Birthday Justin!
Happy Birthday! Justin is 8!!!!
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| The big green machine was a total hit!!! |
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| Justin thought that shoes were a funny gift! He needed them!! |
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| He also really thought we had lost it when he opened a shirt and tie!!! |
General Conference Oct. 2012
We attended General Conference in October. It was nice to have Ashley with us. She was away when we have gone before. I love being in the Conference Center, there is an energy there that is can almost be touched.
This was the first time that Justin was old enough to attend in the Conference Center. He was so excited to be able to be there. It was a beautiful day, slightly cold but gorgeous.
Huntsville Half Marathon Sept. 29, 2012
For the past six years I have talked about running a half marathon. That has been all I have done-talk about it! Well, this summer I decided that this was the year. After I ran the 10K at the Pioneer Day celebration in St. Anthony, I decided that I might as well use that base and go for the entire 13.1!!
So, the Saturday after the 10K I decided I would run 8 miles. I was slow but I finished it! After that, I convinced my friend Tina Spens to run some of the long runs with me. She had already finished two halfs so I knew she could help me. I also finally convinced her to run the race with me! I helped with some of the fee so that she would run with me as my supporter! We got up early most Saturdays through August and September and ran our long distances. I remember the first time we did 11 miles! It was tough! However, I felt so proud of myself. The farthest distance we ran in training was 12. It was hard! The last mile was brutal. However, I knew I could finish the half marathon if I could run twelve miles!
The morning of the race I was so nervous. My stomach had butterflies! Dave drove us over to Huntsville in the motor home(so he had somewhere to hang out for 2+ hours). We got to the start and waited in line for the port a potties. I was so glad that I had made my little arm warmers! It was cold, but within one mile I pulled them off! I heat up when I run!
The first 6-8 miles really went well. It was downhill and very beautiful. At around 8-9 miles it really became a flat, hot course. The race started at 10:00 am, so by the time we were at mile 9 it was quite hot. Probably around 75-which when running is HOT. Mile 9 started getting hard. My brain just didn't want to make my body go. I used some energy jelly beans and they were awful! I will never use them again! They also didn't help!! Tina was such a good sport. She just kept encouraging me, even when her stomach started to really bother her. I am so grateful for Tina, I know that those last miles would have been much worse if she hadn't been with me!
The last 1.5 miles was brutal. I should have used another GU gel pack but my brain just couldn't think straight. I had wanted to make the finish in under 2hours and forty minutes-faster would have been nice! The last mile I kept looking at my watch and knew that I was barely going to make that time. I had to keep moving. Well, I was barely moving! The last .5 mile felt like 5 full miles!
When we finally got to the finish line shoot I was so relieved! I am certain that I was not a happy looking runner at that point! Dave, Kyle and Jessie Gold were there hollering for us! When I crossed the finish line I stopped my watch and it said 2:40:20! I did it! I was very emotional at the end! I started hyperventilating! I had three volunteers ask me if I was OK. It took me a few minutes to get a hold of myself.
I am so glad that I finally worked hard and completed this goal. It was a ton of work. I had one twisted ankle(beginning of 12 miler-made it) and two ugly toes! Lots of talking and obsessing about running. I am so grateful that Dave supported me. I know that I did not talk about much else except running all summer!
I am planning to continue running along with crossfit. I need both-I really lost a lot of strength mainly running. I hope that I can run another 1/2 next summer and finish with a little better time. I also really want to get to where the last 1.5 miles is not an emotional breakdown! So, lots more training to get myself there!!!
So, the Saturday after the 10K I decided I would run 8 miles. I was slow but I finished it! After that, I convinced my friend Tina Spens to run some of the long runs with me. She had already finished two halfs so I knew she could help me. I also finally convinced her to run the race with me! I helped with some of the fee so that she would run with me as my supporter! We got up early most Saturdays through August and September and ran our long distances. I remember the first time we did 11 miles! It was tough! However, I felt so proud of myself. The farthest distance we ran in training was 12. It was hard! The last mile was brutal. However, I knew I could finish the half marathon if I could run twelve miles!
The morning of the race I was so nervous. My stomach had butterflies! Dave drove us over to Huntsville in the motor home(so he had somewhere to hang out for 2+ hours). We got to the start and waited in line for the port a potties. I was so glad that I had made my little arm warmers! It was cold, but within one mile I pulled them off! I heat up when I run!
The first 6-8 miles really went well. It was downhill and very beautiful. At around 8-9 miles it really became a flat, hot course. The race started at 10:00 am, so by the time we were at mile 9 it was quite hot. Probably around 75-which when running is HOT. Mile 9 started getting hard. My brain just didn't want to make my body go. I used some energy jelly beans and they were awful! I will never use them again! They also didn't help!! Tina was such a good sport. She just kept encouraging me, even when her stomach started to really bother her. I am so grateful for Tina, I know that those last miles would have been much worse if she hadn't been with me!
The last 1.5 miles was brutal. I should have used another GU gel pack but my brain just couldn't think straight. I had wanted to make the finish in under 2hours and forty minutes-faster would have been nice! The last mile I kept looking at my watch and knew that I was barely going to make that time. I had to keep moving. Well, I was barely moving! The last .5 mile felt like 5 full miles!
When we finally got to the finish line shoot I was so relieved! I am certain that I was not a happy looking runner at that point! Dave, Kyle and Jessie Gold were there hollering for us! When I crossed the finish line I stopped my watch and it said 2:40:20! I did it! I was very emotional at the end! I started hyperventilating! I had three volunteers ask me if I was OK. It took me a few minutes to get a hold of myself.
I am so glad that I finally worked hard and completed this goal. It was a ton of work. I had one twisted ankle(beginning of 12 miler-made it) and two ugly toes! Lots of talking and obsessing about running. I am so grateful that Dave supported me. I know that I did not talk about much else except running all summer!
Fall Football! 2012
Football!
Football takes over our lives from August through October!
We were very glad to be able to watch Mitch play this year! He managed the make the
entire season without getting hurt!
Dave and Justin loved their Morgan Pride hair!! It kept their heads extra warm!
Saturday, December 15, 2012
So Tragic
I am so behind in documenting here on this blog. I have wanted to get caught up but have put it off.
I have decided that I need to express my feelings about this tragedy, even if I am not caught up.
Yesterday, December 14, there was a tragic rampage-shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut. 20 children were shot and 6 adults before the shooter killed himself.
I am a mother of four children. I have sent my children out of my door to school for the past fifteen years. I have said, "I love you-have a good day" every single one of those days. I then go about taking care of business at home, assuming that my children are learning and safe. I hear the bus and welcome them home.
Yesterday my confidence and trust about sending my children out into the world was shattered. It has been shattered before, however, there always seemed to be enough big pieces that were left over to keep going.
In 1999 there was the tragic shooting at Columbine High School. Along with our nation, I was shocked that such a horrible thing could happen-anywhere, but especially a school.
I remember 9/11. I remember wondering if I should go and get Ashley from school. I remember being so grateful when I watched her get off of that bus. I watched too much news coverage.
As the years have passed more and more tragedy's have happened. Shooting after shooting in post offices, malls, schools, colleges, tiny Amish schools, public political rally's, movie theaters. It seems that these horrible acts are becoming so common that it is happening on a regular basis. This week alone there were two.
I am an educator by profession. Twenty years ago I did my student teaching in a third grade classroom. I remember very clearly the day that we had an "intruder drill." I remember being instructed to have the children gather behind the wall behind the teacher's desk. I remember thinking how awful it was that we needed to teach our kids this. This was BEFORE the Columbine tragedy. Before all of the terrific scenes that have played out since. I remember thinking how scary it would be, but I also remember being naive enough to think something terrible could never really happen.
Time moved forward. Columbine's tragedy happened it 1999. Ashley was barely in school. By the time Ashley was in high school multiple massacres had happened. Right before school started the sports teams all participated in a "shooter drill".It was the first time the district had had this type of drill. It was actually called a "shooter drill." All the kids that played sports were involved in the drill. They all knew it was happening. They had all been instructed on what to do. Ashley came home that day a very scared fourteen year old. She told me about the drill. How it transpired, what they did. She said, "Mom, I knew it was fake, and it was so scary!" I remember having the thought that never in my life did I ever worry about being shot. I grew up in a time when everyone hunted. At any given time you could go into the school parking lot and find a rifle across the back window of a pickup truck. Never did I fear that someone would come into that school and open fire. Now my child was having a drill to help them know what to do.
Hearing about this latest tragedy yesterday has shaken me to my core. A twenty year old walked into an elementary school and opened fire. An elementary school! All the children were between five and nine years old. As I heard the door open I was so relieved to see my big sixteen year old walk into my house. I watched the clock slowly tick as I waited for the bus that would bring Justin home. I walked to the bus stop. While I waited for that bus I cried. My sweet, busy boy would be getting off of that bus. The parents of twenty children in Connecticut were not having that experience. They were waiting in a fire station awaiting the news identifying their children. They all knew that if they were there that their children were among those that were dead. They knew that they would never again hold their child. The presents that they had gotten for Christmas would never be opened.
As I waited, the tears streamed down my face. I have never been so relieved to see that little boy jump off that bus. He had no idea why I was at the bus stop. I don't usually wait for him. He gave me a hug and went on his way. As far as I know he and the others were oblivious to the tragedy that had transpired earlier in the day. I am grateful that they don't know.
Sadly, however, I know. I know that every single day that I send my little family out into the world that they are at risk. I know that there are crazy people out there. I remember after 9/11 feeling very angry. I remember not wanting to allow the terrorists to make me feel afraid. I didn't want to have my life taken over by fear.
I don't feel that strong today. I want to keep my family close by. I want them to never have to leave my house ever again. I am reminded of my wedding day when the officiator married us. He said," Your home will become a sanctuary, the only place that your children are truly safe." I have never forgotten that. That time has come.
How do we keep going? How do we continue to live? How do we allow our children to go to school? Do we? Do we go shopping? How do we not live in fear?
I don't have any answers. I don't know how we continue. I know that I am not confident that my children are safe at school. I know that our high school is a horrible place. I know that there is a risk every single day. How do we keep going? I feel exhausted and completely spent.
I also realize that I am a lucky mom. My children are home. My children have played Lego's, played the piano, played video games, eaten, fought, hugged and made messes. My children are here with me. I tucked them all into bed last night. I got to tell them all that I loved them and then looked at their sleepy faces when they woke up this morning.
I guess that we keep going on because it is what we have to do. We look at their faces and keep trying to help them plug through this life. Even when we are tired, we keep fighting the dragons because we love them. We keep keeping on because really we don't have much choice.
We do it because we love them.
I have decided that I need to express my feelings about this tragedy, even if I am not caught up.
Yesterday, December 14, there was a tragic rampage-shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut. 20 children were shot and 6 adults before the shooter killed himself.
I am a mother of four children. I have sent my children out of my door to school for the past fifteen years. I have said, "I love you-have a good day" every single one of those days. I then go about taking care of business at home, assuming that my children are learning and safe. I hear the bus and welcome them home.
Yesterday my confidence and trust about sending my children out into the world was shattered. It has been shattered before, however, there always seemed to be enough big pieces that were left over to keep going.
In 1999 there was the tragic shooting at Columbine High School. Along with our nation, I was shocked that such a horrible thing could happen-anywhere, but especially a school.
I remember 9/11. I remember wondering if I should go and get Ashley from school. I remember being so grateful when I watched her get off of that bus. I watched too much news coverage.
As the years have passed more and more tragedy's have happened. Shooting after shooting in post offices, malls, schools, colleges, tiny Amish schools, public political rally's, movie theaters. It seems that these horrible acts are becoming so common that it is happening on a regular basis. This week alone there were two.
I am an educator by profession. Twenty years ago I did my student teaching in a third grade classroom. I remember very clearly the day that we had an "intruder drill." I remember being instructed to have the children gather behind the wall behind the teacher's desk. I remember thinking how awful it was that we needed to teach our kids this. This was BEFORE the Columbine tragedy. Before all of the terrific scenes that have played out since. I remember thinking how scary it would be, but I also remember being naive enough to think something terrible could never really happen.
Time moved forward. Columbine's tragedy happened it 1999. Ashley was barely in school. By the time Ashley was in high school multiple massacres had happened. Right before school started the sports teams all participated in a "shooter drill".It was the first time the district had had this type of drill. It was actually called a "shooter drill." All the kids that played sports were involved in the drill. They all knew it was happening. They had all been instructed on what to do. Ashley came home that day a very scared fourteen year old. She told me about the drill. How it transpired, what they did. She said, "Mom, I knew it was fake, and it was so scary!" I remember having the thought that never in my life did I ever worry about being shot. I grew up in a time when everyone hunted. At any given time you could go into the school parking lot and find a rifle across the back window of a pickup truck. Never did I fear that someone would come into that school and open fire. Now my child was having a drill to help them know what to do.
Hearing about this latest tragedy yesterday has shaken me to my core. A twenty year old walked into an elementary school and opened fire. An elementary school! All the children were between five and nine years old. As I heard the door open I was so relieved to see my big sixteen year old walk into my house. I watched the clock slowly tick as I waited for the bus that would bring Justin home. I walked to the bus stop. While I waited for that bus I cried. My sweet, busy boy would be getting off of that bus. The parents of twenty children in Connecticut were not having that experience. They were waiting in a fire station awaiting the news identifying their children. They all knew that if they were there that their children were among those that were dead. They knew that they would never again hold their child. The presents that they had gotten for Christmas would never be opened.
As I waited, the tears streamed down my face. I have never been so relieved to see that little boy jump off that bus. He had no idea why I was at the bus stop. I don't usually wait for him. He gave me a hug and went on his way. As far as I know he and the others were oblivious to the tragedy that had transpired earlier in the day. I am grateful that they don't know.
Sadly, however, I know. I know that every single day that I send my little family out into the world that they are at risk. I know that there are crazy people out there. I remember after 9/11 feeling very angry. I remember not wanting to allow the terrorists to make me feel afraid. I didn't want to have my life taken over by fear.
I don't feel that strong today. I want to keep my family close by. I want them to never have to leave my house ever again. I am reminded of my wedding day when the officiator married us. He said," Your home will become a sanctuary, the only place that your children are truly safe." I have never forgotten that. That time has come.
How do we keep going? How do we continue to live? How do we allow our children to go to school? Do we? Do we go shopping? How do we not live in fear?
I don't have any answers. I don't know how we continue. I know that I am not confident that my children are safe at school. I know that our high school is a horrible place. I know that there is a risk every single day. How do we keep going? I feel exhausted and completely spent.
I also realize that I am a lucky mom. My children are home. My children have played Lego's, played the piano, played video games, eaten, fought, hugged and made messes. My children are here with me. I tucked them all into bed last night. I got to tell them all that I loved them and then looked at their sleepy faces when they woke up this morning.
I guess that we keep going on because it is what we have to do. We look at their faces and keep trying to help them plug through this life. Even when we are tired, we keep fighting the dragons because we love them. We keep keeping on because really we don't have much choice.
We do it because we love them.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Mitch's 16th Birthday
September 15th was Mitch's 16th Birthday!
How did that happen? I Remember parent's older than us, when our babies were tiny telling us to "enjoy them, they grow fast!" I never really understood it until we had a little time and age on us. It is hard to believe that this big 6'3" young man is the same little white haired boy from not so long ago!!
We had a suprise party with some of his friends. They did actually surprise him so that was fun. They played a scavenger hunt all around the neigborhood and then watched--Football!
It has happened again! I have been gone too long! I have things to update-not even sure all that I have missed! Something is up with me adding pictures so I will try and figure that out!
So- since school started we have:
*played football---lots and lots of football! That is coming to an end. Just in time for freezing winter.
*Emily started tennis lessons
*We went to Flaming Gorge for Labor Day Weekend
*Mitch had his 16th Birthday!(wow-that went fast)
*I finally ran a HALF MARATHON!!!
*I had a birthday
*We went to General Conference(most of us)
*Justin had his 8th Birthday
*Justin got baptized-my baby got baptized!
*We went to Sand Hollow for Fall Break
These are a few highlights-hopefully, I can write about most of them-with pictures!!!
So- since school started we have:
*played football---lots and lots of football! That is coming to an end. Just in time for freezing winter.
*Emily started tennis lessons
*We went to Flaming Gorge for Labor Day Weekend
*Mitch had his 16th Birthday!(wow-that went fast)
*I finally ran a HALF MARATHON!!!
*I had a birthday
*We went to General Conference(most of us)
*Justin had his 8th Birthday
*Justin got baptized-my baby got baptized!
*We went to Sand Hollow for Fall Break
These are a few highlights-hopefully, I can write about most of them-with pictures!!!
Monday, September 10, 2012
First Day of School!! August 23, 2012
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| First Day of School! |
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| Emily is turning into such a beatiful girl! She is MUCH taller than her mother now! She measures in at 5'71/4"! |
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| Where did the baby go? He is now a big second grader! |
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| These two boys!! They have such fun together! We are so glad that the Wilkensens moved in across the street! |
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| This is what their picture session turned into!!Silly, silly boys! |
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| There they go! Just like that another summer ends and another school year begins! |
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