Track Banquet 2016

Heather was looking radiant and beautiful at her track banquet tonight! She had another successful year. She came back from a fractured tailbone injury, missing the first few months of training, to PR in both the 100m and 300m hurdle events. She is exclusively a hurdle runner now, and this picture is missing Coach Knowels and Coach Krissy who are the hurdle coaches. Good work Heather! You continue to amaze us with your strength and endurance through the "hurdles" in life.

Memorial Day BBQ

Kelly was king of the kitchen once again frying up some good food for Memorial Day dinner. Onion rings, tater tots, homemade bacon burgers, corn on the cob and mushroom saute. SO GOOD!

Olympic Sweat

That's Jenna in the white shirt with the towel. She was cheering so loud for her favorite players at the US National Volleyball scrimmage tonight that they gave her a job on the court. She got to sit there next to the team and run out after any play where a guy hit the ground. She wiped up their sweat with the towel. She's such a germaphobe that it was hard to believe she was okay with this!
She can now say she's wiped up the sweat of Olympians. She had so much fun tonight!

Fulton Track Meet for Jenna

 Friends having success in the longer distances

Jenna getting ready for one of three attempts

 Jenna and Rachel Hanson from Moiola days

 Jenna took 2nd place in the running long jump! Woot!

Sarah made a great mascot!

Today was the district track meet for the middle schools. Jenna was a jumper and competed in the running long jump. She did pretty well even though she didn't jump quite as far as she had wanted to. A great second competition in track and field for Jen. We're proud of you Jen!

Beauty and The Beast

Our church friends were in a theater production of Beauty and The Beast, and we got to go see it tonight. Clark Matthews was an excellent Gaston, and Morgan Parker a hilarious Lumiere. Lauren Snow was in the ensemble and did a great job as well. We had a great time! Such talented youth!

Newsie's Practice for the Jubilee

Tonight's practice for the Jubilee was fun for Heather. She's in the Newsie's number, and Sister Holmstrom asked who could do tricks. It seemed the right place for hurdling over some people, so Heather mentioned it to her. Here she's hurdling over one person, and then she tried two. This girl can fly! She's got a part in the trick section, and I know she'll do great.

Hippie Day in History

Heather dressed as a hippie for her History class today to act out a scene. She was playing the role of a teenager in the 60's for some extra credit. She rocked it! And it was fun to be working in the office to take a pic!

YW Medallions - Heather and Melissa

Heather and I received our Young Women Medallions today. Heather did a fabulous job with her Personal Progress, and it was fun to put her table together and reflect on all of the different things she accomplished. As a YW leader, I was able to receive mine as well.  Due to not having the required seminary attendance as a teenager, I was not allowed to receive mine at that time. Fortunately, the church allows us to work on them as a YW leader, or a mom with a young woman in the program. As a leader, I was able to do a table. It was a special experience for me to get my medallion, and especially great to get it along side my cute daughter. Thanks for sharing a little spotlight with your momma Heather. You are awesome!

Tournament Day for Jenna

Jenna had a tournament today. We love watching her play.  She's got some hops just like her sister. Love her bun too!

Les Mis Fountain Valley Vocal Music

The Fountain Valley Vocal Music department had their end of the year show. We know so many friends in the choirs that it was super fun to go and see this show. The first half of the show features all the choirs, and the second half is the Troubadours and a few invited Concert Choir members. This year the second half was Les Miserable, and it was FABULOUS! Morgan Parker was Jean Val Jean and led the entire show remarkably. Many friends had leads. Madi and Kenzie came with to see the show, pictured above with Lizzie who was in the ensemble/Concert Choir. Kelly and Jenna came too. It was a great family activity. Can't wait until next year!

Working on FVHS Campus

It has been fun to have a job here on the campus where Heather attends high school. The principal's secretary made a cute sign for my desk. The work keeps me busy, but is doable. I like clerical work because it feeds my need for organization and order. The staff has been very welcoming.

Dutch Oven Chicken

For a combined Relief Society/Young Women meeting this month, we decided to do a Dutch Oven cooking class since the young women and their leaders will be cooking their own meals at camp. Kelly put together a great recipe with a whole chicken, a yummy rub and potatoes and vegetables. We tried it out the day before the RS Meeting, and it was so yummy. It was a complete hit at the meeting! We won't be able to do a whole chicken at camp, but the meal was delicious and the girls who participated got to see the process.  Kelly is amazing at figure this stuff out. I'm proud to call him my man.

Visiting Graves on Mother's Day

We normally visit our grandparents' graves on Memorial Day, but this year we decided to go on Mother's Day. It was a nice, quiet afternoon, and it seemed like a great activity. Both our mothers have passed, so it was a good time to remember them. Kelly cleaned their graves and we talked about our parents. The girls were good sports as usual. They don't like when Kelly get teary, but I think they like remembering what they can and hearing our memories. We are happy to know that we will be reunited one day.

Jenna's First Official MakeUp Job

Jenna offered to do Grace's make up and hair for Homecoming. This was her first official "gig" as a make up artist. She did a great job! Grace looked gorgeous! Good work Miss Jenna!

Daddy-Daughter Date with Jen

After a busy day with track finals, Kelly took Jenna to Disneyland for a date night. They have a ton of fun together. I'm so glad that they will have these memories. Kelly is such a great dad!

Sunset League Finals 2016

Heather gave her all in the Sunset League Finals today. She placed 5th in the JV 300m Hurdles. Not too shabby for being out half the year and coming back from a fractured tailbone. We're so proud of her dedication and determination to have the best season she could have. Way to go Heather!

Anxiety

Heather has been having anxiety attacks, and they've been pretty bad. She has drawn pictures of what it looks like for her, and she has blogged about how her attacks feel. Kelly hasn't seen Heather in the throws of an anxiety attack, but I've witnessed a couple that have been pretty bad. I don't have any control over what happens, and I am pretty much helpless. All I can do is watch and stay with her to offer comfort (silent comfort because words do not help). Anxiety is irrational, and although she knows that it's still very, very real. I wrote a poem about it today. It felt good to get thoughts and feelings down. A huge release actually.  I'm not going to put the poem on the blog yet. Maybe someday.

Kenzie's Disneyland Birthday

MacKenzie wanted to go to Disneyland for her birthday. Since we have passes, Jodi, Kenzie, Heather and I went to have fun together. Had to post a picture of the ketchup because I asked Heather to get a lot of ketchup at dinner. She got so much we laughed for five minutes. She did what I asked. Haha. Happy birthday Kenz!