Monday, March 31, 2008

Pinewood Derby!

Pinewood Down and Derby!!!
This past weekend we attended our LAST Pinewood Derby. After FIFTEEN YEARS of going to Pack Meetings and all the Cub Scout stuff, it is officially over! Waa.. waa...my baby's growing up! He was inducted into Boy Scouts, and so we closed that chapter in our lives. I don't think I like this! And to think of all those times I complained about having to attend yet ANOTHER Pack Meeting! Like they say...the days are LONG but the years are SHORT! Where DID the time go?

At least this chapter ended on a GRAND note. McKay won FIRST PLACE in the race! He was pretty excited. Last year he also won, but they didn't give out awards for it. But it wasn't real hard to figure out who placed where. They just said everyone was a winner and ended it at that. And we thought that was fine too. This year they gave an award for the fastest car but didn't mention what "place" the others took. I thought that was the best way to do it overall.

This year, when I told him he had to get working on his car, he informed me he was going to race his car from last year. The Ninja Turtle car he pretty much designed himself. I told him that I didn't think that was a good idea. I didn't think it would still be any good after a year of being mauled and played with, but he insisted! My other boy's cars are missing wheels and other various and sundry parts, but his was actually in pretty good shape. Wow, that was easy! Last year, he helped his Dad cut it out and then I helped him paint it. I was so grateful we didn't have to start from scratch again, even though I honestly didn't think it would hold up to the others. Boy, was I wrong!

Dave is pretty good at this thing, after FIVE BOYS I guess he would be. The other boys all won (or took 2nd) as well. He makes sure our boys do most of the work on the car though. Well, as much as he can stand to let them! lol Can I just say I love watching the dads! They are instructed that they are only to HELP the boy, not the other way around. Um...yeah right! Over the years it has been so fun to see the intensity with which some of the dads get into it. We have a lot of engineers in our community and so at my oldest son's derby, it was INTENSE! I had never seen anything like it! It was a REAL do or die race. The boys didn't even seem to care and were cheering each other on, but you could tell the blood pressure was rising in that room in those males over 30! I thought there was going to be some action going on in the parking lot after! Back then they only did it every three years because it was too much for the leaders to handle. Have you seen the movie DOWN AND DERBY? Yeah, pretty much the same scenario! Thankfully, it isn't like that anymore. The dads have mellowed quite a bit. The derby's are actually fun to watch now...at least ours.

McKay won ever single race with the exception of two that he raced against his bud Carson. In the end it came down to three. His bud Zack, Carson, and McKay. Carson's car was really fast and I thought for sure it was going to win the whole thing. Then it came down to McKay and Carson. One track seems to be faster than the other and so they were careful to make sure they gave them both a chance on each track. I think overall it should have been called a tie, because it was SO close! I am sure if those two raced against each other over and over, the outcome would have been different each time. It would have been awesome to have them tie! It's kinda hard to beat your best bud! This year they were both selected as the District Cub of the Year - McKay for Webelos and Carson for Bears - and that was so fun for them to share such an honor together. But I don't think this will alter their friendship any. Afterall, they are BOYS! McKay was very excited, but pretty much forgot about it by the next day! Aren't boys great?!!! Here's a few more photos....







Saturday, March 29, 2008

I am PUMPED!

Yippee! I did it! I ran 9 miles today! (okay 8.72 but close!) A year ago I never thought I would be able to say that! That is the farthest I have run so far!!! Can you tell I am excited? I am training for the Ogden Half Marathon and so even though I am excited about the nine miles, I am still not ready for that. It will be a little over 13 miles. I went with my friend Jen who is training for the marathon and I know I couldn't have done it without her by my side. It was not the perfect setting for a long run. When I looked out the window and saw it snowing and blowing, I wanted to go back to bed. It was just snowing when we left, but then started pelting hard ice in our faces, which eventually turned into hail, and then some rain. You name it, it did it! My feet (and hair) were really wet by the time I got back, but it really wasn't that bad. And we were only told by two people that we were crazy! I have to agree with them! I was feeling good most of the run and I think I could have gone even farther today. I can't always say that and so I am feeling great after having a real discouraging training week! Sorry, but I am just so excited I had to BLOG it!!! For a more detailed story of the run, you can check out my running blog by clicking here.

A little side-note written several hours after this post:

"But behold, it came to pass that my exceedingly great joy turned to sorrow and lamentations, for my body began to hurteth and become exceedingly sore."

Friday, March 28, 2008

Friday Feast #6

FEAST ON THIS!
Answer and add this to your blog.

Appetizer
What does the color dark green make you think of?

The forest, carpet in my computer room, towels, moss.

Soup
How many cousins do you have?

First cousins ~I have three on my Mom's side and two on my Dad's. I think I got ripped off!

Salad
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how honest are you?

That's a tough one because I cannot lie. But if it comes to being a matter of really hurting someone's feelings by being brutally honest, I can't do that either. So probably an 8.

Main Course

Name something that is truly free.

The Savior's love

Air



Dessert
Using the letters in the word SPRING, write a sentence.

Smoking Pot Really Is Not Good
Stinky Pigs Reek In Nasty Gunk
Surely Purple Really Is Naturally Grand!



Spring Break Vacay


Photos from our Spring Break in Alpine Wyoming with Dave's sister Linda and her family. We had a blast even though it was cold. Sorry it took so long to post, but I was having issues with the photo download program! Issues, issues!

Happy Birthday Holly....

Holly's 40th Birthday Party!
Come on Holly...you can STILL smile! It's not THAT bad!!!


That's better!!!We had our own little private room at Maddox.
Good thing Julie has connections!This is what happens if you eat BLACK frosting!!!
Julie keeping her Grandma and Grandpa Maddox "straight"!------>
My VERY cute and nice friends: (L to R) Sherry, Jody, Steph, Holly, Me, Darcee, Heather, Jen, Robyn, Loraine, Julie
We all had a great time!!! How could we not with great friends and great food???!!!
My little buddy Logan came too! Good thing I had some chocolate!
I'm so glad we have birthdays so we have an excuse to go out to lunch! Not like I ever NEED an excuse, but it's still nice to have one! We had a great time!
Happy Birthday Holly!
Oh and thanks for kicking my butt every morning (well okay three days a week!) You are the only one that could get me up at the crazy hour of 5:30 a.m. to exercise! You are the BEST instructor-trainer on the planet! Thanks!!!

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Just a bit of wisdom to brighten your SPRING day...

A friend sent me this as an email and I had to share because it is so true! This helps keep it all in perspective...
Dusting..

Remember..a layer of dust protects the wood beneath it.

'A house becomes a home when you can write 'I love you' on the furniture.'





I used to spend at least 8 hours every weekend making sure things were just perfect - 'in case someone came over' Finally I realized one day that no-one came over; they were all out living life and having fun! NOW, when people visit, I don't have to explain the 'condition' of my home .



They are more interested in hearing about the things I've been doing while I was away living life and having fun. If you haven't figured this out yet, please heed this advice.

Life is short. Enjoy it!





Dust if you must .......

but wouldn't it be better to paint a picture or write a letter, bake cookies or a cake and lick the spoon or plant a seed, ponder the difference between want and need?!



Dust if you must, but there's not much time . . . .


with lemonade to drink , rivers to swim and mountains to climb, music to hear and books to read, friends to cherish and life to lead.









Dust if you must,


but the world's out there with the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair, a flutter of snow, a shower of rain. This day will not come around, again.





Dust if you must, but bear in mind,old age will come and it's not kind. . .

And when you go - and go you must - you, yourself will make more dust!









It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived.

What are you scattering?


Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Spring Break Vacay!

I like moose... as long as it's chocolate!
We have been away for spring break and just returned. I was unable to keep this updated since I only had internet very sparsely and then it was only for minutes at a time. AND even with that, I had to fight the rest of the family for it! We went to my in-laws cabin in Alpine Wyoming...about 40 miles from Jackson Hole. Yes, I know, you are supposed to go south for spring break to the warmth NOT north to the freezing cold! BUT...it was a lot of fun. Dave's sister Linda and her family were up there with us and we had so much fun snowmobiling, playing games, eating, cooking, moose sighting, and just plain messing around. I took a lot of photos and plan on posting them when I get a chance...(translated as: when I am un-buried from all the laundry!) Going north tends to produce much more laundry than going south. Lots of sweatshirts and heavy clothes as opposed to lightweight shorts and t-shirts!
Stay tuned...
But until then, if you want to read about some of my moose-ing around (stupidity) while there, check out my running blog here ...

And I would love to hear what YOU did for spring break!

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Happy Easter!

HE LIVES!
























Ahhh.........
Hey, will the real Easter Bunny please stand up!





HAVE A VERY HOPPY EASTER!!!

Friday, March 21, 2008

Friday Feast #5

FRIDAY FEAST #5
Everyone is invited to join by adding your own to your blog!
Appetizer
Given the choice, would you prefer to live in the country or in the city?
Actually neither. I prefer to live in the suburbs. I don't like the confusion of the city or the distance from civilization of the country. I like it somewhere in between. BUT...for vacationing, I LOVE both of those!

Soup
Who is the cutest kid you know?
Well, since McKay is sitting here watching me type...I have to say HIM! Actually, I would have said that anyway! I just love to tease him. He is a cutie and a half! He has the cutest expressions and says the funniest things. What a bright spot in my life! As far as the cutest kid when he was two or three years old though, it has to be my Bryce!


Salad
Fill in the blank. I couldn't believe it when I heard ________.
That one of my friends was getting a divorce. I still can't believe it.


Main Course
If you could star in a commercial for one of your favorite products, which one would you want to advertise?
I think it would be for Maurice's....IF I got to keep the clothes I modeled!


Dessert
What type(s) of vitamins and/or supplements do you take on a regular basis?

I take pre-natal vitamins. Don't go jumping to conclusions! I take them for my hair and nails.



Thursday, March 20, 2008

My Buddy Logan

Look what I got!!!
The door-bell rang the other day and when I opened the door, this is what I found in the hands of my little buddy Logan. How I wish I had thought of taking his picture standing there holding this and handing it to me. I thought of it after he had left! It was the sweetest thing. He is such a cutie! We have a little bond going because I give him treats at church. Now sometimes during sacrament I will hear very loudly, "Jodi, chocolate". He is so cute, he will see me and just give me this irresistable smile. Sometimes he sits by us. Other times I just give him the chocolate and let his mom worry about the mess!

This is him at Taco Time when we all went out to lunch. He is obsessed with garbage and LOVES to put it in the trash can. He can spend hours doing it! In this photo he was loading up the orange cone (aka trash can) with any and everything he could find that would qualify as "trash"!

I gave him a video about a garbage truck and according to Jen he watches it over and over and over. Whenever I am with them, he lets me know everytime he sees any kind of a big truck,. And if it's a garbage truck...watch out! He will go nuts! Whenever I see a garbage can or anything related to it, I have to buy it for him! He is such a cute little squirt.
Thanks buddy!!!


For more great photos of him go to Jen's blog.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Prom 2008

The prom...

I am having problems with the slide shows working today... click on VIEW ALL IMAGES and it will open it up.

Bryce Jr. Prom







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