A weekend of fun!

Well, this weekend my kids and I had a lot of fun! We started it off by going to the Hogle Zoo on Friday. I had told Cole we would go to the zoo this summer. He kept asking when we were going to the animal's homes. He had been looking forward to this for awhile. Oh the drive down Cole was very excited to see the elephants


and the alligators.


While there he got excited about the rhinoceros



and the giraffe. Cali was just excited to be somewhere else than home. I really enjoyed the day for the most part. It was kind of sad to see all these animals in closed areas by themselves. Seemed a little lonely. By the end of our day we were all tired and hot...and ready to get home. Cole crashed as soon as we were in the car. Thank goodness! We stayed the night at my friend Angie's so we didn't have to drive all the way home to drive back the next day for a day at Seven Peaks with the cousins!





Seven Peaks was a blast! I'm so glad we got to go! Cali took off from the start and rode slides all day (I couldn't keep track of her, which freaked me out a little)and Cole played to his hearts content in the kiddie pool. Aunt Kim watched Cole for me at times so I could go play with the BIG kids. That was really nice! Thanks Kim!
It was a day of fun in the sun...ALOT of sun. I have the proof on my back in bright pink!
I really enjoyed being with my family and I hope you all know how much I love you!!! I hope this becomes a tradition!

I suck at this...

I haven't been so good at this for a long time. I plan on giving an over view of the last 5 months. We have had some fun events this year. I always think about posting something, I just run out of time. Not really a good excuse, but an excuse none the less. I will start updating one event at a time and I'll post things as they happen. I'll get back on this blogging horse!
Love you all!!!

Cali is an ALL Star

Cali had a basketball game today. It's like her forth one of the season but I always forget the camera. It's hard to take pictures and yell at the same time so there aren't a whole lot of pictures. Mostly, I just wanted to get on here and brag about my little super star. Previous years of basketball I couldn't really tell if Cali liked playing. She always asked to play though, so we sign up. She always acted like it was so tiring, which it is but she's young. And she was too nice...she wouldn't take the ball even if it was right in her face, she wouldn't put her hands up to block a shot even though she's the tallest on the team. Little things like that, just not aggressive.


Well, this year she has completely kicked it up a few notches. I can't believe the difference! She pushes herself to keep going. She's still a little too nice but we're working on that. ;) She shoots a lot and rebounds like a maniac. She can dribble with both hands, although she favors the left hand and she takes it to the hole. She tries to pass it, but you got to have a receiver for that. The coaches are depending on her a lot. She played almost the whole game today. I know, I know...I'm the mom, I've got a little bias going on.




It's just so great to see her growing. She has a long way to go, some fine tuning, but I think she is going to really enjoy this game after all! It's fun to see her have fun as well. Her team loses every week by a land slide and she is just happy to be playing. The best part is that she is very modest about it all. She thinks her teammates are the stars! I'm very lucky to have such a wonderful daughter...basketball or not! She is such a light to my world. Her and Cole make my everyday! Love you guys!

Winter Fun

SO... this year I have decided to learn how to snow board! I really enjoy it, but it kicks my butt every time. I'm always sore the next couple of days. Cali learned at the end of last year and she is awesome. We went up a couple of weekends ago with a friend so I could learn and so Cali could refresh. My friend gave me a few pointers and told me to practice on this little hill. The hill was covered in knee deep snow...when I finally got both my feet strapped to the board and my butt out of the deep snow, I had to hop down the hill. My friend looks at me and says you got it, lets go up. WHAT? OK, I guess. Cali and I get on the lift. Mind you, I have no idea how to get off the lift (I was given a little instruction) and Cali has no confidence in herself to get off the lift. Needless to say, we fell off the lift. But we are off and at the top of the slope. Now to get back down.
My friend has her two kids, 5 and 7, and I have Cali, 10. After we all get strapped in...the kids take off down the hill, so does my friend to stay with the kids. While I struggle to get up, a friendly guy gives me some words of encouragement. Now to start my way down. I was kind of glad that everyone didn't have to wait for me cause I knew it was going to take me awhile. I started telling myself all the things my friend had told me and gave it my best shot. I was on my butt again. And again, and again. During the short moments of being on my feet, I was getting the idea of how this worked, but I was sure getting worn out by having to get up so many times! That's the hardest part! I could see Cali sitting at the bottom waiting for me. I tried to wave to her and signal to keep doing her own thing, but that was just wearing me out too.
Eventually, I made it down the mountain. It only took me about a....HOUR. Poor Cali! She wasn't going back up because she didn't want to have to get off the lift because she can't do it without falling. So we headed to get something to eat and tried again after lunch. My second time was much more successfull! Although, I wasn't feeling too bad about my first time, it just took a long time. It took some convincing to get Cali back on the lift but we did it! Again Cali and friends zip down the mountain, but this time it only took me 15 minutes and four falls to get down! Yippy! Sadly, Cali and I had to leave after our second run. I left feeling great about the whole thing!
I went again last Monday! This time I went alone so I didn't feel any pressure or have to worry about Cali freezing her butt off waiting at the bottom of the hill for me. I got five runs in and I figured out what works best for me right now. I still have a lot to learn (still can't get off the lift without falling). It's fun to challenge yourself and beat the "it's just too hard" thoughts that try to defeat you. I can't wait until the next time! Cali and I will get up there a bunch more this year and next year I'm going to try to get Cole up there at the end of the season. It will be great to have something we can all do together!
Enjoy the weather!

Old Friends, Good Times

This last weekend I got together with a bunch of old friends from high school. My friend Angie planned it all out. She is the best! It's something I have been wanting to do for awhile, but just haven't! I don't really have a good reason. Anyway, Angie being the great friend that she is, did some investigating and found everyone. It was exciting for me! One person couldn't make it, but we'll round her up the next time! Hopefully not as much time will lapse between now and then. It was funny to see us all fall back into our old roles as friends. We talked about old times, laughed a lot, and updated each other on life as it is now. It was a great evening! I love you guys! Can't wait to do it again! Thanks again Angie!
Here are a few pics form the night!

Temple Lights 2007

I've Been Tagged...

I have been tagged by my cousin Lindsay...


Here are the rules that you must follow if you are tagged:

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.

2. Share 7 facts about yourself: some random, some weird.

3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).

4. Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.



7 facts about myself:



1. I'm a single mom of two beautiful kids. I have a nine (almost 10, holy crap) year old daughter and a 2 & 1/2 year old son. While it might be a trial at times doing it all on my own (with help from some amazing friends), I know that I also have the greatest prizes! There is nothing like seeing your daughter confidently stop a soccer ball from going into the goal or dancing front row center in her dance competion or to see your son hit a ball with a bat for the first time or run to you with those happy eyes knowing you've finally come to pick him up, even if it's only been an hour. Being a mom, no matter the situation comes with it's hardships and rewards! There is no place in life I would rather be, although sometimes a beach does sound better, than a mom at this time for these two special children.

2. I LOVE MY JOB! After so many jobs and so long fighting the teaching idea I finally gave in! I can't believe how happy I am in my job! I don't know what took me so long, but now that I'm here I can't imagine changing careers.

3. I have to load the dish washer a certain way. There is an art to it. It drives me crazy to watch my roommate or the children load it. I have had to learn to not correct others when I feel like they are doing it wrong...everybody has a right to load the dish washer the way they want.

4. I fear I will never meet my soul mate or that I met him and I didn't recognize him and I have lost my chance. Sad but a true concern. I really don't want to do this on my own, but I don't want just anyone, I want the one! The one that compliments who I am and vice versa. The one who will love my children. I don't think I should just wait, or just search...so then what should I do? PRAY! I'll keep you updated! Hopefully there will be a happy ending!

5. I throw myself into the books I'm reading. I get personally involved. The characters are my friends. When I'm not reading or I have finished the book I find myself wondering what they are doing or what could be next. It's a little scary (and maybe an answer to the "no soul mate" question), but I enjoy leaving reality if just for a little while!

6. I'm finding that you never stop finding out new things about yourself! New ideas, new likes, new dislikes, new theories... The list can go on and on. Sometimes it's the same old thing just now you understand why. It's nice to know that it really doesn't get boring as you get older.

7. I'm happy! It's that simple!

Okay...now it's your turn...I tag:

Tori

Maggie

I guess that's it. Everyone else has already been tagged.