Absent....

Sorry about my absence on the blog lately. I have been a little overwhelmed with everything that I am supposed to be doing. I say "supposed to be" because I should be doing everything and I am not even doing it all. I am doing what I can do, and the blog, obviously, isn't one of them.

I have had:

• Sick kid stuff (Madison missed most of the last week and a half of school)
• Work stuff (Yuck!, I even quit again...)
• House stuff
• Summer stuff
• School stuff (Yes, we are still in school but Thursday is the last day)
• Church stuff
• Friend stuff (I went to dinner with friends I haven't seen for at least 15 years. Fun!)

I have had a lot of STUFF, so please forgive me and I will be back shortly. Maybe I could have the Dr. write me a note while she is writing one for Madisons absences from school.

Rain Rain Go Away!!!

Even the ducks don't need to swim in the creek because there is so much rain


I am so tired of the rain! Anybody else with me here? We watch the news and read the paper everyday and it always says: Monday/Rain, Tuesday/PC and rain, Wednesday/lightning and rain, Thursday/TS and rain, Friday/freaking more rain. I like rain but not when it rains for 15 days straight. A nice afternoon summer thunderstorm is nice but not every single day.



However, my boys have come to like the rain. The new thing they like to do is take their shirts off and run around in the rain. I try to make sure they don't run around when it is thundering and lightning but sometimes I can't stop them.



Boys being crazy in the rain, you can tell they haven't had much sun.

Our creek keeps flooding because there is so much water.

Little Red

For the third time I rode Little Red. A woman's-only bikeride up in Logan. We decided we were going to do the 62 mile ride. A couple of the girls in our group wanted to try for the 100 miles. I knew I wasn't ready but I rode with them anyway. We had a great time until 1.5 miles in. My bike started feeling funny. I was hearing funny noises and feeling every bump. FLAT TIRE! We stopped and thanks to Sunny's friend, my tire was fixed in a jiffy and we were back on the road. Things were great until we got up into Idaho and the wind hit. We battled the wind for about 15 miles (it seemed like forever, but maybe it wasn't that long) until we stopped for lunch at about mile 60.



So, we continued and the next stop was at mile 81. Somewhere in between my knees started hurting and my legs started cramping. I was not in any shape to think I was going to ride 100 miles. Then, at about mile 78 my tire went flat again. At this point, I was done. I called Troy and said come and get me. I have never had my knees hurt like that before. So, thanks to my wonderful husband, Troy, within minutes I was sitting on my nice comfy seat in the car (and not on my bike) drinking Diet Coke and eating a snickers. I am horrible, all I wanted was something sweet!



The rest of my group finished the century. Liz, Sunny and Sally. Good job girls and thanks for dragging me the last few miles!



I was a little bit sad at the finish line, it was a bitter-sweet moment for me. This ride benefits womens cancer research. I wanted to ride across that finish line so bad but I knew I couldn't do it this year. Maybe next year!





Sunny, Liz, Sally and me. At the finish line, I love the banner behind.

Sunny and Sally getting Lei'd. So cool! Sunny just had a baby 7 months ago and Sally's baby is 16. It is so cool that they finished.

Good job girls! Thanks for the ride and we will be riding again soon!

***Oh, and Heidi was there too but she had to leave. Heidi I need the picture Jason took of all of us so we can have you on here too. Just so you all know, Heidi is the driving force behind this group. She is the one that got us all there. Thanks Heidi!

Updates

It has been a while since I wrote. Things have been crazy busy with work and school and play.....Here are some updates:

Madison

• She is growing up so fast. She loves to babysit and earn money. She always begs us to go on a date so she can be in charge.
• She is doing really well at piano even though I can't ever get her to practice.
• She has had testing at school this week and next week so she has really been working hard at school.
• At school she is trying to pass off all the things for the Presidential Fitness award. She is killing herself to get them all done.

Gabe

• He is getting ready to start 2nd grade. I can't believe it.
• On his birthday he moved up in BMX from 6 novice to 7 novice and then the next week he was moved up to 7 intermediate.
• In his 2 races as a 7 intermediate he has made it to the main both times and has placed 3rd. We are so proud of him.
• He is always doing something, whether it's digging in the dirt or eating or legos or riding bikes. He is always doing something.

Eli

• He is learning to not play with knives. Two weeks ago he cut himself and had to get stitches. Yes we are great parents and let our kids play with knives. They will learn sooner or later.
• He is done with pre-school and is so ready to start Kindergarten. Maybe it is me that is ready for him to start.
• He gets to go to play with his cousin, Megan, 4 days a week while I go to work. I think he really likes it (Thanks Lori). He also goes to Grandmas 1 day a week, he loves to go and eat her cookies.
• This kid is like Gabe and is always doing something. However, he is usually doing something a little more mischievious.

Troy and Kelli

• We have been busy at work. Troy has been bidding jobs like crazy and I hope that will end soon.
• Troy has also been racing a little bit of BMX and getting some Mtn. Bike and Road biking in.
• I am riding Little Red tomorrow and I am not ready. Hopefully I will still be able to walk after it is over.

Here is a little video of Gabe's race last night. He has the silver helmet on and is in 4th place most of the time until the last straight before the finish he passes for 3rd.