The Silver Spudman

We met our friends in Burley, ID at the home where Von grew up.  Look at the beautiful farms surrounding this place.

Bright and early the next morning, everyone's ready with their timing chip on their ankle.  Just look at how perfectly smooth the snake river is. Mmmmmm...

Jake sports the new participant shirt.  Nice Sunrise!

Enjoying the waiting time before the race.  Good times are starting already.

Derek suits up for the mile swim...

Jake and Derek finish the swim only seconds apart

Off to the first transition...

Now ready to bike the 25 mile ride...

Bike Finished...only a 6 mile run left.

*THE FINISH LINE*

I love how this picture captured the way Derek was working the crowd.  Enjoying himself just a little too much at the finish line...Jake passes him up in the next shot:

However, they finished together with a record time of 2:20.  Jake is awarded 5th place in his age group. AWESOME! So glad I was able to be here.

I Love my SPUDMEN!!

The Five Finishers of the 2011 Spudman:

Hannah, Von, Amber, Jake and Derek

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Summer Snow @ Snowbird

What a surprise it was to find so much snow at the top of the tram this year.  It stopped us from hiking as it blocked all the trails, but the kids really enjoyed playing in it and tossing a few snowballs.

Cute cousins riding down... it's always the most fun to be right in the front window.

At the bottom of the tram, Sara did jumps and flips on the trampoline...

Amber and Madi loved flying through the air...

Sara ventured out on the ropes course with Kelly...

While Darby and Madi rode the chairlift to the alpine slide...

The all-day activity passes are always so much fun especially with your cousins around.

We celebrated Derek's parents 50th Wedding Anniversary with an adult dinner to Market Street Grill.  Judith and Sherm shared with us how they met and told us about all their fun courtship stories along with the events of their wedding day.
What a sweet 'love story'.  They are such wonderful examples of marriage and love.

The girls surprised Grandma and Grandpa with a song called "It's a 50th Anniversary."

A few nights later, we had to celebrate just a little bit more with a fondue dessert bar...I mean it just isn't everyday that you have a 50th wedding anniversary.

Congratulations Mom and Dad! 

We love you!!

Madi and Everett

Sara and Finn

All the Grandkids in their colorful tie-dye shirts.

The Easter egg hunt is always another highlight of the week.  Grandma fills many eggs with lots of yummy candy.

Sara has collected her loot and is extremely happy.

Kelly and Alli playing at the park.

Conner, Darby and Madi on the swings.

Tuesday morning we went down to the Draper Temple to do baptisms.  It turned out to be such a great morning with the teenagers!

Madi and Alli listening intently to Everett talk.  He sure knows how to charm the girls...

What a fantastic week we had just spending time with everyone!

Happy Birthday Alli!

All the girls spent the day shopping together for Alli's Birthday with a little yogurt in between...Later we met Derek and Jake over at The Spaghetti Factory for Dinner! Awesome Day.

Alli, you are turning into quite a beautiful young lady. We love your contagious laugh and dynamic personality.  We all enjoyed CELEBRATING with you!

TREK 2011

A couple of weeks ago, the four of us left on a pioneer trek for four days.

Derek and I had the great experience of being Ma and Pa to 12 youth (age 14-18) from our church congregation and pull handcarts with all our gear while wearing pioneer-type clothing along a Wyoming trail. Alli and Jake were apart of other families from our church.  We joined with another 550 youth and leaders from other wards.  The weather couldn't have been more perfect... 78, a little overcast with light breezes.
The day before leaving on Trek we went and saw the movie "17 MIRACLES" (the story of the 1856 Willie Handcart Company). This movie was very well done and made us even that much more excited for trek.
We walked 29 miles over four days along dusty trails and through beautiful meadows.  The kids in our group were exceptional and very willing to help with anything they were asked to do. I am so impressed with these teenagers...they have great attitudes and very kind hearts.

 

Some of the kids in our group

Jake helping to pull the cart in another family

Lexi and Alli

There were many water crossings which made everything even more exciting.  Great team work in trying to figure out how we could get everyone across and get the least bit wet.

Taking a little break...

Jake's bucket was the envy of everyone.  He attached a stadium chair so he would actually have a backrest.  Pretty ingenious.  If he wasn't using his bucket someone else would borrow his seat until he got back.

 A little guitar time with Derek and all the youth singing. We all enjoyed the break after the long 10 miles we walked on the first day.

All the girls in my family just before the steep women's pull...

The women's pull turned out to be the highlight of trek.

Our whole family group:

Keaton, James, Collin, Aaron, Derek, Nathan, (missing-Austin), Kaitlin, Kari, Jessica, Kelly, Amylia, Olivia and Hannah

Pioneer youth played games (20 questions) as they walked and walked and walked.