Mud Run

I participated in the New Harmony Mud Run on Saturday. The course ended up being longer than a 10K, 6.6 miles. It was hard the first 3 miles, but I felt better the second half. The first obstacle is a pit of mud which caked on my shoes, knees, and hands. It was hard to run with the extra weight and it was gross to feel the mud drying and cracking on my legs and hands. The best part was the muddy water pit with logs across it. You had to go over and under the logs and completely submerge yourself. Fun and cooling!

 Jack took the kids to Guy's fishing class first and then they came up to enjoy the bounce houses and pizza.

 I got second over all in women and first in my age group. I felt good at the end. Looking forward to the 1/2 marathon with Charlotte next month.

My dad and Debbie stopped by on their way home after a trip to visit family in Kansas City. It was a short visit, but I am thankful for the time I got to spend with my dad. We shared a lot with each other and it meant a great deal to me. I love you dad! He gave us two metal swords he forged in his high school shop class. They were in Grandma's house before she passed away. Guy wants to fence with them instead of use them as a decoration.

Memorial Day Weekend

Let's Ride Bikes!

Jack and I drove up to the Guacamole Trail near Virgin, UT, but this time the kids and I that got to ride the trail. Guy wasn't feeling his best, but he still got out and rode the slick rock. Sloan kept begging Jack to take her out to ride more.

 They are doing a good job staying on the trail by following the karens (stacks of rock that mark the trails.)

 Sloan fell a few times, but got right back on the bike.

 I rode with Bonnie, Monte (left), Todd (middle), me, Bob (right), and Cheryl (behind the camera). I was apprehensive about going because of my lack of technical skills, but I did OK.

 I fell twice and this is a pick after the worst fall. Why do I fall and hurt the areas not covered in padding?

After the ride, we cleaned up and went to Bonnie and Monte's house for a barbecue. They gave the kids these drinking cups and Guy is excited to use his when he goes fishing.

Mother's Day

Call your cousins because we are going to Grandma's house!

We decided to finally test out our pop-up tent trailer. We drove to my mom's house in northern Utah and set up camp in her backyard. I prepared the food and Jack cooked it in dutch ovens. While we waited for the food we played Red Rover.

Sloan, Shannon, Chad, Jessica, Tessa, Dennis

Kaelynn, Cody, Jessica (again), Ella, Kayson, Danielle

 The food was great! It was fun sitting around the fire and roasting marshmallows.

 

 I had to steal photos from Charlotte's blog because I didn't think to take any. You can see more at: The Criddle Family Blog

We stayed two nights and headed home in the rain. The trailer lost a latch and started to pop up on the freeway. We just had to drive slowly. The trailer made it a long trip, but hopefully it will be all fixed soon.

On Thursday we went to the Washington City Cotton Days Fishing Derby. I helped Sloan cast her line and I snagged my first fish ever! I was more excited than anyone. Sloan reeled in the fish and then disappeared. No one wanted to touch it.

Then the kids were eager to catch another.

 Guy tried using Sloan's lucky pole and caught an albino.



Guy's first fish!

 Say goodbye to the fish. Guy was very sad to throw both fish back after catching them. He wanted to take them home and eat them. I told him we need to educate ourselves on how to clean one first. Jack and Guy are going to take a fishing class together starting tomorrow.

Guy is still practicing his left-handed t-ball skills. He has a great coach, but he has only one more class. We'll have to practice more at home.

Easter 2011

We took the kids to the Tonaquint Nature Center for an Easter Egg Hunt the Monday before Easter. Sloan still had her stitches in.

 Guy's bucket says his name and it helps to find him in this picture.

 Jack returned from Florida that day. He spoke at a national conference for adoption with Candy Finnigan. She is an interventionist on the TV show Intervention on the A&E Channel. They got great reviews on their presentation. Jack brought home some seashells, a starfish, and an alligator head for the kids.

 While he was out of town, Sloan had to get stitches and I got into a fender bender in the McDonald's parking lot. The other driver is accepted liability and now I can get my bumper fixed.

 The week before Easter was my week to host Joy School and our last week of school. Here are all the kids eating lunch before an egg hunt the final day of school.

 The sandbox is always a favorite.

 Jack got a bike rack hitch mounted onto the back of our pop-up tent trailer. Now we just need to go out and use it.

 On Friday, Sloan got her stitches out. She woke up that day and decided she was completely potty trained. She hasn't had an accident since, including throughout the night. Wow! Girls are easier.

We attended the city Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday. Guy wanted to dress like Indiana Jones. Now he just needs a leather jacket. He said he was going to whip the eggs and put them into his satchel.

 After the egg hunt, I took the kids to the BLM office to learn about becoming a Junior Ranger. We are working on the activities in the booklet so the kids can go back and be sworn in.

 Easter Sunday 2011: The kids found their baskets in the master bathtub.

 Then they went out back to find the eggs they colored and many candy-filled plastic eggs.

 Sloan painted this hatching egg at the last Community Ed class I taught. Cute!