June 2, 2013

Let Summer Begin!

We are so excited for summer.  I found myself even feeling a little school schedule burnout during the last couple of weeks of the school year.  We've had a whirlwind of final finishing details to the year, hikes, reunions, and life over the past two weeks. 

Here's an old shot of Capriel's soccer team, I'm not sure I included.  She had an awesome team this season, filled almost exculsively with kids who really wanted to play.  They won every game and Capri scored lots of goals! 

One of Talia's big events over the last two weeks was winning the North End Mile.  This was where all the winners from the 7 gradeschools in the area met at the high school to race.  She again practiced her "hold it back till the end" strategy and gave us all an adrenaline rush as we watched her  pull ahead on the last lap.   Despite running against a strong wind she turned her burners on and passed the number one girl for a final sprint from the back corner.  She probably had to make up almost a 1/3 of a lap to catch her.  It was really exciting.  This was a pretty big deal to run on an actual high school track and to do it on a super windy day as well.  That same week the girls went to a day Track camp and found that they really like track.  One of the high school girls told me that once Capri (who was the very smallest of the groups) went missing and they realized that she had just continued sprinting past the 100 yd race that the rest of the kids had just finished.  All comments I got on the girls from the camp were about how fast they all were.  Maybe we have some track stars on our hands.  I got a kick out of how frequently Talia kept telling me following the race that "I'm so glad that is over."  She has such self-discipline but certainly pays the price in stress. 

Memorial Day we celebrated by sleeping out and having tinfoil dinners.  Even Mom and Dad slept (or tried to) in the tent.  It was the brightest moon I can ever remember and certainly a chilly night, but the kids seemed to sleep well.  We woke up to the obnoxious magpies teasing Mischief mercilessly. 

Here's the girls relaxing on the tramp after just waking up.  Our tinfoil dinners were delishious even though a little late, but very much enjoyed.  Breck in trying to avoid meat created some cauliflower steaks that she marinated and said were tasty. 

Here's Craig having some fun throwing his girls around! 

Monday we headed up American Fork Canyon for the hike to Timpanogos Caves.  It was a beautiful day, not too hot and we had a wonderful time.  We were lucky enough to have Devin accompany us.  The caves were so fun (our first time) and we all were impressed with the sheer uniqueness of the experience.  It is so interesting to think about how long it took to create all those structures and to imagine being an explorer discovering them by candlelight without current equipment.  I was struck by the sheer beauty hidden so deep within the earth, and unappreciated by most.  Capriel worked hard and completed the Jr. Ranger program.  She is becoming such a little schoolgirl, I get such a kick out of watching her read and write and follow directions and programs. 

This weekend we headed back south to join the Harrison crew for a day reunion.  We went on the Bells Canyon Falls hike which was a very steep and rocky hike.  Rhyse, (definitely our baby) was carried by two strong parents almost the entire way (phew)  but Capriel and the rest of the crew ran ahead happily and completely independently hiking with aunts or cousins.  Capriel was like a deer flitting and running around full of life and excitement with everything.  Both Lan and Rhyse got good cuts from all the rocks, but a great time was had by all.  Afterwards, we returned to Reids for a yummy lunch and afternoon with waterguns, volleyball, and chatting.  By the end of the day the kids were filthy, soaked, tired, and happy.  It was a great day!

Grandpa and Dave.  I was struck after this brief reunion with a sense of gratitude to be able to associate with such good people. 

Here's a pic of some of our favorite neighbors taking a picnic in the mountains during one of our last few kindergarten adventures.  Capriel is now a 1st grader-something that chokes me up nearly every time I think about it.  In fact, after leaving her last day of kindergarten and giving her teacher a gift Capriel came into the car and cried and cried and cried.  She had a wonderful year with a good kind teacher who truly understood children.  

Capriel after going with her Dad on a scout fishing trip!  She loves scouts and participates as much as possible!  Craig's huge excitement this week was that his BNI (business networking group) that he started here in Logan has launched and broke a state record for number of members.  He has spent an incredible amount of time creating and organizing and administrating for this group, and his efforts have really paid off. 

The two girls on Sunday with their cute curls.  We were surprised to see that Tali's hair actually held some curl:)

Brecklyn and Coleman.  We love any chance we can get to hang with our cousins.  Breck wore shoes to church today that made her taller than me!  Weird!  I get to work in MiaMaids with Breck now.  It is so fun to watch her work towards her social goals and begin being a part of fun teenage activities.  She is getting excited to go to school and swim for the high school and meet more people. 

Talia and the acrobats during her school play.  This week Talia has figured out a back handspring on the ground.  She still makes me nervous, but she is proving to be a pretty talented little tumbler.  All the kids are playing a lot more volleyball with our neighbors or at parties and they are really getting better-especially Breck!  Landen had a bunch of freinds over Friday to celebrate the end of school.  He is a great host and they seemed to have a ball going from sport to sport and consuming lots of pizza and laughing even more.  He has good friends and is a great friend himself.  He has been spending some time this week watching a nest of magpies that have hatched and working on his geometric drawings. 

The kids have discovered the BYU comedy club Divine Comedy and have been having a riot watching their brief comedy spoofs.  Boy do they love to laugh and then imitate! 

Welcome Summer!