Memorial Day @ Zions

The park is going to be full!!! There will be no parking!!!  All valid reasons not to take  a Sunday drive to Zion's National Park.  We decided to give it a shot and hope for the best.  

There was definitely no parking to be had in town or by the signs in the park.  There were people everywhere.  Maybe if we have lunch and then try again we might have better luck.  We still couldn't find any parking but at least our bellies were full and we decided to drive through the tunnel and head home.

Welcome!!!

Coming out of the tunnel we spotted an opening right by the Overlook Trail and the perfect spot.  Ryder, Reganne, Dave, and I headed off.

Look how far we are up.

Needing a break

Being asked to participate
in this man's book project.
Who knows what you will encounter on a trail in Zion's.

She made it to the top.
Along with with us.

Snapping pictures
before the storm blows in.

The picture doesn't lie.
This is a beautiful spot.

Trying to find some shade?
Or hiding?

Grafton
The Ghost Town.

It was a great afternoon spent outside enjoying the sunshine and dust.  This is going to be our year to explore closer to home.  Maybe see what all those people traveled so far to see an enjoy.

Road Trip Saturday

Here it is Saturday again and time for another road trip.  This weekend were are headed North instead of South.  Grandma has been sick, Bryan & Becca have been in the state time to have a little party and visit.

The light is too bright.
I want to sleep.

Riding Uncle Larry's horse
Quincy & Ryder

Still having fun.
Not so sure about Uncle Larry.

Close Ups

It was fun to visit and eat yummy treats.  Grandma is also on the road to recovery and will hopefully continue that way.  Thank goodness this is a long weekend and we have another couple of days to rest up for another long week ahead of summer vacation.  Ohhhhhh waittttt....This will be only the first week.

LC Memorial Swim Meet

The end of school brings the next long course swim meet in Cedar City.   The decision we had to make was what should we wear??  Flip Flops or Jackets??  We brought both just to be safe.  The meet officials decided to start earlier and hopefully avoid going late into the night to finish the Friday session.  That means to Ryder we have to be even earlier so as not to miss anything.

Welcome Back!!!
All is quiet for a minute or two longer.

That minute is over
and all is churning.

The whistle blows
and
it's time to swim!!!

Timing sheet
for the 400 Freestyle

It was a long session being an official.  Not many breaks or even snacks.  We were kept busy trying to watch for clean swims.   The biggest problem tonight was the backstroke and staying on their backs.  Ryder did awesome by shaving time off of each event.  If he keeps this up him may just go to State.

#2 Mixed Open 200 Freestyle 1st Place in Heat, 88th overall, 3.12.67 official time

#4 Mixed Open 200 IM 2nd Place in Heat, 77th overall, 3.41.28 official time

#8 Mixed Open 400 Freestyle, 4th Place in Heat, 64th overall, 6.52.74 official time

It was a great night watching Ryder as he achieve the goals he is working on each day at practice.  It also amazes me how much he has learned from his coaches in just a few short weeks.

School Is Out....

This is a moving target this year.  Gone are the days that everyone finishes at the same time and day.  Rylee finished up on Monday with all her last minute finals.  Tuesday was yearbook pick up day if all your fees & fines had been paid.  No need to attend Wednesday & Thursday unless you want to hang out and sign yearbooks.  Rylee declined and wanted to sleep in.

Reganne finished checking out from all her classes on Tuesday and picked up her yearbook.  There was a school breakfast and final assembly on Wednesday.  Come back on Thursday to hang out and sign yearbooks.  She also declined to sleep in.

Ryder was on a different track all together.  They had parties, carnivals, assemblies planned for the whole week.  The weather didn't get the memo.  STEM Field Day & Fifth Grade Dodge Ball Game were cancelled due to rain.

Fifth Grade Assembly

One final project for the year.

Check out the inside
all built to scale.

5th Grade Teachers
are awesome with all the cereals to choose from.

Last day of elementary school!!!
Where is your jacket???

School's Out Lunch
Ryder, Dave, and I.

It was a soggy last day of school.  Everyone wore long sleeves, jackets, and even sweatshirts.  Reganne had her lunch date on Wednesday with her friends at Port of Subs.  Rylee was a moving target and missed out.

It is now 12 weeks of summer vacation.  Let's hope summer weather soon arrives so we can be outside soaking in the rays, playing in the water, and complaining that it is way too hot to be outside.

Road Trip

It has been while since we went on a road trip even for a day.  Sarah & Mike were going to be in Las Vegas celebrating Caiya's 21st Birthday with her boyfriend Morgan.  Dave, Ryder, and I hit the road for some shopping, lunch, and best of all family time.  It is much easier to drive to Las Vegas than Rock Springs to visit.

Ryder found him a sports car.
He is in heaven!!!!

Brother & Sister
two peas in a pod.

Good lookin bunch

It was a great afternoon with good food, warmer weather, and the best part family time.  

We missed the girls but Rylee had a Princess Tea Party.  Reganne wasn't feeling very good and didn't want to make a long drive. 

Busy Girl....

Reganne was having a busy month.  End of year concerts, Honors Night, and piano recitals.  She is not one that loves to be on stage but with a lot of persuasion we got her to attend each of nights.

Honor Roll
for accumulative GPA of 3.75 to 4.00

Shaking hands with
the DHMS Vice Principle & Principle

DHMS Mixed Choir
They sounded really good.

First piano recital

She has really been out of her comfort zone lately.  The most amazing thing is to watch her grow and learn new things.  She makes us to proud to be her parents.  What can she achieve over the next 4 years???

Swim Wars & Swim A Thon

After the Golden Goggles Banquet it means it's time for fundraising.  Ryder has always been eager to get out there.  This year was a little rough with most people out of town or not home in the evenings after swim practice.  He did make his goal just in time for the swim a thon.

Sign in started at 4:00 at WCCC there weren't many kids this year.  Oops my mistake by they all came in after us.  Ryder always has to be there early.  The swimmers were ready to get started.  The timers were trying to find a comfortable spot without getting to wet.

The whistle blew and they were off.  Ryder & I can't agree on how far they had to swim.  To him it felt like 5 miles.  I think it was closer to 2 miles.  He did take a few breaks to answer questions and win a few prizes.  Then it was back into the pool and complete more laps.    He completed and was tired, hungry, and a little angry that I let his towel wet.

Dinner break and then time to party....

Dunking Tank

Ryder's up

Missed...

and he is down!!!

They had fun dunking each other and chasing each other around the pool.  Ryder had a suit malfunction and we called it a night.  We didn't do the Lock In Lights Out this year since I had all my service hours in.  Ryder was exhausted and ready to crash into bed.

2019 Iron Man

A week after being crowned they new royalty have their first assignment the Iron Man.  They were going to be at the end to present the winners with their medals.  First up was a get to know you breakfast at Black Bear Dinner.  There was a little girl that was fascinated by their crowns and wanted a picture with them.

Cute Girls
and budding friendships.

Onto the Iron Man and to find their spot.  It's still early so more time for more pictures.  Rylee only shared the ones she thought were good of all of them.

The Girls & Mayor Pike

This will probably the first of many photo ops with him.  They were finished by noon.  She had a few good stories to share.

The Contract
&
List of events

It's going to be busy summer full of parades, country fair, and maybe a few things thrown in.  I am looking forward to watching them grow this year.

Graduation Day!!

We were invited to celebrate Jacy & Spencer's graduation from SUU on May 3rd.  There was a full day of activities and we made it to the final ceremony.  The parking lots were so full with not only cars but people running in every direction to meet up with their groups.  Lucky for us Blake was watching for us.  We found awesome seats with a full view of the stage.

Empty of graduates.

Can we find their names?
It took a little while.

Love those smiles
and
they worked hard.

Getting her diploma

Where did 4 years go?

We were so grateful we could be there and applaud them for all their hard work and dedication.  Their new adventures are waiting for them.  We only hope that they don't move to far way.

Awesome April

April has been a crazy busy month full of new adventures.  There are a more snapshots into the windows of our craziness.  

Mom makeover
courtesy of Reganne.
Her one complaint is that my hair is way to short to
do anything with.

School picture making a recycling project.

Crazy heels for the pageant.
We were really lucky that they fit.

Completed project

Give Me Liberty Achievers
All their hard work and a lot of memorization.

First Aid Merit Badge
Hands on session
Thank you Sis Seegmiller

5th Grade
Math in the Dark.

All the contestants!!!

Selfies!!

This has been an exhausting month.  It has also been a truly amazing month with so much growth, strength, and of course smiles.  We will march in to May willingly and happily.