IMX Swim Meet

It is time for another swim meet and this is going to be a big one.  The IMX Meet brings teams from across the state as well as a few from Nevada.  This year there are even more kids competing which requires an additional session.  We arrived in plenty of time to find good seats without getting to wet.  Ryder was checked in and ready for warm ups.  

Events for Session 1
Thanks goodness for wipes.  They
clean Sharpie off.

First scheduled event was actually a combined with Event 2.  This meant Ryder was a no show for his first race.  The Heat Sheets, kids, and even the coaches were confused on what was actually going on.  Ryder was very disappointed that he missed out.  There was still one event left tonight that he needed to get ready for.  He swam a good clean race.  Time for some food and a good nights rest.  We didn't need to be back until 12:00 for Session #3.

Warm Ups
Love to watch the arms & legs in
full range of motion.

Take your mark.

Good clean strokes

In the zone
on his backstroke.

He worked hard and was successful in completing each event without getting DQ'd.  Now we have to wait for his finally results that should be posted in the next day or two.

11 Male 100 Free 5th Place Overall 1:20.83  Entry Time:  1:31.39

11 Male 100 Breast 3rd Place Overall  1:51.52  Entry Time:  1:51.87

11 Male 100 IM 1st Place Overall 1:34.01 Entry Time:  1:39.76

11 Male 100 Back 4th Place Overall 1:46.96  Entry Time:  1:32.00

4 Ribbons and the biggest smile ever.  He has worked really hard to compete in the new age bracket.  He proved to himself that he can compete with the 11 year olds and be successful.  6 weeks until the next meet.

Christmas School Concerts

Fun Christmas adventures are over and time to get back to every day busyness.  School activities are in full swing.  First up was Ryder's choir performance.  The kids are ready to get the show started and show off all that they have learned.

Put your hands behind your back.

Or by your sides.
He looks so uncomfortable. 
They sound really good.

Actions are the best.

The program was supposed to last 25 to 30 minutes and they delivered.  Monday arrived with Reganne's choir concert.  No pictures for this one due to bad lighting and my bad eyes in trying to find her in the crowd.  They too sounded awesome!!! 

 It was then off to my work Christmas party.  This year we chose the new Fantastic Beasts... arriving late didn't help me out any.  I was completely lost and couldn't figure out what was really going on.  Rylee & Ryder weren't much help in solving the mystery for me.  We should have seen the Grinch instead. 

I am so proud of the hard work and determination the kids are putting into everything they do.

The North Pole Express

Aka the Heber Creeper Train.  We had a busy morning with Dave & Ryder shoveling the walks again for Grandma & Grandpa.  Then it was off to Provo Towne Center for lunch and a movie.  Lucky us choosing Creed II on a Monday in the afternoon guarantees your choice of seats.  The food court gave everyone their choice of yummy food for lunch.

The movie was great except for the only other people in the theater kept talking really, really loud.

It was finally time to head up Provo Canyon to Heber.

Dinner @ Chick's
WOW large portions!!!

Yummy scones!!!

Time to find the train station and hope that we are dressed warm enough that we don't freeze to death.

Early Birds
Waiting patiently for the train to arrive.

It's freezing outside
We are waiting patiently to start boarding.

Yummy Hot (lukewarm) Chocolate
with Choc Chip Cookies

We are inside and warming up.

Entertainment from Santa's Helpers & Elvis

Selfies

Reganne jumped out of this one.

Santa climbed aboard when we reached
the North Pole

Ryder giving him his list. 

Dave showing his antlers.

What does she want for Christmas?
The movie Alpha.

We had a fun time.  Rylee asked why we didn't do this when they were younger.  I replied that we only heard about this a couple of weeks ago.  It was a fun adventure but soooooo cold!!!

It was now time to head towards home so everyone can go to school tomorrow.  Lucky us the snow had stopped on Sunday so the roads were clear.  Arriving home safe and everyone was in bed by 2.

Kicking Off December

With a fun trip North for a long weekend with Grandma & Grandpa Christiansen.  We had a lot of ideas on what we all wanted to do.  We just needed to be flexible and patient with each other to be successful.  Neither one of these are we very successful with.  We are determined to do our best and have fun.

We are all packed, loaded up into the Hummer, and we were off.  

Check out who is driving...
Rylee was brave enough to tackle the task of driving the Hummer.
On I-15 with a lot of big trucks speeding by.
She did great!!!

Reganne & Grandpa Chris
After a long trip ir was nice being greeted with
open arms and plenty of hugs.

Let's revive an old tradition and go to Gardner's Village with dinner at Archibald's.  We kidnapped Grandma since Grandpa was busy with projects that needed to be finished.  Emily, Morgan, Grace, and Rachel met us there for a yummy dinner and exploring the shops for unique Christmas presents.  Reganne & Morgan were the first to find a special gift for Dave.  The trick was keeping it secret when he has the keys.

It was now time to check out the Christmas lights downtown.  As we drove down State Street Ryder was so excited to see all of the sports car.  He almost jumped out of the car while moving when we passed the Ferrari Dealership.  This boy is crazy for cars!!!  We finally made it to Temple Square and the crowds were already crazy.  A quick vote was taken to drive around instead of fighting the crowds.  One more pass down State Street for Ryder.

Let's check out the Festival of Lights in Spanish Fork before heading home.

Not a great picture of
all the light displays.
The only thing that would have made it better was snow.

It was an exhausting first day full of driving, food, and family.

Sunday arrived and along with it the missing snow from the night before.  Dave & Ryder found snow shovels in Grandpa's garage and began the daunting task of shoveling the walks.  The large white fluffy flakes coming down meant more shoveling before church.

Is this one of Santa's

Trying to decide
The picture with Santa did turn out pretty good.

This year our Santa picture came from the Cabela's Santa and judging from their faces he passed the test without waiting in the crazy lines at the Dickens Festival.  We spent the afternoon hanging out with the MacPhersons as it continued to snow.  The snow continued to fall it was time to head back to Grandma & Grandpa's while the roads were still somewhat ok.

There was even more snow on the way home and we even witnessed a couple of cars spinning around and bouncing off the cement barriers.  Everyone was glad to finally make it to Springville all in one piece.

Hanging Out

Sunday afternoons can be an adventure.  Our usual afternoon is spent with the kids in their rooms listening to music, listening to YouTube, playing games, and snacking.  Dave had to go into work and help with some decorating.  While I was cooking the kids all disappeared.  I finally found them together hanging out doing makeovers.  Ryder took over his and soon he appeared with this crazy face.  He was going to require a lot of scrubbing.  I wasn't sure of the statement but they were all laughing and having a good time.

It's not very often that they all hang out together without teasing, fighting, or wrestling.  It made me smile when they do spend time together and I hear laughing.

(It lasted for about an hour and they were back to their usual ways)

Happy Thanksgiving

It was going to be a great turkey day.  The weather was great or rather perfect for hanging Christmas lights.  Dave & Ryder were busy outside while I made yummy scones for a quick breakfast before dinner prep began.  

The turkey was bagged and in the oven.  Ryder & I decided to wear the dogs out with a quick run to the park.   We loaded up toys, snacks, and the dogs into the van.  We were off...

First stop the elementary school where the fields were locked down.  Next up the park across the street.  A lot of people play football along with their unleashed dogs.  How about the intermediate school?  The fields again all locked down and I refused to climb the fence or lift the dogs over it.

How about the school parking lot and the green space out in front?  Keep their leashes on and throw the ball.

They are off and running

And running

Running, playing, and pooping
Yuck!!!
I had the worst duty of picking up the poop!!!

20 minutes later they were pooped and stretching out on the grass.  Time to head home, check on the turkey, set the table, and find a minute to relax.

Everything smelled yummy and we were all starving.  I didn't get any pictures of all the food.  Yet I couldn't resist snapping one of Reganne enjoying her dinner of hot dogs & chips.

She ate everything on her plate.

When she told me that this was her least favorite holiday of the whole year.  I couldn't asking why??  It's the food I don't like potatoes, turkey, or stuffing.  There isn't anything else to eat except veggies.  What would you like to eat instead?  How about hot dogs?  All the yummy food around and she filled her plate with hot dogs, chips, and veggies.  I did get a smile and she cleaned her plate.

We were all full in 20 minutes and cleaned up for 30 minutes.  There was still time to snuggle up in a blanket and watch a couple of movies.

Sad note there wasn't anything in the brown or black shopping ads that made us want to venture out in the craziness.  Maybe online shopping with be the key this year crowds are not appealing at all.

The Holiday Season Beginnings...

The Jubilee of Trees is always the first event of the season.  It is a great kick off if you are prepared for it.  I am not.  The season doesn't wait for you to get ready instead it forces you to jump in with both feet ready of or not.   It was time to jump and have fun.

Our favorite tree & boy.
It was one for the dogs.

Reganne checking out the smaller trees.

There was a lot of different trees, wreaths, treats, table settings, and crafts for the kids.  We all came home with ideas of what we can do to surprise each other.  

It was also a good way to spend a Sunday afternoon.  Next up Thanksgiving....