Turkey Trot

The Turkey Trot

I told myself I wouldn't run this race again, yet I got talked into it. It really wasn't bad and I'm glad I ran it. I love that my cousins and family are so active. I can count on each year hanging with this crowd at the end of the race. I had a good time and finished in 58:54. I think that might be my best time yet.

The Goodman clan: Ryan, Easton, Afton, Barrett, Rowen, and Kelli Brown, me, Matt and Karrie and Willie and Jodi Goodman. I love this family of mine.

 

Jack's Football

 Jack's football season was fun to watch. I love that Ryan coached all three teams and was Team Orange Crush. It made it easy to find the teams. Jack is a great football player and really loves the game. He improved a lot this season, since he was playing against older boys. Their season ended in the first round of the playoffs, which was a disappointment, but Jack had fun. He loves football and wants to play for ASU when he goes to college. I hope this motivates him to get good grades and keep out of trouble. Next year we might consider tackle but I'm hoping for one more year of flag football.

Go Team Orange Crush!!!

Jay's Football

 Jay had a great football season. His team was runner up in the tournament. They only lost to one team all season,team Gray, who beat them in the regular season and in the championship game. Ryan got to coach Jay's team and had a blast doing it. Jay's team also won most positive team and positive coach award. Ryan must be doing something right with these kids. We had a good time watching Jay play and watching him improve.
Go Team Orange Crush!!!

Kate's Soccer

 Kate's soccer season was a success. After the first game of tears she finally wanted to play and learn a little soccer. We had a good time going to the games with Ryan and Joe coaching. In fact Ryan was able to coach all three of his kids teams. Kate was not very aggressive and it is hard to teach kindergarteners to follow the ball after they kick it, not just to kick it and then stand there. Kate got better and I hope she likes to play sports.

Kate waiting to get in the game. 

 Most positive team and Coach. Yes, Ryan won most positive coach award but was not there to receive it so we gave it to Joe. Way to go team Orange Crush!!



Ragnar Trail, Vail Lake

 

Ragnar Trail, Vail Lake

The hardest race I ever ran, but so worth it. I love the feeling of accomplishing hard things. There were suppose to be eight girls but we only had a team of six, so we all got to run an extra leg. I ran a total of 17.2 miles on trails. Overall we finished in a time of 22:06:16, 138th overall but third place for our division. Which is pretty darn good since we only had six. We had a good time and I am almost to the point where if asked to do it again I would say yes. Almost.

Kaiji Thompson, Karen Turley, Sandra Stapley, Kelli Brown, Rebecca Garn, me

 

Finishing the race. I was the last runner and it was so nice to be done.

 

Team "on the RAGnar"

Goodman Reunion

Every year around my Grandpa Goodman's birthday, November 11th, we do a Goodman Family Reunion. I love it. I know I have said before that I loved growing up with all my cousins next door and not thinking it wasn't normal. I really thought everyone knew all of their cousins and that their cousins were their friends. It wasn't until I got older that I realized it's not normal and most people only see their cousins on holidays, if then. Not me though I love seeing these people and remembering fun times. I know I am truly blessed to have these great people as family.
The four kids with their spouses. I love my parents and uncles and aunts.
 

The grandkids minus Kathryn and Van. I love that they all come around for this reunion and make it a point to stay in touch.

The girl grandkids minus Kathryn. So much fun.

Most of the great grandkids. It was great to see all of them come running when we told them we were taking a picture.

 

First and second cousins getting to know each other and having fun.

Veteran's Day

 This year for Veteran's Day my Webelos scouts were asked to lead the flag ceremony at Hermosa Vista Elementary. Every year Hermosa Vista Elementary does a Veteran's Day assembly and I have never been. I am now sad that I never went. It was great. My scouts did a great job leading the flag ceremony I was so impressed with them. A sixth grader sang the National Anthem and then some of the students introduced the Veterans that they knew. A couple of dads and grandpas talked about being in the service and I am so grateful for those that are willing to serve my country. I really enjoy Veteran's Day and I hope I can teach my kids the importance of honoring the Veterans.
Jack leading the flag ceremony

My scouts around the flag. They did a great job.

Halloween

Not much to say about Halloween that I haven't already posted about. My kids got dressed up and Jack and Kate trick or treated (Jay didn't want to, so he stayed home and passed out candy). Jay was supposed to be the banana and Jack the scary guy with Kate being the Fairy Princess. But things got switched around and in the end Jay was nothing and Jack just wore the Morph suit. But Kate sure was a pretty princess. We had a good time and I am trying to be more positive about Halloween.

 

Kate in her first Halloween parade at Hermosa Vista. She loved it and I'm glad we get two more parades to go to.

 

Kate's kindergarten class all dressed up after the parade. So cute and so fun.

 I got to help in Jay's class party and one of the activities was dressing up a kid as a mummy. We decided that their mummy looked like Cousin It from the Adams Family. His class was a lot of fun and I wish I would have taken a picture of Jay trying to eat his donut without any hands while it was hanging on a string. So fun.

 

Girls Cruise 2013

What a great time. I really do love my girls cruise and get away. After much debate we decided on a Princess Cruise to Santa Barbara and Ensenada with a day at sea too. We hung out, relaxed, ate way too much food, read lots of magazines and books, and just chatted. Basically we enjoyed ourselves and were spoiled. These friends of mine are great and a lot of fun. Can't wait till next year.

Amy Smith, Lori Hammond, Talena Horne, Eileen Bartlett and Kierra Lewandowski

Fall Break

 Fall Break was nice. We were supposed to go to California but since we got Jack's tonsils out we ended up just staying home and then heading up to Show Low for the last weekend. At the beginning of the week we hung with family. Karrie and the kids all come down and we played with them and Joe and Cassie for two days straight. I love that my kids love their cousins and enjoy spending time with them.

At the end of the week we headed up north. We went to the pumpkin patch in Snowflake, watched Show Low beat up on Blue Ridge in football and then went to Sunrise for free kids ski lift tickets. We waited in line for about two hours to get the tickets but while we were waiting the kids all got to ride the ski lift up to the top of the mountain. It was a great week and although I am sad we didn't go to Cali we still had fun hanging out in Arizona.

Jack's tonstils

 

After many years of debate, okay just a few, we decided Jack's tonsils needed to come out. The tonsils were normally the size of golf balls but when he got sick they would become the size of tennis balls. I may have exaggerated a little bit but they were huge and anytime he got sick the disease would settle right in his throat. Plus he snored like no one's business. It was time. We decided to do it right before fall break so he wouldn't miss as much school. The surgery went well and as Jack was waking up from the surgery he said he wanted to go to school. I think the medicine made him a little crazy. The next few days were rough since he felt okay but couldn't do much. Jack is not one to sit around and was going stir crazy trying to recoup. He did good and now the snoring is gone!!!

The Grand Canyon

"O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds they hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, thy power thru-out the universe displayed. When thru the woods and forest glades I wander, And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees, When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze.          Then sings my soul my Savior God to thee, How great thou art! How great thou art! Hymn #86

I think this hymns says it perfectly. I am so glad I am healthy enough to hike the big giant hole in the ground. I love the Grand Canyon and the beauty and reverence it inspires. I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and answers my prayers.

Looking down the South Kaibab Trail. Lots of switchbacks and lots of hiking. 

 Me, Jodi, Kelli and Kim. A daughter from each of my Grandpa and Grandma Goodman's kids. I love these cousins of mine.

 A few of the Goodmans who hiked across the big hole in the ground. I am blessed to have such a great family and I love hanging out with them. Luke, Willie, Aunt Diane, Matt, Dad, Mom, Jimmy, Jeremy, Kelli and me.

Healing Fields

 Every year on 9/11 I always want to teach my kids about it and maybe have them feel what I felt on that day. I remember being so sad and wondering what was happening to the USA. I remember thinking the skies were so quiet with no airplanes or helicopters flying. I remember being at training for work thinking what am I doing here and being so grateful they sent us home early so I could be with Ryan and watch the news. I remember just feeling an overwhelming sense of sadness and pride afterwards for the people who stepped up and helped. For the firefighters, the policeman, the people who donated their blood and all the others I know I am forgetting.
So this year I thought I would take my kids to the Healing Fields in Tempe. They got out early from school and we didn't have anything planned for the afternoon. It seemed like the perfect plan. I think they may have gotten something out of it but mostly they just wanted Rita's Water Ice. I tried to have them look at the flags and see the names of the people who died but really they are young. I am hoping year after year if I continue to talk to them about it they will remember. I know I got felt something from visiting. I am grateful to live in America and I know this land is a blessed land.

 

 

First Day of School

First day of school 2013 has come. All my kids are in school and now I am a stay at home mom without any kids at home. It has been an adjustment but I think I am going to be okay. The last day of summer it rained all day so the kids couldn't swim but they were able to have friends over and go outside. So that was nice. The Monday before school started Ryan gave the kids their father's blessings. He also gave the Horne's their blessings and I love the fact that Ryan honors his priesthood and can help out another family. We had a great summer and it was hard to go back to school but the kids were ready and so was I.

                       Jack is in 5th grade and has Mrs. Smith

Jack's favorites: Color: Maroon, Black, Gold and White: Animal:  Cow, because you get leather from a cow and can make a football:  Food: Steak and potatoes:  Best Friend: Chandler Bogle:  Book: The Lightening Thief Series:  Activity: Playing football:  Toy: Football:  Movie: Remember the Titans:  Team: ASU:  What do you want to be when you grow up? Play in the NFL

 Jay is in the 3rd grade and has Mrs. McCall

Jay's Favorites:  Color: White, blue and yellow:  Animal: Grizzly Bear:  Food: Chicken nuggets:  Best Friend: Wilson Kerr:  Book: The Lightening Thief Series:  Activity: Play baseball:  Toy: Baseball:  Movie: Teen Beach Movie:  Team: UCLA:  What do you want to be when you grow up? a baseball player

 Kate is in Kindergarten and has Mrs. Burton

Kate's favorites:  Color: pink no purple:  Animal: Doggie:  Food: Chicken and noodles and cucumbers:  Best Friend: Tessa Ricedorff:  Book: Rainbow Fairy:  Activity: Playing with my daddy:  Toy: Barbie:  Movie: Teen Beach Movie:  Team: ASU:  What do you want to be when you grow up? cheerleader or surfer

 The kids walking to school.

 Kate lining up for kindergarten. I can't believe my baby is in school. I miss her but she is having so much fun and learning so much.