Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Let the madness begin

March Madness is here and here are the family picks
Ryan: Duke, Ohio State, Kansas and Miami in the final four, with Duke and Miami going to the championship game and Miami winning it all.
Dyan : Louisville, Notre Dame, Georgetown and Miami in the final four, with Louisville and Miami in the championship game and Louisville winning it all.
Jay: Duke, Arizona, UCLA and Colorado in the final four (he clearly likes the Pac 12), with Duke and UCLA in the championship game and UCLA winning it all.
Jack and Kate didn't fill out brackets.
It seems to make it easier to watch the games if I have my own bracket to follow. Even though I never ever pick winners.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

What we really did all Spring Break






Spring Break came and went and I have posted what we did. But what we really did all week was swim. My kids and the neighbor kids and the cousins were over almost every day swimming. I think they are crazy since the water is still very cold, but no one seemed to mind. At the end of the week I heated the hot tub and it was heaven for everyone. I really do love having a pool in my own backyard. I often wonder how I lived in Arizona for so many years without a pool. 
Kate, Jack and Jay.
The kids in the hot tub. The water was really warm. Even I got in which says a lot.
 Jay playing around the world. I think he will play this game a million more times before summer ends.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Easter Pageant


Every year I struggle with the Easter Pageant. I want to go but the crowds do me in. I am not a fan of big crowds and such. So this year I finally heeded the advice of Karrie and went with her for the tech rehearsal. It was so good. The kids could all run around and play tag before the start of the pageant and then once it started we could acturally see the people on the stage. It was so wonderful. I am going to heed Karrie's advice yearly and make it a tradition to go. I really do enjoy the pageant and how it tells the story of Christ. I love hearing the kids talking after about how they saw Jesus in the sky and watch them cringe when Christ is being crucified. We had a great time and I can't wait to go back next year.

Red Robin


 My friends are so good to me. I wanted to take my kids to Red Robin when Ryan went to Vegas over Spring Break but didn't want to go alone so they joined me with their kids. All total were 3 adults and 11 kids. Complete chaos but lots of fun. Angi Ferrin and Suzanne Estes are great and I'm glad I have good friends. Below are the pictures of us waiting for our meals and then when all was said and done. Like I said complete chaos but well worth it.


Spring Break at the Zoo

We got to go to the zoo during Spring Break. It was pretty busy but not too bad. We got there early and were able to see most of the animals, although most of them were not active. My kids had fun and I love going with Cassie's sister, Brittney, since we can ride the camel and pet the sting rays for free. We had a good time.
 Jay, Jack and Kate in front of the lions.
Hadlie, Kendal, Kate and Keelie riding the camel. They think they are so cool up there.
 Jay and Jack riding the camel.
Jay, Jack, Kendal, Keelie and Kate finishing their trip to the zoo by petting the sting rays. My boys were both so wet after this you would have thought they swam with the sting rays.  

Sunday, March 17, 2013

First Time Skiers

We were able to take Jack and Jay and Kimball skiing one day. The weather was beautiful and I think the boys had fun. We will need to take them again for them to truly get the hang of it. I hung out with Kate and played in the snow and Ryan took the boys skiing. I'm glad we were able to finally get them on skis. I hope we take them again next year. Kimball, Jay and Jack getting ready to start ski school.
Ryan with the boys.

 Kate hanging out in the snow making snow angels. We had a great time building a snowman, having a snowball fight, and just hanging out in the snow. It was not cold at all and we stayed outside a good portion of the day.
 The family. Sometimes I wished I skied but I really don't enjoy it. But hopefully my kids like it.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Lexie's Wedding

Congratulations to Alexis and JT on their wedding. I love listening to the Temple Sealing. There are great promises and advice in it. Lexie looked so beautiful and happy.
Alexis Ricedorff and JT Slade married March 9, 2013 in the Snowflake Arizona Temple

Kate adores Lexie and wants to be just like her when she grows up. So of course I had to snap a picture of the two of them together. 

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Phoenix Half Marathon

I completed another half marathon. I didn't do as good as I wanted to, 2:16:59, a 10:27 mile pace. Just over two minutes slower than my last year's time. I really wanted to beat last year's time but had to go to the bathroom at mile four and waited in line for just over two minutes. Dang lines. But overall it was a good race and I will be doing it again next year. I am thinking about the full marathon but don't really want to do it. But want to do one in my lifetime. I don't know I'll keep thinking about it and end up doing the half. Thanks to my cheer squad for supporting me. I love having someone at the finish line.

Jack's basketball

 Jack had a very successful basketball season. He played on two teams Coach Ricedorff and Coach Wood. Both teams made it to the final four and lost to some good teams. Jack is really fun to watch and is really starting to get basketball and what it takes to win. His games were intense and very competitive. I enjoyed watching him play and can't wait until next season.
Coach Wood's team:
Coach Ricedorff,  Isaac, Carson, Jarom, Quentin, Ezra, Nolan, Jack, Coach Wood, and Ike