Capital Classic Race

I can't believe that Allie was old enough to run in the Capital Classic, a race that Blake and I both used to run as kids.  The race course had changed slightly from when we were younger and instead of starting at the Capital Building and running up to the Train Depot, the kids now had it easy and were to run the 1 mile race from the Train Depot down to the Capital Building.

Allie was so excited about the big day.  We wanted her to stay a little distinguished from the other 2,000 kids who were going to be wearing neon green shirts so Allie decided on the pink hair bows

I also told Allie how some racers wear lucky socks or underwear:)  She decided to go with her rainbow hello kitty socks

Blake started up at the top with Allie and ran part of the race along side of her through the side lines (parents were not aloud to be out on the race course).  Sophie and I waited down at the finish line to cheer on the runners

Allie coming through the finish (I do not know how to capture action shots on my camera:)).  There is something about a finish line for any race that makes me tear up.  I love all the smiling, cheering, and yelling that the spectators are doing for the competitors and the competitors are all smiles as they cross the finish line

Allie and her friends that ran the race.  Allie's little friend Hannah got to run with her. The racing itself was divided by gender and age group.  The boys ran first and then the girls were second.  

Showing off the medal and enjoying TCBY; the best part of a race are the treats at the end

Sophie indulging on a cookie

A tradition that must be new is taking a group photo on the Capital steps; Allie is in there somewhere.

Allie ended up coming through the finish line at 13:49 and all we know is she was faster than that.  The officials started the girls clock when the 14 year old girls left the finish line, then they had 15-20 second lags before the next age group runs. We are just proud Allie finished and ran her little heart out!

Memorial Weekend at Horsethief-Day 3 and 4

To start of Day 3 we woke up to a rainy morning, which ended being okay because we headed off to church. There were also lots of indoor crafts going on throughout the day.

Daddy and Sophie on their way to breakfast

During the afternoon we worked on making some boondoggles....those plastic key chains that you knot together.  Blake was trying to get the hang of it and teach his skills to Allie:)

The afternoon was again forgiving to us and we got to head up to the sport court once again.  We ended up digging out a parachute which all the kids enjoyed for quite awhile

Sophie enjoyed the freedom to run around

We busted out the double dutch ropes and and had some competitions between the mom's and dad's.  Due to 2 pregos not being able to jump very long, the girls did not make it very long in the competition

On Memorial Day, we woke up to beautiful sunny skies.  Allie was able to do some rock climbing.

We also ventured out in the canoes since the water was finally cooperating and not choppy.  Sophie wasn't to thrilled about getting her picture taken

Here are all 10 kids that survived 4 days and 3 nights together.  We had a blast with the Givens, Coltrins, and Harris's.  What great memories we had with these families at the YMCA Horsethief Camp!!!

Memorial Weekend at Horsethief-Day 1 and 2

I booked a cabin at the YMCA's Camp at Horsethief Reservoir for Memorial Day weekend.  I had read about the camp in a brochure back in January and decided to book it and find friends to fill it with:)  The best part about the camp was that we just showed up and the activities and food were all prepared for us.



Here we are loaded up for a weekend of fun in the mountains

Horsethief Reservoir sits right outside of Cascade, West of Warm Lake



We got assigned to the "Snake" cabin

Sophie was excited about her bed and of course she had to find the toilets right away

The first night everyone drove in and got settled.  Allie and Brandon were up late working on their Perler Beads

Saturday morning we had lots of activities to entertain us....first we hit up bow and arrow shooting.  It was probably one of my favorite activities

The Idaho Rock Wall

The first day we just did "bouldering," which is free climbing on the rocks without harnesses.  There was a slide down the backside of the wall the kids could climb up to and go down

Sophie wanted in on the action and did some bouldering herself

Later in the morning, some of the adults went zip-lining, including Blake and I.  I tried to layer on the coats so they couldn't tell I was 18 weeks pregnant

Cam and Sophie patiently waiting for the adults to come in on the line

Blake coming down the coarse

I thought I was going to hit the pole and just had to reassure the staff that they saw me coming;  I didn't want to go squishing the baby:)

Saturday afternoon we went rifle shooting....this picture is a little scary to me.  I feel like this picture is taken in Afghanistan where they train young kids to shoot guns

Allie and dad working on getting that target

Sophie patiently waited at most of the activities

Before dinner, we headed to the sport court to play some street hockey.  The kids loved it, as well as the adults

Saturday after dinner we had the Wacky Olympics, where the families all competed in silly games the kids enjoyed.

Sophie reluctantly gave up the fight and fell asleep after a long day.  It's a little difficult to fall asleep in a one room cabin, filled with 7 bunk beds, 8 adults, and 10 kids all running around like crazy at 10 pm.

Preschool Graduation

Well it's official, Allie graduated from preschool and is moving onto KINDERGARTEN.  She couldn't be more excited to start school next year and because of her excitement, I am so excited for her. 

Morning of preschool graduation

I told Allie to draw a picture for her teacher to go with her gift.  A little while later Allie came out of her room with a cute picture of her teacher and all her classmates

Our fun teacher gift-a watermelon with some favorite things about Allie's teacher and year at school stuck on little tags poked into the watermelon

The preschool teacher and kids put together a short program for the parents

There was lots of singing, some talking, and the teacher even read a little "report" about each of the kids.  Sophie wanted in on all of the action and was pretty much up front by Allie the entire program.  

When a chair opened up for a split second, Sophie decided to grab it

The preschool graduate.  Some favorite qualities her teacher noticed in her through the year were:

-She is a great listener and always listens the first time

-She watches out for the kids around her and helps them out

-She gets along well with everyone

-She is smart and she has loved watching her sound out words and loved receiving notes Allie would write her

Allie LOVED her teacher Miss Crystal.  She is very sensitive like her Mom and doesn't like change.  When we walked out to the car after graduation Allie started bawling. When I asked her what was wrong (already knowing why she was crying, because I always cried at the end of every school year), she said how sad she was to be leaving preschool and to be leaving Miss Crystal.  I know you will cherish those fun memories and there will be plenty more fun memories to come. 

Watch out Kindergarten and class of 2025....here comes Allie!!!

Hand, Foot, and Mouth

Following Sophie's 18 month check up we took a drastic turn for the worst.  I started blaming everything on the shots even though I'd never heard of such crazy side effects.  The day of her shots, which was Wednesday, she started vomiting.  The following day the vomiting continued and was accompanied by fevers.  Later on in the afternoon, we were driving in the car and Allie commented how Sophie had bumps on her legs.  I told her we'd check them out when we stopped the car.  Sure enough Sophie had little pimple like bumps up both of her legs; a rash, I guess that can be another side effect of shots I thought.  

Friday arrived and the so called rash was now on the tops of  Sophie's feet, the bottoms of her feet, and on her hands, and as the day progressed it was moving up her arms and back.  Hand, Food, and Mouth disease was my first thought at this point.  I called into the Dr.'s, knowing if I went in there would be nothing they would do.  The nurse informed me that she in fact had Hand, Foot, and Mouth and gave me several concoctions I could try to keep her comfortable and keep her eating if it spread to her mouth.  She also informed me the unlucky kid did not have vomiting due to the shots, she was just unlucky and caught some bug on top of it all.  

Saturday, the poor girl was miserable.  Blake had taken Allie up to the cabin with some friends for a "daddy-kids" weekend.  Luckily I was able to snuggle Sophie with all of my time throughout the weekend.  She was very uncomfortable but we were lucky the rash stopped spreading Saturday and just remained from the neck down.  By Sunday all the lesions started crusting over and it appeared the kid was recovering from the chicken pox.  

The poor back of Sophie's legs and her diaper area seemed to be the worst areas hit.  She was constantly putting her hand into her diaper to scratch:(

The lesions down her leg

Her poor feet were covered on the tops and the entire bottoms were covered.  I was surprised she still continued to walk; it looked so painful 

Sophie the Monday following our awful weekend.  Everything was still healing, but she appeared to be in better spirits.  I hoped in the shower and she was gone from my bathroom when I came out.  I found her up in Max's bed with a pack of gum chomping away on multiple pieces.  So glad this girl is on the mend and back into being my mischievous busy body !!!