Lake Powell

Our good friends invited our family to go on their last Lake Powell trip of the season (back in September). It was so much fun!! It has been many years since I have experienced Lake Powell without a house boat and it was a lot of fun. The kids actually did pretty well sleeping in tents. It was seriously PERFECT weather. It would get cool enough at night to be comfortable sleeping and the days were sunny with NO wind...let me repeat myself for any of you who have gone to Lake Powell. There was NO wind!! The vacation did have its share of "hiccups" including Cole's sister loosing her boat off her trailer on the way down to the lake. It was scary but everyone was ok and the boat was actually able to get on the lake the next day. Thanks Cole for inviting us to come. We had a blast!!

Yes my husband is a dare devil... can you see where he jumped from? Click on the picture to make it larger. YIKES! I jumped from where the few individuals are standing on the bottom right. Kyson actually jumped just a little lower than that... so my 3 year old son pretty much showed me up!

We climbed "Sand Mountain". Talk about a leg workout! Kyson also experienced this adventure with us. He was such a trooper.

Brox's girlfriend Elsie. Aren't they the cutest!!

Kyson also tried wake surfing. Can you believe Cole was able to do this?!?! Cole has many talents, and apparently so does Kyson!

I wish this picture was a little more in focus but it was so cute I couldn't resist. Brox loved being in the water too!

Feeding the ducks.

Cole's niece... too cute!

Ashley & Elsie... sun goddesses!!

Kyson & Mommy riding the jet ski.

Thanks again Cole! Don't forget us next year.

XOXO Melanie

Happy 80th Birthday!

The Rollo's had a surprise party for Great Grandma Rollo for her big 80th birthday (in September...I'm a little behind in posting). She is such a great example for Shad & I and we absolutely adore her! We love you Grandma Great!!

XOXO Melanie

Quick Trip with Ma & Pa.

My Mom invited me to come to St. George and stay with my parents while my Dad went to a conference for work. We had so much fun together. We played in a splash park, ate lunch with Kenzie in between her classes. We went to a movie, shopped and played in the hotel pool.

Kyson also got to have his very first experience sitting in a dental chair! Aunt Z got to clean his teeth and take some x-rays. He was a fantastic patient and received many prizes.

Then one of my friends said she had 4 extra tickets to a BYU game. I couldn't pass that up (even in a "rebuilding" year). So I continued to Ephraim and spent a couple days there too!

This is Natalie's best attempt at the "Y". Don't ask.

Yes we did enjoy ourselves on our mini vacation... almost as much as the kid in the row behind me in this picture. LOL!

XOXO Melanie

LOTOJA

The weekend after Brox's birthday party my Dad participated in the LOTOJA. For those of you who don't know what that is.... This is the description from the LOTOJA website:

"LOTOJA is a European-style road classic that is unparalleled in distance and beauty. At 206 miles, LOTOJA is the longest one-day USCF-sanctioned bicycle race in the country. LOTOJA participants come from all over the United States to test their physical and mental stamina on a course that climbs and descends three mountain passes in the first 110 miles. The race starts in Logan, Utah and finishes in the shadows of the Teton Mountain Range at Jackson Hole, Wyoming."


Also read my Dad's account below: (Keep in mind my Dad had just turned 54 years old the day before!!)


Richard A., Rhett L., and I applied as “Team CUCC” for LOTOJA this year. There were 4,000 applications for 1,500 slots. This is all the riders that was allowed by DOT to be on the rode at any time. 1,110 slots went to the racers and 400 went to the relay teams and fun riders.

We registered as Citizen Men Category 35+ and were placed in the 2300 series. By registering as a team if one drew out then all the team went. 46 riders were placed in this series. I happened to be the oldest in this group. 41 finished out of the 46. Rhett finished 14th with a time of 11:00:15. Richard finished 21st with a time of 11:21:38. I finished 37th with a time of 12:34:42.

Of the total racers 970 finished and 130 DNF. Rhett was 546, Richard 653, and I was 915. The overall winner finished with a time of 9:01:44.

Data from my Garmin bike computer: Average Speed: 16.3 mph; Max Speed: 45.1 mph; Average Cadence 80 rpm; Total Calories Burned: 11,820.

Stories:

While riding in a pack of approximately 15 riders we passed a lone rider. His top tube on his bike frame was about at my eye level. I glanced over at his bike and thought that is the largest bike I have ever seen. After the race was over Richard asked me if I had seen Shawn Bradley riding?

I was hoping to make feed zone 6 (Alpine junction) by 6:00 pm. (That is when they stop riders from continuing on the race) I made it their before 5:00 pm. I had only been off the bike for a couple of rest room breaks. So this was basically 160 miles with no rest. My feet were numb not to mention other areas. My back and neck stiff from the constant forward bend. So I took off my shoes and lay down on the asphalt. I hoped no one would run over me but I was not moving. Words cannot describe how wonderful it felt to lay in the road. After a couple of minutes, (my wife said it was over 10 minutes) she began to encourage me to get up and finish the last 47 miles. With some reluctance I climbed back on the bike and headed for Jackson .

The next day on the trip home we stopped in Evanston for food and fuel. At the restaurant Julie went to the restroom while I got into line to order. A couple in front of me was placing their order when I noticed the LOTOJA stamp on his left calf. (All participants were stamped on their left calf when they registered and given their timing chip) I asked him if he had finished the race. He completed it in 12 hours. I told him I had done it in 12½ hours. As we were discussing the race Julie walked up to them and started hugging them. They were Orem High classmates and he grew up in her Ward. As we ate lunch together he gave the quote of the day. He has trained for several triathlons but in training for LOTOJA he said, “I have never trained so hard to be average.” After a good laugh I thought, well if 12 hours is average that means: I have never trained so hard to be “below” average.



We are all so proud of you Dad!! We all know we could not have done what you did that weekend. Love you lots!!

XOXO Melanie

BROX TURNS ONE!!

Our beautiful little boy has turned ONE!!! I was going to do a combined party for my boys but some of my close friends said if I did a big party for my first I need to carry on the tradition for all of the rest...so they don't feel jipped (is that a word?). So I began to plan....and it was a success!! Thanks to all family and friends who supported Brox on his very first birthday party!


I stole the "DOTS" theme from my R.S. President. She let me borrow all of the table cloths and paper dots. It made planning the theme very easy not to mention inexpensive. BONUS! But if Brox is reading this post later in life...I spent many days and hours planning really hard for a perfect party. LOL!

The most amazing pool I have every seen in a backyard. Even the adults had a blast...who am I kidding I think the adults had more fun then the kids!!

We had sloppy joes, homemade root beer, chips, salads, veggies...the works!

The most adorable cake ever!! I just gave Sara Prince the fabric and she made the cake to match. Really have you ever seen anything cuter? The best cake for the best little boy!

His very first cake he has ever tasted... I thought he would dive right in, but he just dabbled. Little stinker!

Broxy loves:

* Doing anything his brother does.

* BUBBLES and BATHS.

* Loves to be tickled.

* Loves to get dirty.

* Loves to greet us at the door... When Shad or I come home from work he runs up to us puts his hands up to be held and then once you pick him up he immediately puts his head down on your shoulder. I love snuggle bugs!

* Loves our little John Deere scooter.

* Loves scrambled eggs with ketchup.

We love you Brox! Happy 1st Birthday!!

XOXO Mommy

Register to Vote

I know there will be many of you that will cringe when I announce this...but this is for you Jenn Hendricks!

Melanie has officialy registered to vote for the first time in her life...we can pretend I just turned 18 years old last April.


XOXO Melanie

Kyson Turns 3!!

My baby boy has turned 3 years old! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!! A few days before he turned 3 he got his birthday gift from his babysitter. He wanted to try it out and help Mommy make his birthday cupcakes. He loves his apron!!

My boys babysitter also gave me the idea of decorating my kids doors for their birthdays. So I decided to do it for Kyson the first time. He woke up to this...

He was so cute and said half asleep "Is that for me?" I said "Yes, it's your birthday!!" Kyson said,"THAT'S MY K" meaning he new that his name was on his door. He was so excited...I was excited...and then I realized I had pushed pause on my video camera instead of record!!! I could have killed myself. He was so dang cute, and I missed it all!

His BIG cupcake he helped to make...this was on his actual birthday. He picked to have burgers, homemade french fries, and his favorite pasta salad. He got a bicycle from us and a play guitar from on of my friends at work. He also got his very first Lego set form his Aunt Stephanie.

Then when my parents came down the next weekend for Brox's birthday I had Sara Prince make this cake. Every time I asked Kyson what he wanted for his birthday cake he would always say a "COOKIE CAKE". So a cookie cake was what Mommy (or Sara Prince) delivered. Seriously the cutest thing ever!!

Can you tell he was a happy little boy!

For posterity sake....

KYSON'S LOVES AT 3 YEARS OLD:

*Ice Cream (he gets one every time he goes poo poo in the potty)

*Swimming...I could not keep him out of a pool this summer. He is my little fish!

*Sports...he loves playing baseball, football, basketball, and golf.

*Reading Books

*Cuddling with Mommy...before he goes to bed every night he comes and asks me if I will cuddle with him. I love it!

*Rodeo's...he wants to "rope" everyone and everything.

*His Papa's...he can't get enough of both of his Grandpa's.

*Bicycle or motorcycle rides.

*Animals...any kind loves them all.

*Looking through our family photo albums.

*Nursery...don't you just love great nursery leaders!!

*Dancing/Music...he's got some great moves.

I guess I could keep growing the list....but I'm sure that is sufficient. :)

LOVE YOU KYSON!!

XOXO Mommy