hangin' with the girls

My first year of college (95'-96') I lived with five awesome girls at the not so awesome glenwood apartments. For five of us it was our first year away from home and then there was our "old" roomate (I think she was 20 but back then that seemed sooooo old to me). We had our share of drama and tears but overall we all got along and in the end we've all remained friends. We kind of lost touch until the last couple years and thanks to blogs and facebook we have reconnected. This summer we decided that we wanted to have a "reunion" so we started planning. Julie lives in Alaska and Autumn in Virginia so they were unable to make it but the rest of us, Stacy, Roni Cami and I, met up in Blanding and the four of us stayed at Cami's parents cabin for a couple days. It was a lot of fun- we rode four-wheelers (with only one minor accident that Stacy is tougher for), we swam at recapture, we hiked Canyonlands and we stayed up and talked about boys- just like the good ole days. It was lots of fun to see them all again and we plan on having another reunion in a couple years. Next time Portland- Julie and Autumn we expect you to make it this time :)Roni, Kristi, Stacy and Cami at CanyonlandsBefore our swim

After our swim

Leaving on a fourwheeler ride while my wonderful husband cooked us dinner.

The Hillman TRYathlon

Last summer I decided that I wanted to TRY a triathlon (yes Kulani I do know how to spell it correctly). I took a swimming class and started preparing for the Hillman- a local sprint triathlon that takes place at recapture reservoir every July. When I realized that the triathlon was the same weekend as a previously planned family reunion I decided I'd have to wait until this summer. A few months ago I started training again and in the process I convinced Marilyn, Jeremy and Noelle to come and do it with me (both Jeremy and Noelle had done other triathlons this summer). By the time the day came around I was questioning my decision as I didn't feel ready at all. Marilyn and I agreed that we would stay together so that if we ended up last we wouldn't have to finish last all alone. My total goal for this triathlon was to finish, I decided that I didn't care at all what my time or place was and I took it pretty easy the whole time. I mostly didn't want to hate it cause then I knew it would be my last. It started with a 1/2 mile swim (across the reservoir and back) followed by a 15 mile, very hilly, bike ride followed by a 5K, also very hilly, run. In the end I think we all had a good time and Marilyn has even forgiven me for coaxing her into it, and we're all looking forward to the next one.

Waiting for the race to begin- nervously. At this point Marilyn was not happy with me.

Finished swimming- and yeah I know there aren't really any other people around me, there were still a couple in the water but everyone else was on to the bike.
Jeremy was on the support staff and was in the lake to make sure I didn't die.

Finishing the bike.
And lastly the run- Here we come (a little blurry cause we're going so fast :)

We made it and Marilyn forgave me.

We had quite the crowd cheering for us- the kids got a little bored waiting.

Noelle beat us all and took first in her age group (why did she have to get all of the athletic ability of the family again???)

Jeremy J finishing. Shortly after we finished he got a call from Heather letting him know he needed to get home asap. He made it there about two hours before little McCoy was born- congrats to both of them.

My niece Jensen did the kid's triathlon the night before and did awesome. She took second (losing only to a Hiatt so pretty much that doesn't count). She did two laps in the pool followed by a two mile bike ride followed by a one mile run. At first I was asking why we didn't just sign up for that one but after watching them all I was pretty sure they would have beat me and that would have been a little embarrassing. I'm hoping that next year I can get Camryn and Carter to do it- we'll see.

Nicole and Osiris

Last Thursday we went to Nicole and Osiris' wedding. It was such a great day and we are all so excited for Nicole and happy to have Osiris in the family. The day was perfect, after the wedding at the Salt Lake Temple we went to a beautiful restaurant called The Pointe for a dinner and ended with some dancing- which the boys really enjoyed. At the end of the night Carter even said it was the best wedding he'd ever been to.

Logan loved doing "cheers" all night.

Logan and Nicole gettin down.

Camryn and Jeremy dancing- how sweet

Carter literally "gettin down" while dancin. On Sunday we were trying to figure out why his church pants had holes.

Yee Haw!!!

A few weeks ago (I know I know I'm a blog slacker lately) Camryn's horse club had horse camp. My mom went with her for the first night and I came the second. They went on a LOOOOOOONG ride just before I got there and they were all very hot and tired so when I got there this is what I found-

The night I was there Cody, one of our horses, got really sick and so I spent a lot of the night up with him. Luckily there were a whole bunch of people who know a whole lot more about horses then I do there to help me know what to do to get him through it and he is fine.

The next day we saddled up and went on a ride, much shorter then the ride they'd gone on the day before but still very fun. Camryn borrowed one of the Ivins' horses cause we weren't sure that Panda had enough energy in him to make the long rides. She is now in love with Charlie and wants to buy him. She made a friend at horse camp named Kendall. I thought I got quite a few pictures of the two of them riding but could only find this one of them off in the distance. We were so glad that Kendall was there- her and Cam had so much fun together.

After our ride we packed up camp and headed home. It was a lot of fun and I'm glad that I got to go and have the experience with Camryn. It has been so fun to watch her become a little cowgirl this summer, I'm very grateful for the leaders who have helped her this summer to become confident on her horse. One more show this weekend and 4H will be over for this year :(

- she really is having fun- even if you can't tell from her expression. She just hates pictures.

4th of July- "that means you can do whatever you want."

We had a great fourth of July this year. My sisters and their families all came to Blanding. We had lots of fun and it was sad when it was all done. I am so grateful to live in this country and I'm thankful to those who put their lives on the line every day so I can have the freedoms that I have. I was walking with Logan at the Carnival and he was being really slow cause he was trying to eat a snowcone and everyone knows you can walk and eat a snowcone at the same time. I was telling him he needed to go faster when somebody passed us talking about the 4th of july. Logan said "mom, guess what I just heard- it's the 4th of July" I said "yep, it is" he said "well that means you can do whatever you want" and I said "yeah you can, what do you want to do" he said "I want to sit right here and eat my snowcone". I am not sure where Logan got the idea that on the 4th of July we can do whatever we want but it's true- because of the freedoms that we have we really can "do whatever we want" even if it's sitting there and eating a snowcone. I am also very happy that I was raised in Blanding and now I get to raise my own kids here too. It is such a unique place where everyone is willing to do anything for their neighbors and friends. I love the fourth in Blanding and the fact that it brings friends and families together, the parade, carnival, horse games, and fireworks were all amazing and we are grateful to all the people who worked hard to make it an enjoyable holiday for us.

Waiting anxiously for the parade to start.

Soaking wet thanks to the fire trucks.

Cam and Jensen ridin' in the parade.

On a side note- congrats to Deco and Kera for their new addition. Baby Aleyah was born on the 1st. She is so precious and I can't wait to meet her. I am happy for them and I know they will be awesome parents.

Aleyah Jenelle Lyman

domestically challenged

Last week was Carter's 7 1/2th birthday and once again I talked him into waiting until his half birthday to have his party so I didn't have to throw a birthday party the week of Christmas. As usually happens, the week of his half birthday seemed as busy, if not busier, than the week of Christmas and I was wishing I had just had it on his real Birthday, but since I didn't I geared up for a party. We decided to do a baseball themed party. I decided to be all crafty and make his pinata and cake myself. So Sunday night we started the pinata process. All was going well up until Tuesday night, it was time to do the last layer on the pinata and I had the brilliant idea that if we popped the balloon now and filled it then the last layer would close up the hole that we had used to fill (rather than waiting until it was all done and having to tape closed the hole). So I popped the balloon made a hole and filled it. At this point it was nice and round and very hard so I thought all was going well. Until. . . . As I put the last layer of paper on it the glue soaked through all of the layers and the shape went from nice and round to flat with holes tearing everywhere I tried to fix it. It was a disaster. As I did this the cakes were in the oven. My sisters had agreed to help with the cake and all I had to do was make the cupcakes and the larger baseball cakes. Apparently I filled the bowl for the baseball too full and the cake spilled all over the oven, burning and filling the house with smoke. All of this happened around midnight the night before the party. Luckily the morning of the party my wonderful sisters, Marilyn and Noelle, came to the rescue and saved the cake (which turned out to be the only thing that really worked out).

The day of the party came and it was a nice sunny day, that is until about a half hour before the party was supposed to start at which point it started raining and the wind started to blow. I decided to go ahead and still have the party at the park as planned because I had no plan B. We went to the park, played a game of baseball in the rain. Broke the weirdly shaped baseball pinata (while at the party the handle broke off of the pinata so we had to pitch it like a huge baseball and have them hit it with the bat- it worked out alright). We sang to carter and ate Cake and Ice Cream and ended the party after only an hour due to the kids all freezing and hovering under the pavillion. As we left I asked Carter if he'd had a good birthday party even though it rained, he said "It wasn't the best." Next year I will definitely be buying a pinata and cake, I learned my lesson- anytime I read online that something is a "simple at home project" they mean for everyone else

My pinata

My cakes

The finished product- so cute.

Carter blowing out the candles on the cake- oh wait his mom forgot to bring the candles- oops.

I forgot to take a picture of all the kids at the party, in fact I only took a couple pictures at all but thanks to all of you that came and/or helped (especially Noelle and Marilyn). Carterbug- I promise next year we'll have a better party, I've learned my lesson and will not try to do things myself, happy 7 1/2th bud, love you.