Mini Cheer/State Drill Competition

Montana had a fantastic time at the Taylorsville Mini Cheer Workshop!! She smiled so big, shook her thang, and yelled her heart out. Way to go sweet pea!

Sierra also had the State Drill Competition the same day in Provo. So Mom, Dad, Grama Dodie, Justice & I spent the day in the stands yelling and cheering on the girls. We couldn't be a prouder group!! Sierra's group didn't place as well as they had hoped but they looked SERIOUSLY AMAZING. All the teams did...but I give them an A++ for effort!! They placed 6th in Military, 10th in dance, and 12th in kick. Which is an amazing accomplishment against so many other fabulous teams. Way to go Chirons.

This & That

I have "this." I love this. I've always wanted this. But... then there's "that." I want that too. But I don't have that.

I tried for years to get that. Put myself though a lot to have that, and at one point I thought that was within my grasp. I thought I would have this and that. But then that was taken and I was left wondering if I would have the opportunity to have that again.

I put that on the back burner and decided to focus on this. Part of me feels like this will suffer and be neglected if I put much more effort in to that. Shouldn't I be grateful for what I do have? Shouldn't I put my all into this? This is here. This is a gift. This deserves my best.

But what about that? I want this to have that, more than I want that for myself. I feel like this would go well with that. I worry that this could resent me for not doing what I can to get that too.

I fear I may regret not trying again to have that. I don't want this to get the shaft while I'm trying to have that. I am eternally grateful for this. Don't really know what I would do with out this.

(Borrowed from my sweet friend Cassie...her meaning and mine are completely different but, the sentiment is exactly the same.)

Decisions & Drill Team

Montana has been wanting to get back into some sort of activity. Apparently she has been bored out of her mind. I had her in dance several months ago and she begged to quit. She just wanted to spend time with her friends & not be so busy. Well...I guess she has had enough time to relax. She told me a few days ago that she really wanted to get into dance or a competition soccer team. And she wanted me to "push her" when she gets wishy washy about things. So I am running with it. Her dad's girlfriends' son (got that?) is in a competition league and she talks about it all the time. I think she just really wants to belong to a team. Her dad and I have discussed the options and we were both hoping she would lean to dance...but we gave her a few days to decide what to do. This morning she brought me an envelope all decorated like an academy award envelope. So we made a big production out of it. I gathered the kids and said "The activity that Montana has chosen to participate in IS........ (opened the envelope dramatically) and read "Dance til ya drop"" and we all jumped around excitedly hooting and hollering. I'm excited for her. So we are looking for some beg/int. classes to put her in until team auditions in the summer. I know she will love it. I just hope she will love it for a long time!!

Justice wants to do some more soccer & also wants to take some art lessons, so we will look into that and get that started soon also.

Sierra's Drill Team had the region competition yesterday. They have been pumping themselves up BIG TIME. Had a hypnotist come and do some positive reinforcement, had outside coaches come in and clean some things up in their routines, and of course PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE. Well it paid off. They placed 1ST in Military, 3RD in Dance, & 4TH in Kick. They are now qualified to go to State Competition next week. Their biggest competition is Bingham High & all year they have been focused on beating them. Their secret montra is KB= KILL BINGHAM haha. So it was so awesome to see them accomplish that goal last night. For at least one division, anyway. They also keep saying on their facebook status & myspace status: "What are you thinking about?" and everyone replies "STATE"!!! The whole drill team life has been new to us this year, but we are getting the hang of it. It's intense and crazy...but I think it's been fantastic for her. She is hoping to be co-captain next year. So that will be even a step up from this years craziness! Ah, to be young and so full of energy & excitement. Here are some pics from the competition last night. It was packed and we had to sit on the wrong side. So the good pics are few and far between. Luckily Grampa Dave videoed from the front so we have great video if I can ever figure out how to post it! :-)
Also thanks to the entire Sierra Fan Club who showed up last night to support her!!! We had our own cheering section. Grama Laura & Grampa Dave, Grama Dodie, Justice, Montana, Grama Judy, Grampa Fred, Aunt Niki, Alexa, Her Dad & myself. Go T-ville!!

Out of sorts

The little kids are still gone to Hawaii until Sunday afternoon, so it has been just Sierra & I for a whole week. It has been fun to spend extra time with her. She is so busy that I cherish the few moments that I get to spend with her during her hectic days. She has had a couple of performances for drill this week and we have been able to go out to dinner with Jim a couple of times. We've watched some tv, and had fun conversation. I am so impressed with the woman she is becoming. She is doing well in school, she's polite & gets along well with her friends. She has made wise choices and continues to excel in whatever she puts her mind too. I am so proud of her. It will be nice when the little ones come back and we can have our family unit together again. Then hopefully we won't feel so out of sorts.

Justice & Montana are having a blast in Hawaii. They have called daily and give me the update. Swimming, sunset watching, Polynesian cultural Center, snorkeling (Justice had a snorkel full of water/panic moment but was fine), more swimming, shopping, extinct volcano exploring??, and more swimming. So glad they are having fun! Although I can't wait to have them home again!

With the kids gone or busy, I've had a lot of free time that I've been able to spend with Jim. We've been shopping, watching movies, having dinners, lunches, and just enjoying a lot of time together. He's so good to me. It's nice to be with someone who appreciates everything about you. I'm so thankful for him. So it will be an adjustment to get back to normal life next week. But I can't wait to squeeze & kiss my babies!!

Hawaii & Twisted Ankles

Today Justice & Montana are heading off on their very first airplane ride. Eric is taking them to Hawaii for a week. They are so excited, and nervous at the same time. They can't wait to see the ocean and explore the beach. I am hoping Justice will come home with a famous "Hawaii tan" and not his normal burn & peel sun exposure. The boy is as white as a snowstorm...hee hee...but hopefully he will be able to enjoy the sun. Montana was a bit nervous about the flight: where she would sit, what she would see out the window, how bumpy it would be, bombs, etc. We talked about it for about 2 days. I tried to calm her fears & told her after a while you wont even notice you are in the air. She was excited to see turtles, whales, & to wear shorts again!! I hope she will be able to relax & enjoy the experience. They promised they would call me as soon as they land. So I can't wait to hear from them.

Sierra had her first high school solo dance competition today. She competed in the 5A jazz division. However, this morning she twisted her ankle at practice and came home with a limp, her ankle wrapped, and a bag of ice. I brought her home and had her elevate her leg & rest. She was so excited about this competition and her routine...but, we were not sure if she was going to be able to dance. So she got ready anyway and we just hoped for the best. She decided she was going to be ok & was able to tough it out. She did an absolutely fantastic job. Her team was going crazy for her-they are so supportive. She ended up taking 2nd in her division, competing against 20 other girls. I was very surprised, and so proud of her. She was soooo happy! Way to go kiddo! The team competition is tomorrow & we will see if her her ankle will hold out. I hope she didn't work too hard today & overstress her injury. That would really backfire tomorrow. I hope she will be fine. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Alternate Universe

For Christmas this year, my sweet daughter Sierra told me that she had arranged for us to get new carpeting!! I was confused and not really believing her at first. I kept asking her what she meant. She told me her dad's friend is a professional carpet layer. He had a bunch of extra carpet from a job where they had ordered the wrong carpet. So he was going to come and put that carpet in our home...for free?? Still not really believing anything would really come of it, I was very surprised to get a phone call from Chris last night. He asked if James could come by and measure the rooms. After measuring everything, we talked about the carpet and James said I owed him dinner. I told him I would supply the beer as well, during the installation. A small price to pay for such generosity. He seemed happy with that arrangement. Chris said that he, Sierra, and his sister Niki have been trying to organize this for several months. I still don't understand really why they would want to help me out like this...but it is very humbling, and tears fill my eyes every time I think about it. Come to find out most of the family has known about this for a while...and no one said anything. Such a wonderful surprise! So we are working out a schedule for the installation. I feel like I am living in an alternate universe. For whatever reason, I am blessed by the people who know me. My neighbors, my ex-in laws, my kids, my parents, my ward. It just never ends. I am so thankful for the people in my life. I have been wanting new carpet for about a decade...so it will be a fantastic change for our humble little shanty! Wahoo!

They're baaaack!

Finally my babies have come home. Well two of them anyway. For Christmas break they all went to stay with their dads for a week. It literally felt like forever. I tried to enjoy my time alone, got lots of sleep for a change, spent lots of time with Jim, and tried to get caught up on housework...to no avail. It just is weird without them around. So things are happily back to normal...almost. Sierra wont be home for another week, and then Justice and Montana will be going to Hawaii for a week with Eric. I'm soooo jealous. They will have the time of their lives. It will be their first airplane ride. They are so excited, and I can't blame them.

Also during this last week, the fridge went out again. So I had all the food out in the snow to keep it cold. Which was quite handy, and I was thankful it wasn't 100 degrees in July when this happened. But it made access to the food tricky for a couple of days. But the repairman came and fixed the whatchawhozit that was broken, and we are back in business. It was a pricey repair, but definitely less than the cost of a new fridge- thank goodness.

I took Justice & Montana ice skating today at the Kearns Olympic Oval. I forgot my camera...so you will have to use your imagination. They are naturals at this. It took about 20 seconds for them to get the hang of it, and then they were off like rockets. I made several laps, but they did not want me slowing them down. It was a great workout. We were all pretty tuckered out when we decided to hauls our hineys home. So happy to have them home again!