Hello Week/Mini Drill pt. 2

Thursday night Sierra could not sleep due to a severe stomach ache and eventually puking every hour. I texted her drill coach to let her know that most likely, Sierra would not be performing in the Hello Assembly in the morning. Because drill is so strict, they require you to come even if you are sick...but you don't have to dance. 9 times out of 10 the girls feel better after a while, or really aren't that sick. So although I knew she was on her death bed, we dragged her to practice at 6:00. With her performance gear, pillow, blanket, pepto-bismol, and puke pan. The poor girl was a site. But she was determined she was going to be ok by performance time.

I came back for the assembly and her coach said that she definitely was not well and would not perform. Not a surprise, but Sierra was devastated. She has worked for 5 months with the drill team and hasn't been able to perform once. She missed some practices when we went to Las Vegas and so she wasn't able to do the summer parade, or perform at drill camp. Then last week she couldn't perform at the first football half-time because they hadn't respaced the dance yet. Now this morning for the assembly and most likely the Mini Drill event tonight. I stayed to support the team for the assembly and to haul Sierra off the minute they were done. They did a fantastic job...but tears fell as I thought about all the hard work Sierra has put into this and hasn't been able to enjoy it yet. Life is funny that way.

So she slept the ENTIRE day and still did not feel well when it was time for the football game/Mini Drill half-time. So she was going to have to sit out again. Justice and Montana were both very excited and couldn't wait to get going. They both did a fantastic job and had so much fun being out on the football field with a whole crowd of people screaming for them. I've tried a couple of times to post the video but it won't work. Here's what you would have seen...Justice is in the purple group, front row, second from the end. Montana is in the yellow group, front row, with the big yellow bow in her hair. We were so proud of them! Sierra is on the grass in the white tshirt that has a Number One and "Shushie" on the back (that's her drill nickname).

Here's some fun pics too!

How Sierra spent the day! Montana and Autumn Justice

Fox

It's official! I'm a workin' girl again! I was hired by Channel 13 (Fox) as a Master Control Operator. I will work in the tape room 3 nights a week and in the control room 2 nights a week. They will also train me to do the camera for the News at 9:00 show--which is the number one rated news in the state. What?? and they want a newbie on the camera? It must be easy or they wouldn't do it that way--I HOPE!

So I start on Monday! The 6 month unemployment drought is over!!! It worked out perfectly and I couldn't be happier with the job, the hours, the benefits. I can still be home for my family when they need me, I will have time to sleep, and I can keep babysitting as well. Which also means I can keep my bills paid and food on the table. It's all good! I'm breathing a gigantic sigh of relief!!

Mini Drill 09 Pt. 1

Yesterday was the first day of the big Mini Drill Fundraiser. Montana was registered to participate and then at the last minute Justice decided he wanted to do it too. There was another boy participating in his age group and he thought it would be fun. Sierra warned us not to do it, but he really wanted to. Once they started learning the dances we decided it was WAY too girly and so he decided to ride his bike instead. We had brought it for him to have fun on while the girls danced. Turns out, it was a good idea. So he was just supporting his sister.

Montana was having the time of her life!! I think she was so excited to have a friend in her class (one of our neighbors) and she was showing off a bit. I love seeing her smile and enjoy herself like that! It will be fun to see her dance at the game on Friday!

Sierra was teaching another age group that neither Justice or Montana were in. She is a very patient teacher and really enjoys it. It was fun to watch her in action. A few moms and I helped with registration and getting people & t-shirts organized. After that I just cruised around taking pics of all the kids. Fun night! We will repeat classes tonight & then the kids perform at the game on Friday night! I will post more pics then!

First Day of School 09

Today was the first day of school for all my kiddos! The kids were excited to say the least. Sierra had drill at 6:15, so when she got up to get ready, so did everyone else. They were all dressed and ready at 5:30 and came to wake me up. Who are these people? The younger two were pretty disappointed as the hours ticked slowly by. Their school didn't start until 9:00...which felt like forever. So hopefully tomorrow they will sleep in a bit longer!

Sierra started high school and said that she thought it was pretty boring and not what she expected at all. I guess she was expecting fireworks and parties or something. She likes her teachers so far and was able to find her classes. So that is a great start.

Sierra

Chirons wore one of their many day outfits. I guess this is so the school gets to know the drill team.


Justice

Montana

In front of the school

Justice and his super cool backpack

Tana with her plaid backpack that she LOVES...wanted to walk with her friends

Justice & Tana both had a great day as well. Justice only had one sheet of easy homework (THANK YOU!) but it looks like Tana will be loaded down on a daily basis. Hopefully we can get it down to a quick routine. But overall...it was a great day for everyone. They were happy to see their friends and although they wont admit it...we are glad summer is over.

My 39th Birthday Blowout

Mom & Dad had been saying they were planning an all-day surprise for my birthday, but wouldn't tell me anymore than that. So when dad showed up on his Harley and in his bike gear...I wasn't sure what to expect.

We ended up going on a Harley Ride For Life/Poker Run. I had never done anything like this but it was amazing. You get a sheet, then you go to 5 different locations around the valley, pull a card from the deck, they mark it on your sheet & then you go to the next location for your next card. After going all over the valley we went back to the Harley store for lunch, raffle drawings and to find out who won the poker hand. There were tons of prizes and lots of good food. It was all to benefit the Ronald McDonald house. I know they made at least $10,000 just in the raffle/auction alone...let alone the entry fees for the Poker Rally.

Then all the bikers had a police escort to the Trace Adkins/Toby Keith Concert at the Usana Amphitheatre and a dinner sponsored by Texas Roadhouse-yum! Totally the perfect end to a perfect day!! The weather was great all day...super hot...and then to have it cool down for the concert was heaven!!! We had a fantastic day and I'm so glad I got to spend it with my amazing family!!!

Us at the concert...chillin on the grass!!

Airplane Adventures

I took Justice & Skyler to the Air Force Airplane Museum in Ogden yesterday. We have been there before, but now that Justice has decorated his room with planes he is much more interested in them than he was the last time we were there.

We had a great time exploring all the exhibits and imagining what it would be like to go up in all those different planes. I know I would hate it...but Justice thought it would be pretty exciting. Skyler wanted to touch and feel everything of course. Justice was in heaven in the gift shop. He wanted absolutely everything in it. And I wish we could have gotten a few things...they would be so cute in his airplane room! But I told him we will just have to come back again and get something special. And next time we will bring a picnic and eat it under the plane. The have tables underneath to sit at....so I think it would be a lot fun. Anyhoo---the boys had fun being away from those stinky girls :-) Mom's don't count of course.

On the way home we saw a couple of different planes that were landing at the base. The boys were oooing and ahhing. It was the perfect ending to our adventure!!

A total surprise

My dad stopped by unexpectedly the other day. He was here with a new dishwasher for my birthday & he was ready to install it!!! I was so surprised and excited. Our old washer was completely falling apart and not cleaning the dishes at all. I guess I complained about it one too many times and my parents ran with it. So dad and I decided to install it right then & there.

We spent most of the day taking out the old disgusting washer and installing the new beautiful one. I'm so glad my dad is handy because I wouldn't know the first thing to do. After hitting his head on a drawer a couple times and the counter once, we decided we would try electrocuting him. I had turned off the breaker that was label dishwasher disposal...but apparently it was labeled wrong. He yelped pretty loud, and scared the crap out of me...but luckily he was ok. And luckily I had just wiped up the puddle of water that had leaked out of the washer!! So after the handyman was finished...we loaded the washer and waited for the magic to happen. And it works fantastically!!! Thanks sooooo much mom & dad. I really appreciate your thoughtfulness!