September 2014

September means back to school and back to the regular schedule of business.  Summer passed way too quickly this year!  We spent a month helping Chad out with his Eagle Project.  It was so good to get it done - but I felt like we needed another month of summer to recuperate and relax before everything started up again.

We did get an extra day of summer vacation as we didn't start school until Wednesday, September 3rd.  That was nice!

This year I have two in middle school!! Chad is an 8th grader.  He was totally excited to get started and see all his school friends again.  Halle is now a 7th grader and was totally dreading middle school.  She did get thrown a couple of twists - she had locker problems the first day and then she has 2nd lunch with most of the 8th graders which meant not being able to eat lunch or visit with any of her friends.  Luckily she knows a couple of 8th graders from church and another 7th grader - so she is not completely alone.  Sean is a 5th grader and now my only child in elementary school.  I think he is very excited to just be "Sean" and not Halle or Chad's little brother.

8th Grader Chad - ready for XC!

7th Grader Halle - Anxious about Middle School

With girls - hair is as important as the clothes!

  

5th Grader Sean

Going for the "cool" pose

Oh, it is going to be a quiet day!  All three off to school.

We (minus Chris) made a trip to the fair this year.  We had fun seeing the animals (they actually had a petting zoo area this year), going on some rides, and eating curly fries and elephant ears.

 

Admiring and petting a goat (mom's favorite animal)

Sean - the only  one who wanted to brush the cow.

At the giant pumpkins and guessing the weight.

 After a week of school we took two days off. My brother, David, got married in Utah.  My parents were wonderful enough to get us all plane tickets so that we could be there for the event.  My uncle Richard, from England, even came, which was wonderful because my kids have never met him yet.

We traveled a day earlier than the wedding which meant we were able to fit in a BYU football game, much to the delight of my husband.  This was the first BYU game for Chad and Halle.  Sean decided to stay home and help Nanny and play with his cousins Sydney and Ethan.  The weather was perfect and BYU won - wahoo!

Chad and Chris (ultimate BYU fans) enjoy the game.  BYU vs. Texas.  BYU wins!!!!!

Halle, Ashlee, and Uncle Richard enjoying the game too.

I am so happy for David!!!  He married the lovely Kathrine on September 12th, up in Big Cotton Wood Canyon.  We had a nice wedding breakfast that morning with our family and some of hers so we could meet everyone.

At the wedding breakfast.  We told stories about David and Kathrine.  Kathrine's mom is holding up one of David's old stolen signs.  It said, " O  KATEBOARDING"

 
We then spent a little time at the sporting good store, Scheels.  I've never been there before, or even heard of it before.  It was great!  We all got new BYU shirts and the kids rode the big Ferris wheel that they have inside.  It was then off to Big Cotton Wood Canyon for lunch and family pictures.

Ethan and Carl waving.  Sean and Sydney enjoying the ride.

The girls (Halle and Ashlee) get on.

Chad and Caleb - too much fun.

Uncle Jim, Kathrine's Mom, Kathrine, David, Mum, and Dad

The Hansen Clan

The grand kids

 David and Kathrine's wedding was outside and the weather and scenery were beautiful.  They incorporated a lot of American Indian and Asian culture into their ceremony.  It was truly beautiful and a spiritual experience.  David and Kathrine seem so right for each other and compliment each other in every way.  I'm so glad we could be there for that.

My brother, David, waiting for the bride.

The drummers.

Here comes the beautiful bride, Kathrine, with her uncle.

Ready to get married.

Sharing a laugh.

Getting serious.

Ring exchange.

They are now married!

A kiss to seal the deal.

My brother and new sister-in-law.  So happy together.

Lots of hugs.

Hugs and congratulations.

On Saturday, September 13th, we traveled down south in Utah to hike in the Little Wild Horse Canyon and to see Goblin Valley.  I had looked at the weather before we left and had expected it to be on the cool side.  I dressed myself and the kids for a cool day.  (Chris had to leave Friday night as he had a cross-country meet on Saturday morning.)  But no - it was a hot day!  I love hot days - just not when I am wearing long jeans and a warm shirt - it was even a little too warm for me!

The hike was wonderful.  The kids did great - no complaining (until the very end - Sean was kind of done - especially after falling off a rock and onto his head).  The rocks and canyon were amazing.  Sean loved doing "parkour" the whole time.  The kids enjoyed being with cousins (Carl's family), nanny and grandpa, and uncle Richard.

Sean shows his powers.

Off we go - on a 4 mile hike.

Taking a break from the sun - aaahh, shade!

Rocks and sticks - Sean's favorite environment.

Sydney and Sean - Sean ready to take off on his own trail.

Halle and Ashlee - cute girls!

Mt. goat Chad.

My parents - loving being with grand-kids.

My mum and her brother, Uncle Richard

The kids really loved climbing!

Family photo.

Some of the narrow walk ways in the canyon.

Sometimes you have to go under - and look who you run into.

My brother, Ian.  Is he levitating that bottle or about to get smacked from that bottle?!

The mighty Sean.

 More climbing.

Goblin valley was awesome.  The kids had fun running around and using their imaginations.  There were also lots of little lizards running around - didn't catch any though.  After that adventure we were already to cool off and drink lots of water.

Goblin Valley - amazing.

The Caviness clan (minus Chris) at Goblin Valley.

A Sean or a Goblin?

Halle and Chad look out for Goblins and lizards.

Uncle Richard with the kids.

The leaping Chad.

An Englishman in the desert.

Another thing about September - it is cross-country season.  Chris loves helping out with the Ferris boys' cross-country team.  It keeps him busy with after school practices, Saturday practices, and meets.  Chad and Halle are both running for Chase and Sean is running for Adams.

Chase Chargers - Halle and Chad - Mt. Side Invitational

Adams All-Star - Sean - Chase Middle School

Chad has really gotten into running.  He ran a lot this summer!  I wish I had logged how many miles he did.  So proud of his work ethic.  He also ran with the high school boys when he was able.  He was totally in shape for the season.  He ran at the Erik Anderson invitational on September 20th and came home with a 3rd place medal.  How is that to start of the season?!  His first race for Chase was at the Mt. Side invitational - where a gazillion schools run (at least 120 kids per race).  He took 8th place!!!  (Last year at the same meet he took 20th - what an improvement.)  Then his next race was at Audubon Park.  This meet has lots of big hill - which Chad really knows how to run.  He had his best race ever - taking 5th place and beating, for the first time, his teammate BJ.  He was pretty excited about that.

Chad took 3rd place and came home with a medal after running unattached at the Erik Anderson Invitational.

Chad - Mt. Side.  First official race of the season.

Looking Strong.

Running hard for the finish line.  He took 8th place out of at least 120 kids.

September 30th - 8th grade boys warming up at Audubon Park

Ready to start

Chad pushing to be out front

Really working the hills

Last stretch of the race and trying to catch another runner.

5th place proud! (Plus he beat his teammate for the first time!)

Halle wasn't too sure about doing cross-country in middle school.  Chris and I both tried to persuade her early in the summer - wanting her to get some summer practice in.  She was a definite "NO!" until she found some running shoes she wanted - but I told her they were too expensive if they weren't going to used for running.  She finally caved in so she could get the shoes!  (Love it!)  She has been doing well and now knows what real running workouts are all about.  She has made some friends on the team and even has one of her best friends running too (AH).

Ready for her first middle school cross-country experience.

Here comes Halle.

Working for a fast finish.  She took 68th place out of about 120 kids

At Audubon park with best friend - September 30th.

The Chase 7th and 8th grade XC girls

Warm-ups before the race

Ready to begin

Can you see her in the mob of runners?

Looking good

  

Just passed two girls

Happy with her 40th place

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Sean also didn't want to do cross-country so I gave him an ultimatum.  Do cross-country with school - or do mommy workouts everyday for an hour.  He decided that doing cross-country at school was the better option.  (Yes, I know that I am such a mean mommy!)  He did really great his first race.  Not as good as he had hoped - but much better than he ran last year.  I'm proud that he is putting so much effort into something he really doesn't want to do.  I'm hoping it does turn into something he enjoys - just like Chad.

Off to a good start - and it looks like he is enjoying it!

I love his smirky face in this one!

Starting to get a little tired.

Coming in to the finish.  Good work Sean!  8:39 minutes.

Something Sean is enjoying - flag football.  It has been kind of low-key this year.  A very volunteer coach, once a week practices.  Sean has enjoyed playing center - so he actually has a "real" job in the game.

Ready for some football.  No official pictures this year due to the wedding.

Sean playing center.

Music!  It was Sean's year to pick an instrument.  After a lot of thought he finally decided on the Cello.  He has fun backpacking it to school.  Halle is still playing clarinet and is now also playing the tenor sax for Jazz band.  Chad is still on the Bass and also made it into Jazz band this year, playing the electric bass.  (Jazz band is a 0 hour class and starts at 7:30am on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.)

Sean and his new cello.

After about 19 years I finally got rid of Chris' washer and dryer.  They lasted a long time - and did really well but we were getting to the point that they were needing to be fixed too often and it was time to put money into something new instead of the old any more.  I now have a brand new washer and dryer.  Who knew laundry could be so fun (I'm sure the feeling will wear off again soon).  Installation was a headache though!  Apparently the faucet that the washing machine was attached to had been leaking and the hose was totally rusted to the faucet.  We ended up having to get a plumber to cut out the old faucets and put new ones in.  Now I just need the big whole in the wall patched up and everything will be good again.  I'm also so glad we could get an awesome bargain.  We bought  them on Labor Day - so of course they were on sale, plus we got 10% back and an additional deduction because we bought a set.  Then when they delivered the dryer, they discovered it had a ding - which gave us another 20% back!  Blessings galore!

The old Kenmore washer and dryer from Chris' bachelor days.

Okay, I think that about covers September - and it has only taken me half of October to do it.  Now to find some time to work on October!