State Cross Country

I am so grateful that I was able to go and watch the State Cross Country Meet at Sugerhouse Park in Salt Lake City, even if it was a very long and eventful trip. Me, my mom and Stetson left town at 4:30 am Wednesday morning, assuming that the race started at 11:00 am. As we started through Price Canyon, Stetson got carsick - a first for him - so we had to stop for a few minutes to clean everything up. When we got to Provo we stopped to get gas, but when we got back on the freeway, we realized we were headed to Las Vegas instead of Salt Lake. So, we exited the freeway, and made a U turn to get back on the freeway, which would have been perfectly fine, except that we weren't in the turn lane, and there was a cop RIGHT behind us - yeah, we got pulled over - - yet another delay. We found Sugarhouse Park, and a place to park, and were just getting out of the car when the San Juan bus, with my dad driving, pulled in. I looked at my watch and it was 10:50 - the race should be starting in 10 minutes, and they are just getting here? No, we were misinformed, the race really started at 12:30 for the girls and 1:00 for the boys. Holy cow, we could have gotten another hour of sleep! Oh well, at least we weren't late!

All the runners from San Juan did a great job! My neice Brielle took 7th overall, and the Girls team took 1st!!! Congratulations girls! My nephew Taylor took 1st overall, and my brother Jade took 11th. The Boys team took 3rd overall, the first time they have placed in the top five at state since 1995 - way to go boys!San Juan High School Cross Country State Champions!!!

The boys cross country team at the starting line

Just getting warmed up

Jade (second from left), in 10th place at the 1 mile mark

Taylor Francom (far right) 2A State Champion

I am so glad that Stetson has these awesome examples to follow. I know Jade was a little disappointed in how he finished at State, but I was very proud of him. He ran a great race, and had a great finish! Plus, to finish in 11th place at State as a sophmore is quite an accomplishment. Good job Jade! I am so glad I was able to be there to watch, you did awesome, and you have nothing to feel bad about!

We ate lunch with the cross country team at Chuck-A-Rama, then went back down to Provo where we met up with my brother Jordan. We did some shopping and then took Jordan back to school to study while my mom and I did some more shopping. It took us forever to get anywhere because we kept ending up in the wrong lane and missing the turn. It was pretty late when we finally got back with Jordan for dinner, and Stetson and I were completely spent. So, we stayed in the motel room while my mom and Jordan went to dinner.

Now, a little background. . . I started getting a sore throat last Saturday while we were moving the cows off the mountain and vaccinating our calves. By Sunday I was achy, and just didn't feel well at all! I stayed home Sunday and Monday, but felt better by Tuesday. So I went to work and taught dance on Tuesday. After dance my sore throat was worse, and I had no voice, plus I couldn't sleep that night because I was so stuffed up. Tuesday night I got a total of about two hours of sleep, so by Wednesday night, I was exhausted! I was able to sleep a few hours, but when I woke up about 1:30 I couldn't breathe; I panicked and asked my mom to take me to the hospital. By then I was hypervenilating, and almost passed out in the waiting room. They checked me out, and determined that I have croop, a virus that causes your throat to swell, making it hard to breathe or talk. They gave me some pregnazone to reduce the swelling and sent me on my way. Kind of stupid, I know, but I have never not been able to breathe before, and it really did scare me. Kenny's parents came over and helped my mom with Stetson, then Kenny's dad gave me a blessing, which was a huge comfort! I am so grateful for loving family who are always there when I need them. Again, we didn't get much sleep because Stetson was awake, and just wanted to play. After sleeping in, we came home, and had a very nice, uneventful drive home. I don't know if I have ever been SO grateful to be home before. It was a VERY LONG trip! Thanks mom, and sorry for all the trouble!

The best two years. . .

Looking back, I can honestly say that being a mother has been the hardest, yet most rewarding thing I have ever done in my life. In the last two years I have felt more happiness and joy, and more frustration and stress than ever before in my life. I have grown so much, and feel that my capacity to love has grown as well. I thank my Heavenly Father each and every day for blessing me with this opportunity, and pray that when this life is over I will earn the precious reward of hearing him say "Well Done".

I can't believe that it has really been two years since my precious boy came into the world, and yet it seems as though he has been a part of our lives forever. Stetson is such a joy to have around, and he really is a good boy - even though he throws a pretty good fit once in a while. It is crazy to look back and see how much he has changed in just two short years, and I look forward to seeing how he will continue to change and grow. Since he has now been around for 24 months, I have decided to list 24 things about the little Stet-man:

1. He is a good talker, and mimicks everything we say.

2. He likes just about everyone, but mom is usually his favorite.

3. He is always looking "up", and notices everything in the sky from clouds to birds to airplanes.

4. His favorite activity is unloading something and then loading it back up, or taking somthing apart and then putting it back together.

5. He loves to climb, and can climb up almost anything - including the dishwasher (when it is closed).

6. He has a tender little heart, and when he knows that someone is hurt or sad, he tried to comfort them.

7. He gives the best hugs and kisses ever! But be careful with the kisses, because he is not done until he has kissed you on the lips - no matter who you are.

8. He loves animals, and recognizes each one and know what sound they make.

9. He idolizes his cousin J.D., and follows him around, doing everything he does.

10. His favorite food is popsicles.

11. He loves to eat; if you want to win him over, just give him food - especially if it has sugar in it!

12. When he laughs too hard he gets the hiccups.

13. When he cries too hard he throws up.

14. His favorite movie is Lightning McQueen, and his favorite book if Finding Nemo.

15. He loves his black blanket and his little stuffed bear he named Monster.

16. He has a dog named Bo, a cow named Boo, and a horse named Mater (he named the dog and the cow).

17. He has a cute little cowlick on the front left side of his head, and his hair sticks straight up no matter what I do.

18. He is afraid of loud noises, but loves to ride in things that make loud noises such as big trucks and tractors.

19. He loves to sing, and knows several songs and their actions.

20. He hates to sit still or feel like he is tied down in any way.

21. It is really hard to get Stetson to go to sleep, but once he is asleep, he usually sleeps for quite awhile.

22. His favorite things to say are "hey, you", and "um. . . no".

23. He loves balloons.

24. After he gets in trouble, when he stops crying, he always comes back and gives us a hug, I guess that is his way of saying sorry.

Stetson has his own timing, and does things when he is ready - but whoever said you had to cut your two-year molars ON your second birthday? I guess he figured that it was time. The day before his birthday Stetson started running a fever, and that continued through his birthday and into the next day, then he got a runny nose. All of that combined with a sore bottom, excessive slobbering, and hands in the mouth constantly made for a not-so-pleasant birthday, but oh well! Great Grandpa Black's birthday is the day before Stetson's, but the family had his birthday party on Stetson's birthday this year. We had a yummy dinner and great entertainment, plus it was great to see lots of the family again. They were also kind enough to sing Stetson Happy Birthday - it was fun!This was Stetson's BIG present this year - a new trike! If you can't tell, it is a John Deere, just like Grandpa's tractor. The funny thing is that the balloons were just a side gift, but that is what he loved the most! He was so excited when he saw the balloons, I don't think he even noticed the trike.

Stetson LOVES tractors, so we decided to keep the tractor theme for this birthday, and decorate his cake accordingly. It was HIS idea to add the animals, and he placed most of them himself.Stetson wasn't feeling well, and hadn't really eaten anything for a couple days, so I didn't think he would be interested in his cake, but I was wrong! We let him eat it in the front room, which was super cool. Then, he crawled right up next to his daddy so that they could enjoy their cake together. It was definately a heart melting moment watching the two of them together!Can you tell how much he LOVES his balloons? He had to eat with them, sleep with them, and even take them into the bath tub with him. I could have saved a lot of money, and just bought him the balloons and he would have been perfectly happy - who knew?Later we had a party at my parents' house. My mom gave him this super cute pillow covered in monkeys, which he loves, he got a little stuffed dog from McKady, and a very noisy Lighning McQueen book from J.D. and family. Thanks guys! We made homemade ice cream. By this time he was totally into the "eating in the front room" thing, and took his ice cream and sat down on the front room floor and just went to town.

Still no teeth, but it sure is swollen in there! Hopefully they will break through soon so he won't be in so much pain. His fever is gone, but he is still not his happy self yet. Happy Birthday Stetson! We love you TONS!!!

Busy, Busy, Busy

Every week I think, 'if I can just make it through this week, then things will slow down a little bit'. . . and every week I am wrong! But, I actually like staying busy, and I think if things really did slow down ALOT, I would probably go crazy. But a little break now and then would be nice!

I LOVE watching my younger siblings compete, no matter what the sport. I love to cheer them on, win or lose. I remember how much the support of my family meant to me when I was competing, and I want my siblings to have that same kind of support. Plus, they are all AWESOME!!!I have really enjoyed watching Jesse play football this year, mostly because I know how much he loves it! Jesse could talk football 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and never get tired of it! Plus, he knows so much about the sport - it is really amazing! He would like to be a coach someday, and I really think he would be an awesome coach. Jesse is playing center this year, and his football nick name is "Big Daddy Jesse". I'm sad I don't have a photo from a game, but I did get this one of him practicing (he is #1).The blue guy on the left is my awesome brother Jade, and the blue guy on his right is his best friend, and my nephew, Taylor Francom. These two are super fast! Jade hasn't beat Taylor in a race yet, but he is never far behind! As a sophmore Jade is running varsity for the second season, and is also one of the team captains. Taylor took 2nd in this race and Jade took 6th. Way to go guys!Jens is just an All Around Sports Guy. He is the star of every sport he plays. He is number 12 on the ARL Mustang 8th grade football team, and plays running back, quarterback, defense, and anything else they need him to play. It is so much fun to watch him because he is in on every play. They haven't had a very successful season, but hey, they are just learning - getting ready for the big SJH football team. Good Luck Jens!This is McKady's first year running cross country, and she has done great! Despite the blisters, she keeps on going, no matter what. She is a fighter, and I know she will be successful in all she does. And just think, you can do both cross country and drill team in high school! (can you tell I can't wait for her to be on the high school dance team?)And here is Stetson's best friend. These two are inseparable and unstoppable. J.D. celebrated his 3rd birthday, just two weeks before Stetson's 2nd birthday. But you would have thought they were both celebrating the same day. Stetson helped blow out the candles and open the presents; I'm sure J.D. will do the same for Stetson.

This week we shipped calves and preg-tested the cows. I was so grateful that I was able to get out there and help - even if it was SUPER cold! It actually snowed pretty hard while we were gathering the cows, and I was not prepared at all! Thanks so much to Candice and Kenny's mom for tending Stetson so that I could be there to help. Also, a SUPER BIG thanks to Kirk and Heidi, Kenny's dad, Shawn and Josh for helping us out a TON!!! We couldn't have done it without you guys! I'm so sad I didn't get pictures, I guess it just wasn't high on the priority list. I did get one photo before we started pret-testing. . . who ever thought of using a backhoe instead of a panel to keep cows separated in the corral? We did, of course!