October Happenings

Ahhh!!  I just keep getting further and further behind!  October was so, so busy.  But there's no way I can do a separate post about everything or I'll really never catch up.  We started off the month in Price at another mountain bike race.  Price isn't my favorite location.  They made mountain bike trails over an old dump site, so there's random glass and garbage everywhere.  

A few days after we got home from Price Jake and I went to Indiana for one of his builder groups.  There were pretty sunsets, and trees, but that's about it.  Definitely not a destination location.  Our hotel was a block away from Indiana University, so it was fun to explore the campus.  There were lots of college kids and bars.  

I jokingly told Jake I wanted a hot tub for my birthday.  He came through on my birthday wish!  Best husband ever!  Especially because we didn't have a spot to put it and had to extend our patio.  So in one weekend we dug out the space and got pavers laid.  It was a lot of work!  Somehow the kids didn't mind working so much when it involved getting a hot tub.

We didn't go anywhere for fall break.  Too much other stuff in October to make anything happen.  A few days after fall break we headed to St George for Zack's last high school mountain bike race.  It was a great weekend.  Zack got stuck in a pile up at the start, so he didn't do as well as he wanted to, but we still had a great time.  It was definitely bitter sweet.  I was so excited for Zack to finish strong, but so sad that it was his last race with the high school team.  When he started in 9th grade we had no idea what we were getting into.  The team was like a third of the size it is now.  Zack knew how to ride a mountain bike, but he definitely wasn't fast.  I remember being worried that he wasn't good enough to be on the team (I didn't realize that they take all levels of riders).  Now, four years later, our whole family is involved with the team and Zack rides in one of the fastest groups.  It's been a great experience to watch him learn how to push himself and see his hard work pay off.  So I may have shed a tear or two as he was finishing.  I'm just so grateful we've all been able to participate as a family.  Not many sports that allow that!   

A few days after St George we left for Mexico.  But that definitely needs it's own post.  Phew!  October had a lot going on!  

Sage did some chalk fundraiser thing

Oh yeah.  We no longer have Chester.  That's all I can say about that or else I'll get in trouble.

Indiana University

Jake's builder group

And Jake got a truck.  That we're not allowed to ride in because we're filthy scum.

It was really hard to get the tractor in there!

Zack finishing his last race

Grandpa Greg even came!

Zack and his friend Jesse.  They loved that I took their picture.

September Happenings

 September was busy with more mountain biking, school, and regular life stuff.  My favorite part of September was probably the beautiful fall leaves.  I don't remember the leaves ever being as pretty as they were this year.  Every day I was amazed at what a beautiful place I live in.  

We spent all of September and October working on college applications.  Specifically BYU's application.  I would like to add that this college stuff is not for the faint of heart.  It's so confusing!  There's so much you're supposed to know, and I feel like I know nothing!  Anyway, Zack wanted to apply to BYU (I should say he wouldn't make a decision so we told him he should apply to BYU and he agreed).  BYU requires essays.  Six of them.  Heaven help us.  We finally got the application turned in and I should have documented the event.  I'm so happy I no longer have to nag Zack about his essays.  He's probably more happy that he doesn't have to listen to my nagging.  I'm proud of Zack for persevering.  Writing isn't easy for him, but he powered through and wrote some really good essays.  In my biased opinion at least.  

We did go camping over Labor Day.  The plan was to meet some friends up in the mountains above our house.  They sent us a pin of where they were and it didn't look too far.  We got to the pin and they were nowhere to be found.  We figured out that he had sent two pins, and the other one was much further away.  We kept going and really put the Jeep to the test pulling the trailer.  It was such a rocky road!  Definitely slow going.  We finally ended up pulling off at a different spot and enjoying the night on our own.  It was beautiful and good to get away for a second.  For something besides a mountain bike race.

This was the most beautiful ride ever.  But I also thought I was going to die of hypothermia.  It took me hours to warm up.  This ride is a big reason we now have a hot tub!

Our little camp spot

We drove up to the top of the world the next day

We went to visit the dairy for a YW activity.  The girls were letting the baby cows suck on their hands.  I passed on that experience.

Homecoming parade

Zack put purple streamers on his bike.

Mountain Bike Madness!

 I decided to just capture the whole season in one post.  My mom heart will always remember this season because it's the only season where all of my kids were able to be on the team.  As crazy as it sometimes was logistically, I loved every second of it.  Sage was in her first year mountain biking, and Zack was in his last year (le weep).  This year we raced at Soldier Hollow, Snowbasin, Vernal, Price, and St George.  Every race was a success because everyone finished.  No wrecks (at least bad ones) and no mechanicals.  That's all I ever hope for.  Sage mostly hated the practices and couldn't be bothered to ride hard.  But when it was time to race suddenly she was all about going fast.  She's a bit competitive.  Kate always amazes me.  She shows up to practice ready to ride every time.  Races are hard, especially when you have anxiety, and she powers through.  Even though she probably had the worst race conditions of anyone.  One race they got her group all lined up and then they had to go sit down for 30 minutes because of lightning.  She raced in crazy wind another time.  And she always had the latest start time, so she had to sit around all day just thinking about her race.  Hard stuff but she finished every time.  And Zack had a great senior season.  When he started biking I never would have thought he'd get as fast as he is.  It's been fun to watch him improve.  He's had his share of bad races along with the good, but he finished every single race.  My mom heart was ready to burst with happiness, and sadness, watching him finish his last high school race.  He assures me there are more races in the future, but it won't be the same.

Now, here are a million pictures to document the season.

Sage racing at Vernal

Kate at Price

Zack at Snowbasin

Sage right before her first race at Soldier Hollow

She got to race in the rain

Sometimes at the beginning you get stuck and your best option is to run!

Sage insists she didn't make any friends on the team...

These are just the devo riders.  Our team was too big this year to get a picture all together.  About 200 kids total.

The only picture I have of all of my kids in their team kits.  I had to force them.  And it's in a parking lot.  Sigh.

Devo riders only do 3 races.  So this was Sage's last race in Vernal.

Had to document our camping set up this year.

It's crazy how dusty it gets.

Kate on a super steep switch back in Price.

Zack finishing his last high school race in St George.