Waterfall Canyon

Years ago, after a trip to some fake mountains, aka The Great Smoky Mountains Hills, where all we did was hike, day after day after day where the only incentive used was that we would see waterfalls, I vowed I would never hike to see one, again.  Yesterday, I caved and broke that vow in order to take my kids to see a waterfall in some real mountains.

It was the first really nice day of the year, so we decided to go on a hike that we have been talking about doing since Forrest moved out here.  We went to Waterfall Canyon, which was a hard hike that was uphill the entire way in.  The waterfall at the end was absolutely beautiful, though, and the kids loved being able to rock-hop after we made it to the top.
 

Etiquette Breakfast

Every year at Bates, the 6th grade class has an Etiquette Breakfast to teach the kids manners.  They are expected to come in "best dress" which in UT means at least a tie.  So, off I went yesterday in search of a shirt and tie for Wyatt since the last time he wore one was in 2nd grade for his First Communion.  He told me that he would be willing to wear a pink tie, so I jumped at the chance to put him in what I wanted to.  I couldn't find pink and didn't know whether he liked purple or not, so I bought two shirts, one a turquoise and one a lavender and told him he could choose.  He chose lavender!!

Doesn't he look so handsome??

What have we been up to??

Wyatt informed me the other day that it has been three months since I updated the blog.  To say we have been very busy is an understatement.  In that time we have had two birthdays, 4 swim meets, swim practice almost every day, volunteering at the school twice a week, a night of African dancing, Easter, and and and....Phew.  It has been cuh-ray-ZEE! 

Wyatt joined the swim team back in November and absolutely loves it and is doing really, really well.  All of those years that I pushed swimming lessons on him have really paid off.  He had his first meet in January and the Beehive State Finale was 3 weeks ago and he qualified for 3 events--the 50 freestyle, 50 breast stroke, 100 breast stroke.  He came in 2nd and 3rd in each of the breast events.  He missed qualifying for the Junior Olympics by 4 seconds, so we are hopeful he'll make it next year!

We're so proud of him and are looking forward to after this Summer when Henry can join the team.  Henry has beautiful strokes in regards to his technique but just needs a little boost with the stamina.  I think after lessons in July, he will be good to go.

 Henry and Lauren have been busy with schoolwork and ski lessons.  We signed them up for the after school program at Wolf Mountain and they went every Wednesday for 5 weeks.  They absolutely loved it.  Unfortunately, Utah had such an awful Winter this year that the mountain closed the day after there lessons were done, so they weren't really able to put their new found skills to use.  But, there is always next year and since I learned to ski, too, we can make it a family affair.

Yes, you read that correctly.  I learned how to ski, too.  I, who has always sworn I never would because I hate the cold, decided to overcome a fear of looking like a fool while doing bodily harm and took lessons to learn how to throw myself down a mountain on two thin boards that have been waxed for maximum speed.  And I had the bruises to prove it.  I even drove over a mountain to get to the lessons, which is another huge achievement for me.  And surprise of all surprises, I actually enjoyed it.  Now before I feel overly confident, I have to admit that while I mastered the bunny hill, blues still scare me. The poor Mormons were educated on a couple of choice expressions as I fell in the exact same spot on two different runs down what Forrest calls "an easy blue".  Easy, my ass (which may have been one of the lines thrown out as I was sliding down the hill).  It was fun, though, and I know I will be better next year.

Spring pictures were also taken, and while I didn't order any, I did snap my own before they left for school.

And finally, Easter was yesterday and the kids loved their loot.  Lauren got a Cubs t-shirt for our trip back to Chicago this Summer and the kids' very first Cubs game at Wrigley Field; Henry got two Angry Birds Space t-shirts because he loves the game; Wyatt received a "When I swim, I FLY" t-shirt as well as an iTunes gift card.  Not to mention all of the candy they will rot their teeth out with.

So, that about does it, I think.  School is out next month and we have a very busy Summer ahead of us, so I am hoping to be better about updating the blog so that I can keep up.

Good-bye 2011, Hello 2012...

In last year's New Year's post, I hoped that 2011 would be a better year than what 2009 and 2010 were.  Less stressful, more enjoyment, more peace.  For the most part, it was.  There was definitely more enjoyment and peace, but it still had an element of stress to it, but not of the caliber of previous years.

In retrospect, 2011 was a year of learning.  Lauren learned how to read, chapter books, specifically; Henry learned how to manage his emotions through OT; Wyatt learned that he is a really good swimmer by joining the swim team.  It is a joy to watch them grow and conquer challenges.  Even though it is hard to watch them struggle, I know that it is good for them to rise up and meet them head on.

For Forrest,  holy cow was 2011 an educational year for him!  He did 2 years worth of college work in one year and earned his Bachelor's of Science in Business Management.  He proved that it is never too late to go back to school and finish what you started and that hard work pays off in dividends.  He did it while working full-time and still being available for me and the kids.  We are so, so proud of him.  This opens up so many doors for him to be able to do what he really wants to do.

2011, for me, was a year to learn how to be comfortable in my own skin.  To have the confidence that I have always wished I could have.  I have come to the realization that I really don't give two hoots over what others think of me and because of that I have learned that I am a really good person--likeable, honest, loyal, loving.  I have come to understand that appearances don't matter and the masks you put on are more exhausting to wear than just accepting who you are.  I am a good mom and a freaking awesome wife. *winks at Forrest*  I am grateful that I have finally reached this place in my life.  The contentment it brings is priceless.

I knew at the beginning of 2011, there were only good things to come and I was, thankfully, right. So, here's to an even better 2012.