WOOHOO!!!

I can hardly believe that this kid is a Sophomore in High School.  I can so clearly remember being his age, and it doesn't seem like too long ago.  It feels like yesterday that I put him on the kindergarten school bus...so sweet (what happened?) ha ha

Brayden is a good kid.  I do wish he'd smile more at home ;), but I remember being his age - and I don't think smiling at the family was top on my priority list (no comments from my family please!)

And this girl.  What can I say about how much she's grown in the last year.  With Emilie, everything is a whirlwind - but the way she has changed this year is more like a tornado.  She has changed from a little girl to a young lady.  She has matured so much, and is a lot of fun to have around.  Not to mention that she is a HUGE help at home.  She is still the spunky Emilie that keeps us all on our toes, but she is figuring out how to control all the energy just a bit.  She is no longer in Elementary school, but has advanced to the Middle School, complete with 7 classes and a locker.  It was fun watching her go through the anxieties of hoping she would remember how to work her locker and remember where her classes were.  I can so clearly remember being her age and feeling the same things.  I can even remember the dream I had before I went to Middle School - and how scared I was.  She came home from the big day, still loving school.

 Most years I am really sad when school starts.  I really love summer.  I love having the kids home so we can play and not have the stresses of homework and tight schedule.    But this year???  Well, you can call me a bad  mom if you'd like - but I was cheerin' and a-hootin' and a-hollerin'.  It just couldn't come fast enough.  Don't get me wrong - summer was full of adventure and lots of fun.  But it was a bit too much fun.  I am exhausted from all the activities, and from all the arguing that our kids did with a bit too much family time.  

So when Emilie left at 6:50, then Brayden at 7:30, then Jarin got on the bus at 8:30, I felt a sense of freedom (ssshhh...don't tell our kids I just said that :) ).  Then behind me, one of the moms voiced what I was feeling, when she exclaimed "WOOHOOOO!!!" as the bus pulled away full of happy children.  Then a mom next to me burst into tears as her oldest child went to first grade for the first time - which means that they will be gone all day now instead of half a day.  I do remember a few years back, being the mom who walked away in tears.  But three children later.... I walked away all smiles.  First grade...all day school ...Aaaahhhh..... life is good! 

Only problem was... what to do with Kam.  He was missing his brothers and sister terribly.  And his preschool wasn't going to start for another week.  A little bribery and trips to McDonalds and a few phone calls with friends eased his pain for a few hours each day until....

Home at last!  When he saw Emilie walking up the sidewalk on day one, he ran to her with open arms.  Now sweet moments like this wouldn't happen if all the kids were home all day, right?  So it's not all bad that a mom likes her children to leave.  Without them leaving, there wouldn't be sweet reunions! :)

A week later, Kamden finally got his day.  He was so so so so excited for preschool.  I have to admit that I felt a tinge of sadness for a moment when he left - but only for a moment.  Then I came home with "ADHD" and ran around like a crazy woman, cuz I had the whole house to myself to get whatever done that I wanted to for a whole 2 hours and 15 minutes! (3 days a week)

I would really like it tho, if time would freeze right here.  I do enjoy a few moments to myself - but all day alone doesn't sound like too much fun either.  So I will enjoy this year while to it's fullest.

Last laughs on You!

Here is a picture of the cutest 4 year old ever.  Mr. Kam-da-man.  Kam-da-bear.  Kammo.  Kam.  

He's my little one that when he is crying (whether it's from him being hurt or him hurting someone else - he always says, "Sorry Mommy").  As if he's not making a good choice by crying when he's hurt or feels bad????  He usually hides his face when someone talks to him.  He tells me that he's shy.  Although if you could be a fly on the wall at home, you would see another side of him.  Still sweet, but very entertaining to observe, and very outgoing.

So all of this being said, you may be surprised to hear that yesterday we were talking and playing.  He stands up right by me and says, "Mom, I'm gonna fart on your face".  I was still taking in the shock of his comment, when he turns his behind around and sticks it out right at me and lets one rip!    After the shock wore off, I'm thinking to myself, "OH, NO He Di'nnt!" The parent in me had to let him know that wasn't a good choice.  But I have to admit that when I was done with my parenting responsibility on this one, I had to try really hard not to crack up.  Disgusting?... yes.  Funny? ...absolutely YES (in a disgusting sort of way).

So today as he's getting ready to walk out the door to preschool, he says (with a big smile), "Ha Ha...you are going to be all alone. Ha Ha Ha."  

I'm thinking to myself.... Yep, Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha.  

I'm definently getting the last laugh on this one.  He's been gone for 45 minutes now, and I'm still laughin'!  Teeee Heeee Heee.... ha ha ha ha ha.................

I just love that baby boy of mine!

TOU Half Marathon

If you refer back to my blog about a year and a half ago, you will see a post that was titled something like, "My last half marathon".  Well....I don't even know what to say about that.  I really thought that was the last one.  I guess you can never say never.  I really don't love to run.  And I thought I would try my hand at other events.  Somehow (peer pressure from Shawn saying, "If you do it, I'll do it"), I got myself roped into another 13.1 miles.  While I was signing up, I signed Ira up too and then texted him and told him he was running the TOU (SURPRISE!).  I think Shawn and Yuri had a similar story.  Shawn and I did our first Triathlon in June, and decided that was the way to go - not all this running.  But...we were already signed up for this.  SOOOO...none of us trained for this race like we intended to at first.  We did train, but we got exercise in lots of different forms - not just running.  We decided we could either drop out, or we could go and not be in any hurry.  We could walk the whole thing if we wanted to.  We were hoping for a time of around 3.5 hours.  Turns out that all that other exercise still helped.  This was Yuri's first race, and she did awesome.  She had decided not to do it because of a bum knee.  Then the night before, she was in. Shawn, who thought he would walk most of it, did awesome.  Ira, who hardly trained in any form - did awesome.  As for me....lets just say I got under 3 hours (remember my goal was 3.5) - so I was happy with it...considering.

And today????  Well, we can hardly walk - hips, knees, feet, calves.  You know...all the things that 13 miles of pounding can do to a poor old body! :)

I have to say tho, that this year we stuck around for awhile when we were done.  I watched as people came in at 4+ hours.  Many of them walking, some barely running.  I was so inspired by those people.  Those fast winners are impressive too - but those who obviously struggled all the way were truly an inspiration.  They were out doing something that they probably never thought they could do.  And yesterday, they did it!  Every runner out there has their own story of why they are there, and what keeps them going when their bodies hit that "runners wall".  But those who kept going hour after hour - they are inspirational.  

Wind Rivers

Woes, this will be picture overload.  But I just couldn't decide what else to cut out.  (Believe me, there are more pictures than this even! :) ).

This last weekend our family went backpacking in the Wind Rivers Mountain Range in Wyoming.  I have to admit that Ira kinda walked me out the door kicking and screaming because I had no desire to go.  I had been backpacking one other time in my life (a year ago).  It was a lot of fun, but I remember it being exhausting.  I have been so busy this summer, and when it came to doing one more activity - especially a physically challenging one - I was all thumbs down.  I decided at the last minute that I would go, but only if Kamden came too, because I didn't want to deal with the extra time it would take to get him to and from his babysitter.  SO...we all piled in, and headed to Wyoming.  We stayed in a campground the first night, so we could just get up and start hiking in the morning.  By the time we got there late, and it was FrEeZiNg...I just knew that I had made the wrong choice.  I told Ira that I was taking the boys and going home in the morning.  He and the other two could catch rides home with our extended family who was meeting us up there.

Well, sleep does wonders to a tired mommy. By morning, I was ready to give it a go.  And I am SOOOO glad that I did.  I could have missed out on a spectacular, and even restful (believe it or not) experience.  

 I was so impressed with our little guys.  Ira was sure that Kam would need to be carried part of the way.  So he brought a carrier.  The picture below is the only time he had to use it, and that was only for a couple of minutes.  Two other times, on the way back down, Ira carried him on his shoulders for just a couple of minutes.  Other then that - he did the whole 18 miles (?) within 3 days by himself.  Jarin was also very impressive.  He carried a backpack, and he would get so tired.  But instead of letting one of us carry it for him so he could rest - he refused the help and said that he wanted to be strong and do it himself.  He was a trooper, and I'm so proud of all of our kids.

When we finally arrived at the lake that we were camping at, it was a very welcome sight.  And it felt so good to soak our tired and achy feet.

The day after our hike in, we went on another hike that was maybe another 6 miles.  It was up further into the mountains, and we hiked by 7 lakes.  It was absolutely breathtaking as every corner we'd come around, there would be a new lake or a new mountain peak.

All of the kids who were with us - my kids and some nieces and nephews.

 My cutest ever niece - Tiana.  

 My cutest ever other niece, Myah with my cutest ever daughter, Emilie.  OK - I think all  the kids in our family are just the cutest ever.    And I'm not biased at all! :)

Jarin looked so dang cute with his bandana and tie-died shirt.  

Our whole group at one of the lakes.

Tiana and her mom Yuri

 My brother-in-law Derrick with Desmond.

Emilie climbing the rocks.  

My little sis - Kelli and her husband Derrick

Me with my granola boy.  I guess we both look a bit granola-y.

Zac & Brayden

 Brayden & Tiana

Emilie

Travis, Reece & Rylee

Brayden

Wading at Deep Lake.  The cliffs were so amazing.  Every thing I would see, I would think to myself, "I almost missed this to stay home and clean and sleep".  I'm so grateful that I went!

Tiana getting her hair wet without getting her clothes wet.  I guess that's one way to do it.  But not for me, I'd fall right on my head!

 Like father like son!  These two found rocks for pillows and took a nap.

 Jarin and Myah on the trail

Yuri and me

I took this picture because Jarin saw this plant and said, "Jesus sure is creative for all the things he made."  Yep Jarin, I couldn't agree more.  How could anyone see this beautiful world, and still question if there is a God?

YAY!  Dinner!  It was a fun treat to get fish, especially since we had left part of our food sitting in the truck 6 miles away.  Of course, food is something I can't get myself to pack light on.  It was a good thing this time because we still had enough.

 I have learned a lot backpacking.  Like how important every single ounce is from your clothes to your sleeping bags to the food you pack.  I've learned about the nifty little backpacking stoves that are just tiny, but we use to cook all our meals - like Yuri and Tiana are doing below.

I also learned that water filters are a fabulous tool to own.  We could filter water out of any stream or lake.  

These are the three youngest backpackers.  There were seasoned backpackers that we would pass along the way, who were so surprised and impressed to see such young kids.

Last day - the Gurneys are heading down

Reece, Travis & Rylee

The rest of us hung out for a bit longer, and came across this waterfall that they dunked themselves in.  "They" meaning most everyone but we moms.  Those crazy kids!

Jarin meditating on a rock above the water fall.  

Derrick getting a massage in the waterfall

Braydens turn

The moms, who were the only ones there with any sense! ha ha

Tiana

The waterfall crew

Swaner Family

Moser Family

Crawford Family

Goodbye Big Sandy Lake.  Thank you for sharing your beauty with us.  We'll be back again....someday.