Christmas 2012

No pictures today. With no camera, we tried taking iphone photos, but the unwrapping was just too much for my phone to handle!
Hopefully I'll have some pictures from Dylan's birthday and Christmas to share soon.

Just want to say thank you for all the cards and nice thoughts people sent. Our table is filled with pictures and cards from the people we love most. It's a great reminder of what the season is all about--family and friends.

A special thank you to Aunt Vivian (sorry I have been bad about posting) and Uncle Gus (who I know doesn't read my blog). We got your cards, and were so excited!

My parents spoiled all of us as usual. Thanks, Mom and Dad! We are so lucky to have you in our lives. You mean the world to us, and we treasure the memories we are making and the relationship you have with Izzy and Dylan. We all love you so much!

Fred and Kelly spoiled us as well! One of the highlights of Christmas with Luke's family was visiting Grandma and Grandpa Kemp at the cemetery. We lit luminaries and Jake played "Amazing Grace" on his harmonica. Another fabulous opportunity to reflect on what is most important in life--family.

All in all, it was a great Christmas. We are looking forward to spending more time with family and friends as 2012 winds down and comes to a close. We wish all of you and yours a happy holiday season!

I'm behind!

We have had a busy month! I am excited to tell you all about...

*selling our house
*the Wasatch 100
*moving to Riverton
*baseball
*spending a week in California
*Isabelle's birthday
*moving back to Holladay
*house hunting (ugh!)

There is so much to talk about!

Summer Camp

Izzy got home from camp on Friday afternoon. She had a great time! We started looking through the pictures she took, and Luke and I thought she had a bit of an eye for photography. We're thrilled she had the opportunity to spend some time in the mountains with school friends learning all sorts of amazing things. I was happy to see her sun-kissed face jump off the school bus, her blue eyes sparkling the way they do when she has "so much to tell you!".
As a "footnote" (ha ha), she fractured her foot just hours after she got home and is currently hobbling around on crutches. It's funny to me that I worried about her while she was away at camp, but she got hurt stubbing her toe at home. Who would have thought?

A Perfect Date

Dylan and I had the chance to spend the day together, which doesn't happen very often. We are always running here or there, Izzy has dance, or I have work...it was a rare treat for us to have the entire day to spend one on one.
He helped me out at work until 2, then we took off and spent the rest of the afternoon at the Utah Museum of Natural History. Wow! Amazing! We could have spent at least an entire day. There were a lot of hands-on exhibits. We both learned a lot. Like Ravens and Beavers are huge! Dire wolves are real (who knew), we want to be Navajo, and spiders are super gross. I get it--spiders are helpful, blah blah blah. According to Dylan and I, they are ugly and sneak up on you. Thanks anyway.
After all that learning and exploring, we had worked up quite an appetite, so we went to Bruges for a pretty fabulous dinner. I got a vanilla waffle with creme fresh and raspberries, while Dylan had a vanilla waffle with vanilla bean ice cream, raspberries, and belgian chocolate drizzled on top. Ice cream for dinner?!? Everything I make for dinner from this point on will pale in comparison. If you haven't been, you really should give it a try. Mark and Sarah took us last week before the Band of Horses concert, and I haven't stopped thinking about that dang waffle since. Between the waffles and the massive amount of chocolate covered cinnamon bears I've been eating lately, I should be enormous by the next time you see me :)

Good Morning

I didn't feel like getting out of bed this morning...until I remembered that I got this yesterday.

Luke spoiled us big time. The kids have vowed to "take really good care of it" and eat in it "only when necessary". So cute.

'Ellen', our other Subaru, took us so many great places:
The San Rafael Swell
Goblin Valley
Escalante
Canyonlands
Arches
Las Vegas
Disneyland
Bear Lake
Logan
Idaho
Moab
Bryce Canyon
St. George
The list goes on and on. We are looking forward to all the fun places 'Vader' is going to take us. First on the list is Grandma Ruthie's house for 3 days of fun. It's just Grandma, Grandpa and the kids. They cannot wait to hang out. I'm going to be camping with our church youth group, Luke is going to be *surprise* running a lot, and we can't think of a more perfect place for our kids to be. I hope they realize how precious these moments are in their lives. Learning about our grandparents, forging relationships with them, loving them...what could possibly teach us more about the type of people we want to be?
Plus, we get to drive to their house in a super cute new car.
Wahoo!

That just happened!

A sweet little taste of victory and off to the state tournament--our boys played their hearts out today! I think the looks on their faces says it all.
Way to go Crown Colony!!

Caprese Skewers

Mozzarella, basil, grape tomato...repeat. I cut the tomatoes in half so the skewers would stand up.


Drizzle a little thickened balsamic reduction over the skewers and finish with some cracked black pepper.
A perfect little taste of summer!


(I got this idea from iowagirleats.com. I'm going to try her cheesecake stuffed strawberries next!)

All-Star Summer

Dylan got chosen for the All-Star team!



This is one of my favorite photos...Bucky throwing out the runner at third. What a rock star! He had a great time during the regular season, made some awesome new friends, and is looking forward to a summer filled with plenty of sunny days and baseball.

Disclaimer

6...days left of school

2... more weeks of dance

1... weekend of baseball games

(then I will be a better blogger)

Camera

Luke surprised me with a new camera! I am a little overwhelmed-I think I have figured out 3 of the approximately 300 options. (Jodi, if you are reading this, maybe I could buy you lunch for a quick lesson on how to use it?) We are looking forward to capturing a lot more of those priceless moments...like Dylan staring down the ball mid-swing. With my other camera, I'd try timing it, and you'd end up looking at what Dylan was doing right after he hit. This is amazing!

Mt. Olympus

I've admired it from a distance for a long time, so it's about time I got around to climbing it! Sarah and I hiked to the first stream this afternoon. It was great weather, and Sarah was very patient about my (slow) speed. My knees are a little sore, but it felt good to be in the mountains. My playlist didn't disappoint, and we didn't run into any rattlesnakes (Anton saw one last week on the trail), so all in all a good day. We'll see how I feel in the morning, but as of right now, I'm planning on getting back on the trail really soon!

On Set

Izzy must do neglected and poor pretty well. After such a believable portrayal of "The Little Match Girl" she was recently cast in another project. She was asked to be poor and homeless on the streets in a music video. I took a quick photo while the director was finishing up a few details...yes, I was that mom. She did an amazing job. I knew as I watched through the camera that it wasn't real, but it hit home. It was powerful stuff to watch her ask people for money. Really, it broke my heart.


When we got home, she got straight into a hot bath and warm, clean clothes. She was wiped out. I was happy to see her on my couch, wrapped in a blanket.
It would be so nice if we as parents could protect our children forever. From everything. But we can't. We have to get them ready to protect themselves, right? Give them the tools and pray they figure it out.

Baseball!

There's nothing I love more than a sunny afternoon at the ball field. Baseball is so much fun; I am thrilled that Dylan likes it. There was some serious fire in his eyes tonight. I saw it after a particular play where he tagged the 3rd base runner at home plate. It was awesome. He just put his head down, threw his shoulders back, and was ready for anything. Ten foot tall and bullet proof.

He was first up to bat. Liz helped me take some pictures. She did much better than I would ever do, so thanks a million! I owe you yet again :)


Dylan was first up to bat.


Check out his eye contact with the ball. Atta boy!


He pitched really, really well. I was blown away! He looked like a natural, even though it was his first time.


He also tried catching. This was the position he enjoyed the most. I don't think of his body type for a catcher, but whatever. He LOVED it. He was stopping the ball and had an amazing knack for keeping track of the ball, the opposing team, and our players. A lot to think about!


Here's an action shot. If the ball got past him, he would throw off that helmet and hustle like you can't imagine.


It's good I didn't have buttons on my shirt, because I would have busted them.
I am one proud mama!

Mt. Olympus Love

Am I spoiled or what? It's as if I live in the shadow of a perfect little postcard. Oly is striking during every season of the year, and when I see it, I know I'm home.
This was my view as I pulled into the driveway after dance, and I couldn't resist sharing!

Jack

He's here! We finally got to meet Jack. He weighed in at 8lbs 2oz, and is 21" long...almost as big as Emily ;)
We are already head over heels in love! Mom, dad, and baby are all tired, but doing well. Congrats!!

Easter 2012

A fabulous easter egg hunt,


a fire pit,


& cute kids...


what a perfect holiday weekend!

Can you see me now?

We took advantage of the sunshine and walked to Suicide Rock with the Robbins yesterday. I took a couple photos, and the kids just sort of blended in to the graffiti...kind of cool. We pass the rock every time we head up Parley's, but haven't ever taken the time to check it out up close. Next time we'll take spray paint and get creative!

Spring Has Sprung

It's official! Spring is here. Grandpa Kemp's magnolia tree is putting on a show outside our kitchen window,


we got out the spring scented soap,


and we have mangos dehydrating for afternoons hiking in the mountains.


Yippie!

May the Force Be With You...

The picture is a little fuzzy; just a quick shot with my iphone. Dylan was over the moon excited to meet Darth Vader and a Storm Trooper.
Best. Day. Ever.

I Cringe

every time I hear this word.

Healthy Living!

Izzy and Dylan get a kick out of seeing Luke on TV...if you want to see his segment from Good Things Utah this morning, click here:
Jazz Bear and Dr. Cleo on Healthy Living

My Little Stars

Yesterday, Dylan performed an African dance with his school class. They have been working with someone from the Tanner Creative Dance Program (University of Utah) for 8 weeks. Their dance focused on space, energy, and movement. It was awesome! And I have to say that Dylan's interpretation of the Nile River was amazing...Luke and I were busting our buttons! I was most impressed by his confidence and strength.


Back in December, Isabelle was able to perform at the Rose Wagner Theatre as the lead in The Little Match Girl. She took my breath away. She did four shows, and I don't think there were many dry eyes in the house at the end of any of them. She danced so many extra hours and did so much extra barre work...she's a rock star!


I couldn't be more proud :)

New Blogger...Luke!

Luke and Mark are going to take us along on their journey to the finish line at the Wasatch 100. Here is the welcome to their blog, written by Mark (there is a link on my "good places to visit" list):

Welcome.
We have many friends and family that have flooded us with support after learning our fates as entrants into the Wasatch 100. We have been amazed and excited to receive such support. One of the main things that is said is "keep us posted." We know of no better way to do this than through a blog format.

The title of this blog is two fold. Revelation speaks to the apostolic theme of Mark and Luke, our two favorites. More importantly the revelation that we have both had while on the trail. We both feel that this was "made for us." Cheesy to be sure but it is what it is. The second part of the name speaks to elevation. We will be climbing and descending close to 27,000 feet both ways. Up and Down! Plus I love the word elevation. I think it speaks to rising up.

Erik Weihenmayer was the first blind person to summit Everest. He is an incredible inspiration to me and once said, “A lot of people say that they summit the mountain for the view. The beautiful view but I just think, and I may be biased, but I think
it is hogwash. I think it’s a complete lie! You don’t suffer for twenty days or
a month to see a view. A lot of times you are just looking into a sea of clouds
anyway. I think a summit is not a place on a mountain at all. A summit to
me is a symbol. It’s a symbol that with the force of our minds, our
bodies, our souls and with the power of these two small hands that we can transform
our lives into something miraculous!”

It is our hope to do something miraculous!

This blog will include training plans, re-caps of training runs, product reviews, race reviews and much much more. I imagine that it will be cheesy at points and serve somewhat therapeutic.

Enjoy!

And He's Off!

Luke got in to the Wasatch 100!

I've done a fair bit of research since he put his name in the lottery, and this section of race information stuck out to me:

"Be Prepared: This event is extremely demanding, and should only be undertaken by athletes in excellent physical condition. All entrants should be familiar with basic first-aid, and know the symptoms and treatment for heat exhaustion, hypothermia, frostbite, and altitude sickness. Some course sections between aid stations exceed nine miles. Runners should be well-equipped to care for themselves and effect self-rescue if necessary. Only runners who can demonstrate successful ultrarunning experience or its equivalent will be considered for entry."

Really? Effect self-rescue?

Not bad for $16.50

Today in my Bountiful Basket I got...

1 bunch of spinach
1 head of romaine lettuce
1 head of cabbage
1 bunch of asparagus
1 lb. green beans
5 yellow onions
2 (3 lb.) bags of baby red potatoes
4 bell peppers
6 tomatoes
blueberries
9 Braeburn apples
2 grapefruits
6 oranges

I love having a fridge full of fresh fruits and veggies for the week!

National Peanut Butter Day

We'd never heard of national peanut butter day, but it seemed like a good excuse to make cookies! Izzy and Dylan had a lot of fun rolling the cookie dough into balls and covering them with sugar. Even more than that, they loved squishing the mini peanut butter cups into the hot, fluffy dough. I found the recipe on delish.com, but it's actually from Martha Stewart Living. For any of you out there that can't have peanuts, I'm sure you could substitute SunButter in this recipe. It might even taste better. Happy Peanut Butter day!

Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies

1/2 cup(s) creamy peanut butter
4 tablespoon(s) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup(s) packed light-brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon(s) pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup(s) all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
1 teaspoon(s) baking powder
1/4 teaspoon(s) salt
1/3 cup(s) granulated sugar, for rolling dough
36 mini peanut butter cups, chilled and unwrapped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using an electric mixer, cream peanut butter and butter in a mixing bowl until smooth. Add brown sugar; beat until combined, scraping down bowl as needed. Add eggs and vanilla, and beat until incorporated.
In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. With mixer on low speed, gradually beat in flour mixture in two batches.
Scoop off dough by the tablespoon; roll into balls. Place granulated sugar on a plate; roll balls in sugar, coating completely. Place 2 inches apart on a nonstick insulated baking sheet.
Bake until cookies begin to puff up slightly, about 7 minutes. Remove from oven. Press one peanut butter cup in center of each cookie. Return to oven; continue baking until cookies are golden brown and chocolate has begun to melt, about 6 minutes more. Let cool at least 10 minutes on baking sheet before transferring cookies to rack to cool completely.

Dylan's Big Day

Dylan was baptized on Sunday. It was a wonderful day filled with family, friends, and lots and lots of sugar! Thank you to everyone who came and supported Dylan on his special day!

Christmas 2011

As busy as our December was, Christmas day was just the opposite. It was peaceful and lovely and simple. We opened gifts, sat by the fire, and ate all day long.



Isabelle got the dollhouse she wanted



and Dylan got a Red Rider BB gun. I'll let you guess how many times he's heard "you'll shoot your eye out kid"!



Here's hoping you had a wonderful Christmas, and wishing you the best for 2012!