Roper Lake April 13th-15th

We had such a blast with the Holman family at Roper lake. This is our third time going and we are happy to have the Holman's join us! They have a mini kayaks and we have two mini kayaks and we also borrowed a regular one from a friend. The cousins had a blast on the water. We lounged around and watched as time stood still for a bit. The camp ground also has a hot springs and hiking trails. Unfortunately Robin got stung by a ninja bee that came out if nowhere. Nothing like hot dogs, smores and pop tarts to make the kiddos happy. They had their foreign exchange student and we had ours, the more the merrier. Can't believe their time in our homes are coming to an end. Our mist exciting moment came when one our kayaks took flight on the freeway. Luckily Benjamin heard something and pulled over so we new we lost one. It was a miracle that it didn't hit another car and that we found it! We decided to keep it inside the van much to Olivia's happiness! Wish I caught more pics of the younger kids, but they didn't come to shore much :)

Ragnar race!! March 31-April 1st

Benjamin's home teaching companion is one of the most eclectically skilled man we know. He does so many things and knows so many people. So when he approached Benjamin to participate in a Ragnar race, Benjamin was all in. He loves anything that involves an adventure. So the idea of participating in a 200 mile relay race in Austin Texas he was more than excited to join. There were two vans of six runners and we rotate running throughout the day. His friend is 60 and his wife is 59, they both ran. They are amazing!! The other two who ran with our team one is a friend from the ward and another was the friend of Benjamin's who coordinated it.  Irun several times a week but don't run competitively, so I was a little nervous mostly because it's a 24 hour race so you end up running in the middle of the night. I'm a girl who needs my sleep so the thought of running my 3rd leg at 3am, a 6 miler was a little daunting. I didn't die! And I found I didn't lose the eye of the Ruger after all. My total mileage was 18. Benjamin's was 18.3, he ran the longest leg it was a little over 10 miles. 

Aunt to the rescue!! March 31st

At my kids school they have an awards assembly 5 times a year, it's great when you're​ on the list to get something, not so fun to endure the assembly when you don't get something. At my kids school every kid who gets a 90's grade point average and above gets recognition. Brutal when your in the first grade and a majority of classmates gets it. I'm not afraid of kids not being on "the list" I think failing is healthy people know how to list cause we do it such much more frequently than winning, but being 7 it's hard. Anna had an awards assembly on Friday both Benjamin and I were out of town for our Ragnar. Anna knew this so on her car ride home she asked Aunt Robin if she could come. Anna said Robin asked when it was but she wasn't sure the time. I was hoping Anna would forget about it and Robin too. Well we left for our trip and I got a text from Robin with a picture of Anna beaming. Robin made Anna's day as well as mine. So thoughtful to make her day. My Anna makes her own lunch, dresses herself, and cleans her chores like a champ. She wanted support and found a loving Aunt to fill in. Thanks a million Robin!!

Turning a Parental Corner March 27, 2017

This was the first week in the 11 years of my kids attending public school that I did not need to make one car pool trip to a school, it was epic. Benjamin took the younger kids to school on his way to work, and Bella drove the older kids to school in a pickup truck that we are buying from Amy and Nate. Robin and John had  the little kid car pool in the afternoon. They picked up the little kids and drove to the older kids campus and then Bella drove all our kids home...It was amazing!! I gained an hour and half each day this week. The icing on the cake was when the kids were coming home on Tuesday I thought to myself,  bummer I will have to make the kids walk to the curb to pick up the trash bins because I'm not in the car asking them to hop out and haul them to the house. But to my delightful surprise the kids had seen them and hopped out and hauled them into the back of the truck, without me harassing or even asking....They saw an annoying chore and collectively decided it needed to be done. Well played Howe children, well played. We have turned a corner in parenting.