Trying to keep up this summer...

So many fun things happening around the Holt homestead this summer.  I admit the first week that school let out I was filled with anguish thinking about the forthcoming 3 months.  Well, we have one month left of summer vacation and I wonder where the time has gone...So here's the run-down, quite out of order, of everything we've been up to.

 To celebrate the 4th of July we have always swam and spent the day barbecuing and such in my parents backyard.  Well, with the move that wasn't an option this year.  My parents were still planning on hosting a barbecue but Mat and I volunteered our backyard since it was a fairly nice day.  Bailey and Mat had began the day with an 8 mile run and it was even somewhat cool out. Nevertheless the kids still wanted water so my dad brought over the "slip n' slide".

 Basically a 20 x 40 foot piece of visquine.  We ran two hoses and covered it in dish soap.

 Eventually the sinkhole in the backyard helped pool the water enough to bring out the skimboards.

 Peyton and cousins were happy to sit and play with blocks and barbies all day.

 Of course the kiddos could barely wait for the sun to go down to begin lighting the fireworks.  I'm not even sure they watch them.  They LOVE lighting them though and if that's what they want, we just sit back and enjoy the show!

 Bailey and her friend were finally able to make their sparkler heart. Peyton loved sparklers and lighting the bigger fireworks as well.

 Although Bailey ALREADY had her present (her cruise) and wasn't supposed to have a party we couldn't resist.  And by we I mean ME!  I got it in my head that she needed a surprise party and immediately the theme, and decorations all popped into my head.  Once the planning in my head starts there's nothing you can do but embrace it if you're Mat.

 Aunt Amber made another beautiful cake for dear little Bailey.  Seriously we are so lucky to have Amber in our family to make such cute cakes for us. 

 Chantry invited Bailey over to play for the day so that we could decorate and get ready for the party.  We asked Bailey to be home at 7:30 to babysit and told her the boys were in the backyard.  She was so embarrassed her eyes were literally filling with tears.

 We played minute to win it, doge ball, and lover's leap.  Had cake and began an outdoor movie. About 30 minutes into the movie we heard the thunder crackle that said we better move the party inside.  We should've began clearing out then but sure enough a minute later we were all scrambling to get everything inside as well as all of the guests.  All of Bailey's friends decided it would be more fun to get wet so then they all headed back outside while the torrents of rain came down.

 Despite some efforts of clean up the night before the next morning the carnage that was left in the backyard was extensive.  Overturned cake plates, spilled popcorn bags, and my precious tissue balls were all sopping wet and made the backyard look like a disaster had hit.

 Of course what is summer without a trip to Pine Valley with the Nelson clan?

 The usual picnic spot was under construction so we had to hike down to the water which was still ice cold from the snow runoff but we had a blast.

 Peyton found a tractor and was quite miffed that there were no keys to be found for it.  Apparently she was going to take her cousins for a ride like she does in her barbie car.

Mixed in with all of our summer fun Bailey got to attend her first girl's camp.  Although she hadn't turned 12 yet she was able to go with our ward to Lake Powell!  Lucky girl to spend her first week at girl's camp lounging around on houseboats and being towed on a tube and learning how to wakeboard!

 One very fun part about summer was having so many cousins come to town to visit.  We are very fortunate to have most of our family live close but in the past two weeks alone we've had visits from ALL of our cousins coming to play, swim, and laugh with us.

 While Bailey was at girl's camp I had another one of my "great ideas" that Mat loves me so much for.  I thought it would be fun to finish decorating Bailey's room for her.  It took about 10 hours and money we really shouldn't have spent on her but it turned our DARLING!  When she came home from camp she was so exhausted she could barely talk but she loved it!

Our summer still has many fun and exciting things to look forward to.  With the Bryce Canyon half marathon this weekend, school shopping in Vegas, and a quick getaway planned to Park City, I'm afraid the next month will fly by far too fast.

Saying goodbye...

After almost 33 years of living on the Red Hill my parents have officially moved.  While I've had plenty of time to come to terms with the move it was still very difficult for us.  I've really only ever known this house.  It was where we put on plays on the pool table in the basement.  Where we filled up garbage cans with water to swim in during the summer.  Where I would hit tennis balls against the gargage door everyday.  On the porch was where Mat first told me he loved me. 

 Where every summer since I turned six was spent outside swimming in the pool.  Playing with Becca, Christi, and the rest of the neighborhood gang.  Where each Saturday morning we would all meet to hike up to the top of the red hill and goof off in our own "rooms" on top.

 Most people I went to school with have at one time or another come to hang out there.  Most people didn't knock at my parents they just walked right in.  In fact if you knocked we would get irritated for having to answer the door. 

 This is where I learned by trial and many errors how to cook.  Also where I decided that I never wanted a huge house.  I really hated cleaning it. 

This is the place that was welcome to almost anyone.  The only people that weren't ever really wanted there (at least by me) only ever made it inside to the living room.  It was a very formal place and I can remember spending a lot of time trying to be polite but still trying to get a particular group of boys to leave me alone.  Thus, they only ever saw the formal side.

I grew up here. I have so many wonderful memories and my heart breaks that my kids will only get to take a few memories with them.  I loved our home and will miss it greatly. 

Going for GOLD!

This past week was the Utah Summer Games.  Mat so lovingly pointed out to me that it has been 16 years since I competed and took home a gold medal in soccer.  Now I was cheering for my kids chasing after their own golds.  Caleb would have two chances by running the 5k and playing for his soccer team.  Bailey was running the 5k as well. 

 Caleb didn't medal in the 5k but ran his personal best with a time of 23:56 and took fourth!  Bailey did end up getting a medal.  Also running her personal best time of 23:24 she took a bronze home.  Although she was a few minutes faster than the gold medalist from 2010 she was up against some VERY fast kids.  The gold medalist in her division ran a 21:07 and was only eight years old.  Very impressive!

For the most part we just drove up to Cedar everyday.  Hotels were on high demand and they were fairly high dollar.  We did end up staying in one Friday night.  We had to be at the race on Saturday at 6:00 a.m. and since Mat was participating in the Summer Games Triathlon I was on my own.  It worked out nicely since Peyton didn't sleep at all through the night but I was able to leave her with older kids while I took the kids to the race. 

 After the 5k Mat met us up in Cedar for the Gold medal game for Caleb's team.  Mat did awesome in his triathlon and beat the time he had set as his goal by ten minutes!  Caleb's team was playing a team that they had lost to in regular season play but had beat the previous day.  We knew going into it that we had the better team but you never really know how things will go.

 We wanted to not only win but win by a good margin.  The boys ROCKED!  The final score of the game was 8-1 in our favor! They were stoked as well as their parents and coaches!

 It was a great game and the boys had earned it!   They went undefeated in their age group for the Summer Games!

 It was a great way to end a super busy week.  I feel like I am constantly bragging about my kids, (which I really can't stand when parents do) in my defense, I am completely shocked at how amazing they are!  I am stunned at their abilities and while I sometimes have to fight to get them to their practices I know that when I was their age my parents could have NEVER made me get up at 6:00 a.m. in the summer for practice or practice for as many hours as they do.  They constantly impress me.

Our little baby Peyton is growing up far too fast!  She turned three last week and in perfect Peyton style was dressed like a princess for her party.

 We had her party a few days early since we knew her actual birthday would be quite busy.  We rented out the Veyo roller rink and invited all of her cousins and some friends to join us.  Peyton didn't quite last on her roller skates so we gave her our gift at the beginning.

 When Bailey turned three she got a barbie jeep so of course we wanted to get one for Peyton as well.  Peyton didn't want a jeep however.  She wanted a pink barbie car.  She saw this one on the Internet and insisted on it.  She was so cute about it of course we couldn't resist.

 It worked out great at the roller rink.  Peyton and the younger kids rode it around the rink the entire time and had a blast!

 Of course Peyton needed a pink barbie cake as well.  They only make smaller ones now so she also got a princess cake.  She LOVED being the center of attention and of course loved all of the pink!

 It was such a fun party we decided we needed to go up there more often.  We truly didn't even think the old place was still open.  I can't believe how fast the past three years have flown by!  Peyton starts preschool in August and will start ballet as well.  We love her very much and are constantly grateful she came to join our family!



Catching up!

It has been FAR too long since I have updated our blog!  As I was looking through my pics I realized that the last month or so have FLOWN by!  Too many fun things happening.  I love it! 

 The boys both finished their soccer seasons strong.  Caleb played an AWESOME final game and secured him a spot on his team's summer games team (which we are currently in the middle of).  Easton was able to secure him a spot on the comp team that we've been wanting him to play for and can't wait to get the fall season started with him!

 Bailey finished up her 1st year of intermediate school and I totally made it through!  It was touch and go for a few times there but she is an amazing girl and seemed unphased by any crazy stuff happening around her.  While she doesn't turn 12 until July she will be going to girl's camp this year and ... wait for it... GOING TO LAKE POWELL!!! Seriously whatever happened to going to Cedar Mountain and hoping you got the campsite nearest to the flushing toilets?

 The boys both played an awesome season of spring baseball.  Easton hit a home run almost every game (whether his coach let him run home or not). ;)

 Caleb got to try out his pitching arm and was pretty cute out there on the mound.  By the end of the season we actually got him not to walk every time he was up and just swing the bat!  He did and got some great hits.  His team ended up being the Snow Canyon Little League minor champs!

 Of course what's a month or two around our house without a couple of races thrown in?  Easton has officially dropped out of the running challenge we set for the kids at the first of the year. I can't blame him of course.  He's built like me and I LOATHE running!  Mat, Caleb, and Bailey ran a 5k up at the old airport the week school ended and each one took home a medal!  Mat and Caleb both took first in their divisions (this is the first time Mat has not ran with the kids) and Bailey took second in hers.

 We couldn't do much for Memorial Day since the rest of the primary presidency decided they were taking their families on vacations so we hung around town.  We ended up taking the kids up to the Gunlock run off on Monday.

 It's been a very cold spring and so while it wasn't really hot enough to jump in a swim we had a great time hiking around the water and looking at the falls.

 It was pretty packed with people but it was a blast.

 We did convince Easton to run one more race...The New Harmony Mud Run.  For kids they only had to run a 1.5k race through mud, logs, and other obstacles. 

 It was for ages 12 and under so all of the kids were in the same category.  Bailey rocked it with taking 1st! She ran it in 7:15.  Caleb came in a strong 3rd with a time of 7:40-ish.  Easton didn't place but started the race walking with a side ache and came through the finish line muddy and running.

 Bailey and Easton both successfully traversed through the muddy waters and came out looking like it.  Caleb traversed the same waters yet tried his darndest to stay clean and pretty much did.

I truly thought summer was supposed to be a time to relax and unwind.  It seems crazier than ever with all of the day camps, tutoring, sports, and playtime.  As I mentioned before we are currently in the middle of Summer Games.  Caleb had played three games so far and his team looks strong to play in the gold medal game tomorrow.  Bailey and Caleb will be running a 5k in the morning with Mat running a triathlon in the morning as well.  Hopefully we aren't too worn out for the gold medal game at noon.  Busy...I wouldn't change a thing!