Our Family Maddness

2-8-2017 - Random Play Day

We have playgroup with people from our ward every Wednesday from 10 to Noon. It is alot of fun because we all bring bikes and the kids run and play and usual share each others' bikes. Adults get to talk to each other while our kids get some energy out and are able to play together.

This particular day - Logan grabbed Charity's helmet and Kara's bike. Gotta love a boy in pink.

After dinner, we put on our jackets and went out in the rather warm weather to stretch our legs. The kids love this spot and pretend it is their house. We usually are in this spot for about 10 minutes while they are playing in their "house" as Kara refers to it.

Yes, I have that kid that doesn't ever have his hair down because how rough he plays it is always messed up, so I usually don't bother doing it again after naptime.

2-5-2017 - Super Bowl Sunday

So, if you know us, we aren't the biggest fans of watching sports. But it is fun to go to a sporting event in person occasionally and enjoy the experience of it. No, we didn't attend the Super Bowl in person, but we did make an experience out of it at my momn's. We let the kids have a picnic in front of the TV and also roasted hot dogs and brats. We brought the brats as something else to taste. Matt even made some sauteed onions to go on them.

Kara and Leili liked roasting the hot dogs.

Kyla, Logan, Kara, Leili, and Kasiah were the kids at my mom's that day.

As Matt kept saying "sportsing is fun". He isn't into any team sport at all, but had a sportsing jersey from a friend that he wore.

2-2-2017 - Ice Castles

We took the kids up to the Ice Castles in Midway. Kara absolutely loved being able to explore. Logan wanted to be held most of the time, but we all still enjoyed it. It was fun to go down the slides and there were multiple different ones to choose from. We got there about 1/2 hour before the sun went down so we could see everything in the light and then also got to experience it in the dark with the lights. We also made it the last weekend they were open, since our weather has been crazy and warm or extremely cold. Gotta love being in Utah.

Video - Family picture moment

Video - Kara and Logan going down the big ice slide

Video - Ice Castles at night

Video - Ice Castle Slide all of us going down

2-2, 2-4, & 2-11 2017 - Playing with Horses

I get to work with a non-profit called Hope Ranch Ministries. http://www.hoperanchministries.org/. It helped me alot when I was dealing with infertility, miscarriages, and failed adoptions before we had Kara. It gave me a place that I love, which are horses, and an environment to be away and get my energies out. To put it simple "Finding Hope by interacting with Horses". That is a simple way to put it. We have worked with a lot of different individuals, groups, organizations, and circumstances to serve those who either need us or pay for lessons.

The leaders of Hope Ranch all believe in Jesus Christ, but we aren't from the same religion or church or thought base. We prayerfully do what we do to help others. For instance, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but others aren't. We still work together though and enjoy what we do. I'm probably the least experience with the horses in regards to giving lessons and teaching what we teach, Parelli Natural Horsemaship, http://www.parelli.com/. But I am the most experiences with computers and technology, so I do most of the secretary work as I call it.

I am also afraid of heights and speed. Kinda funny since I am nervous to stand on a bar stool at home, let alone get on a horse that is much taller than a bar stool. I am also very reluctant to go down hills and every time I see them, I take a deep breath, focus on what I am doing, and pray Bubbles (horse I ride) won't stumble, cause she kinda does that.

Also, I'm not a fan of speed, with that said, cantering is hard for me, if I don't do it often enough. It is mostly fun and exhilarating, but if I don't keep up my practice I lose my never and don't really want to do it, but end up doing it anyway.

My goals for this year are to be able to ride bareback at a trot, maybe a canter, if I ever get the nerve to do so. I am also horrible at balance and afraid of falling off.

I still love it and love sharing the Hope that I got when I needed it the most.

February - I worked alot on ground work with Bubbles and getting a better relationship with Bubbles. I usually get to work with her once a week.

2-2-2017

Video - Trying to get Bubbles to figure 8 around cones

Video - Terri showing doing figure 8s with Bubble

2-4-2017

Video - Jessica riding Bubbles bareback to help me (1 of 3)

Video - Jessica riding Bubbles bareback to help me (2 of 3)

Video - Jessica riding Bubbles bareback to help me (3 of 3)