MOVE IT... AGAIN!

...Or have a Yard Sale.

We voted Yard Sale. So we had one, Saturday to clean out all the stuff we don't want to move again...

Because, YES, WE ARE MOVING AGAIN!

We were going to be moving May 5Th, but it's looking more like this week now. (Marathon for me) The scoop this time... This house sold (STRANGE) sooner than we thought. It just so happens that the lady leasing our house (two houses ago) doesn't want to renew her lease and the lease is up in May, so we have another vacant house to go to. I've thought of a few smart aleck things to say this time (all in fun, of course). But as I think about it, moving again is a pain, but we are headed back to a familiar area with friends already there and a house that we really enjoyed.

We are counting our blessings, of which we have many.

Mike had an idea to lure people to our yard sale, with free cookies. Jake had a better idea and decided to charge .15 cents a cookie.

It was surprisingly really successful, he earned $15!!!

Picture of LAST week

At least we are building something.

By Jake, Master Builder

The toughest half!

THE RACE TO ROBIE CREEK

2,100 feet in elevation in the first 9 miles, then down 1,700 for the last four!

Me, Marcie, Holly and Megan (Mike's sisters)

She did it again. Marcie, my sister-in-law, talked me into running The Race to Robie Creek 1/2 marathon again. We ran it a couple of years ago. (Katie was one year old). There were two more recruits this year: Mike's sisters Holly and Megan.

The run was Saturday. My legs are REALLY sore. I'm walking like a Grandma. When the soreness wears off I think I'm going to talk them into the St. George, Utah marathon. My sister, Amanda and I ran that when Dallas was one (and just FYI I found out two weeks later I had run it pregnant with Katie! That was a surprise!)

It's a hard run, but rewarding and I enjoy my running buddies.

What I really want to tell you about is meeting THE COLONEL! Buckle in, this is the long version...

Around mile 7 Megan notices the back of a guys shirt. It says, "IT'S ALL IN THE ATTITUDE." We were trying to stay motivated on the 9 mile uphill climb. At about mile 8 I heard someone say to that same guy, "Go National Guard, thanks for all you do."

I'm not one to run up and talk to people, but I wanted to find out if this guy might know Mike.

Megan, on the other hand talks to everyone so when I said, "I want to talk to that guy, he's in the Guard."

Next time we past him she said, "Are you in the Guard?"

"Yes."

I said, "What do you do?"

"I fly helicopters."

I said, "Really, what do you fly?"

"Apaches."

"My husband is trying for that right now."

"Oh, really, what is his name?"
"Mike Hill."

"Mike Hill? I'm scheduled to see him next month on the 15Th... I'm Colonel Garshak."

That's when I started hyperventilating. COLONEL GARSHAK happens to be THE ONE who will make the decision whether Mike will fly or not! I couldn't believe it.

He said, "He's doing really well in OCS (Officer Candidate School)..........But he's just so old."

And that is when the excitement of just happening to be running at his pace and meeting him among the thousands of runners went downhill.

So it's still hard to say what the future will hold...

But come what may, I beat him across the finish line!

Happy 35th Birthday Mike!!

Mike turned 35 on Friday, April 17Th. The kids and I made him breakfast in bed: an omelet loaded with vegetables and a plate full of fruit. Since Basic Training, Mike is on a health kick. Food is now only fuel. And if 5 servings of fruits and vegetables are good, why not have 12 to 15??? I have a reason, but he doesn't really care about that reason.

One morning we were low on groceries so he used his resources and blended all the basic food groups oatmeal (raw), milk, protein, broccoli...? and I think he said some other stuff but I stopped listening after he said he made a broccoli shake.

Now I know you are all wondering..."How does a broccoli milkshake taste for breakfast Mike?"

"Not good."

So did he drink it??

"Of course!" Mike is the food police at our house and WE DON'T WASTE FOOD.

Mike's birthday wish is to get accepted to flight school and fly Apache helicopters. He's too old. Even if the local flight board think he's worth taking a chance on in his advanced age, they'll still have to request an age waiver. But he's going for it.

He's working hard and it's paying off. He is the "PT (Physical Training) stud" and has made a name for himself with the highest PT score of 323! Apparently, that is a big deal to the flight board.

Mike goes before the flight board next month. He leaves for OCS training (Officer Candidate School) for 8 weeks on May 29Th. If he is accepted to flight school we will be moving AGAIN to Alabama for a couple of years for his training.

We had some fun celebrating with his family this weekend. He wanted an Apache cake. His sister, Holly said, "Mike, you are turning how old and you are asking for a helicopter cake?"

Time left me with only enough to make a camouflage cake, which was pretty fun too.

At the end of the day I asked him how it feels to be 35. (He is old!) He said it would depend on what the flight board said.

Happy Birthday Baby! Here's hoping...

Piano Virtuoso?

You think?

Happy Easter

Decorating Easter Eggs

I think I've finally figured out how to make decorating Easter Eggs fun for the WHOLE family. (i.e. Dad and Mom)

This year we only did one dozen. (What was I thinking making 24 hard boiled eggs last year?)Babies remain in the highchair without clothes. Boys don't wear shirts. Girls wear aprons. Dad reads a magazine and mom takes pictures. Everyone cleans up.

Good memories!

Jake makes sure the color is just right.

Dallas wanted his all purple.

Katie didn't leave any colors out.

He is not here...

For he is risen!

Happy Easter