Donner 2009

Every other year we have a Hoopes Reunion at the Hoopes place at Donner Lake. It really is such a beautiful place. We all have a good time despite living on top of each other for a week. We don't get to see a lot of Hoopes cousins so my kids love to get to spend time with some "new" cousins.

I didn't take much pictures--lazy mostly. But on the drive home, we had the highlight of our trip. Grandma Marne drove out and back with us. During the trip she told a lot of memories of her life growing up. They lived in Elko, for just a short time during the depression years and when they were there her little sister died just after a day of being born. Marne had heard her father tell of how he took the child up to the cemetery to bury her. They didn't have the money for a site, so he just buried her outside the cemetery. As he finished, it just so happened that a man with a wheel barrow full of cement came by, looking for a place to dump his left over cement. Her father poured it out and smoothed it, and just with a stick that was nearby, he etched, "Dora Melissa Whitaker" Grandma Marne was just told, what happened, but never saw the grave. I think they moved really soon after. So when we headed back through Elko we decided to see if we could find it. It was easy. Luckily the funeral home had record and we were led right to the site--which is now just inside the cemetary.

It was great to be able to share this moment with Grandma.

While we were there we tried to take some family pictures, but this is about the best we could come up with. Naughty, wiggly kiddos.

One of the best things this year was being able to go on e few bike rides. It really is so beautiful there which made it some of the most fun biking I've done.

On Donner Summit with the lake in the background,

School Started!

School started on the 17th! I swear this last month has been the busiest my life has ever been. It's been one thing after the next since July 21st. It's all been a lot of fun, but I think the go go go pace is finally catching up. I need a nap and it's only 9:30.

The kids are excited to be back at school they kept asking all summer, "When does school start?" I am excited too. I like having a schedule. Even though the schedule is busy, routine is nice and predictable.

Peanut Bear is 1!

Wyatt turned 1 last Thursday. We had a small party at our house with some of Ben's siblings and their families. I think somehow Wyatt knew he was special that day. He loved the extra attention and he loved his gift.

I bought a new cake pan for his cake and the giant ice cream cupcake cake actually turned out pretty well. He liked the cake, but it was a little cold to the touch.

I can't believe it has already been a year. Time has really flown. Third time has been the charm. For some reason Wyatt really is all joy and rejoicing. From day one he bought nothing but smiles to all of us. Everyone always loves Wyatt.

It seems as though this last month he knew he was turning 1. He has really grown up. He has all sorts of new tricks.

1. He taught himself to go down the stairs. He either slides down on his belly, or if there are rails he walks down on the rails.

2. He loves real milk

3. He takes bites. Of sandwiches, banana's, string cheese. It's great not to break things up.

4. He now has 6 teeth, and yes, thankfully his middle fronts did come in. He was looking a little vampirish for a while.

5. When you ask him how old he is he holds up 1 finger. Although it looks more like he's pointing.

6. He is walking! Just today. This morning we took the video below, you can see he's moving pretty good, but he did the real deal a lot tonight. Ben's sister babysat him this afternoon and when we came to pick him up she asked when he started to walk? I said he doesn't yet, but lo and behold he was. I guess their house had a magic potion. So tonight he was taking 5-10 steps all over the place.

Crazy guy, we love you so much. Thanks for putting smiles on all our faces.

Hobble Creek1/2 Marathon

I did it! I have always wanted to do a half marathon, but pregnancy and laziness kept getting in the way. So clear back in March I decided that this summer was going to be the one. And honestly, the hardest part of all the training was working up to being able to run 3 miles. Ever since then it was just a matter of making the time (mind you I am a slow runner.)

It was a really fun run and I felt great the entire run. No knee pain, and my legs didn't even feel tired until the last mile my IT bands started to get tight. My watch said I finished in 1:55 and I didn't stop it till a few seconds after I crossed the line, but my chip time was 1:56. Either way it's about a 8:52 pace which is over a minute faster then my training pace and a little faster then my 10k pace. I expected to come in at 2:10ish so I am happy. I guess you just get race day adrenalin and you can run a lot faster.

It feels really good to accomplish something that was hard and something I've always wanted to do. It's great to know that my mom body still can move. Thanks to Ben for taking care of the kids for all the training hours. And thanks to the many sitters. Thanks to the kiddos for letting me get out everyday. Thanks to the many friends and family for all the advice. And a special thanks to Lisa and crew for letting me join their group. They definitely made the day a memorable one.

It was such a great experience in fact, that I have signed up for the Top of Utah Marathon on Sept. 19th. I'll be undertrained, but hey, why not give it a try? Wish me luck!

Lisa, Me, Elizabeth, and Emily

(I'll have to get the uniform for the marathon:)

Coming up to the finish line...

Ranch Firsts

At our ranch we have a little pond. Very very very cold and full of fish. This year was Jesse's first solo jump. Not only that, but he also did the zipline. Another favorite Ranch excursion

Ranch Reunion 2009

A whole lot of fishing and far too many fish. Jesse caught one just about every cast. The real challenge was to cast and NOT get a fish.

Faith a princess as always

We even got to do some shopping in Jackson Hole with Nana.

Lots of tubbies in the sink

Wyatt loved climbing on the 4-wheelers

Lounging on the lake

The whole fam

Lots of cousin time

Wy Guy became a pro at climbing the stairs--unfortunately he didn't get the hang of coming down, but he does now.

Is there room for any more?