Jeremy's "Mancation"

Donner's Pass. Note the snow in the background.

Emerald Bay at Lake Tahoe

Well, I don't know how many guys actually read this blog if any. I honestly don't know the last time I read someone's blog unless Ditte was showing me something. With that being said, unless you are a motorcycle enthusiast you may not understand some of this.

So I flew up to Ben and Leslie Ashby's house on Thursday night to Sacramento for a little "Mancation" that Ben and I have been trying to plan for a while. Our objective: motorcycle overload! Luckily Ben has two street bikes (Honda Magna and a Suzuki Bandit) that we swapped back and forth. We left the Ashby's house on a Friday morning just in time for record breaking heat temperatures!

I think most you know that I have been riding dirt bikes since I was around 9 years old, but I don't really have a lot of experience riding street bikes. I have always been hesitant towards street bikes and haven't had a huge desire to ride street until Erik and I rented Harley's in Kauai. I loved it! Of course on Kauai the fastest speed limit on the whole island is like 45mph. So I had to tell Ben (a CHP officer that still rides a motorcycle to work) to make sure and not ditch me in any traffic splitting cars. Leslie's uncle Dana also went and they were really good about it until this little moped looking motorcycle past us! At the next gas stop he informed me that if a moped past us again I was on my own! We laughed about that for a while. That's when we got off of the highway and into the mountains! I am not a speed freak, but man do I love working a motorcycle back and forth in curvy mountain roads! That's what made the whole trip worth while to me.

As we are climbing the mountains towards South Lake Tahoe the temperatures starting dropping and it was just perfect. In some spots there are still 4 feet of snow piled up there. I have never been to Lake Tahoe and now understand the phrase, "Help keep Tahoe blue". I was blown away by how beautiful it was up there and how clear the water is.

We had lunch there and then moved on our way around the lake (it's freakin huge!) and went through Donner's Pass (lots of snow up there too) and worked our way back into the stinking hot Sacramento valley.

We went and saw "Iron Man" that night which was pretty good. We then went to Infineon Raceway just outside the bay area to watch a super bike race (streetbikes) but pleasantly found out that there was a supermoto track as well as a motocross track there! They had shuttles running back and forth between all the tracks and just had a blast. Geoff Aaron, a 10 times trials champion (look him up on youtube, you will be amazed what he can do on a bike!) was there doing a trials show which I just kept shaking my head because I couldn't believe the stuff he does on a bike! Curtis, Ben's son, came with us and loved it too. On the way back we stopped by Ben's work (the CHP Academy) and Ben showed me around a little bit. Ben left me and Curtis alone for a few minutes, and when he came back, Curtis and I had hid ourselves and blasted Ben with two nerf guns that he had at his desk! I am glad now that no one else came through that door, because I might have been in a little bit of trouble! Enjoy the pictures. Thanks Leslie for letting Ben play with me!

Update

Things are going well for us. Jeremy just got back from a "mancation" with our friend Ben Ashby, but it's up to him to post about that. I have my garden growing and am still thinking of things to put in it. I love getting outside and working in it.

My pregnancy belly is getting bigger and bigger and it's a little tricky for me to keep up with Kirsten on our morning walks. Currently I am trying to potty train Wyatt, and so far we have been pretty successful! He's been ready for a little while, but I have not been wanting to commit whole heartedly, but alas, I have given in.

We went to see Wicked a couple of weeks ago and the girls have been asking when they can again. It's a great show and amazing how these people can sing like that!

We only have about 4 more weeks of school and we are all excited about that! I am determined to be a bit more organized this year so that we can utilize our time for maximum fun! But not to the point of exhaustion, because who wants cranky kids or parents!

I guess that's it for now. We have been enjoying some hot weather for May, so we bought a slip and slide that the kids just love. Our grass doesn't love it so much, but that can grow back!

Some people are now just realizing I'm pregnant. I think before they just thought I was putting on a few pounds. And it's funny how much bigger you feel, than you actually look. At least I don't think I look that big!

Oh yeah, Mother's Day was great! I was so proud of Jerm for making me a yummy five course meal! He was quite the chef, I thought I better make him an apron for the next time he does that!

Baby # 4!!

Just wanted to let the five of you know who actually read my blog, that we are having another boy! I guess it is the season for boys because I know 5 other women who are having boys this year! It's great! We are all very excited. Atalie giggled when she saw the little penis in the ultrasound picture!
Speaking of Atalie, today when she got home from school she told me casually that she caught some lady bugs at school and brought them home in her back pack. I asked her if she was serious and she said yes. So thinking about these poor lady bugs, I hoped that none had gotten squished in there. We opened it up and found four healthy lady bugs and put them in our garden. Atalie was just thinking of ways to help out our garden! It was very sweet!
I'm going to Utah with my mom and sisters for the weekend for Women's Conference! It should be fun as long as I don't turn into grumpy pants like I tend to do around my family! Sorry family! I really do love you all! I know Jeremy will be great with the kids. He gets to go on a field trip with Atalie on Friday, and I know she's excited about it! What a great husband I have!

Busy Month

The girls and Nana at their ballet performance. They both did a great job!

We've had a lot going on this month, but it's all been pretty good. We went up to Utah for a week to visit friends and family, and of course to go skiing and see Conference. Jeremy and I had tickets to the Sunday morning session, which was very good. I loved the Spirit of the Conference Center and knowing that I was in the same room as the Apostles and the Prophet! How awesome is that!
The girls got to go skiing at Sundance and loved it. I'm so glad they enjoy trying new things and being outside! Thanks, Marnie for watching Wyatt! We also had lots of fun with Christian and Emily and Trine and Larry! We miss you guys!
Grandma and Grandpa Wager were wonderful, patient hosts and we are so grateful to have stayed with them. We also enjoyed seeing most of the Wager's that were up there. Too bad some cousins were MIA! :)
Last night, Atalie lost her first tooth! She was so excited about it and even let me pull it out! She was very brave and didn't even cry! I was worried about is going to the dentist today and having him pull it out. I want her to still like the dentist and not be traumatized. She did great! Unfortunately the tooth fairy FORGOT to out money under her pillow! Poor girl!
I've been out in the garden the last week or so building some garden boxes. I really hope to have a successful garden this year, so I've cleared out some dead plants and made room for three good sized boxes. We'll see what happens! Now I just need to fill them with dirt!
I guess that's it for now!

It started snowing these huge flakes the morning we left! The kids loved it!

Atalie showing her space where she lost her first tooth!

The kids at Temple Square the day before Conference.

Cozette's First Buggy Ride

So I finally posted this video! It took forever to upload it to you tube, but I did it!

Daddy's little girls (and boy)!

So, of course I have always wanted my kids to ride dirt bikes. That's actually kind of an understatement. I knew Wyatt was going to ride for sure because as soon as he was able to even make noises, he was making motorcycle noises and pointing them out anywhere and everywhere you might see them. Since just over a year old he knew that when I gave him a ride on a motorcycle, if he twisted the throttle the bike would go. Of course all he knows right now is to hold it wide open! I guess if you race, that's actually a good thing. He obviously, right now anyway, knows no fear! He will hop on any motorcycle with ANYbody! My point is, he likes motorcycles a lot!

The girls on the other hand, I was starting to worry about a little bit. They didn't really have a lot of interest until this trip. If they did hop on a bike, it was only for 5 minutes and then they were done for they day. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately depending on how you look at it, we told the girls that we only had one day in the desert to go riding because I wasn't able to get any time off of work. So, if they were going to ride they had to get their riding in that day. The first half of the day they spent in my parents trailer coloring and watching Enchanted. Towards the end of the day, they both wanted to ride and actually rode for almost half of an hour. Then my mom tells me that Cozette wants to drive her buggy and so she's going to go and give her a lesson! I started cracking up! Lo and behold next thing you know Cozette is driving my mom around in the passenger seat and giving other kids a ride! Of course my mind starts to wander thinking about Cozette driving a Class A buggy or Trophy Truck in the Baja 1000 and winning! Now before you think I'm totally off my rocker, not one of you out there with kids can tell me that you never a thought of your kid(s) being someone famous or at least exceeding normalcy because of something that they might have said or done! That being said, here is Cozette's first buggy ride as the driver!
Well, Jerm and I are trying to post the video, but having problems. So we'll try again later!

Token Post

Like the title, this post is pretty much only because I haven't posted in a while. The only exciting news is that I am 10 weeks pregnant! I debated on whether or not to put this on, but there it is. Everything is fine, I'm tired, but no awful morning sickness like some people I know. Thank goodness! I am due on our ten year anniversary September 26, so so much for an exotic trip this year! We'll be in the hospital instead! Anyway, we are all fine. Still trying to get over the never ending head cold that seems to keep hitting me! But I can't complain. Life is great.