Blackett Reunion. kind of.

I learned a lesson a few months ago...

Never attend a family gathering without bringing a camera.

Because once you start bringing a camera, everyone will always expect you to bring a camera.

plus, it's a good idea...

You will always be the one with the photos--you won't have to try to track down photos from other people, because that is hard.

AND, you can always use the photos for blackmail.  and good laughs.

So, here is the story...

there was supposed to be a wedding this summer.  

and people bought plane tickets.  and traveled from distant lands.

and then the groom wanted to spend lots of money.

and not grow up.

so there wasn't a wedding.

but people were still gathered.

so instead of a wedding,

there was a party!!

with lots of food.

and Cleda (who traveled from Tennessee and recently had double knee replacement surgery)

wanted us to see her scars and her new knees.

but, then Bette didn't want to be outdone by her younger sister, 

so she showed us her knees.

and since 3 sisters were already on the couch,

Bev decided that she wanted to be part of the fun...

and show off her arthritic feet.

and since they were already for a picture, 

Bev taught them how to pose...

but, that wasn't enough

so she had them put their arms in the air 

and their hands behind their ears

and their glasses in their mouth

and that was so much fun that SIL Donna and Cousin Brenda had to join the fun

by pointing their fingers and resting their chins in their hands.

then things really got crazy...

because there was an audience.

so the next generation decided to go outside and snap some shots.

and since it was all girls and Rick wasn't there

they let me join in on the fun

but we didn't have the talent to get ourselves into

a reasonable pose...

so Bev helped us do this...

and this.

(awkward family pictures??)

the menfolk just sat back and watched.

of course.

and they would not move,

so we gathered the young-ins

and took one big group photo of

all of the generations of men boys.

and the granddaughters,

or the great-granddaughters, I guess you would say...

they couldn't pose either.

Bev to the rescue...

ta-da!

and the great grandsons.

they played and played and wore themselves out.

Cole just loves Bev.

and it looks like Bev loves Cole.

Bev still wanted in on the action of displaying odd body parts

so she insisted that they put their feet up on the couch.

and rest their elbows on their knees.

Cole says, "I love you"

*all photos taken by Summer.  with an iPad.

not the best quality.

and their may still be some video that didn't make the blog.

Black Sheep Cafe

We don't get out much.

So we are never "those people" who can rattle off the names of all of the restaurants they have eaten at in the last month, what the daily specials are, and which restaurant has the best dessert menu.

But, we have found a great little place in Provo.

It's called the Black Sheep Cafe.

It's on University Ave. at about 50 North.

We took the kids once during the summer and when it was time for Sierra to pick a place to eat for her birthday a few weeks ago, she chose Black Sheep Cafe.

The girls got a Navajo taco sampler to share (good choice).

Cole got these blue corn taquitos.

 Rick and I shared a Black Sheep Salad (It comes with a prickly pear vinaigrette--I may have licked the plate)  Our main course was a Black Sheep Burger with homemade sweet potato fries.  I ate the fries and took the burger home for lunch the following day.  That little pointy thing hanging off the bottom of the burger (which was served on a nanniskadii bread, not a bun) was a roasted pasilla pepper.  So tasty.

Front Entrance to Black Sheep Cafe.

We highly recommend.

Delish.

One more picture of the birthday girl.

Happy 12 Sierra.

MMHS Homecoming

Last week was Maple Mountain Homecoming week.

Summer was in charge of all of the festivities.

Not really.  but it sure felt like it.

On Monday evening, Maple Mountain had their first ever Homecoming Extravaganza.

Summer was in charge of the entertainment.  She/Rick hauled our trailer down to the parking lot by the football field so that they could use it as a stage.

Several bands played, including Horizon's Echo which is Summer's band.

4 guys and 1 girl.

I think they needed the 1 girl just to keep them all organized.

 Sound check.

 Sierra brought her violin and she played with Summer for their last number.

No pictures of the actual playing because I was videoing for Rick because he was at work (10 days in a row--I'm dying!!)

 Lindsay came to hear Summer sing.

 Next up was the pie eating contest.  Sierra, Summer and Cole are spectators.

 the actual pie eating mess.

 Ivan and Summer

(btw, Ivan reminds me of Wade...so much that it's creepy)

 Student Council Friends.

Summer, Malia, Randy, Maddy

Maple Mountain played Mountain View for their homecoming FB game.

(which we did not attend because Rick was working)

Maple Mountain won their very first homecoming football game:  20 -- 7

Saturday was the dance.

Summer helped with the decorations.

They stayed after the football game decorating the gym until 1 am.

(good thing homecoming is just once a year...this is killing me)

Summer went to the dance--without a date, of course, she is not 16.  

She was assigned to sell tickets.

 Her YW leader did her fancy hair.

 We took Summer to the high school to drop her off for the dance.

It was very early and they were still getting things ready.  

Here is Cole sitting at the ticket table 

 The gym looked much better when everything was ready and the lights were turned down.

Cole was helping Coach Smith tape down the extension cords.

(Good thing he had that fancy pocket knife, thanks Larry)

Here are the Sophomore Class Officers that all attended dateless.

Nate was kind enough to take turns dancing with each of them throughout the evening.

I'm pretty sure the entire week would have been a bust without the help of the Sophomore Class Officers--particularly the Vice President!

Red Rock Relay Zion 2012

Last spring sometime Rick and I were getting ready for bed and Rick was checking his email.

He said something like this..."They're putting together a team for the Red Rock Relay.  I have that weekend off.  That would be fun.  We should do it."

And I said something like, "yeah, we totally should..."

So, the next morning Rick said, "OK.  I signed us up."

And I said, "For what?"

He said, "The Red Rock Relay.  Remember?"

And I said, "Yes, I totally (do not) remember."

And this is how it went down:

(Mostly just for my own memory...)

 We were in the first van and had a 6 am start time at Brian Head Ski Resort.

Our first runner, John, started our from the hotel in the dark and totally sprained his ankle in the first mile.  He had to run to this ski lift, ride it to the top of the mountain and run down.  This is the sun coming up while we waited for him to run down.  On a sprained ankle!!  Tough guy.

 We drove our Escalade for the "Van #1"

Rick ran the 3rd leg.  Here he is waiting for the runner before him.

Rick's leg was a medium, 8 miles, downhill, at 10,000 feet.

Go Rick.

 Views along the way.

 Cedar Breaks

 Some of our teammates walking back from the lookout.

Notice John in green with his foot iced and wrapped in black tape.

Good thing we were prepared.

 Here comes Rick as he finishes his 8 miles.

 Hand off to Kelli.  My turn to run 7 miles downhill at 9,000 feet.

HARDEST.  RUN. EVER.

 Rick was waiting in the car about every 2 miles for me to give me water.

My biggest problem was a major head cold.

I had to keep blowing my nose.

It was awful.

 The homestretch was uphill.  So hard!

 Hand off to Ashton.  I think she is half my age.  

And half my size.

We were the only 2 girls in our van.

Cole saw her picture and wondered why there was a teenager on our team.

 Rick, Ashton, Black, John, (and Taylor & wife--not on our team.  Taylor works with Rick)

Waiting at the PE Building in Cedar City for the other van to finish.

Time for our 2nd round.

 Sunny, Melissa, Ashton, Cheryl

 I watched this guy in the chair cross the line in Cedar City.

I thought I was the oldest person running, but this proved me wrong.

He looks to be a few years older than I am.

His teammate came to congratulate him on his run.

I had to snap a picture just of this.  I was afraid he was going to keel over.

Ashton took over at Cedar City for our Van.  

We headed west out into the desert as evening approached.

Next up was Blake.

Then John.  8 miles in the dark. On a dirt road.  With a sprained ankle.  It was purple and huge by now.

Rick ran next.  6 miles.  hills. dark.  

Then I ran.  5 miles.  hills.  dark.  dirt road.

It was so dusty and I was totally creeped out by running in the dark.  

Jaron ran after I did and he was our final runner.  

He had an allergic reaction to the alfalfa or something.  His eyes were swollen shut.

Rick grabbed the first aid kit and Ashton gave him a shot of benedryl.

 I forgot to bring my camera on the last leg.  We started in Veyo at 5 am.

Ashton was first again.

She was asleep when we got there.  We made a couple of wrong turns and our runner was already waiting for us.  We quickly woke Ashton up and shoved her out of the car to run.

John was next.  Another 6 miles.  In the dark.  on a sprained ankle.

Then me.  It was an easy 2.7 miles of hills down Snow Canyon as the sun was rising.

I kinda enjoyed it.

(This was supposed to be Rick's leg.  But the other team had a sick runner, so we tried to make up for it.  Becky wasn't feeling well.  She ran a tough run down the canyon into Cedar City earlier.  Didn't feel well.  Took a zofran.  Didn't drink enough.  When we got back to the condo after our 2nd leg, she was still in bed.  They started an IV and hooked her up to some fluids.  Put her on the bottom bunk and duct taped the bag to the top bunk.)

Blake was next.  5 miles.  lots of up hills.

Jaron ran another fast 5.

Then I ran an easy 2 miles to the Washington Community Center at 10 am. 

We were supposed to change vans here, but Rick took their first run.

It was s tough 6 miler up and down Telegraph Road.

It was close to 10:30 am and about 80+ degrees.

Ran past the condo.  I was watching for him to come.

I met him with some water and a hat.

Then I drove the last mile to the next stop exchange to pick him up.

Then the other van took over the last 5 legs. 

They were killers.  Through Hurricane and on to Zion's.  

We went back to the condo and showered.

When we caught up with the other van in Springdale, it was 100 degrees at 5 pm.

Here is a view of the finish line at the end of 187 miles.

Melissa was our final runner.

Here she is on her knees just after the finish.

 "Code Disaster"

Jaron, Blake, John, Jarom, Rick

Ashton, Cheryl, Sunny, Melmer, Kelli, Crystal, Becky

This was one of the hardest things I have done.

But, it was so much fun.

I highly recommend a race like this if you are looking for a challenge or a change.

Thanks "Code Disaster" for allowing me to participate on your team even if I was the oldest and slowest!