Utah 2017, part 2--Spartan Race!

On Saturday August 5, it was the day of the Utah Spartan Super.  Dan had told his family he planned to do this race and they had a great group racing together! 

The racers had to be up there early, so I drove Heather's van with me, Heather, Ali, Eboni, Alonzo, and Tyler.  When we got there, we hurried over to find our racers and give them some moral support.

Go Dan!

Very quickly, we ran back over to the finish line of the kids' race to congratulate Will, Isaac, Jake, and Boston

Here's Dan on a fun downhill portion.  So much of this race felt like it went straight up the slopes.  I got a great workout in walking to the different obstacles up and down the mountainside.

Dan and Ben M stuck together and were ahead of the rest of the racers.  So we would watch those two and wait a bit to watch the rest of the group come by.

My cousin Jennie was running this race too and I had so much fun cheering for her when I'd see her go by.

Hi Dad!  We kept encouraging others by pointing him out and saying--he's 65 and look how great he's doing!  You can do it!

Over a wall...

Amberly's turn

Yeah Amberly!

Now Ben A--he did it too!

Dan carrying his bucket of rocks.  They had to go uphill for the first half of that lap, but this section was on the downhill.

He did it!  Once Dan and Ben finished, we headed back to watch the rest of the group finish up.

They did it!

The whole group of 5 form the family...

Such a pretty view and pretty location!

Utah 2017 part 1

After our long travel day Saturday, it was so nice to go to church and relax on Sunday. We had a family lunch after church on July 30 and caught up with Michelle and Robby and spent more time and Amberly and her kids who we missed at RMNP. Ben and Eboni and Heather and Randy joined us too and it was so fun to be together talking and laughing.

We wanted to see as many friends and family members as we could, and it just happened that Aunt Tobi was hosting a dinner for all her kids that night and let us tag along.  It was so fun to catch up with Tobi and Scott and 4/5 of their kids.  I treasure the moments I get to spend with my mom's sisters, I see so much of her in them. 

Monday morning, July 31 was so exciting.  We were going to spend the middle of the day with our beloved Tracys who also happened to be in Utah visiting family. 

The Megans...

Candy and Kenzie...

Jack and Mal-mal...

Brooke and Maddie...

Emily and Tanner...

Look at those 10 happy kids! 

We met them at a park and then eventually made our way back to the Aird's house for more food and celebrating Ashley's birthday with some cupcakes.  Oh how we love to be with the Tracys.  Ashley is due in about 10 weeks with....another girl!  I'm a little sad I won't get to be there for her when this baby comes.  We helped each other so much as we each welcomed kids #2-5 and I wish we could do more for #6!

That night for family night we met up with Spencer and the kids at another park for pizza and playing.  The kids played so nicely and despite some hot temperatures, it was nice in the shade and we had a great time.

Megan, Boston, and Brooke

Jack with his sweaty, spiky hair and his lighting mcqueen shoes.  3 is such a fun age.  Oh I love that kid!

After all those parks, we took is easy on Tuesday August 1 while Dan worked remotely.  He did that again on August 2, so we headed with Grandma and cousin Sarah up to the museum at Hill Air Force Base.  It was really fun to see all the planes up close.

Brooke, Sarah, Megan, Jack, and Candy

 
Grandma and all the kids...

My crew and me!  

After the museum, we headed to play at Heather's house and the kids had so much fun with the tramp and sprinkler and water balloons.

Me and Heather...

Then for dinner we headed to Ben and Eboni's basement apartment (at her parents' house) for some bbq and hanging out...

Brothers and their babies...

On Thursday Aug. 4 it was our Maren day!  Wahoo!  We met up with Maren and her kids at the Museum of Natural Curiosity.  That is a really cool museum and we had so much fun checking it out.  I love that all of our kids match up and get along really well.  Sadly, Brigham was sick so he missed out.

Anna and Candy

Brooke and Ben

9 kids!  Jack, Candy, Emily, Brooke, Anna, Ben, James, Sarah, Megan

The water play area has these printed smocks and water boots and I thought they were so cute.

Emily and James.  Two little blondies.

We enjoyed a picnic lunch outside and then went back in for ice cream cones that were cheap that day.

Me and Maren

Maren took a pic of our whole fam...

The next day, August 5 we swung by in the morning and visited Grandma Great.  We love her sweet smile and her joy over being with the kids.  She gets tired pretty quickly, so we were only there for about 30 minutes, but we loved being with her.  

That night we had a get together at a park with Dan's cousins who grew up in Oregon.  It was fun to see them and get to know them better.

The 6 Aird kids plus 2 cousins (and Emily)

Dan, Amberly, Ali, Michelle, Heather, Ben