LOTOJA- Logan to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. This is a little over 200 miles... its a pretty big deal for bikers. My dad and I lucked out because we were invited last minute to fill in for some friends who were injured. I have always wanted to do the LOTOJA so I was pretty excited. Even better, we didn't have to do the whole thing ourselves, we got to split it up between friends. And we got to stay at a super sweet cabin in Star Valley, Wyoming. It was a fantastic weekend! The girls loved staying at the cabin, and even had a little friend there to play with named Lily.
Here are pics from the eventful weekend:
Brent and Alex Mortensen in the chill morning air, ready for the race to begin!
A shot from the race starting line
Daddy-O, ready to ride!
That's my dad in front!
Here is Alex doing his leg of the race...
Me (Ali) doing the Afton to Alpine leg (mine was pretty easy)
Go me!
Brent, Kelly, Alex, Margaret, Lily, and Kaloni
The girls took a drive around the market while waiting for the riders to finish..
A fun activity at the cabin... coloring!
Avril is a little rock collector. Anywhere there are rocks, she is filling her pockets and buckets full. Of course McKel will always do what her big sis does, so she is a little rock collector as well :)
McKel with her rock-collecting bucket at the cabin :)
I decided to take a nature walk with the girls while we were staying at the cabin. It was so gorgeous out, I couldn't resist. We were not far down the road, when a little snake squirmed quickly across the road in front of us. A little further down the road, we saw another little snake. This one did not squirm away, so we picked up a stick and gave it a little nudge. No response. I figured the snake was either really good at playing dead, or was actually up in snake heaven already. A few more nudges confirmed the latter. So I told the girls this snake was safe to pick up with the stick. They were sooo happy to get to play with the snake. Then I came up with the idea of taking it back to the cabin to scare Nana with it. I had Avril and McKel carry it back to the cabin and we told Nana to come out and see what we found. Avril then held up the stick with the snake hanging on it and we got the desired outcome: A terrified screech from Nana. It was lots of fun!! :)
"I'm not so sure about this... how sure are you he's dead?"
Avril was fearless. Not afraid to pick up the snake with her bare hands
McKel enjoying the outdoors!
McKel decides to try touching the snake... since her sister did, of course!
The three girls sitting on the famous picture rock at the cabin: Lily, Avril, and McKel
McKel, Spencer, Brent, Lily, Margaret, Ali, Avril, and Gayle all posed for a pic on the rock out front
What a game! I don't attend football games very often... but I scored some sweet tickets from a friend, and brought along my brother and some friends. This game was incredible to watch! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Usually the Aggies don't bring it, on the football field, which makes for not much motivation to go to the games. However, this year I think is our year. We actually won!
An article clip about the game: Utah starting quarterback Jordan Wynn went down in the second quarter against Utah State
Friday and the bad news didn't stop there for the Utes. For the first
time since 1997, Utah lost to in-state rival Utah State. Wynn went 6 of
11 for 47 yards in the 27-20 overtime loss before being knocked out of
the game. The X-rays on Wynn's shoulder came back negative,
which means Utah could have a quarterback controversy on its hands
heading into next week's showdown with BYU. In just under two quarters
of action, Wynn was largely ineffective, with the Utes only gaining 59
total yards while he was in the game. Once Wynn was out though, the Utah
offense came alive, tallying 266 yards in his absence. Backup quarterback Jon Hays led the Utes to 13 of their 20 points, including two field goals and a touchdown. He threw for 155 yards. "Change up" QB Travis Wilson, as coach Kyle Whittingham calls him, was responsible for Utah's other score. He hit wide receiver Kenneth Scott for a 28-yard third quarter touchdown on a flea flicker. That was Wilson's only pass attempt of the game. Utah had a chance to win the game in regulation, but a 52-yard attempt by Coleman Petersen
went wide left, sending the game into overtime. Petersen did hit two
field goals in the game though, connecting from 40 and 42 yards. After Utah State's Kerwynn Williams
scored from 1-yard out in OT, Utah had a chance to tie it, but a Jon
Hays pass on fourth-and-goal from the 17 went incomplete, giving the
Aggies the win.
So glad we went, it was so much fun to watch! :)
Took this pic right after the game...
me and my bro. We had amazing seats, it was a blast!
Who knew mud could be so much fun! My awesome cousin, Robert Crockett, convinced me it would be a good idea to run through obstacles and get covered in mud with him. He was right, in was a great idea! We had a blast!! There were long trenches filled deep with mud, clear up to my chest. We kept slipping and sliding all over the place. We got to ride inter tubes down a slip and slide... go across an air-filled bridge and try not to slip in to the water beneath (which I did), slide through soap suds on our stomachs, go through a giant spider web... all kinds of fun things! Coming up soon is the Tough Mudder... us cousins are getting together a team to tackle this challenge next. Can't wait!! Hoping not to get electrocuted...
The final slip 'n' slide at the finish line. Robert tried to get the biggest splash possible in the mud.
Woo hoo!
My shirt started out white...
Time for showers!! Thanks for an awesome time, cuz :)
I really don't think it gets any cuter than these two kiddos of mine. The pictures capture just tidbits of their cuteness, but there is just no way to describe how truly adorable they are without being around them and getting to see their unique, wonderful personalities. I am trying to get caught up on a ton of blog postings all at once so forgive me if its all a-jumbled. I need to stay on top of this more. Life is just crazy busy, my usual excuse :) works well when you're a single mom. And its not even a lie.
Nana and Papa have been a tremendous help with the girls. And the girls just love their nana and papa. Earlier this month, they took the girls to the local fair for some rides and animal viewing. Mom got caught up on housework. Exciting, yes. Here are some sweet pics of the girls:
Avril, waiting for her race car to get a-movin!
McKel and the cute little baby goats :)
Train ride!!
Somebody was eating chocolate... :)
Hair freshly washed, sitting on the steps at Nana and Papa's house. As Avril would say, "we love each other." So sweet
Avril: "What a delicious cookie!"
Caption for McKel: "Wait, I wasn't ready for a pic!!"
Mmm, this churro is delicious!
I love this picture of McKel. She loves to play with that plastic tubey thing out in our driveway.
Avril with her famous cheesey smile, sitting on our front porch.
There was a family reunion for all the Keller family, held in Preston Idaho. This is on Grandma Joyce's side. We were so lucky to get to hear a virtuoso violinist play, and we got to visit with all the extended family. Stephen and Susan Parkinson came up from California, which is always a treat!
Susan & Stephen Parkinson, with Me!! :)
For Brittney's birthday this year she wanted to go with the family up to Bear Lake and rent Jet skiis. So this is what we did!! It was a beautiful day, and we all had a blast! Brittney had Hello Kitty cupcakes and the girls of course ate all the frosting off the tops.
Happy Birthday Brittney!! :)
Avril and McKel absolutely LOVED playing on the beach in the mud. Give em some buckets and spoons, and that equals hours of nonstop fun!
Also, this month, one of mommy's friends got married! The reception was in a gorgeous backyard, the perfect setting for such a beautiful, splendid occasion!
Ali, Bethanie Brown (the bride), and Rachael Copeland
Newlyweds first dance
The Browns really know how to put on a good dance show...even the littlest one! She was so cute!!
Dalton and me. I took this picture for Shelby, to send to him in Afghanistan, since we are two of his favoritest people!
Also this month, we got a visit from the cousins in North Carolina. Joni Stanley and her family got to stop by and see our home for a little bit. It was so great to get to spend time with them, even if only for a short while.
McKel sitting with Brooke. McKel was not too happy about having to sit to take pictures.
It was not easy at all to get a picture of all the kids together. Mommy had to sit with them to get them to be even the slightest bit cooperative. We tried a couple times then gave up.
Drake, Brooke, McKel, mommy, and Avril
Cousins: Ali and Joni
The girls absolutely LOVE playing with sidewalk chalk. The next door neighbor, Sierra, has become one of Avril's best friends. She looks forward to playing with her every single day when she gets home. Here is a little clip of them drawing on the sidewalk out in front of Sierra's house. :)
I was headed home from the worst date ever. Just took a picture so I could remember how awful it was... will make for some hilarious stories to tell my girlfriends :) Gotta love it!
That's my dad in front!
