Monday, June 25, 2012

Bike MS- My 2nd Century Ride

The Cache Valley Hospital sponsored a team to ride and help raise funds for MS Research.  My team consisted of an ER Doctor here at the hospital and his brother-in-law, and nephew.  We tried to stick together for the most part, which made the ride much more enjoyable.  I was so happy to make some new friends, and accomplish another Century bike ride.  Colin, Dr. Jewett's nephew, and I would try to find all the sprinklers along the way, and try to time it just right so we could get as much water soaking as possible.  It was hot as h--- opposite of heaven, that day, and we welcomed any form of coolness.  I decided that if I ever own a property on a race course route, I am going to be the nice citizen and turn my sprinklers on for all the racers.  Its the kind thing to do :)
Here are some pics from after the event:

Yay!  Finished!  Go me!  I get a medal... for winning... by winning finishing
Best part of finishing is seeing my girls at the end of the race!
Go team!!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Little Red Riding Hood

Saturday, June 2nd was a big day for me.  I had my first Century bike ride!  What an accomplishment.  I can honestly say it was one of the coolest experiences of my life (aside from being a mommy of course).  I am so proud of myself for finishing.  There were 3600 riders total... all females!  We were raising money for cancer research.  I raised over $750 toward the cause in order to ride.  I rode in honor of my Aunt Tracine, Aunt Susan, my Grandma Joyce, and many others who have battled with cancer.
I finished the race in about 7 hours, which I was pretty pleased with for my first attempt at 100.  It was overcast for the first half of the race, then the sun started to show itself for awhile.  The course started in Lewiston, went through Logan, then clear up in Idaho and looped back around.  It was a gorgeous ride.  Here are a few pics from the event:

Papa and McKel anxiously await my return..
Resting in the shade, waiting for me to finish...
I'm pretty sure that's me, almost entering the photo.  Looks like my mom didn't quite capture my finish, I was too fast!
Finished
What an awesome feeling!
Some of my fans at the finish line
 
In line for a drink...
Our next door neighbors, the Fullmers, were volunteers at the race
Avril was excited, and not even scared, to see Big Bad Wolf in the flesh!
She found a new hippie friend
Guess Nana thought she might be thirsty
They had a band playing, and the girls wanted to dance!
This video is a must see.  Avril was having a blast dancing around at the dance contest.  It was too cute!!

We've Moved!... Finally!

I am happy to report that we are finally in our new home.  It is so perfect for our little family.  I absolutely love it so far... but I have a LOT of work to do still!  We officially closed on the property May 30, and it funded with Alicia P Yarger as the new official owner on May 31, 2012.  Woo hoo!  I must say, it was quite the ordeal getting the property to closing though.  The original closing date was May 3, 2012.  So you can see the lender took their time.  It was a nightmare process.  In all the years I did lending, I never saw a loan run in to so many problems with underwriting.  But finally its done, so I won't complain or say any more about the incompetent Wells Fargo lending department.
I will post some more pictures of the house as soon as I finish getting everything moved all in.  I do have some pics of the family all working in the garden though, so maybe I'll put up a few of those.  I planted all kinds of things.  I'm super excited about my garden, I've always wanted one!  So far only the peas, tomatoes, strawberries, and raspberries are growing though.  Hopefully some of the other seeds start to sprout soon.  I still have a ton of weeding to do.
My new house is on the same street as the Adrian Parkinson family (my brother).  I purposely was looking for one close to them so we could be neighbors, and so Auntie Arleen could come help me out with my lil ones.  She has been a tremendous help, and such an angel.  I'm so grateful to have so many close by who are willing to help this single mama.
The girls are very happy with the new home.  So far they've slept there for 2 nights in a row... I was worried about the transition but they're handling it beautifully.  They still get to see nana and papa a lot so they do still feel very loved I think.  They are enjoying exploring all the new spaces, and making messes out of my disorganized mess.
So far I am also loving the neighbors.  It seems like every time I am home I get a friendly greeter come by to welcome our family.  There seem to be plenty of small children around to be playmates for my girls, which is always nice.  I am so grateful we were able to find this house.  It feels nice to have a place to call home :)

Those are my peas coming up :)

 And here are the girls helping papa with some yard work at Nana and Papa's house

Monday, May 14, 2012

Mother's Day

I had an awesome Mother's Day this year.  We spend some time at Grandma Joyce's place with family, went to church, and got to play with my sweetheart girls.

Here is Grandma Gayle with all her kids at the church
Grandma Joyce and her daughter-in-law
Britt and her dad

Mommy (me), McKel, Avril, and Auntie Arleen
Mommy daughter
Uncle JJ with Papa
Making sure we are all well fed
Avril chowing down on an orange
Just love this girl
Mommy got a most delicious cheesecake from a special friend :)

I decided to have a girls day with Avril and get pedicures!  Avril wanted sparkley blue nails

I let her pick Mommy's color too :)
 See?  It was an awesome Mother's Day!  I love being  Mommy...

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Some Cutie Pie Updates from May

McKel- Somehow I think this little girl just keeps outdoing herself by getting cuter and cuter each day.  She is growing such a head of hair!  It is so fun to have two little blondie girls.  McKel's personality is just that.  All personality.  She definitely has one.  She is one of the most headstrong 17 month-olds I've ever seen.  She knows what she wants and will go for it 110%.  She is little miss independent.  She has no fear, and will try anything.  She enjoys watching the things her older sister does and then will imitate.  She is all smiles and full of energy.  She loves to jump around and climb on anything and everything.  McKel seems to have all of a sudden developed quite a vocabulary.  We were worried for some time, because she didn't say much.  Now, out of nowhere, all these words just keep popping out!  Some of her current word faves are, "nose," and "eye."  You have to watch out for the eye word, because she points right at your eye when she says it and usually will poke her little finger right in your eye.
McKel also loves to give kisses....especially wet, slobbery, ones.  She often will plants one right on your mouth.  It is just so sweet it will melt your heart.  The other night she also started walking up to everyone and hugging their leg, then planting a kiss right on their leg.  She would walk up to each person, give a nice shin-hug, followed by a leg-kiss!  She's one in a million.  She is such a blessing... love this girl more than I can say.

Right before bath time.  I shot some McKel shots cuz her hair was just too stinkin cute.  Love her curls


Avril-  This little sweetheart is learning in leaps and bounds.  I am astounded at how intelligent she is.  She has a memory like a sponge, she just soaks up every little thing.  She loves to talk.  She will talk and talk and talk, saying the most hilarious things you've ever heard, "kay?"  Avril lately throws that at the end of every sentence.  I tried to make a mental note to document some of the funny things but I waited too long to post this, but I'll try to remember a couple.
So we were out playing on the driveway at Nana and Papa's and there was an ant walking along the pavement.  McKel shouts and points, "ant!"  Then along comes Avril and quickly stomps on the ant.  Then she proudly states, "I shooted it!"  Papa asks, "you shooted it?  With what?"  Then Avril says, "with my shoe!  I shoeded it!  Like this!"... and stomps on the ant again.   Hahaha. Too funny.  We all got a good laugh out of that.
Another funny Avril story is that in the middle of the night, she woke up and said, "Rawr!" (in a quite growl).  Then she whispered, "I'm a quiet tiger."  Another hilarious Avril moment. :)  Love Love Love my sweet Avril girl.
And here she is, my lil sweetheart:
During this photo session Avril grinned and said, "I'm a model!"
 

The other night Nana pulled out a couple frog costumes she had found for the girls.  We put them on them just for fun, and then watched as they ribbited and hopped around like little froggies.  It was another good time with my lil bundles of joy!
Ribbit Ribbit!

My tadpoles


Just playing before bed

And here are the girls in their matching outfits, all ready for a fun day!

And it doesn't get any better than a day at the park with all the girls, playing on the tire swing!:

Thursday, May 3, 2012

New House Pics!!

Planning to move in to this place this weekend...  these pics I just stole off the Appraisal Report since I didn't have any others.  Our new home :)



Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Exciting Stuff

I've been meaning to play some blog catch-up, and post about our exciting news for some time... but just had to make sure it was really for "reals" first.  This coming Thursday, May 3rd, is when I am scheduled to close on a home for the girls and I.  Woo Hoo!!!
I wish I had some pics to post of our new house, but those will be coming soon, do not fret.  I needed a place that was close to family, for child-care purposes.  Single mommihood kinda requires lots of help, that's a given.  So... I bought a house on the same street as my brothers' home!  We already met a few of the neighbors, and even started planting some peas in the garden behind the house.  The owners let us come play, which is oober nice of them.
There is a little playhouse and swingset that the girls are totally stoked about.  Here are a couple pics of Avril peeping out the playhouse window:

Sup, playhouse peeps?
Can I interest you in some home grown rocks?  They rock.
And here are the girls jumping on the tramp in the backyard of our new home.  Sadly, the tramp doesn't come with the house...


So there you have it, the Yarger girls are packin up and movin on in to a new neighborhood!  Yay!  Very excited!!

And here are some other miscellaneous pics/videos that will overwhelm you with their adorableness factor...

Listen to Avril say her full name.  You will laugh, promise :)

And all dressed in Sunday's best, here are the two most adorable girls I have ever seen:

Just can't get enough of these sweetheart girls...