Partner Retreat 2021- Zion

Because of Covid, we just went down to Southern Utah for the LEI partner retreat this year.

I dropped Eric off for meetings, then went to visit Grammy and Pa's graves.  Then I met Katrina and went to a couple of Parade of Homes houses! It was way fun.

That night we went to dinner with our pals at this Steak place that had the hugest ribs tower I have ever seen!  Sadly it wasn't very good.

The next morning I got to go on a gorgeous 10 mile run in Zion National Park!  It wasn't that much warmer than home though haha.

Then Jessica and Emily and I did the Emerald Pools hike, up to the upper pools and it was awesome.  I need to get the kids to go to the upper pools next time.

Friday night we did a bunch of parade of homes with our couples friends. The usual- Josh and Jessica, Nate and Emily.  Then Saturday we got to have our real adventure, we rented e-bikes and rode up the canyon, then hiked Angel's Landing!

view from the bottom of where we were headed:

view across the spine- so skinny!

the river FAR down below

Emily, nate, Eric, Jessica and Josh, with the valley leading back to Springdale down below

this is why I'm still not ready to take my kids on this hike!

the e-bikes were super fun to ride. they were so fast!  It was just COLD.

waiting on the chains! there were WAY too many people up there, it was dangerous.  I think they need to start doing permits for that hike.

on the switchbacks

 After the hike we rode to the end of the canyon and then back down to the lodge for lunch.  Then back to Springdale and straight to our hotel's hot tub!  It was a super fun day, just a little cold on the bike rides and anywhere when we were in the shade.  It was still only in the 40's!  

After warming up in the hot tub, we left to drive home.  No point being there on a Sunday. It wasn't as good as our usual beach trip, but still super fun!

Shootout videos

 I couldn't resist posting these little clips- the first one is Whitney's shot in the penalty shootout, the second is when Rylee makes the last one to win.  So exciting and it brings back all the emotions.  Mostly pride- they worked so hard for so many years to get to the level they are at. We were all so happy to see them get a big win.

7 Elite Academy Tournament= Fun St George Trip!

We got to go to St. George for Whitney's soccer tournament, it was a blast. Spoiler: her team won the Championship Game in a shootout at the end, it was incredible!! 

So here's the championship pics first:

comparing medals

happy girls and coach!

waiting to get their medals

Flashback to the day before: we shared a condo with Layla's family, and Camille and Taizley stayed over too.

Emma and Maris had a great time playing with Layla's little sister Liv.

Owen loved hanging out with Layla's big brother Liam!  He was so nice.  he's  the only boy in his family too.

Whit played a ton of Cover Your Assets with her friends

We went on a fun hike with our Craven cousins

And we had a team party at the condo. They played Dalmuti,

And swam in the pool/hot tub.  It was warmer than home, but still February and not super warm!

They got to practice penalty kicks after each game, which was good because then the championship game tied 0-0 and we had to go to penalties!

Here's Eric and the girls waiting to start the penalty kicks.  It was so crazy. He asked for volunteers and only Rylee raised her hand.  So he announced the other 4 he had picked, and Whitney tried to refuse but he was like "no, you HAVE to" because he knew she could do it and not many others could.  

There's an awesome video on YouTube that Marcie took, but basically this is how it went:

The other team went first and made it. Saydee went first for us and hers got stopped by the goalie. the other team made their next one.  Whitney went next and made hers! It was hard and well placed, she did awesome, and she was so relieved!! Then Brooklyn stopped the next shot, then turned around and shot one and made it!  She was amazing! So it was 2-2. Then they made one, Then Megan went and made it, then the other team missed or Brooklyn stopped it, I can't remember now. So it was 3-3 and Rylee was up. SO much pressure but she stepped up and scored.....

....they were all just yelling and laughing and jumping around and hugging, it was so cute!  We parents were all yelling and trying not to cry haha

attacking Eric to hug him

Eric handed out the medals and we all hung out for a bit savoring the moment under the lights. It was fun, Grandma and Grandpa got to be there to see it too.

The next day we played with cousins some more,

Went to pioneer park,

and then went home.

It was epic and we will always remember it. 

 

Basketball Season

For the first time we had 3 kids in basketball!  Whit played her first winter season of Bantam (Club) basketball and learned SO much!

Here she is shooting:

Insert random picture of Maris and Katelyn at the bottom of Grandpa's pool, checking out the giant ice block

And I got to go skiing!  It was SO cool to see what the 4 big kids have learned!  They are all better than me haha. Even Maris!  I haven't been in 16+ years, so I was rusty but it was a lot of fun. Here's me, Owen, Kate and Whit on the lift, then me with them all and Eric in line for the lift.

Me and Maris

Me, Maris and Kate

Emma hasn't stopped falling asleep while eating yet!!

And back to basketball. Maris did the little Hoopsters class in Spanish Fork and had fun.

By the end she was starting to get some idea of how basketball is supposed to work!

More of Whit- in her defensive position, and taking the ball down to shoot.

She's on the left here, behind the tall girl in black, playing strong defense with her friend Jocelyn. And in the second pic, she got a steal and is running with it.

Whitney with her team and coaches. McKenzie, Kate, Jocelyn, Savannah, ?, Ashelyn, Whit and ?

Owen got to play real city basketball for the first time and it was pretty rough!  Basketball boys are crazy.  Eric coached and had a rough time too haha.  But they both learned some things. Here is Owen shooting in both pictures.