Red Hot

Last Thursday, our family ventured down to beautiful Moab for the Red Hot 55K race. Yes, that's running 34 miles in the rocky, sandy, red mountains of Southern Utah. I'm sure it was a good idea last summer, but it definitely crept up on BS and he found himself starting the race without having trained much. He had some miles on the treadmill, but only 17 miles total prior to the race. He's nuts if you ask me {or anyone else}.

But, while we worried about him, we didn't complain because for us it means a fun weekend get-away with family and friends. Despite some unpleasant weather, we had a really great time!

On Friday we explored and went hiking to see Corona Arch. I'm pretty sure this is one of our family's favorite things to do...be outside and explore. Even Quincy holds her own keeping up and climbing right along with the others. Here she is next to a cairn {a pile of rocks found all along the trail to show us the way}.




The arch was big and beautiful. Uncle Adam and Jess came with us too so that was extra fun. Check out BS doing splits on the railroad track.

That evening we met up with our friends/neighbors, the Bright family. We really enjoyed hanging out with them and Will and Quin were so happy to have buddies to play with.

We stayed at Sam's Uncle's condo which is super nice and comfortable. Thanks Uncle Louis! The 6 kids all slept in the kids room with double bunk beds.

Saturday was race day. It was rainy, cool, and very windy. We love to support and cheer them on! We even went 4-wheeling in our cars up the trail to meet up with them at station 1 and 3. Quite an adventure!!!
Here, they are 17 miles into the race. The kids rang cow bells and ran along with them as they headed back out after a quick stop.

The guys did awesome, finishing in 6:40. BS's goal was under 7 hours so he was happy :)

WAY TO GO guys!

He was not so happy that night and the next day...his whole body hurt. That's where the lack of training caught up with him. But he's a tough guy and doesn't complain much.

Saturday was also Quincy's birthday!!! We celebrated at a local pizza place. I will save her birthday for a seperate post.

After some sleeping-in and a pigging out on Sunday brunch, we headed home.

Another great trip for the books.

Valentines

We had a wonderful Valentine holiday.

It went like this:

Assembling the Valentines:

Millie and Sambo chose to make some that had 2 hearts filled with gumballs and stapled together. To open, you have to tear it to reveal candy inside. Cute! And even better, they could make it themselves!


Will chose to give Hershey bars with a valentine attached to the front with his picture on it.
He was so happy with them and again, could do this all by himself!



Quinny chose these cute little robots. I came across the idea on the internet and I showed the boys thinking they would want to do it...but nope, it was Quincy who loved the robots!



For teachers and friends we gave these water bottles with a valentine label and strawberry Chrystal Light attached. We thought they would be tired of all the treats:


For breakfast we ate Valentine waffles which are pink Belgium waffles with fresh strawberries, buttermilk syrup, and whipped cream. The recipe comes from my friend who's family name is Valentine. Yum.

Here are kiddos with their boxes filled with their Valentines.
{Note: I did not send Sam with that box...he wanted to take it. After school that day he came home a little sad saying that kids were teasing him for having hearts all over his box}.


I got to help with Millie's class party. I was in charge of the games. It was a relief to witness that boys and girls are still not that interested in each other :) I love that age! Here's Millie at school with my little helper:


Later we had game night (played Sorry!, Spoons, and Uno) and ate a special dinner-
Pizza with heart pepperonis, salad with heart cucumbers, bread, and red punch. Then peanut butter blossoms and heart sugar cookies for dessert:



Then it was Valentine exchange from us to the kids. They got flip flops and fancy chocolate truffles that my friend Tracy made.


I gave BS a ski day and night at the Alaskan Inn {with me of course}. We are going next week.
He gave me pedicure stuff and even better...a pedicure with his own hands! And the polish he picked out is really cute! He's as good as the Asians!

I heart you.

P.S. - Somebody turned 4 today!!!

My Sidekick

Quincy is an awesome little sidekick...she likes to go out and run errands and she likes to shop! Even better, she is fun to go with! She mostly stays out of trouble and says and does the funniest/cutest things. Yesterday we were at a party store doing preparations for Valentines Day. One minute she was right at my side, and the next she was gone. I turned around to look for her and she was just standing there, grinning at me with her silly glasses on. I had to take a picture!

No Party Year {yeah right}

The 6 Clarks are right in the middle of birthday frenzy! All 6 of us have birthdays in 10 weeks.

First we celebrated Millie and Sambo's bdays with the Clarks at Brick Oven in Provo. Of course it was a good time with good food!



In 2008, after all of the birthday parties, BS and I told the kids that from then on, they could have friend parties only on the "even" years. Millie, Sam, and Will were all born on an even year, so being 2011, this is a "no party" year. Quincy is the odd one so she qualifies for a friend party this year {turning 4}.

We held to this in 2009. We went to Disneyland in place of parties. Heck...isn't that better than having a stinkin party?

We reminded the children months ago that it's an odd year... therefore no parties (except Quin). The problem is, I love birthday parties. I love planning them, I love throwing them, I love going to them, and I love watching my kids so happy at them.

So, I found myself saying to Millie, "Why don't you ask a friend to come up to the cabin with us for a sleep-over. We will celebrate your birthday." But choosing just 1 friend was impossible for her. On short notice, she asked some more, and before I knew it I was driving a car of 5 girls to the cabin for a sleepover and a day full of fun. Quincy too. She is one of the girls, after all.

We left Friday night, Cafe Rio for dinner, then to the cabin. They had a blast doing whatever 10- year old girls do. Playing games, cards, Truth or Dare, giggling. Then cake and ice cream. Millie requested Red Velvet cake from "Nothing Bundt Cakes." Yum. The Guffey's were there to celebrate her birthday as well.
Saturday Grandpa cooked cabin breakfast, then snowmobiling/tubing/sledding. They had a blast! I was going to take them skiing for awhile but they were having so much fun that they didn't want to leave. Later we grabbed a late lunch at Taggarts Grill, then more snowmobiling.


Yep. Pretty much a birthday party. So much for that.

The same thing happened with Sambo. You see, I had to be fair. So the next weekend Samb0 grabbed some friends and we went to Airborne Arena in Draper. It is a giant building filled with trampolines wall-to-wall. Sooooo cool and fun. The kids were so hot and sweaty but they couldn't help themselves! Big foam pits and dodgeball too. We were lucky enough to have Kamryn (our cuz) join us!





Then we went to a movie which is always a treat.



Then to In N Out Burger to finish the night.

Yep. Pretty much a party.

Monday night we celebrated Sambo's birthday with the Guffey's at Tony's Pizza in Ogden. Sam wanted an ice cream cake. Do you know how yummy a Cold Stone Oreo ice cream cake is? We do.



Now I get to focus on Quincy's birthday party...this one is legit! :)