ODP and selfies

Somehow I've managed to get this far into the year and forgotten to mention ODP.  In September, Jonas went to ODP (Olympic Development Program) tryouts for water polo, and well, here we are in November, where last week he spent his entire weekend in the water at a water polo camp.  (Like 20 hours.  Eleven straight hours on Saturday.)  He was very tired by the end of it, but definitely learned a ton and improved his game quite a bit.  And doing hard things is good for him.  After the all-day Saturday, they took all the boys to Chuck-a-Rama.  Can you imagine the amount of food all those teenage boys put away after 11 hours in the water?  I imagine it was somewhat comical.  You can spot Jonas by his big hair in the back there.

The next training comes up in January in Colorado, so he and Shawn will get to take a little trip.  I'm not sure if Jonas is looking forward to that yet or not.  I think he's still recovering.

And once, again, a rather large collection of selfies found on the phones around here.

Seriously, is this all they do when I'm not around?

More downstairs exercise selfies.

THis is a beautiful close up of Samantha's eyes, but I find the food around her lips just a tad distracting...

And never one to be left out, even the 4 year old has mastered the selfie.

Girls Weekend

I had the opportunity to spend the weekend in St. George with these lovely ladies.  We had so much fun.  The weather was beautiful and it was just a perfect escape from home for a couple of days.  We left on Thursday evening and got to the house in time to enjoy a soak in the hot tub before going to bed.  

On Friday morning we went out for breakfast and then to the temple.  What a great way to spend a morning.

This gentleman jumped into our photo.

We did some grocery shopping and got massages then grabbed some food and headed home to watch a movie.

Saturday, we stopped in for pedicures.

Over the weekend we made a couple of stops at "Swig" for drinks and cookies.  These girls needed their dirty doctor peppers and dirty diet cokes.  I just stuck with my usual lemonade.

Some shopping where Charisse decided to try on the prom dress.

Dinner at The Pasta Factory before going to see Thor.

Every morning I was able to get up early (after sleeping solidly and soundly each night, I might add - something that doesn't often happen at home,) and go out for a run and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Snow Canyon.  We soaked in the hot tub every night, commiserating with one another over the difficulties (and joys) of parenthood, watched movies, cooked good food, and in general relaxed and enjoyed one another's company.  It was awesome.  Just the way a girls weekend should be.

We were all really sad to have to pack up the car and go home.  It was a good thing we had packed light, because we needed the extra space for the new stuff.

Happy, relaxed faces.  Ahhhh.  Until next time, I guess.

Meanwhile, back home, I don't think the kids missed me at all.

It helped that Shawn took them to City Creek for fun.

And thanks to some well taught independence, I knew they could fend for themselves when Shawn wasn't home.  

It was probably good for all of us to have that weekend apart.

******

Random Fall Happenings

Or at least random pictures that were taken that belong in no particular category.

This was a picture that Shawn texted me after I left the house with Peter crying and begging me not to go.  It broke my heart to see him just sobbing on the front porch.

This is the exercise routine that Amelia wrote up (with a much needed "no smoking" reminder.)  In case you need a translation: 5 push ups, 5 sit ups, 5 burpees, 10 crunches, jog 1 mile and my personal favorite - ab strongers.  Not sure what those are, but I'd like to see how they work.

Jonas showing off his fantastic swim-mullet.  Seriously, just need to get that mop of hair contained somehow.

This was Peter's doing.  While eating a tortilla one night he had the revelation that he could make a Mr. Tortilla Head - just like in Toy Story 3.  I'm glad he asked to take a picture.  He's a funny kid.

We refer to these chick-fil-a cows as "Dad's cows" because this billboard is right outside Shawn's office window.  He knew the kids would be excited to see they had been dressed for Christmas, so he sent us this picture.

A fine sampling of Olympus Aquatics caps.

Shawn occasionally texts us pictures of himself from downstairs on the  bike trainer or treadmill.  They're always a nice surprise.

Or from other random places...

Sometimes I think these guys have way too much fun taking selfies.  I'm not sure that I've got any of me on my phone.

This looks about right for a Saturday afternoon.  (Amelia must be the photographer.)

Displays of loyalty.  (I'm sure that this involved clean up of glitter from all over the place.)

Samantha will hate me forever for posting this picture of her, but the kids did spend an afternoon painting little pumpkins, and this is her Harry Potter version.  (That obsession has never completely gone away.)

Notice anything wrong with my fuel gauge?  Yeah, not very helpful information.

I love my sleeping kids.  I just don't always love finding them sleeping in my bed.

One of the coolest sunsets I have seen.  I was walking out of Target and so wished I had my real camera with me.  It was absolutely amazing.

Duffy was with me and didn't want to be left out of the camera action.

None of my kids were happy to go in for their flu shots.  Actually they weren't even shots. It was a nasal spray.  Notice anyone missing?  Oh, that's right.  Samantha.  She is literally cowering under the chairs trying to avoid a shot.  Yes, folks, she is 12 and it takes me and a couple of nurses every time she has to get a shot.  Fun times, I tell ya.

A couple of my musicians hard at work on their instruments in the current music room.

And that is about as random as you can get!