Baptisms and Football, a Typical Saturday

October 12, 2013
It was such a fun Saturday!  We attended the baptism of our nephew Trey!  It was a perfect time for a baptism: 11am.  Not too early, not too late.  It still doesn't explain how we barely made it in time.  I can't believe how fast those kids are growing.  When they joined the family, they were all still little kids.  Now there's an 8-year-old and a couple borderline teenagers.  Tina, Treyson, and Tate were in town from Mesa and Beverly and Lloyd escaped from Cove Fort for the day.  I love family!

Later that day, we went to the BYU football game.  We took Dallin, as an experiment.  He slept through the first part of the game.  During half time we went and found the stadium "mothers room".  Only in Provo!!!  I decided if I was ever rich and wanted to donate money to BYU, it would be towards a decent nursing facility.  Recliners, curtains, etc.  Just like the one in Disneyland!   But then again, how many people take infants to football games?  We won the game and Dallin stayed moderately happy (with ear plugs).  It was a good evening and we got some good pictures.

Conference Weekend!

October 5-6, 2013
I always look forward to a weekend at the cabin, especially if there's oodles of family there!  This time didn't disappoint!  Paul and Stefanie even made the drive (in their new car) from Logan.  There was lots of food, lots of hiking, lots of noise, oh, and the conference talks were amazing!  Saturday morning, Bevan and I trail-ran the "big loop".  We used to do it a lot when we lived there.  This time took a little longer, and Bevan was so kind to stay with me.  It was a little blast from the past and it felt really good to get out in the cold, mountain air.

 I remember when this BIG parking area seemed unnecessary... and now we fill it up!

Sister's hike to Rocky Point during the priesthood session.  

Ode to my clogs

Dear clogs,
You were always there for me.
I remember how it started..
An institute teacher in the singles ward where I was serving on my mission had a daughter who was a Dansko rep for western Washington.  She "donated" shoes to both me and my companion.  We walked many miles in Washington.  We stood in many rain showers.
When we got home...
the fun never stopped.
We tromped around Jackson Lake Lodge waiting tables.
Remember that long summer internship with those engineers?  You made me look so tall!
We moved to Logan together.  How many hundreds of miles did we walk across campus?  We never seemed to live anywhere CLOSE to my classes.

You were the perfect shoe.
No socks, no problem.
You went with skirts AND pants.
Your super traction never let me slip.
I've worn you to church, work, rodeos, hiking, studio, construction sites, line-dancing, and skiing.
You've been cracked and weathered, soaking wet, covered in mud, filled with snow, and scratched to heck.

So what's been happening to our relationship?  Well, for starts, your toe box is completely collapsed, your insole keeps falling out, your outer sole has worn so much on one side I keep rolling my ankles, and no matter how much Uncle Seth shines you up... it just doesn't last.  After 9 years of wearing you almost daily, it's time to part.  Thanks to Ebay, you're reasonably replaceable.  Thanks, clogs, for the memories!
Sincerely,
Me

circa 2004

present day

Dallin is 4 months!

Oh, how I LOVE this boy!
Sure, he cries a little more than Anna did, and eats a lot more than Anna did, and sleeps less than Anna did... but he is such wonderful boy.  And he's growing!  A lot (that's probably why)!  At his 4-month checkup he was about 60% for weight, but 95% for height and head circumference!  He's a total Ackerson boy.
His favorite hobbies are laughing at himself in the mirror, sucking on his hands, and smiling at anyone who looks at him.  His 2 lower front teeth should be breaking through soon.  He loves to be upright and looking around.  Needless to say, he spends time in the "excer-saucer" to give my arms a break.  Anna takes such good care of him.  She holds the binkie in his mouth and loves to give him kisses on his big, bald head.  So cute!

Lagoon!

September 20, 2013

I haven't been to Lagoon in YEARS!
Seriously, it really has been 11 years.
We've been thinking of going anyway when Allen offered us his family guest pass.  Wonderful!  It was during Frightmares and only open for 5 hours, but it was long enough.  We took our kids, Nora and her kids, and Grandma and Grandpa.  It was a blast!

More laughing than a comedy show,
More thrilling than a roller coaster,
and more screaming than an episode of "Call the Midwife"!

My favorite ride was Air Race.  It was pukey, but incredibly smooth!  I couldn't get Bevan to go on it with me, but that's okay.  That's what 9-year-old nephews are for.  Thanks Ben!  I really did scream on "Samurai".  How is that ride even legal?!  Anna enjoyed the kiddie-land as much as I did when I was little.  All the same rides too! Dallin slept mostly.  The zombies carrying chainsaws didn't even phase him.  The weather was nice and cool and there were NO LINES anywhere!
It was a wonderful evening!

Bevan's "Big" Marathon!

September 14, 2013
Some day I will get caught up to "present day" on this blog.  It is fun to go back and remember things, especially when you don't think they'll ever happen AGAIN.  Take Bevan and his big race for instance...He wasn't planning on running a marathon this year.  He was perfectly content with 1/2s and 10ks, but then he saw that Vanessa and a couple people from our ward signed up for this Big Cottonwood Canyon Marathon.  He just loves competition.  What else can I say.

The last several months were nothing but training, training, and more training (and lots of gatorade).  He did make a deal with me that he would start his long Saturday morning runs BEFORE the kids woke up.  Thanks honey.

Race weekend arrived and he was so excited.  We stayed the night before at our friends, Mandy and Eddie's house.  They conveniently live right by the start/ finish line.  So posh!  I drove over with the kids to cheer him on as he came through the finish line.  He had an amazing time at 3:15:17!  Overall he came in 84th, and 15th in his age division.  Not bad!  Sadly he didn't qualify for the Boston Marathon.  They made it pretty tough for that age group.

Marathons are hard!  I spent some time wandering around the finishing area, expecting to see joy and fulfillment in the runners.  Instead I saw nothing but pain, despair, and lots of tears!  It felt like a battlefield with all those bodies lying around, complete with the occasional ambulance coming and going.  My advice to anyone thinking of running a marathon:  volunteer at the finish line and you'll see what it's really like! Secretly I wish I had a fancy medal.  Bevan says this is his first and ONLY marathon.  We'll see!

His "celebratory" crown buger!  He deserved it!

The rest of Labor Day

August 30-31, 2013

I got so engrossed in Swiss Days that I neglected to mention the other activities of that weekend.  Grandpa Allen had his 90th birthday party on Friday night.  It was so fun to see aunts, uncles, and cousins (some who came from very far for this event)!  They put together a fun slide show from his life and I loved to see everything that he's accomplished, including marrying grandma and having 11 children!  I remember growing up with about 7 or 8 cousins that were all my age.  I thought it was so normal.

Saturday night was the season opener for BYU football in Virginia.  We traveled to Farmington for a football-watching party.  Due to lightening delay, the game lasted almost 2 1/2 hours longer!  But Anna was having fun playing with new friends.  Thanks Scott and Kim for the good times!

Monday was the official Labor Day cabin party!  We ate, went on hikes, took naps, ya know... normal cabin stuff.  Paul and Stefanie made the drive from Logan.  Stefanie is a great baby-Dallin-holder!