Olsen Reunion 2008

Our family loves the Olsen Reunion. This is Steve's moms family. They get together yearly-and this truly is the opitomy of a great reunion and what a reunion should be like for all families. Some families get so big that it isnt all that fun to get together, but it matters not how big this reunion gets, it just stays fun! Hats off to Steve's Mom and Dad for hosting and doing such a fabulous job! WOW we all had so much fun!

We arrived on Friday afternoon in Cornish Utah. There is a great family reunion retreat there. (Steve was mad because he wanted to be there early and first!). We played games and ate with everyone. The evening was filled with a program and night games (A HUGE FAVE!)


We had to stay at a hotel because Steve can no longer camp due to being attached to a CPAP machine at night. BUT everyone else camped. Our girls were MAD!

On Saturday we enjoyed crafts, games,a pie eating contest, FOOD, and more FOOD!Dancing, Campfire Songs, Kareoke, Treasure Hunting, and more games. We packed it all in! Here are just a few of the shots and hi-lites. We missed those who could not come but especially our Barb, Blake and Nens fam, and Rich and Ambers family.

Crafts--- Megs is intent!

The new game of the reunion-Pirates Cove! (Thanks Carl and Emily)

Ker and Mel- (Best friends in HS, and cousins today!)

Pie Eating Contest- Meg won the kids contest.


Steve and Mike singing the "Boys are Back in Town"--nice moves Stevie Wonder Buns!


Megan and Kayla singing with Mason playing back up on the kazoo!

We all had a great time! The kids were so sad to see it end! Mason especially. All the little girl cousins kept wanting to touch his hair and he thought that was cool. He loves playing with his Brennen and Kamree! We cant wait for the next Olsen Reunion-because we love our family and our fam rocks!

The Many Faces of our "Minion" Mikayla

We have had a busy week this week. Mikayla was in her first ballet. Center Stage did their first full ballet EVER! It was great! Janalyn did a fabulous job-and also all of the Center Stage Directors etc.
They did the "Sleeping Beauty". Mikayla was one of Carabosse's Minions (or in the Disney world-Milificents rats or followers). Really they had the funnest costumes. All the costuming was gorgeous and beautiful, the music was wonderful. BUT our little Minions they rocked (if you can rock in a ballet)check out these costumes---(this is for you Cassie-because I know you miss them all so much!)

Actually her makeup was darker and her hair was bigger when we did the touch ups before she went onstage. I joked around with her that- I hoped a police officer didnt pull me over, or they would throw me in jail for "abuse and neglect!"

She is definately NOT a sleeping beauty in these photos---But she is darling, and she did a great job! Infact the whole studio did fabulous! I was very impressed with their hard work and dedication to pull something of this caliber off in the summer! Good job Center Stage Students and faculty! You ROCK!

I do believe that "Summer" might be here!

The first 2 weeks of summer have been so frustrating to me. Cold for a few days, warm then cold, then hot. Sheesh! BUT I think it is finally here! AND just in time for the Orem Summer Fest. We had a great time at the fest. The girls usually dance there one afternoon. So on Friday afternoon, they performed and on Saturday we enjoyed all of the festivities. I was surprised at how long the parade was! Hello it went on for over an hour and a half! The kids had a great time and then there were fireworks. Ok so a mothers nightmare happened for me that night. I had taken the kids and Erica (Mikaylas BFF). Some friends of mine had saved our place at 9:30 in the am for the parade. Stevie Wonder Buns did NOT join us, as he had a little flu bug. So we had watched the parade, and by the time it was over we had 20 minutes or so until fireworks. The girls all had to go to the restroom (which was 3 blocks away). Mace did not-so he stayed with Mindy at the blankets. Well we walk back to the park into to hordes of people and who should wander away? Yep---Megs! I had this panic feeling with all of these people in the dark and never finding my cute girl again. I stood on a chair and sent Tracy looking. Meg had walked herself to the bathroom She wasnt lost-I was aparently. SO in the meantime of her being lost Mindy calls and says that Mason now has to "poop"! Nice, yes I know. So, I forfeit my potty break and "RUN" to save Mason. As there are no porta potties on Center Street, and Mind cant leave all of our stuff-AND when Mason has to go, he has to go. So I threw him in the car and we went and found a toitie! The fireworks had started and were nearly done when we got back-but in the end everyones bladders were relieved, and everyone was found, and I was exhausted!

"Witch Doctor"

Parade Go-ers!

This is what happens when you refuse to wear your flip flops and chase the floats and candy throwers.

We missed our dad! and I missed his kiss under the fireworks! Good thing the 4th is coming!
Anyways-welcome summer!

Team Ker

Wow! Where do I begin with this story. It has been such an emotional, exciting, gruelling weekend for me! I have worked so hard, and feel great. So I guess for posterity sake and for those of you just joining the journals and ramblings of me-I will do a quick re-cap. At the end of August, I had some pretty rough stuff I was going through, and then in September I had some major health issues hit me. Life as I knew it, pretty much sucked! I started in at the gym-I hit it hard! AND let me tell you, it was hard! (I love my friends Dean and Maleen for being there for me!) I have kept working hard daily now for 8 months. I have this new passion. It is biking. I am an official "Roadie". I love spinning. It is the hardest workout you will ever do. I promise, if you do not believe me-I challenge you to try it for two weeks, at least 3 times a week. Anyways, I have lost weight (still have some to go) and I am in great shape. I set a goal in January (after my uncle was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer) that I was going to ride in the "Little Red Riding Hood Race". It is an all female bike race, and the proceeds all go to the Huntsman Center for Cancer Research. A few friends were going to ride with me, and so was my cousin Kim.

My winter and spring have been hard, as I have had to stay disciplined in working out and staying focused, as my Uncle was failing in health. I love my Uncle almost as much as I love my own Daddy, not to mention Kim who is not only my cousin but one of my Best Friends. So when we brought him home to die a month ago, I wasnt quite sure that I still wanted to do this race. Kim and I were suppose to do this race together and our Dads were going to be there watching us. My sweet Uncle passed last month.

Yesterday, I raced. There were many times I wanted to back out of this race. I was nervous for the unknown-I have run hundreds of track races, I have competed and played ball and never given it a second thought. BUT I am 41! Sheesh! What am I thinking! My friends were not able to do this race at this time, and Kim was unable to do it either which made it even harder for me to keep my head in the game. BUT I did it.

Heavenly Father has sent many blessings and comfort to me the past little while. On Thursday, I was in my garage putting my mini pack on my bike. When Dave Hawkes shows up in my garage. He hugs me and says "Ker good luck on Saturday, you will do great. Remember you have already won the race. You took control of your life by hitting the gym every day. And you will never go back to where you were. This is your time for you. It's your race. Its just you and your bike. Go have fun!" He will never know how much that meant to me that day. As just minutes before, I was full of fear and uncertainty and tears.

So, I left of Friday afternoon with my friends Lynette Woolf, and Lily Hight-and we met our "Roadie Team" in Logan Utah for dinner. We spent the night and got up bright and early yesterday morning to race with 2500 other women. WOW-what an amazing sight and what energy was there. And yes, I felt the same way I did on race day during track season. I wanted to puke.

It was so cool! I will just say now-that I could NOT have done this race without my dad there-and my Mom too. My dad in all the years I have raced and competed, my Dad has NEVER missed a race. And at 41 my daddy was still there. I love you dad! This race was a different route than Audra (our instructor) had told us. She was even in shock of the difficulty. Although it was a long ride, it was suppose to be flat and a few rollers. Um-NO-Not flat at all! The weather was terrible, cold and windy and then you put in hills. Not little rollers, we are talking hills! Wind and Hills-not good. I fought the wind all day. It took every ounce of energy I had to keep my bike on the road. If you have never ridden a road bike, they are so light, and so it dosent take much to move those babies. It was hard! There were times I was climbing and my legs were killing me-that I was literally wanting to stop and cry. I think that I spent more time praying yesterday than I have in a LONG time.

My Dad knows me well, he would drive the car ahead of me-knowing full well when I would need some fuel and encouragement. It was great-just knowing that someone was there to give you that boost and smile and hope to make the next 10-15 miles. I only bonked once (bonking:loss of fuel-hit your wall). My mama was ready for me with apples, oranges, grapes, protein! They were my regular pit crew. Then I had a couple of my friends that came to watch who turned into my camera crew. Make sure you check out the slide show- (thanks Mindy and Tracy! I am so glad that you were there to support me!)

Yeah, I have a bad knee, so I was worried that with all of the strain and strength I was using I would blow it out. I am glad that I listened to my body, because I know I would be in bad shape today if I hadnt listened. I am proud to say that I finished the 62 mile route! It now is ranked the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Kings Peak held the record for 12 years. That one has been laid to rest.

Little does Steve know,that this aint over yet. I have loved doing this, and will do it again. I thank him so much for the support. He has been great, I know he has been so worried about me and my safety (he hates the idea of me being clipped into the pedals). I'm so thankful for my parents and all of my friends who have called, emailed me, and texted me their best wishes. It has meant alot. A HUGE thanks to Helen and Kevin-wow you totally helped make this possible for me! You rock! I am truly blessed with great fam and great friends.

After 62 miles I am doing great. I feel awesome-no real pain. My dad was sure that my rear would hurt-I kept telling him that my bike shorts had padding, plus I have callouses on my rear from all the months of biking. I reached a huge goal this year! Next year I will ride it again and the Utah Ulcer ride- 100 miles around Utah Lake. You just watch! I will do it! AND if any of you want to try it out-join me- YOU WILL LOVE IT BABY! It's a great addiction!

Little Red Riding Hood Race 08

Schools Out for the Summer!

YEAH! I always love the Summer Break! I like to think that my life slows down, but reality says "No! It does not slow down!" I ask myself "why is that?" and well, I have come to the conclusion that I like to play hard, and more importantly I like to play hard with the kids! AND the break from the routine is good for me! So-we will once again fill those lazy days of summer with action packed fun, and OK maybe a few days of lazy.
Here is a re-cap of the past two weeks of school. First of all Megan did her "Tone Chime Concert". Now that was exciting. At least it was for her, she loves music! She loves to dance, sing, play the piano-and now tone chimes. We often hear her singing songs where she makes up her own words. For instance last night she was singing "Jimmy Crack Corn". Her version was "Shimmy Sheck Corn". Go figure. Steve and I just laughed.

The next event we attended was the Noah Webster Academy Awards Assembly. We were called earlier in the week by our principal and asked that Steve and I attend. Mikayla was getting a special award and they wanted the parents there. It was quite funny, because she had no clue whatsoever as to what was going on. That morning I asked her what was happening at school that day and she said-"I don't know, just another normal day". I walked in to the auditorium and she looked at us like-"What are you here for?". Both she and Meg were recognized for their high scores on the Iowa Testing. Top 10% in the Nation. We were proud. But Mikayla was awarded the Noah Webster Achievement award. Its award entails--Individuality, Moral Virtue, Patriotism, Self Government, Conscience, Cultural Literacy, and Academic Excellence. She was very surprised, and we were very proud of our little scholar.

Next we have field day-- My fave!
I spent the first half of the day coaching Mikaylas team! They did a fab job! I loved how they ran this field day, it was very organized. Mikayla thought she was going to get away with just doing the long jump and the softball throw-but I signed her up for the 4 x 100 relay. She rocks. That girl has her mama's stride. She can run, and has decided that maybe she should do it. Of course it would make her mom proud (as I have no dancing ability whatsoever-but sports and track, Im all about that baby!)

The afternoon was spent doing the younger kids field day-Here are a few shots of Megs and Mace.

Megan Playing Dodge Ball.

Mace playing with the parachute with his class.


Caught Mace with his arm around his little girl friend Ashley.

And here are the last day of school with their teachers....

Mason and Miss Snow

Megan and Miss Gibson

Mikayla and Miss McEwan

All in all we had a great school year, great teachers, awesome school, and Straight A students, so we are happy and ready to play!

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a fabulouse Memorial Day Weekend! Infact for me, it was one of the nicest, most relaxed trips home I have had in a LONG time! Thanks Mom and Dad Scoresby for the hospitality. We left Friday-late afternoon, as we had to get our van worked on! (Darn cars!) We wanted to just fly home, but the traffic was terrible, and the kids (whose names shall not be named!) kept having to stop and go to the restroom and get a snack and so on and so on. We arrived in Rexburg around 10:30ish. We took Erica-Mikayla's best friend. She was in awe at the Rexburg temple as it sits on the hill as you enter Rexburg. It is a beautiful sight!
Mike and Jen were home, Suz and Brad were home, and Barb was home too-so it was a rockin fun time! We spent the weekend mainly indoors, because it was freakin raining almost the entire time. But it gave us lots of time for Rummy and Ticket To Ride. I pretty much sucked pond water this weekend in the game department, and we wont talk about Mom's highest scoring Rummy game in the history of Rummy-lets just say it was over 700 pts!


It seems that everytime the kids are together they are busy the entire weekend playing one particular thing. This weekend they started a publishing company. I think they called it "Printing Press Express". It was pretty funny. They spent all of their time on grandmas "type writer"-non of them had ever seen one before.


On Sunday we spent the day at my folks house in Idaho Falls. It was a fun day as well. Our kids LOVE playing with their "Idaho" cousins. Mom and Dad planned a big barbeque. Derek and Jess came, Trish and Dustin came and Steve and I and all the kids. It was a belly laughing day for us. If you have never experienced my family, then you are missing out! I laughed for hours straight!

Here is a photo of Mace and Lauren- they spent the entire time in the tree house! They are great little buddies.

The four-wheelers never stop when we are at home!
And the BEST treat of all was seeing my Grandparents. I miss them so much, and it is always so good to get to see them and spend time with them.
Here is a photo of me and my sweet grandpa.


It was a fabulous weekend-it went to fast. If you would like to see more candid shots you will have to visit the Morningside Meanderings, or the Preece Lightning pages.