Willie Walk

On the 24th of July, we were able to participate in our first Willie Walk. Willie is married to my aunt Becky and was an avid runner. He passed away from cancer 12 1/2 years ago. Becky & Willie have 2 sets of twins. When he passed away, they were 5 and 2. He was a teacher and cross country coach for many years - and deeply loved by family, friends & students.

For several years (like 12), an annual 5K Willie Walk/Run has taken place. This was the first year we were able to be there and it was great! My brother Richard, with the help from Becky and her great kids, put it together.

We ran/walked the course that Willie created (often run as the Wahsatch Rendevous) at Cottonwood Complex. Jon ran, I pushed Hannah & Kate in a jogger, and all the other kids ran. It was really fun! We love the Cowden family and the legacy that Willie left. He would be proud of his wife and kids!

Pictures of Willie

Annie Cowden & Lindsey (Annie is our favorite babysitter!)

Emily & Jack

Mike with Jesse & Jake Cowden figuring out the course

Kate

Hannah

Jack

Jon & I

Becky & the kids giving instructions

Willie's kids: Jake, Jesse, Annie & Matt

Everyone lining up for the race

Annie was stretching at the end of the race and Kate sat down next to her and did it too!

Happy 2nd Birthday Hannah!

I can't believe it, but our baby turns 2 today!!! Wow! It is such a joy to have this little one in our family. She's spunky, stubborn, sweet, cuddly, talkative, beautiful, funny & loving! We love you Hannah (even though you usually have a sticky face & sticky hands)!

Living Planet Aquarium

Last week, we decided to take the kids to the Living Planet Aquarium. Jack had visited it on a field trip last year in Kindergarten and said it was a great place. We had a great time! It wasn't as big as I thought it would be, but we saw some really fun stuff.

Jack touching a sting ray

This picture is blurry, but I loved Lindsey's expression as she was trying to touch the sting ray

There were 2 divers in the shark tank and they waved at us through the glass.

We ran into the Fisher's from our ward - this is Lindsey & Grace

Penguin feeding

We loved watching the penguins dive into the water, swim around and then literally leap out of the water.

They had a show where 2 guys showed the kids lots of different rain forest creatures - including snakes, birds & hissing Madagascar cockroaches.

Feeling the snake

Kate trying to decide whether to touch the cockroach or not.

Thanks kids for another fun adventure!

2nd Trip to Worland

You know a summer is going well when it includes 2 trips to Worland! Last week, the kids, Becky & I were able to drive to Worland for a couple of days to visit Aunt Claudia & Uncle Bruce again. We were particularly excited because my cousin, Ashlie, and her 4 great kids were there visiting.

We drove up on Thursday and I must have been a little anxious to get there because I got pulled over about 10 miles outside of Worland. The Trooper was really kind, especially when we discovered that he plays basketball with Uncle Bruce twice a week! He only gave me a warning and then we got there.

It was so good to see everyone and once again, we were treated to a fun, relaxing, enjoyable weekend. The first night, we played kickball with the kids in the front yard. They had a blast!

The next morning, we went to the playground at the Elementary School. It was already a warm day, but the kids loved playing soccer & being on the playground.

Jack

Hannah


Kate

Tom & Ashlie - on one side of the teeter totter

Matt (my cousin) & Hannah on the other

Becky on the spinning thing

Abby, Lindsey, Emily & Max

Emily, Becky & Kate

That afternoon, the kids swam a ton in a little pool in the backyard, watched "Hocus Pocus," Emily & Riley walked down to Aunt Claudia's work, the kids played with toys, I sewed and we just loved being there.

After dinner, Matt had made each of the kids a light saber. He painted them the color of their choice and then had a light saber war.

Pre-Light Saber war

We were in the backyard while the kids & Matt were in the front. Several minutes later, Matt came back looking like this:

My first thought was that Jack may have done this, but come to find out, it was.......

This little angel - apparently when Matt was on the ground pretending to be defeated, she came up and whacked him in the hose with hers.

After the nose injury, we played kickball, went and got snow cones and let off rockets. Those are always super fun! We bathed the kids and let the older ones stay up and watch "Night at the Museum 2" outside. Uncle Bruce has a projector and has set up a screen.

On Saturday, we played some more, had yummy Taco Johns for lunch, played the Name Game with the kids, looked at old pictures and laughed at how young we were, ate more snow cones, finished a baby quilt for Meg, made boats, raced boats, danced & laughed our heads off!

Jack & Tom - these 2 were so cute together. Little buddies!

Riley - wearing Aunt Claudia's glasses that looked a little bit like Ashlie's glasses from junior high.

Max - making us all laugh

Lindsey & Hannah dancing

This is Ashlie's boat - she drew a replica of her 8th grade school picture! This girl is one of the funniest people I know! I have always loved and admired her and can't wait to see her again!

Abby

Tom & Jack

Emily, Kate, Lindsey & Abby

Matt's pac-man boat

All of our boats!

Thank you again to Becky, Ashlie, Riley, Max, Abby, Tom, Matt, Aunt Claudia & Uncle Bruce for making our weekend so much fun! We love you all!