My first half Marathon

I ran a half marathon yesterday.  It was really hard and I was really tired all day after but today I feel great and I'm so glad I accomplished that goal.  I'm going to do a few more and then decide if I really want to go after a marathon.  I'm thinking an Olympic Triathalon may be in order if I can figure out swimming!

Austin the Electrician

Austin has been working for Scott a lot lately.  He is actually now a great worker and employee after years of training.  He can't receive his apprentice license until he is 18 but he will apply for that soon and be on his way to becoming an electrician.  This will be a great skill to get him through school or possibly take over our company one day.

Our new Scout

Funny thing happened the other day.  I went to the Scout office to buy a few things for Austin who is now a full fledged Eagle Scout and to buy Conner his FIRST Scout shirt.  Wow it seems like I just bought Austin his shirt and now he is graduated from Scouting and Conner is just starting up.  Conner is all about it so far.  He already earned his Bobcat and loves working on things in his book, too bad we cant get his Eagle right now while he is super highly motivated!  We have the best leaders in our ward too.  They have already had the opportunity to do sooooo many fun things!

The Neighborhood Bathtub

Conner loves our Jacuzzi.  He wants to play in it almost daily.  Especially he and his buddy Easton.  They will play in there for hours.  One day I walked out and they were acting like big boys all sprawled out talking about who likes who and how all the girls love them ect....

I have started calling the jacuzzi, the neighborhood bathtub and I will not be soaking away in it until winter comes.  If you can imagine all the summer play dirt, sweat, "ect" that goes into that tub! We use tons of chlorine but still! Would you be able to relax in water that just hours earlier held these little guys? I don't think so.

This is how it's done girls!

I am the girls camp leader for the our ward.  This past camp was my 4th year.  Every year I plan for 6 months every little detail of camp.  It is a HUGE job to take care of 26 teenage girls and their leaders for a week.  Entertainment, Menus, Crafts, Little dodads and thoughts, Sleeping, Cleaning and Cooking list...ect!  Every year I get teased by my boys, especially Scott (who is a scout leader), about how much effort and time we put into our camp.  This year the boys went to Sand Hollow and I learned how it is done in Boyville!  Take all the boys shopping with you on the way to your campout (cold cereal breakfast, sandwiches lunch, and a can of chili or stew for dinner) EVERYDAY.  Play hard boating, Repelling, Hiking, Bike Riding, Swimming, WEARING SHORTS AND NO SHIRTS ect....( the girls are allowed to Hike), then pull up to some random church parking lot and spend the night.

All kidding aside, the boys had a great time at scout camp. The real reason they camped in the parking lot was a huge dust storm came in and they had to hustle to pack everything up and move away.  I'm so thankful for all the men in our ward who take time off work to spend with these boys.

Clear Creek for Nikki

Austin loved Clear Creek week. Jess tolerated it and Sidney thought it was OK.  I warned Nikki of this when she wanted to sign up to go.  She of course had to try the week away from family and friends at age 11 for herself.  I knew she would get super home sick but I never dreamed she would cry and have anxiety for weeks before the big event.  It was so hard to send her but I knew this would be one of those giant growing times in life we just have to get through.  She cried and I cried getting her off on the bus.  Once she was there she had a better time then Sid or Jess and had many stories to tell.  Most importantly she learned a valuable lesson that she could do hard things and conquer her fears!  This pic is of all her friends that went with her to clear creek.  Kelsie came home after the first day with a broken leg and showed up to welcome the girls back.

Nikki's first triathalon

We are proud to announce every Snowden girl has completed a tri now.  I really want my kids to learn the love of a great workout and wanting to keep their bodies healthy and happy!  We are an energetic bunch and there is no better way to get the energy our than a great workout!  Nikki ran a mile, biked 3 miles and then swam 300 meters.  She loved it and we all loved cheering her on.  Great Job Nikki!  Next year Women of Steele with us!!

Football season is upon us??

Last night was austins scrimmage game! His first game is this Friday. He just went through "heck"week and hated it. I was so glad for him last night when he went off to a party with all his friends. Waking up for foot all every morning at 7:00 am sucks, having to go back at 3-6 sucks even worse but.... Having football for a straight week from 8am - 9pm is really really SUCKY! Even though Austin is small he works somhard to be a great contributing member of the team. I'm so excited for him. The booster club (which I'm a part of) put together a big luau for the football boys and their families last night. It was so fun. I think everyone enjoyed the night together. I am getting to know tons of new friends through football and I love it.
Conner has started football practices also. He goes 4 times a week. He loves it and is tackling even the biggest kids! He is playing for a mini Viking team right now but always wears his timber wolf jersey to practice. I think it makes the kids want to tackle him more for having a rivalries jersey on. I told conner this and he said he doesn't care he is still going to be a twolf. He then had me buy him a twolf tshirt last night to wear under his jersey! Crazy stubborn kid is going to get into soooooo much trouble one day!