Howloween is coming!

Yup, as I have admitted before, it turns out that I am "that girl" who thinks it is hilarious to put my dogs in clothes. Especially costumes. Be prepared, because as the big spooky day comes and goes, you're sure to see more dogs in clothes. (I blame Kenz for teaching me the skills she used with Brooklyn. "Brooke, don't poop! You're wearing clothes!!--best Brooke quote of all time.)

Charles in charge...for the night!

 Charles is having a birthday today! We went to Cowboy Grub last night to celebrate. Without a match, we had to use the app on his phone to "light" his candle. It was probably more memorable that way anyway, so no harm done. It was so fun to be together and laugh!

How funny are twinner "blemishes"? They're funny when they're not mine!

Here we have cousins being sweet and being scary! I am also kindof impressed that I accidentally got the chandelier in the mirror. My what a fancy shot! 

and here's Charles and mom. Such a fun night! Happy Birthday Baby Brother!

Bash

The annual Ensign Elementary Family Bash was last week. It was a beautiful night, and it was especially fun to have so many members of my family there to join in the fun.

GradyBug and Sassy looking like they are ready to take a bite out of the fun.

Here's the Bug at the fishing pond. I think he caught a snake and a lizard!

Savannah is working on a crown at one of the craft tables.

Cameron totally owned the giant slide.

Grady went down so fast, I couldn't even catch him on film.

I think the crown is a really good look. I should wear it every day. It's very slimming, or at least distracting.

Charles and Griffy. Griff liked the firetruck best, and was not a fan of the noisy kids at the slides.

Sass and Cam did their best to outdo each other at the bungee lunge. I was impressed by how far they could go!

Ella K and Cam were the royals in the castle. It was at the end of the monkey tunnel that made everyone laugh.

How much fun is this?

Poco, complete with his blue collar, made this appearance on Sass's cheek.

Treats from the Snack Shack, and beautiful girls!

A darling boy on a happy night!

After the bash, we picked up mom and Shea and hit Hires. It was a really wonderful night!



Lotoja '10

Lotoja morning. Still in the parking lot at the start line. They said the lot was closed, but there was an opening between the barricade and the streetlight just wide enough for us to sneak through. We've learned how to work the system!

Mike is shoeing up for a big day ahead. His cute mom and his little wifey came to give him a happy send-off. Baby Daniel came too, but he waited in the car.

It was a brisk morning, lots of bite in the air, but it turned into a beautiful dawn and a gorgeous day! Thank goodness!

Cath holds onto Mike's bike near the start, while Mike takes a "natural".

At the start, with Derrick. Firestorm getting ready to burn.

Game face! Get that smolder on!

It's hard to capture the natural colors, it was such a pretty day and I love the views all along the way!

Here is my traditional Lotoja day meal. Pretzel fish and Peanut M & Ms. A banana for breakfast and this lovely concoction throughout the rest of the day. I hit upon it the 2nd year, and have made sure to have it with me ever since. It's my version of Perpetuum.

This is a shot of the cars behind me coming up to the rejoining point after Border. They stretch out behind me forever. They look like they are on the wrong side of the road because I shot it in my rear-view mirror and it is transposed.

Here are the cars in front of me. If you follow the cars up the road, it turns off to the left and the trees you see hide the cars behind them. They stretch out as far as you can see. It's one of my favorite parts of the trip though because when you get close enough...

You get rewarded with a view like this one, a long string of riders drafting off each other, taking turns pulling. It reminds me of the team time trials from the Tour de France.

But I don't think TdF riders have to contend with cows in their lane. Crazy!

We've had cows before, but never in the rider's section. Cute cowboys though.

Nearing the finish line, and those fabulous Tetons!

At the finish with just a few minutes to go before Mike came in.

All good things must come to an end...or a finish line. Mike came in at 10hours and 18minutes. He broke his record from last year! With help from his Garmin, we figured out that his feedzone time was only 3 minutes...the whole race. Wow!

Off the bike, ready to be out of the shoes.

All done! Victorious! and fully supporting Team Firestorm. Ben Jacobsen was in everyone's hearts today. (and he was at the finish line, looking tough and happy, if a little on the skinny side. Hang in there Ben.)

Mike, Cath, and baby Daniel just after Catherine finished. She had her own set of challenges to deal with this year, and overcame every one. Impressive, and inspiring!

Here's some of the gang at the condo for the amazing dinner. I would have posted a picture of the steaks, but it would make you hungry! Thanks to Melissa and Steve for driving over and preparing an amazing meal for us! Extra thanks for hauling that grill up all those stairs! Yummy!

Teton Village scenery. The Big Guy does such nice work!

Many thanks to everyone who does so much to make all this possible. I'm already counting down the days until next year!

The Legend of Poo-foot

     Many moons ago, in the Rigby's front yard, while wearing sandals, I stepped in dog-doo. Everyone has stepped in poop before, but when you are wearing sandals and the poop goes around the edge of the sole and gets on the side of your foot it is an exceptional experience--especially since Kenz would periodically refer to me as Princess Poo-foot. For years the legend existed as an amusing story, but in recent months it has returned as a real-life adventure. There have been near-misses, close-calls, and one on target repeat of the original. Because the puppies are box-trained (or pretend to be) they will occassionally get it on their little feet and leave a little poo pawprint near the box. (Posey's nickname is Posey-Poo) Clorox wipes are a quick clean up, so it hasn't been a big deal until today.
     Today it all culminated with dog-doo, cleverly disguised as the edge of the dog bed that I stepped on barefooted as I crossed the room. Did you know that dogs are supposed to instinctively avoid going to the potty where they sleep? Apparently Poco has evolved beyond this instinct. Now, imagine it is early morning (earlyish because I got to sleep it due to Labor Day) and you are still stretching and yawny. You are still blinky as you make your way to the bathroom. Then as you thoughtlessly place your foot on the cushion bed when you move through the room, you come down on something cold and squishy. As it gooshes between your toes you realize that there is only one thing this can be. POO-FOOT!
     It was extreme, it was a mess, it was impossible to put my foot back down without making it worse. Luckily I was right next to the sink and the kleenex, but wow, honestly wow. Plus, turning to reorient myself, I managed to brush my foot against my white...that's right, pure sparkling white towels. I guess my labor for Labor Day will be laundry. It was a messy but very funny way to start the morning. I think the puppies were exepcting a scolding because they looked very confused when I started laughing instead. What can you do? You can't fight a living legend.