And the race is on!!!!
Or at least that is how it has felt around here lately.
We have been busy, busy busy the last couple of weeks. From me having to travel to Amarillo last week for work to Grant's Kindergarten Round-Up and preschool, to having to look for a new daycare (again) to...well more big news for our family later this week, but you are going to have to wait on that one. I feel like I have been on the run constantly and today I have been busy enjoying some down time to re-gather my thoughts, sleep in, catch up on laundry, spend some time outside, finally taking down my Christmas decorations (yes, I am one of
'those' people this year) and actually had time to fire up my computer to do a little catching up on the blog world.
Speaking of racing, the kids and I took a little road trip over to Elk River yesterday to watch my 4 almost 5 year old cousin, Evan, race his little Arctic Cat snowmobile. Let me tell you those little tykes are
adorable out there all decked out in their gear on their little mini-machines.
Evan is the second from the left.
And here are a couple of adorable little spectators, if I do say so myself!
There goes Evan rippin' up the track.
I think Grant had a little
snowmobile envy going on. He kept saying
"Whoa! That looks like fun!!"
Maybe
someday, but not so sure his worry-wart Mama's heart could hold up watching him. This sport is dan-ger-ous! Duke used to race semi-pro 'back in the day' so I am sure he would be in his glory if Grant wanted to follow in his Daddy's footsteps, but I would literally have to watch with my eyes closed.
There is my Uncle Russ and Aunt Kala (on the left) watching their youngest be all grown up and race like one of the big guys.
Speaking of the big guys...I didn't know anyone else who was racing but I was having a blast watching them catch some air and taking pictures of all of the action.
It is hard to tell from the pic below, but these guys were catching some serious air!!
Grant and Audrey used a sponsor banner as a tent to hide under and watch the action.
Hey, as long as they are being good and having fun...that's all that matters. right?!
These are a couple of good shots that show just how much air some of these guys were getting.
Crazy stuff I tell you!
Especially crazy because there were a couple of crashes yesterday and one happened right in front of us. We had just moved down to where the racers cross the finish line and it is also where they get the most air coming across the table-top jump. The guy below cleared the table-top but he wiped out on his landing.
Nothing serious, until this guy, who was hot on his heels came over the same jump. When these guys are in the air jumping across this monstrous jump, they can't always see what is going on on the other side of the jump until they are already in the air and by then it is too late to change their course.
Needless to say, when he came over the jump and saw the other guys stopped at the bottom, he bailed from his sled. Can't imagine the thoughts going through both of their heads (and their parents!)
Grant's face says it all...
Now, look at how far the guy who 'bailed' slid. They were both so lucky neither of them got seriously injured.
As a mom, I don't know if I could watch my little baby racing like this.
I think I could handle this speed but it is the speeds that come later that worry me.
For now, I will stop worrying about all of the ways my children could get hurt and just enjoy them being little and worry free.
And I will enjoy watching cute little Evan race his cute little snowmobile.
Now, off to engross myself in a little Desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters. Oh, and I can
hardly wait until The Bachelor Finale tomorrow night. I am a self-proclaimed Bachelor junkie and wouldn't have it any other way!!!
Thankfully our ground is no longer covered in snow and we had our first real taste of spring yesterday with the temps reaching 60 plus degrees!
Evan is the second from the left.
And here are a couple of adorable little spectators, if I do say so myself!
There goes Evan rippin' up the track. 
I think Grant had a little snowmobile envy going on. He kept saying "Whoa! That looks like fun!!"
Maybe someday, but not so sure his worry-wart Mama's heart could hold up watching him. This sport is dan-ger-ous! Duke used to race semi-pro 'back in the day' so I am sure he would be in his glory if Grant wanted to follow in his Daddy's footsteps, but I would literally have to watch with my eyes closed.
There is my Uncle Russ and Aunt Kala (on the left) watching their youngest be all grown up and race like one of the big guys.
Speaking of the big guys...I didn't know anyone else who was racing but I was having a blast watching them catch some air and taking pictures of all of the action.
It is hard to tell from the pic below, but these guys were catching some serious air!!
Grant and Audrey used a sponsor banner as a tent to hide under and watch the action.
Hey, as long as they are being good and having fun...that's all that matters. right?!
These are a couple of good shots that show just how much air some of these guys were getting.
Crazy stuff I tell you!
Especially crazy because there were a couple of crashes yesterday and one happened right in front of us. We had just moved down to where the racers cross the finish line and it is also where they get the most air coming across the table-top jump. The guy below cleared the table-top but he wiped out on his landing. 
Nothing serious, until this guy, who was hot on his heels came over the same jump. When these guys are in the air jumping across this monstrous jump, they can't always see what is going on on the other side of the jump until they are already in the air and by then it is too late to change their course.
Needless to say, when he came over the jump and saw the other guys stopped at the bottom, he bailed from his sled. Can't imagine the thoughts going through both of their heads (and their parents!)
Grant's face says it all...
Now, look at how far the guy who 'bailed' slid. They were both so lucky neither of them got seriously injured.
As a mom, I don't know if I could watch my little baby racing like this. 
I think I could handle this speed but it is the speeds that come later that worry me.
For now, I will stop worrying about all of the ways my children could get hurt and just enjoy them being little and worry free. 
And I will enjoy watching cute little Evan race his cute little snowmobile.
Now, off to engross myself in a little Desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters. Oh, and I can hardly wait until The Bachelor Finale tomorrow night. I am a self-proclaimed Bachelor junkie and wouldn't have it any other way!!! 
It was such a nice day out. The sun was shining. It was about 25º out. No place we had to be. It was just generally a cheerful day and fun was had by all.
The kids were so fired up to be outside! As you can see, the boys quickly found a little jump and were having a blast catching some air.
I think I was having equally as much fun taking pictures of the crazy little dare-devils!
Having some outside action shots to take was a refreshing change of pace for me.
Here is Grant on his first solo run over the jump. I won't lie, I was a little nervous for him but I had to keep reminding myself all of the fun times I had sledding as a little girl and just let him go.
And go is precisely what he did! He took a digger but got right back up with a smile on his face, ready to do it all over again!
And then there is Peyton. I honestly think he was born half monkey and half dare-devil. This kid is balls-to-the-walls, (I love that phrase) non-stop energy and not scared of a darn thing.
Grant and Meghan also took the cushy tube over the jump. Didn't catch as much air but still a fun ride.
Even I took a few trips down the hill with the kiddos. I tell ya'...after yesterday I know I am out of shape! I was 'breathing deeply' by the time I reached the top of the hill. Not sure how those kids can go up and down repeatedly with out even a blink of an eye. I must be getting old!
Little Tooters even went for a few trips down the hill but was having more fun playing in one of the sleds and rolling around in the snow. I wasn't particularly sad that she didn't want to keep going over and over because it was my job to carry her and the tube back up the hill. Maybe that is why I was so tired!?! Towards the end of the day she and Grant went on a Mom-free run of their own down the hill. They did great but I would be lying if I said my heart didn't skip a beat while watching it.
Julie joined in the winter fun too.
Meghan was often busy eating her fair share of snow :)
At least it wasn't the yellow stuff, right?!!!
I am so kidding! The two of them did a couple of mother-daughter runs down the hill.
Gotta love their expressions :)
Mr. Granty aka Speedy Spidey
Audrey becoming a little more adventurous and coming down the hill towards me.
Towards the end of our sledding excursion, the boys decided to try a little one-on-one racing.
They started out really close but then either Grant's turbo boosters kicked in or someone sabotaged Peyton's sled because he just couldn't keep up the momentum.
Grant ended up beating him a couple of times with the purple sled so Peyton decided he needed to try the purple one was broken. Grant wasn't about to give up the gold he had earned, both kids were tired, a mini power struggle ensued and neither was going to give in so it turned out that was our queue to pack up and head in for a round of hot cocoa and some Cheetos.
Fine by me, but I think Audrey could have rolled around in the snow all afternoon.
I can't say I blame her. This is one of the few times she has gotten outside this winter to play as it has just been so cold and nasty around here lately. She was so happy to be out and be free.
I was just happy to see my kids happy.
