IFA Field Trip

My children tricked me into letting them see the animals at IFA. Sure, I said. What harm can there be in looking at a few harmless bunnies?

It started off quite innocent.  Just making laps around the bunny pen and commenting on how cute the bunnies were.  But then...

The pen was opened and the bunnies started getting held by all of the little children. 

And then...

They all started to smile.

And get that wanting look in their eyes.

And then...we went home.  I am a cruel, cruel individual.  

Actually, it only took a few bunny scratches on their arms to convince them that bunnies might not actually be the pets of their dreams.  Thank goodness for rabbit claws!

Founder's Day 2012

Founder's Day is a favorite for the Hauns.

We always start out with the parade.

And a few dog licks.

The local scout troop.

This was a first.  The Disney princesses landed in the Pleasant View, UT parade.

The girls loved it.

This also landed in the parade for the second year in a row.  Not sure what to think of it.

Dinner at the Salmon Bake.

Glow sticks to guide us through the dark.

Our tradition of smashed cupcakes for dessert - my personal favorite.

You really should try this...the taste is somehow different when the cream is squishing out the side.

Yeah for Founder's Day!!!

And sleepy kids.

Goodbye, until next year.

Summer Art Class

Maddie took an art class this summer. Here is some of her work (turn your head sideways and most of these will look better).

A fire breathing Dragon.

A marsh.

Frog.

Bird's nest. 

Awesome work.  She loves art.  Maybe an artistic bug slipped into her genes somehow.  Troy and I are both still working on making stick people look real.

Swim Lessons, Ice Cream and one big Duck.

Every summer I make my children take swim lessons. It is one of the things that they do "because mom makes them." I think being a good swimmer is important. Thus, annual swim lessons for all Haun children is a requirement (plus it gives me 30 minutes/day to sit in the sun, read a book and pretend that I am in Hawaii).

Day 1 of class.

If we "accidentally" get to our lessons a little early, then we are forced to stop and eat ice cream.  I typically end up with a scrumptious shake full of some kind of yummy candy bar and the kids get "kiddie" cones.  I hope the kids never figure out that they will actually sale shakes to children.  I currently have them deceived into thinking that this is an impossibility.  Being an adult has its advantages.

The duck pond is also a good place to pass some time and work off our treat.

I love happy kids.  They make me smile.

My nephew, Garrett, is practicing various hand signals.  I think he is telling me to hang loose.  I wonder if he knows that some of his hand signals might have actual meanings.

Maddie doesn't make me want to go down the slide when she looks like this.  Makes me think that the whole experience might actually be painful.

All tuckered out.  

Some may call this back float "stiff."  No wonder she sinks.

I love to make Maddie smile when she is supposed to be focusing on her Elementary Back Stroke...chicken, airplane, soldier...chicken, airplane, soldier.

Apparently I pay people to teach my children to blow bubbles.  Is this really a required skill?

On the last day of lessons, a large duck came and walked around the pool.  Aeva was very impressed with this added touch of fun.  She just might be interested in doing it again next year.

Father's Day

After Ragnar, we met our girls and my mom at a hotel in Park City to spend the night. The next morning was Father's Day and the girls surprised their dad with this.

The poster says:

Dad, we were going to give you a "whopp"ing "100 Grand" for Father's Day, but the money slipped through our "Butterfingers."  We didn't have any "Extra" "Whatchamacallit"s and it wasn't "Pay Day.  We didn't think a pet "Kat", a trip to New "York", or a "Orbit" around the "Milky Way" would be appropriate.  We do want to wish you mounds of "Joy" both "Now & Later" as you eat this card.  We hope it doesn't make you "Rolo"ver and get sick.  If it does, we promise not to "Snicker."  

Love your favorite "Air Heads."

We are lucky to have such an amazing dad.  Thanks for all you do.

We love you!!!

Ragnar 2012

Another Ragnar has come and gone.  Several of our "regulars" couldn't make it this year.  Said "regulars" are usually in charge of, Harvey...the bunny.  He has come with us for 3 years now.  He is a standard and apparently required part of the Ragnar experience.

I had to dutifully tie Harvey to the top of the car.  

This is what Harvey looked like by the time we got to the bottom of my driveway.  Good thing I don't have to tie anything of value to cars for a living.  I'd be very poor.

The starting line at 6:00 AM.  Girls must not like Ragnar.  Maybe girls just don't like me...

Runner #1 getting ready to go.  Jose, Jose, Jose!!!

Troy completing his preparatory "warm up."

Off they go.  Jose is in there somewhere.

A few miles in.

A little mandatory car decorating.  We actually had a design major running with us this year.  Stick people were not the only decoration on our car.

Troy is read for his first run (it was supposed to be my run).  I felt it was my duty to give him the longest leg of my entire Ragnar event.  That is what a good wife does.  I am a good wife.

  Troy and Ali, waiting for their runners.

Brent's larger than average bald spot provided a wonderful spot for me to practice my tattoo work.

Thank you, Brent.

Danny appears to be running on a tilt.  Makes him look speedy.  Now I know how to look fast...it is all up to the camera man/woman.  

Our traditional lunch of chips, salsa and horchata.  Yum!  Nothing like a little salsa heartburn for run #2.

Brent seemed to be enjoying our first major exchange.  We couldn't get him back in the van after this.  

Brent's elbow...either he is fast or my camera is slow.  

Brent always wears "fancy pants."  We tease him incessantly.  Wish he had worn them to run in.

Brent is much like me...we don't follow any rules posted by Ragnar.  Troy, however, is a "rule follower."  Every time anyone would try to cross the street without a flag, Troy would follow them with flag in hand.  

Dual hand hygiene.  

We had to start leaving before we could get Brent to get in the car.  Too many girls running around to keep him focused.

Jose, ready for leg #2.

Van #1 after their first run.  Not as perky as they were a few hours before.

Well, Kelly appears to have remained perky.  Not sure what he is taking.  We should look into it for next year!

Jose, taking a short snooze.  Music must not have been loud enough.

This is Jos-B.  We had two Jose's in our van so we called one Jose (Jos-A) and the other Jos-B.  Jos-B is my MA at work.  I still refer to him as Jos-B.  Hope he likes it.

I took this picture to show the hill that Brent had to climb on his third run.  Not fun.  That is why I am the captain of the team...to make sure I never have to run anything like this.

The view overlooking Jordanelle Reservoir.  It was a gorgeous day. 

Still smiling.

Designated water girl.  I am in my Levi shorts.  Pretty obvious that I am done running.

Troy is off in his "red outfit."  If anyone in our van ever got lost, they just looked for him.  Our personal red beacon.

Jos-B on his final run.

Our final exchange with Van 2.  Van 1 is much happier than Van 2 at this point.

The carnage at the finish line.

Look what else we found at the finish.  Their nude leotards had been reduced to mere leotard shorts.

Here we come!

Only 7 of the original 12 made it to the finish line.  The champions!

Our sticker as proof that we participated.

Our medal to prove we finished.

My kids waiting at the hotel.  Best part of everything!

Until next year, or Vegas, whichever comes first.