drama...

I just returned from an adventure to Zion National Park yesterday afternoon. It. Was. Awesome. And it will get a post of its own here when I get a hold of everybody's pictures, don't you worry. I will tell you that hiking the Narrows from top to bottom (16 miles--14 of which are in water) nearly killed my feet. Well, my two pinky toes at least. (My blistered pinky toes are an important part of the drama that occurred tonight.)

So we started our softball tournament last Monday. We won that one by a couple of points (which is much closer than we're used to!). Last Thursday (when I was making my way down to Zion NP), our team played. They played a really dang good team, and they lost. (I'm not telling you the score on purpose.)

So...we're officially in the Loser's Bracket now. (Dang it!)

Welp, we played again tonight. And things were intense, people! We were down 11-2...and then things picked up for us, and we held them. Then we pulled ahead. Then they caught up. Then we pulled ahead. Then they caught up.

What I'm getting at, is that we went into triple overtime! (I'm pretty sure that's not the correct terminology for softball...but you catch my drift.)

There's more, though. Jeff made some spectacular diving catches. Here's a picture of what his shirt looked like after the game:

I like to think of Jeff as the MVP of this game...

Also, Skyler made some pretty awesome slides. Here's a picture of his damage:

Way to take one for the team, Skyler!

Now I'll bring this back to me for a minute. (Don't roll your eyes; it's my blog!) Remember how I told you that I have blisters on my pinky toes? Well, I had to wear cleats tonight, people. I've been wearing flip flops since Saturday evening; shoes haven't been an option, not even for church. So...there was one point in the game where a fella on the other team was running home; the ball was thrown to me (which I totally caught, by the way), and I went to tag him out. But...he slid...and he creamed my sore little toes into what felt like oblivion, and my concentration was pretty much shot. OW.

I'd like to publicly thank Chris for letting me borrow
her flip flops after the game in order to give my feet relief (as I left my flip flops at home)
(Also, don't judge the condition of my feet; I hiked the Narrows 2 days ago!!!)

Then there was this one batter who liked to throw the bat behind him after he hit the ball; it hit me twice. (Okay, so it only hurt me the first time--when I got hit in the wrist--but still!) He got called out both times, which I totally think is a good softball rule. (I haven't been frightened of the bat hitting me all season, and then this!) I'm okay, though. And I like to take credit for that guy getting out twice; I like to think that I took one for the team. Twice. (So...would we say I took two for the team?) Heh heh...

Oh yeah. We won. In the very end, we took it! 18-15. Yeehaw!

We play again tomorrow. I guess we'll see how this thing goes...

I hope to post about Zion soon!

swifter than swift...

Ever since I got my driver's license and forged my way onto the interstate, I've always felt a bit strange when I pass a Swift semi. You know the ones I'm speaking of...

(Like so...)

According to dictionary.com, swift means (and I quote):

–adjective
1. moving or capable of moving with great speed or velocity; fleet; rapid: a swift ship {or semi?}.
2. coming, happening, or performed quickly or without delay: a swift decision.
3. quick or prompt to act or respond: swift to jump to conclusions.

Seems to me, with a name like Swift, they ought to be the fastest automobiles on the road. I'm not wrong, am I?

I'm just sayin'...

there is beauty all around...

I went home the weekend of the 9th to chillax with the fam and to celebrate Dad's birthday. I also went home the next weekend to be with the family when Janel went through the Temple this past Saturday.

Can I just say? I LOVE MY FAMILY! I always have a stellar time with them! We had a picnic on Dad's birthday in L-Town, which was super, and the next day we had a BBQ and watched the most ridiculous show I've never heard of (The Librarian). Oh, there was much laughter!

I didn't have my camera out for most of the weekend(s), but I did get lots of pictures of the children, so here goes...

Aaron and Jane at the picnic...

I think this kid is so handsome...

Jackson was playing in the dirt...

Smiley Seth...

Jackson giggled when Jane touched his face...

This baby loves to eat...

I got Janie laughing pretty good on the ride home from the picnic...

Goose and Janel outside the Temple...

Family:
Brent, Mom, Dad, Abby, Vance, Gina, Goose, Janel, Amy, Aaron
(Our eyes aren't naturally squinty; it was bright outside. Promise.)

tally this...

G.O. Speech Therapy: Team Softball played our final game in the regular season last night. Things started off a bit scary; they got 5 runs the first inning, and we only got 3.

But we held them, baby; they didn't score another run the entire rest of the game!

We won 15-5.

This makes our win/loss record 13-1.

Because I was curious, I did a bit of math: all our runs vs. all their runs against us. (Do you understand that? All the runs we scored in our 14 game season, and all the runs the opposing teams scored against us. Got it?)

Are you ready?

The other teams scored a total of 105 runs against G.O. Speech Therapy: Team Softball. 105.

Are you ready for our total?

ARE YOU?

Okay, I'll tell you. 376.

376! How can I not smile about this? I'm sorry for sounding so vain...please know that's not my intention. I'm just...pleased is all. And a wee bit surprised, too, if you must know...

We start tournament next week. We'll see if we can squeak a few more wins...

fourfajulyweekend...

because it's been a while, and because i didn't write stuff down, i guess there won't be a lot of blather in this post...mostly pictures.

my fourth of july weekend was fabulous. and long. (every. single. one of my thursday clients canceled, so my holiday weekend started wednesday evening. go me.) as i said, i don't recall the details, but i know that i got some stuff done that needed to be done, as well as chillaxin' with friends. it was stellar.

and now, without further ado...the pictures:

the new and improved handsome rob;
washed and waxed and sporting his new nose bra

watched the parade with amber and bob (who were down from AK!)
we wore studly patriotic hats.
this is a picture of me and caleb (amber's oldest)

went to lunch and a movie (how to train your dragon) with some friends.
brooker and i were "bracelet buddies"

we went to a bbq and i tried sauerkraut for the first time.
it's not good. not even kind of...
(don't worry, i tried it on a bratwurst for realsies)

brooke, lindsey and me at the fireworks show...

on monday, i went to fall creek with a few friends. and here are the pictures to prove it:

along the way...

backseat girls (brooker, keri, ashley)

...and the backseat buddy, mr. banana

the falls...

hiking to the falls...

brookie and keri in the grotto...

jumping in...

it was fun (and COLD!)

after exploring the falls and jumping into the cold water a time or two, we decided to head back up to the car for our picnic lunch; keri, brookie and i went up the falls, and brooker and ashley took another route up.

making our way up...

i look completely natural in this picture, don't i?

keep on moving...!

my legs were so tired after hiking up the falls that playing catcher at the softball game that night was more difficult than usual...but it was so much fun (both the falls and the softball)!

aaaand in case you were wondering, we're 12-1. we won last night. by ONE POINT! one more game tomorrow night and then the tourney begins!

the GO Speech Therapy team:
aaron h, wade, lisa, brooke, aaron r, gina
skyler, kara, jeff and amy
(nolan was gone that night; aaron h filled in for him)

the softball...

Because I have so many readers (sarcasm) who are just dying to know what's going on with the softball team this year (even more sarcasm), I'm here to appease the masses.

You're welcome!

We had a couple of games rained out in June. Because June in North-of-Zion isn't quite like June where you live. We get a few gorgeous days (usually not on the days I'm scheduled to play a co-ed slow-pitch softball game) with a plethora of cool-to-downrightchilly days thrown in the mix. Plus we get precipitation too; typically in the form of rain, but don't even think that snow ain't an option.

Anyway...we've played 11 games. Do you care to guess how many we've won? (If you are dying to know, our win/loss record has been, in the past 3 years, rather even, although usually the losses overtake the wins by a game or two.)

Are you done guessing?

Well, my friends, we are 10-1. Yes, it's true! We've won ten games and only lost one (so far)!

Winning feels dandy. For realsies. We love it!

But we even feel okay about that one loss. Honest.

We have one more scheduled game coming up. Tomorrow evening, actually. And then...we're hoping to make up those last 2 games. (You know...the ones that were canceled due to incliment weather.) I can hardly believe the season is so close to over!

My friends Brooker and Kristine have taken some pictures at a few of the games, so I'm gonna go ahead and post some of 'em. (Thanks again, ladies!)

Jeff is crazy-fast. And he slides frequently, too.
That's him in the puff of dust, I assure you.

I'm the catcher.
(Thanks a mil, Kristine, for capturing this on film!)
It kinda looks like I laid a softball-egg...

In last night's game, the umpire had a floop...
...and it got dangerously close to my head.
(Yep. That's the floop. Less than 12 inches from my noggin)

We have fans this year too, which is a terrific addition!
(Note: Skyler and Wade usually play but both were injured when I snapped this pic)

Brooker and me before a game...

Anyhoo, I'm so glad I'm playing this year! I love softball!

UPDATE (7/7/10; 11pm):
We won! 28-5...
I think we'll do the tourney this year,
since we actually qualify!

happy fourth!

I'm so grateful for the freedoms I enjoy!
Happy Independence Day, y'all!