Rick and Tiff plan another race

Rick's First 1/2 Marathon.

Today I signed Rick and me up for the Ogden ½ marathon. It’s Ricks first time running a ½ marathon. I think he felt pressure to do it because of the Wasatch Back. He needed to put in some training. The thing that sucks most is that he will kick my butt. He hardly ever runs, but it’s just a natural ability he has. Lucky dog.
I’m so relieved to be running the ½ this year instead of the full. I have flash backs of my stabbing leg pains, and being on the ground unable to get up, every time I come down Ogden Canyon. I really need some good memory to replace it. Anyhow, the race is May 17. It will be a great time.

The Last of Childhood

So Sweet She Sleeps. I took this pic the other morning when I went to wake her for school. It kinda made me sad. I know these are the last moments of childhood that she clings to; her there, sweetly sound a sleep with her stuffed animals. I know she dangles by a thread to the innocence of childhood. She’s about to drop into the bubbling, boiling, turmoil of teenage hood. I’m but a lifeguard there with 2 others already to watch over, and I’m really tired. I hope Challis is about ready to get out of the pool. But, today I’ll relish this….what may be the last of the sweetness.

Another Family Ski Night

Madison's First Time.
Well, we spent another Monday night at Wolf Mt. Why? Because the price is right. $7. a person. We took along our good friend Madison Saddler. It was her first time skiing. Challis’ friends, Shem, Melissa, and Nate came along also, as well as our whole family. The pic above is of the lodge and the Bunny Hill lift.

Chantel and Madison have been friends for 11 years. Madison's mom, Brenda, and I have been friends for about 36 years. These are beautiful girls. We love um'.

Well, here Maddi is in her skis for the first time. She was so excited. She could hardly wait. We had a talk with her on the way to the mountian. We talked to her about "Pizza" and "French Fries" (Snow Plowing and Stopping.)

Channy gave Maddi a little further instruction and…..

Down the Bunny Hill they went.

Next was a lesson on how to get on the Bunny Hill Lift. Here Maddi rides up.

After a few times down the Bunny hill, it was off to the chair lift and on to "Oh, My Heck" Hill. She did wonderful for her first time and we were so glad she came. Way to go Maddi! We love You!

Shem gives a wave HI, as the boys head off to a hill.

Here is Corb. He really liked Nate's funny hat.

Wasatch Back

A One Night Stand! That's right it's official, We’ve entered the Wasatch Back relay race. Our team is, A One Night Stand. 6 Women, 6 men, 175 miles, Logan to Park City. I talked Rick into joining our team. I’m really excited about it, but he acts like he’s not. FAKER! He’s totally psyched! There are 500 teams this year so far. You run through the heat of the day and the dark of night. Each team member runs 3 legs. Here is a video clip (just click on the link), watch it…..it’s so freakin’ cool. You’re gonna wish it was you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUE2n56Xqv0

Crazy Saturdays

Sometimes, Saturdays are just too busy!
Like this Saturday. After a late Friday Pizza Night, Rick’s alarm went off at 4:30 a.m. to go to work, and mine went off at 6:30. I had a preview run of my 10K for next Saturday in Ogden at 7:30 with my running friends. It was the hardest 10K I’ve ever run. It’s going to be a hard race.
When I got home, Chantel and Kim wanted to go to Clearfield Aquatics Center to swim. I got them there, and then Corbin needed to go get a hair cut. After that I had to pick up the girls. Corbin and his friends begged me to take them up to the ski resort to board, so off we went. Then it was a crazy night at home.
Kelcie, A.J., and Corbin went boarding up at Wolf Mt. Here are Corbin and A.J. getting their stuff on.



Kelcie is such a cutie. Her dad is Chief of Police in Syracuse, so the guys take extra good care of her. lol. He does have a gun.....WITH A LICENCE TO KILL!

Off they go, and I head home.

Chantel and Kim had a sleepover at our house, and here they attempt to make root beer floats. What a mess.

Challis and Melissa showed up to watch movies a little later.

Melissa is a sweetheart. We love her. Here she gives Channy a hug.

Pizza Party at The Gatten's!

Pizza, Yum!
When Rick gets off work on Friday night, the question isn’t should I grab a pizza? It’s... how many pizzas do I grab? With three kids there’s bound to be Friday night Pizza Night. The kids usually take turns, but Corbin hit two weeks in a row.



Hailey and A.J. play Halo.

Kelcie and Hailey get pizza, and Jayden enjoys the company.

Lucky for us we have a basment kitchen for all the teens. It comes in handy when they all
hang. We don't have to see the mess, and some distance is always good. :)

Corbin didn't want his picture taken, so he hid unter the LuvSac. Nice 1 fish 2 fish p.js Corb.

These are a great group of kids. They have a good time together, but don't cause too much trouble. We enjoyed having them.

Here they are getting ready to watch a movie.

And She SCORES!!!

Channy scores 6 points!!!!!

We’ve enjoyed a wonderful season of basketball. We just love watching our kids play sports. Chantel had a slow start, but in this game she scored 6 points. She was so excited. This game was a win for her team 24-12. They only lost one game this season to her good friend, Ashley Lancaster’s team.
Chantel wore #24 loud and proud. She is such a tom boy, and loves sports. All of her games were played at the Syracuse Rec Center.

Below: Chantel scores 2 points for her team, and we all scream for joy. Way to go Channy!

Left: Chantel receives instruction from her coach, Judd Larson. He was a wonderful coach, so patient with the girls. He would even would hold up money, wave it wildly, and offer it to the next girl to get a rebound. It would make us laugh.

Chantel was good at guarding.

Chantel watches her team from the bench.

Corbin texts at Chantel’s game…..at least he came. And below grandma Dorman and Channy have a pic taken together at the game. We really appreciate the family who came out to support her; it meant the world to her.

Family and Friends

Night Skiing at Wolf Mt.

It was Channy’s second time out skiing for the year, and things really improved for her. She only fell 2 times. She learned to pick up speed, and she really enjoyed herself. This is a pic of her and Rick before their first run.

Me and Channy in the lodge. I was home base, and got visits from all the kids when they wanted money and food. The rest of the time I enjoyed time reading, and watching the array of skiers as they warmed themselves.

We went skiing on the busiest night of the year, so we saw a few friends up at Wolf Mt. Melissa and Shem boarded with Corb and Chal. Corbin had a distressing first run, but once Melissa showed up his spirits changed and he lightened up and had fun. We also ran into our friends the Villers, and Trent Olsen from boot camp.

L to R: Melissa, Shem, Challis, and Corb enjoy some food, and talk about boarding.

25:48

Striders Winter Training 5K

Well, the camera’s battery was dead so I only got a pic of my #. It was a good race, and all my girls and I had fun. Rick came out to support us (thanks hon). The race was a hard one, not your typical 5K. The first 2 miles are a pretty steep uphill climb behind the Ogden Ice Sheet. The third mile only had one hill though. Anyhow, I finished with a time of 25:48. I’m happy with the time considering the terrain. I finished 27th in women’s overall and 4th in my age category.
Tiffany Gatten 214 39 147 25:48.8 5:10/K

Here’s where my running friends came in. And, BTW I just want to give my running friends a big shout out (Thanks!) They really keep me going and I’m grateful to know them all. They are wonderful people.
Teresa Odekirk 314 46 169 26:30.3 5:18/K
Missy Nichols 311 40 172 26:36.1 5:19/K
Stacy Strong 375 40 284 30:06.8 6:01/K

This is a pic of my running friends with me. Left: Me, Missy, Teresa, Becky (who didn't make it to this run), and Stacy.

So Sick of the Snow!!!

ENOUGH SNOW NOW!!!

We have not seen the street in months. Just this ice sheet infront of our house


We are all getting sick of the snow! It has snowed almost every other day this winter. It’s one of the snowiest winters I can remember in the past 17 years. It was fun for awhile, but we’re over it, and we’d really like to go to Mexico now. These pics are of Rick clearing the snow once again.

FASHION?

A Look of Her Own


This is an outfit that Chantel put together the other day. She clearly is trying to find her “look”. Rick freaked and asked if I really let her wear “THAT” to school. I did. A girls got to experiment. I asked what inspired this look and she said Taylor Saddler. I just laughed…..I’ve never even seen Taylor wear anything close to this.

THE BACHELOR!

Most Eligible Bachelor, Corbin Gatten

According to the 9th grade student body at Syracuse Jr. High, the city’s most eligible bachelor resides in our home. Corbin was too embarrassed to let me take his picture, but I did get a picture of the sign they gave him. His friends wrote Biggest Pimp on the other side. I believe that I will be able to scan the picture they took of him for the yearbook when it comes out at the end of the school year.