A Visit to Aunt Tammy♠

Davenport Washington

We went for a visit to Rick's sister Tammy's house. We've never been to visit and they finished building a new home in the past year, so we thought it was about time. Rick, Corbin, Corbin's friend, and I went. It was fun for the boys to see some small town living. Some parts they liked, and some parts they didn't like so much.

I personally am a huge fan of small town living. I love the little houses and the fact that you can know everyone in town. The small family owned businesses are so personal, and I prefer a slower pace to life, but I think someone forgot to tell Tammy that's what small towns are all about because that family goes 100 miles an hour (and most of them in a car getting to the next event.)

Corbin wanted to move in with Tammy for one reason and one reason alone....The Bike! I'm not a fan of motorcycles, and will never own one, so Corbin took full advantage of the opportunity to ride. Thanks Austin for sharing your bike with him. He really enjoyed it.




My favorite part of the trip was the Hiawatha Trail. I loved this! I wish it was close to my house. I'd use it all the time. The Hiawatha trail was absolutely beautiful! It's a wonderfully maintained bike trail that goes along the railway that used to exist from Taft Montana to Idaho. We rode bikes on the trail, but I'd love to run it. The views from the trestle's are breath taking. The only thing I'd really do different would be to use better lighting through the tunnels (there are several). It was a little scary not being able to see where you were going. I really hope I get to do it again someday. I'm sure Rick would like to do it again also. He ended up riding Austin's broken BMX bike the last 1/2 of the ride, and didn't have much fun at all.






Rick's favorite part was Roosevelt Lake. He flipped over it (see pic). Roosevelt Lake was beautiful also. We really had fun there. Rick really loves the water, so he enjoyed this part of the trip the most. We rented a pontoon boat and cruised the lake. We tried to pull some tubes and got a lot of laughs at the kids expense, but he best part was cliff jumping. What fun.

Corbin tried to flip. :)


Tammy and Boots

Corbin and Ryan

Corbin was almost underwater and Ryan sat back with his seeds and had a good time. It was so funny.

Austin

The worst part of the cliff diving was climbing up the cliff. This is Ryan going up.


Tammy and Rick jumping. It took Tammy a little while to work up the courage, but she did it!

Austin jumping

Corbin doing a toe touch.

Me and Cole....Cole talked me into it.

Ryan the muscle man.

It really was beautiful.


We enjoyed our visit, and hope to get there to visit more often. When we left we took Amanda (Rick's niece), back home with us for a week. We enjoyed several activities with her and enjoyed her company. Here she is with Corbin at the airport ready to go home.

Holiday fun

The 4th of July.

It's one of my favorite holidays, the 4th. It's warm you can BBQ and hang out until late playing games. And then the night ends with a big bang. What better day could you have? So that's just what we did. We had our good friends the Saddlers over along with the Brother's family. It was fun.

We played a few games. Had a BBQ, and went to the Davis High Fire works.

The kids played while the food cooked, and put on some holiday spirit. Here Madison Saddler and Chantel show off their handy work.

Chantel plays a game before dinner.

Then we ate. There really is nothing like sharing a good meal with the Saddlers....as you can see.
What's up with putting things up their noses????
Steve.

Taylor.

Rick.

Corbin.

Dessert.

Then it was off to the fireworks. Davis High had the worst fireworks ever, but we still had a good time.
Channy, Madison, and Kin

The Brother's family

Brenda and Steve.

Rick and I

It was a fun 4th.

One Night Stand....AGAIN! Woooohooo! (Ragnar)

Ragnar 2009 Wasatchback


Well, we did it again 187.9 miles of running, friends, fun, and pure exhaustion. We (Rick and I) ran for team One Night Stand again. If you're wondering where we got the name....well, one of your runners is standing all night long. A team has 2 vehicles, and 12 runners (6 in each vehicle). The race is a relay. I have to say it's one of the best races out there. I had an even better time the "second time around". We laughed, cheered, supported each other, showered with each other (girls with girls...if ya know what I mean), ate together, ran together, and slept very little together. Who thought running could be such a freakin' good time? K, the shower was a little weird, but when you're dirty, and exceptionally tired....you just go along with it, and try not to dwell on the fact you're bare-ass naked for the world to see. Then when you're clean and refreshed, it's all just a foggy memory. Let's face it, I'm still traumatized by the whole thing. And yet, I still can't wait to do it again....the race....not the shower.

I love that I get to do a race where I actually get to see Rick. Rick is a much better runner than I am. He pulled 6:30 min miles on his first leg then slowed to about 7 min miles for his next 2 as he wore down. But, I was really proud of him. I enjoyed seeing him run and cheering him on. Here Rick is giving a "thumbs up". That means he is feeling fine and does not require attention or water.

It's one of the most beautiful races out there. The scenery is breathtaking at points going over 6 mountain passes. And some of it you don't see at all because it's pitch black out, and you pray you are still going in the right direction...I'm just gonna say....I may have lost track of which way the road was going at some point. You wear head lamps, and can only see about a foot in front of you. Here I am in celebration of 21 kills I got running up East Canyon. A kill is = to the runners you pass - the runners that passed you. I was pretty happy. I didn't get any kills on my first run. Van 1 was all about kills. We were stoked when we got tom mark a kill on our vehicle.

Here you can see the red markings going around the window "kill markings".

Here are a couple of my favorite scenery pics.


The things I'll remember most about this year's race, besides the shower and the kills are...When I got to exchange 30 and van 2 wasn't there. They had gone to the wrong exchange. Here I am with no one to hand off my slap bracelet to.

I'll also remember the rain. It just started to rain on my last leg, but it poured on van 2, and they froze their butts off. Last year it was so hot. I'm not complaining. I think this year was so much better as far as weather goes. Here is Chris running in a down pour.

I'll remember Rich riding with us because his team was busy putting one of their own in an ambulance. Here's Rich.

But most of all I'll remember what a great time we had. Thanks so much to our team. They are all great people.
Van1
Rick Gatten, Tiffany Gatten, Stacy Strong, Jeff VonCollin, Vic Jensen, and Ray Holt.

Van 2
Maria Weller, Teresa Odekirk, Stephanie Buckway, Missy Nichols, Craig Nichols, and Chris Nichols.

One Night Stand

Leaving Elementary Behind and Looking Forward to Jr. High

6th Grade Graduation

Chantel graduated from 6th grade this year, and I think I'm as happy as she is to be done with Elementary. Chantel went to all 7 years of grammar school at Bluff Ridge Elementary. It was a brand new school when Channy started school. It's a very bright, fun school to get an education in and we've considered ourselves lucky to have had our children attend school there.

Channy's graduation was a 50's Sock Hop theme, and the kids did a great job on the program. Grandma and Grandpa Dorman attend along with myself. I thought I may shed a tear or two at the ending of an era in our lives, but....not one. :) Maybe I'll leave that to another day.

When I think back on this year, I'll remember it most as the year Chantel discovered boys...lots of boys. She just can't stop talking about them.

Channy sitting on the stage steps before the program.


Channy's been lucky to have had so many great friends along the way through Elementary. We live in a great community with great families....a very diverse community with Hill Air Force Base so close by. Channy has learned so much from her friends and their families. And we've all enjoyed getting to know these cute girls.






Hanna, has been Chantel's friend since they were 2 years old.


One of Chantel's favorite parts of 6th grade was DARE. Officer Penrod, AKA Officer Stanley is by far the most popular individual at Bluff Ridge. Channy thinks he walks on water.


Channy with her grandparents. She was so happy they came.


Chantel and her loving mother.


One last hug from Mrs. Sorte. I'm pretty sure she's glad I don't have any more children. She is a great teacher and I'm very grateful to her for all of her hard work.


Channy was so happy to be done with another year of school she danced with Janelle.


These girls are so excited to move on to Jr. High. They will attend Legacy Jr. High (if it's finished in time) It's looking like a beautiful school. Chantel can hardly wait. Jr. High...here she comes.

Snow Shack Baby!

Every teenager needs a summer job and this year Corbin's manning the Snow Shack at Lowe's in Layton. He's one heck of a snow cone maker. They are icy and delish!


It can get lonely when there are no customers.
It's been slow lately so stop by and see him Wed and Fri nights...

....bring a large tip. :) He needs the money.

We sure enjoyed our visit recently. Cooled us right off, and it's been hot, hot, hot!

Never fear, I didn't break my diet....they have sugarfree.....that's right.....sugarfree....run don't walk!

Channy, Kort and Cole highly recommend it.


Cheers! Come get yours before summer's over.