Labor Day & Lotoja

It wouldn't be Labor Day without a project or two underway.  This year, we painted Tanner's old bedroom in preparation for Brinley to move over.  The girls have been anticipating a change for a while now.  Elsie made it official yesterday.  She is now in Brinley's old room.  We have also been doing a little de-junking and contributed stuff to a neighborhood garage sale yesterday.  Of course, we spent more than we made ($65) and ended taking a full truck load to the DI (mostly other people's stuff).  The kids also spent the morning helping out at a Stake Service Project...but I'm getting ahead of myself.  Back to Labor Day...

Tanner boxed up his belongs and left his room ready for us to made a switcheroo.  Even still, it took all day to paint this room.  The high vaults and built-in bed make it tricky and even on our tallest ladder, it's a struggle for me to reach everything.  After patching and painting, it feels like a brand-new room.

Jantzen put together these children's sized office chairs from IKEA we picked up the same day we took Tanner to the MTC.  The computer/homework nook is narrow so we've been wanting slimmer profile chairs for this area.  Good job, Jantzen!  Check that off the list.

Brinley & Elsie

While I continued to paint, Aaron took the kids fishing in the afternoon.  First time all year.  Cam, Jett and Jagger also joined in the adventure.  Beautiful September weather!

Jantzen & Jagger

Quinn

Anna

Aaron catches a big one!

Elsie's first cast and she reeled this in!

Aaron's favorite around his birthday tradition is to spend a day fishing (alone time to think).  This year he took 5 kids along!  Of course, he did very little (thinking) fishing because he was so busy helping everyone else but the crew had a great time and I finished the bedroom project.

Friday afternoon (September 9), Aaron and I joined Brett and Kara R. for the drive to Logan, UT.  This clock shows the count-down until Aaron's start time of the big bike race/ride from Logan to Jackson Hole, WY.  He signed up for this crazy intense event a few days after getting his first road bike last spring when Tanner returned home from China.  I don't think Aaron had been on a ride yet but figured he's not getting any younger so why not?!?  And Brett wanted Aaron as a training buddy....

 LOTOJA = 206 miles, 3 states, 1 day.  

 My parents were in China and allowed fellow riders to spend the night at their place.  It worked out well to have Matt & Jane S., Kelly B. and her sister Kaylee, Jeralyn & Zack, Aaron and I sleep at their house while Brett & Kara were a block a way at Brett's cousin's house.  Ester & Cameron (rode 2-man relay) stayed at Ester's sister's house in town.  I don't know how well everyone slept the night before the big event but we were all up early to get a start on the day.  Obviously, we were too preoccupied to get any pictures of the women's relay team (Kaylee, Jane, Jeralyn, Ester, Kelly) or support crew (Zack for women's relay).  Kara & I were support crew for Aaron, Brett and Matt.

Bright and early - start time was 6:54am for the "The Three Amigos".  Good to know Aaron's reflectors work.

Getting ready at the starting line.  Aaron typed up a list of everything he would need at the various feed zones and since this was Brett's 3rd year, Kara had driven the route before.  I had it easy! 

Kara and I met the boys in Preston, ID at the first feed zone to collect cold-weather gear (only 35 degrees at the start of the ride) and fill water bottles/re-fuel because we wouldn't be able to meet up with them until after their two big mountain climbs.  In the meantime, Kara and I drove through the beautiful countryside, visited her brother-in-law (potty stop) and prepared to meet up with our riders again later that day.

Matt & Aaron in Montpelier, ID

Aaron, Matt, Brett

The women's relay team drove a different route so they were able to send Kara & I updates and pictures at the Montpelier, ID stop.  We were so happy to hear the three of them were still together after the first hill climb.  Matt trained with Brett & Aaron but was concerned about being able to hang with them through the climbs.

This smaller temple is nearing completion and will be dedicated next month.  The bikers passed this en route to the Afton, WY feed zone.

Sign says, "World's Largest Elkhorn Arch"

 Having a little extra time in Afton, WY Kara and I made signs to greet our riders with.

Longest stop of the ride - enough time to eat part of a sandwich.  Aaron learned he doesn't have the appetite of his fellow riders but he was very careful to properly refuel/hydrate.  He had his boiled potatoes, perpetuem, coconut water, pickles, pb&j, etc. in his pockets during the ride.  I think he consumed a total of 24 bottles of fluid in one day...and still lost 6 lbs.  He burned 15,000 calories!  These boys battled some serious wind which made the ride extra challenging.

Alpine, WY - last stop with 47 miles to go

Kara and I learned a few things along the way and will know we can potentially take the short-cut through the Hoback next time around.  Fortunately, we made it to the finish line before the boys did so it all worked out in the end.

Matt, Aaron, Brett

Our "Three Amigos" took on a mammoth challenge and were blessed to accomplish their goal of finishing the  206-mile ride without injury/incident.  All three have missionaries serving right now so we couldn't help but think of the faith and prayers of our missionary sons in behalf of their dads.  The euphoria of the day was heightened at the recognition of God's tender mercies along the way.

Congratulations Aaron!