Family Reunion - Take 1

We have been looking forward to summer-time for several weeks, and now that it is finally here, we are enjoying our many trips. Next on our itinerary was the McCracken Family Reunion. We spent June 6-8 in Salt Lake City; thank you Jana for putting this all together!

Family Fun at Cosmic Bowling

Pizza at Fat Katz

Riding the Trac

Temple Square

All the Grandkids with Grandma and Grandpa
My Siblings and Me

Stay tuned for Family Reunion - Take 2!

While I Was Out

After spending the exciting weekend in Spokane, Ella and I traveled to Idaho Falls to cheer on my baby sister Christine (a.k.a. Tino) at her high school graduation. Way To Go Tino!!!

We then spent a few days with the fam doing exciting things like reading stories, singing songs, and jumping on Grandma and Grandpa's jumpoline (you'll see what I'm getting at in the pictures). I think the most exciting things happened after I left . . . yes, Ella got to stay at her grandma and grandpa's house all by herself! She had the time of her life, with both sets of grandparents (unfortunately I don't have any pictures of her during her time with Grandma and Grandpa Winter's).

Ella hasn't stopped talking about all her adventures with her grandparents and her cousins.

Round 'N Round

Memorial Day weekend was a great experience for our whole family. We were able to spend it in Spokane, Washington being Landon's support crew. He participated, for the second year in a row, in the Round 'N Round 24-Hour Mountain Bike Race! He raced this solo, which means he raced it alone rather than with a team (how far can you ride for 24 consecutive hours?). And you will see, he did AWESOME!

The first leg of the race was a foot race. This helps thin out the group so that when everyone starts mounting their bikes, it's not a bottle-neck.
(Landon is in the left-center of the picture. He's wearing the black shorts with a white stripe down the leg.)Now he's in for the long haul. GO LANDON!!!!
First lap done, 22 3/4 hours left to go!
Landon had his first ever major crash during lap 6, you can see the large bandage on his right knee. Thankfully there were 5 medics right at the base of the mountain (the Devil's Down is appropriately named). But it didn't slow him down.

Here are couple of cool night riding photos.

Oh, daylight.
Here's Ella cheering. She kept a watchful eye out for Landon and would notify all of us when she saw her Daddy coming. "There's my daddy!"
Last lap, you can do it Landon!
You made it! 210 miles!
We love this guy and are so proud of him and his accomplishments!

Talent

Here are a few of the things that we do at home:

Ella is practicing her piano and singing in preparation for Primary. After all, Mom is now the Primary Music Chorister (hooray!).

Getting ready for the day.

Daddy and Ella practicing for the big race in Spokane.

Yep, those dancing skills came in handy! Here I am on the Oak Creek Ward Synchronized Swimming Team! (I'm the one in the pink and blue bathing suit.)

Ella is baking something most delicious.

And finally, Ella demonstrates what she learned while we had some children over for a play-day (argh).

At the Fair

We have great friends that keep us informed on all the great local activities. Recently we went to the carnival at the elemtary school. It was great fun, and Ella just loves doing what all the other "big kids" are doing.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

I have been itching to get out and start working in my yard this year, but the weather has not been cooperating with me. So, during any cloud break that occurs (and when I'm not at work - that seems to be when we get the nicest weather), I get out there to start on my to-do list. A few days ago, I was out pulling weeds in the yard, and Ella decided to help. She loves to dig, and she has seen me turn the dirt over in my flowerbeds, so she decided to take a go at it. She has spent up to 30 minutes at a time sitting at my flowerbeds just playing in the dirt. Who needs a roto-tiller.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Take to the Skies

When my family came to visit during spring break, we took a day and drove up to Tillamoock and visited the Air Museum there. I'm not sure what was more fascinating, the collection of aircraft, or the hanger in which they were housed. If you are not familiar with this museum, the hanger is one that was built during WWII that housed blimps used during the war. Hence, the building is HUGE!
Another amazing fact, all of the aircraft housed there are still air-worthy except one.



We all had a great time, and Ella loved the freedom of the large space. She even looked the part of a mini-airman since she was wearing her camo pants and puffy vest.