"It was fast..."

Hey everyone it's Matt, I'm a virgin blogger, but I wanted to talk about my cool Father's Day present from Sarah. I was enrolled in the Miller Sports Park racing school. We spent all morning fighting traffic and construction to get out there. We got there just as they were finishing the classroom racing instruction in time to hear the instructor say "Alright let's go race". They took us out to the race-modified 300+ horse power Ford Mustangs. The cars were equipped with racing brakes, suspension, exhaust, intake, and some more go fast bits (lightwieght flywheels, short shifter, limited slip differential ect. R-compound tires). They were really loud and really torquey. I must admit that they were fastest cars I've ever driven or ridden in.

We all jumped in a 12 person econoliner van and went around the track twice in the van with a race instructor driving to show us our "lines" they also had cones set up at the "apex". The first lap was really slow, but the second lap was the fastest cornering I hope I ever experience in a van filled with ELEVEN people. The spectators were pretty surprised when we whipped down the front straight faster than freeway speed and hit the corner with the tires squeeling in objection. In the back seat we were whispering things like "shouldn't we be wearing helmets?" or "shouldn't there be a roll bar in this van?" I'm not usually one to get scared about speed, but I was a little uncomfortable driving that fast in a econo-van.

So after that, we threw on our helmets and got buckled into the race cars. The group split into two and we raced on the east track (the fun side). Everyone keeps asking "how fast did you go?" it's not about straight line speed, it's about cornering speed. We were going 100+ mph, but it's how fast we ripped around the corners that was impressive. The mustangs handled really well with the super grippy tires and the extra stiff suspension, and they were so torque we rarely had to shift.

The racing was set up as follow the leader, no passing, we took turns being number two in line. The instructor said "if you can keep up I'll speed up" so when it was my turn in the number two spot I decided to get on the instructors tail and push him to go faster. We were ripping around the course at probably 90%. Sarah watched from the tower and overheard them radio in "you better slow it down everyone else is three turns behind you". After it was over I was thinking I would have liked to go "all out" for a couple laps, which is what they did next. We did two "hot laps" with the race instructors driving and holding on for dear life in the passenger seat racing against the other instructor. It was a blast. Life long dream of going to race school - "check." Next on the list: drift school ;)

We went to the zoo zoo zoo.

We have been very lucky to do some exciting things this summer! Yesterday, Matt took us to the zoo! It was fun to take Emma when she could name the animals correctly instead of calling everything a dog, which drew a lot of laughs on her last visit. We went pretty early in the day, so we saw some exciting action - Emma almost being attacked by a gorilla three times her size:

And we got to see some crazy animal hatching from an egg:

We wore ourselves out pretty quick, but we were lucky in beating the crowds and getting our money's worth. Emma would tell you that her favorite part was riding the new merry-go-round and playing in the playground. Mom and Dad's favorite part was the big long nap they took when they got home!

"Oh no - It's Big Jet!"

This week we finally took the jet-skis out for their 2008 Summer Maiden Voyage. The first one. It took us awhile. I think this is the latest we have waited to go. The lake was high. The highest we have ever seen it, which left us scrambling for a beach. But, we got the kids settled playing in the sand and the boys on the toys and the evening began.

It was fun to have Emma aware of the jet-skis and to ask to ride again and again. She called them "Big Jet-skis" because of the antagonist in her favorite tv show, Little Einsteins, "Big Jet." We had an enjoyable evening.

I can't ride because of the little bun in the oven, pea in the pod - but my favorite thing to do is read my People magazine on the beach - and that is what I did. Matt did try and drag me into the water at one point. I protested, but he is strong. I'll just say it was very cold and I screamed. Anyway, I guess for our clan, the summer has now officially begun (Finally!).

Sleeping Beauty

Emma has been fighting naps lately. She hasn't had too many problems with sleeping since she was born, but now that she is two and a bit, she doesn't so much like the afternoon nap thing. The frustrating thing for me is that I can tell she is tired every time. And I am proven in my observations when I leave her to play for a few minutes and I come to check on her and find her like this:

Or this:

I have to say that I find it absolutely adorable despite my frustration.

Sarah

Gymnastics

Emma has been taking gymnastics at Lil' Flippers Gym for the last two months or so and I finally got around to taking my camera for some pictures. She was the example for class today so the picture above shows her with the coach demonstrating a somersault on the little balance beam thing (I don't know technical lingo). She has gotten really good at doing somersaults on her own at home.

This is Aspen, Emma's little friend. Aspen and Emma became friends because they were born on the same day in the same hospital! They play really cute together. Aspen is a very outgoing little girl and makes friends with almost anyone! We enjoy having her as a playmate!

Emma loves parachute time! In this picture she is running around trying to "Pop the Bubbles." After bubble popping, the kids are supposed to lay down in front of their parent so they can do the "Slide" where we pull the parachute so all the kids slide down into the middle. Emma gets so excited to slide that she lays down wherever she is and I have to go retrieve her so she can actually slide with the rest of the kids. It makes me laugh every time.

Sarah

Our Song Bird, Part Two

Emma loves to sing while Dad plays the piano. This is just one of those adorable moments I had to capture. For more on Emma's singing habits, see the post below.

Our Song Bird

(Sorry, I took the video sideways without realizing that you couldn't turn it!)

Emma has taken to singing. I mean really taken to singing. It is non-stop. We think it is pretty dang adorable. Her first song was "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and she has just moved up from there. As shown in the video, she used to just sing the last word of each sentence. She has now mastered every word of "I am a Child of God," "My Heavenly Father Loves Me," "I Love to See the Temple" and "I Hope they Call me on a Mission." She will even create her own versions of "Rock a Bye, Don't You Cry." Her newest addiction is singing while Matt plays the piano (See post above!) Anyway, I just thought I would share a little of her talent with you!