Sexy but Nerve Racking

My husband loves motorcycles. He has since his early 20's. In the beginning he had a sport bike. He loved going fast. In fact, he loved the speed so much that eventually he started to dabble on the race track.

His R1 that he sold not too long after he married me. He loved this bike but had no real good reason to keep it. I should probably take credit for the fact that its gone. He really did not want to sell it. I could not find any good pictures with him on this bike alone... he always seemed to have an old girlfriend with him.

After a while he got into off road riding as well. He bought himself a dirt bike and joined the single track team on Search and Rescue. That was a completely different way to ride and he loved that too. He loved the technicality of it and the challenge. And he loved riding in Moab and other places with his SAR buddies.

Curtis in the little Sahara in Utah.

In Moab with his SAR buddies.

Finally, when he realized that riding long distances on a sport bike was a little uncomfortable, he bought himself a yellow VTX cruiser. This was the bike that we rode off on when we were married. I claim it as my bike even though I do not ride it myself.

Curtis on his VTX Cruiser on the Nebo loop before I met him.

I love the fact my husband rides. As I watch him ride off in his vintage looking brown leather jacket, helmet, and sunglasses I can't help but think he is one sexy guy. His personality and look fits a motorcycle well and I love riding with him.

I do however find it a bit nerve racking that my husband is a biker. Although he is very skilled and maneuvers his motorcycle well on the road, people often times do not see him and other riders like him. He has had a few close calls. Once he had to kick a car to get the drivers attention while on the freeway because the driver was moving over into his lane and neglected to see him. He has also nearly hit a deer on a few occasions. You see its not if a motorcyclist goes down, its when a motorcyclist goes down. And Curtis has already gone down a few times. On his dirt bike alone he has gone down dozens of times only really injuring himself badly once... that is if you don't take into consideration 3rd degree burns. On the pavement he has gone down twice. Both times he was not severely injured and both times there were no other cars involved.  Once was on the track while racing, and the other was due to slipping on gravel. That's right folks. Gravel, water, ice, potholes, large bumps. stinging bees and other animals can all take a motorcyclist down. Yeah they have enough to worry about as it is without crazy drivers who can't share the roads.

So now do you see why I worry? What normal wife would not. The thing is, I have no desire for Curtis to stop riding. Like I said he is so darn sexy on his bikes. And I really do enjoy taking the back seat with him and riding off to see the country side. Once the kids are grown, I even hope to get a bike of my own and ride at his side. But as it warms up I pray everyday that other drivers will see my husband before they make their turns, switch lanes, or proceed through a light or stop sign. Because if someone were to ever take his life I would be heart broken. So please all you out there, watch out for motorcyclist and share the road!

Holding On

I am a person who tends to hold on to people and things. I do not like to say goodbye. I do not like to admit that I will not see someone or do something again for the rest of my life. I do not like final chapters.

So it is no surprise as I watch my little Ryker grow and reach each milestone, I feel a bit somber realizing that I will never again watch one of my own babies learn to roll over, sit up, say Da Da, or eat solids for the first time. I will never again hold a newborn baby in my arms, that I have carried for 9 months, holding its little hand in my finger and knowing that I am that little babies guardian, mommy, and friend. Soon I will no longer see those baby smiles that are so stinken cute that they just melt my heart. Soon those little finger prints that I wipe off of my walls will no longer be there.

For these reasons, I find myself in no rush to have my baby grow up this time. I remember with Sage, I was so focused on making sure she was ahead of the curve and helping her reach her milestones early. With Ryker I don't push him to do anything. I don't care if it takes him forever to reach his milestones. I just want him to be my baby for as long as he is willing to be my baby. And in my eyes he always will be my baby.

In closing, I wanted to post a few "firsts" pictures of my kids. Thank you my children for the opportunity  to be there during these steps in your life. I love you all!

SAGE

First time eating.

First time sitting.

First Halloween.

First toothbrush.

ASHTON

First Birthday.

First visit to Grandpa's and Grandma's museum.

First Halloween.

First time being held by Sage.

First time sitting.

JACE

First time eating using a spoon on his own.

First smile on camera.

First time eating solids.

First time camping and hiking.

RYKER

First time shooting with Dad.

First time being held by his brothers.

First time sitting.

First time hiking.

Best Kitty EVER!

Cassie was adopted by our family two weeks before Ryker was born. She has turned out to be the best Cat Ever! Not only is she beautiful, she is very trainable, smart, social, and sweet. I have never had a cat that was so patient with the kids. Cassie has already been trained to scratch only on her scratching post, not get on the counters, and stay off the master bed. The smaller kids are a little rough with her but she is so gentle with them. And best of all even though she knows she may be roughed housed a bit, she allows the smaller children to approach her and always gives them the benefit of the doubt. And even after they start to pull at her ears or pick her up by her head, instead of lashing out and hurting them she bares it quietly with a purr.

Ryker and Cassie have formed a special bond. Cassie has a preferred sleeping spot and its in the crib with Ryker. When Ryker was a newborn she would jump up on my chair and lick his head while I fed him. And when I allow her to sleep with Ryker she does not sleep at the end of the crib, she sleeps right next to him grooming him, and snuggling with him. Ryker will pull at her, claw her, and whack her and she just deals with it and gives a cat grin. Sometimes she plays back but very gently. Ryker loves Cassie too. You can tell because he gets a huge grin on his face and giggles when she walks in the room.

I have had many cats in my life. Some more special than others. But Cassie has turned out to be all that I could ever hope for my little family. We really do love Cassie.

Cassie hanging out with Ryker.

It's Going to be a Nice Day

Curtis: Its going to be a nice day tomorrow, do you want to go anywhere?
Becky: How about Antelope Island.
Curtis: Why Antelope Island?
Becky: Never been.
Curtis: Whatever you want Weetheart.

So off we went to Antelope Island last Thursday. I rather enjoyed it. And I think the kids did too. the Island is known for their amazing assortment of birds, their large herd of Buffalo, and their family friendly hiking, camping, and horseback riding adventures. Here are some photos.

"You looking at us mom? Yeah I know we are all that!"

"I see a bird!"

Jace was a little scared to be on the rock... The Salt Lake is in the back.

This was Jace's real first time hiking on his own. He loved it! He was so proud of himself after every rock he climbed and every steep part in the trail he overcame. We did not have to carry him at all.

This was Rykers first time on a hike. He was ok with it but did not like the wind. He talked the entire time.

"I see a buffalo mom!"

Antelope Island has a large herd of 500 buffalo on the island.

Ashton looking at the lake, rocks and buffalo.

Hiking another Trail. Sage and Ashton seemed to think we were going too slow and bolted ahead again and again.

It's us. Ryker is behind Curtis.

Up at Buffalo Point. Not sure why they call it that cause we could not see very many buffalo from the top...

Look at my little mountaineers!

Me and my little girl.

"What??! I'm driving here!"

Although it is called Antelope Island we only saw one...

For more information on Antelope Island visit:
http://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/antelope-island.

Ashton and Easter

So what do Ashton and Easter have in common? Well their special day was celebrated within 48 hours of each other. And since I honestly don't have a ton to say about either of those days I figured I would combine the blog. Yep typical Becky move there.

Ashton turned 6! He is getting crazy big. He is slowly maturing and quickly getting taller. This year he asked to have a pirate friend party instead of a family party. So out the invites went and on March 29th we had 11 kids over! We played games, ate cake, and opened presents. Then after the party a few of the kids stayed for another 2 hours simply playing. And finally we let Ashton choose a place to go out to eat as a family. Ashton had a blast! And so did his mom:). Here are the pics.

Note: I swear kids don't like cake anymore. Before I showed what the cake looked like 3 of the kids declined cake. Once they saw that it was a cool cake they wanted it simply for that reason. As for finishing their cake only my kids and one other finished their cake. All the others ate maybe half of their cake. When I was a child, cake was a very special treat. And I would always eat all of it. Cake is no longer appreciated for one reason or another :(. And I make all my cakes by scratch and they are dangerously delicious. At least Ashton enjoyed it and I guess that is what really counts.

Easter was fun! Even though Curtis was out till 2AM the previous night trying to find someone who had gone missing on the lake, we were up bright and early and at my parents house by 9am for a great Easter breakfast. We had quiche, cinnamon rolls,  fruit, tarts, and a few other things. I really do love hanging out with my family. Love them tons.

Later on that day we went to church, came home, gave the kids a few treats, had a puzzle Easter egg hunt (this mom is candied out), and took pictures. And even later that day we headed over to the Dudley's for dinner. And now the pictures.

Ashton was trying to mimic his very cool uncle Bon with the I'm too cool for you looks and poses.

Jace was really not that into egg hunting. He was more interested with the planes that were flying over his head at the time.

Ashton found quite a few eggs:)

We make the kids consolidate all their eggs so they could be divided out fairly... They were all color coordinated so Curtis knew what was in each egg.

Ryker sat on the side lines for this one.