Tahoe

Our adventure a few weekends ago was a trip to Lake Tahoe! We had so much fun. Nate took Friday off because he worked on the 4th of July so we left Thursday night for a long weekend. We enjoyed a bike ride,  an awesome hike, and time playing at the lake! Holden even touched lake water for the first time and liked it despite the chilly water.

Athletics aka Track and Field

Racewalk
In the Olympics the racewalk has 20km and 50km events.In racewalking your leading leg must remain straight from when it hits the ground and you must always be in contact with the ground. We just did 200 meters(a down and back course). Holden was there to cheer us on at the midpoint.  I accidentally made the turnaround 10 meters early and had to double back and catch up. It was a close finish but I won. We were both out of breath at the end, mostly from laughing. I owe a lot to my dad for the gold medal I won from years of trying to catch up with him in airports and family outings. Thanks pops! 

Long Jump
Luckily we didn't have a tape measure so we don't have to embarrass ourselves with reporting our jumps. All that matters is that Nate took the gold! Gold medal count: Nate-2, Mindy-1, Holden-0.

Tennis

Another part of pre-olympics is of course athletic competition. The events are selected based on our chosen athletes. Last night was the first pre-olympic event, tennis. Nate and I played a match best of 3 sets for the gold medal. Nate won the first set 6-4 and the second 6-1. He smoked me! We both played well and had some super awesome points. Congratulations to the first gold medal winner Nate! Holden was perfect and took a nap so we could play our entire match uninterrupted. 

Athlete Night

So for Athlete Night each member of the family gives a short presentation on his or her athletes. Here are the   athletes that we each will be rooting for, as well as one foreign country each:

Mom-

Foreign athlete: Im Dong-Hyun, S Korea, Archery

Foreign Country: Saudi Arabia (particularly the women because its the first time they can compete)

US athlete: Brittany Reese, Long jump

Dad-

Foreign athlete: Bilyal Makhov, Russia, freestyle wrestling

Foreign Country: Russia (in honor of Josh)

US athlete: Ariel Hsing, Table Tennis

Holden-

Foreign athlete: Roger Federer, Switzerland, Tennis Singles

Foreign Country: UK

US athlete: John Nunn, 50k racewalk

Some highlights from the presentations:

Im Dong Hyun is legally blind (20/100 in one eye, 20/200 in the other) but has won gold medals in archery events in the past 2 summer Olympics. He says he "just aims for the yellow".

Brittany Reese has won four consecutive indoor/outdoor world championships and is a favorite going into the 2012 Games. At the last championship, she set a personal record of 23' 8.75".

Bilyal Makhov was expected to take gold in Beijing in the 125 kg weight class (that's 275 lbs!), but in an event leading up to the Olympics, he was poisoned! He received a dose of mercury that would have been enough to kill an ordinary man.

Ariel Hsing is a 16 year old trying to win Team USA's first gold medal in table tennis. A poster idea for Ariel:

John Nunn is an LDS athlete who served a mission in Vegas and received a racewalking scholarship to the University of Wisconsin despite the fact that he had never previously participated in an actual racewalk event. His poster puns included:

You've heard of the Flying Nun, but what about the Walking Nunn?

Nunn Shall Pass!

Holden

I just witnessed one of the cutest things. Holden usually wakes up in the morning happy and playful. This morning he was so smiley and wiggley, he just wanted to play (since 6:40). So we played and talked and he just laid in the pack'n play as happy as could be. I stepped away to say good bye to daddy, when I came back he was rather fascinated with his hand and how he could make it open and close and open and wrap around the leg of his little bear. I think the new discovery was a lot to take in because then his eye lids started to get heavy and he just fell asleep. Ha. I usually have to hold him to put him to sleep for naps or bed time, unless we are going for a walk or drive. He is such a sweet boy, I'm one lucky mom.

Pre-Olympics Opening Ceremonies

Tonight for Family Home Evening we started our new tradition: Pre-Olympics. I was the torch bearer this year. I ran through our door with the torch held high as the Olympic music played and thus began our opening ceremonies. Each family member selected an international athlete, a US athlete and a foreign country to cheer for. We were also given assignments for culture night, which will be held on Thursday this week. Tomorrow is athlete presentation night...Nate is laughing really hard right now he just came up with a great pun for a punny poster (I forgot that is a requirement for athlete presentations...). After assignments were made, we enjoyed Ring Cake :) yummy.

Gill Walker Ray Family Reunion

 Holden and I were able to attend the family reunion while we were in Utah. We stayed at a cabin in Sundance and enjoyed playing with everyone. We even had a mini Olympics :) those are the winners on the podium.

Laughing!

I have been waiting for this moment! Holden has been so close to laughing lately, I can just tell he thinks some things are funny but hasn't been able to get out a laugh. He finally laughed for us tonight after his bath when we gave him zerberts. This was the third time and the last laugh of the night, so luckily we caught it on video. 

Let Freedom Run

Last week Holden and I visited Utah while Nate did field work camping. On the 4th we ran (well walk/ jogged - still recovering) in the Freedom Run. It was great to have Amy and Dawn Anne with me the whole time taking turns with the stroller.

Sunday Best

 Holden's Sunday outfit is now complete with his BYU tie he received while he was still in the womb from Aunt Amy :) He looks so grown up.