Party at the Peaks!

Matt's employer knows how to throw a party, hands down. If free product, great Christmas gifts, and bonuses weren't enough, there's always a summer party to really impress you. After moving Tara into her apartment for another school year and making a mad dash to see Jalyn, we set off to Seven Peaks to play with Mike, Becca, Ivan, and Jack at the party. Maybe it was more of a family party sponsored by the company. Mike is like my dad, he'll go on any slide and will love it. Becca is just plain fun and makes funny comments like, "Why do I always change my mind after it's too late" or "I don't know why I am doing this." Ivan loves to be splashed by the spray as people come full throttle down the drop slides and kick up a lot of water. He was very pleased with himself because he "swammed in the water" by riding around the lazy river on a tube. Jack just laughs whether I lift him up in the air, or dip him up side down.


Tara and Brett are just my treasures. As my time at home runs out, I seize every possible moment to be with them. Needless to say it was an amazing time with amazing people we love.
Matt's parents were in town dropping Jalyn off at school. We sped from The Peaks home to Bountiful to meet them. We then showed them a night at Neilson's the BEST place for icecream. I enjoyed my last taste of fry sauce...dear to my heart. We stayed up late chatting and playing Sorry and Rummikub. I LOVE having family in town!

The best of times...the worst of times....

The past few weeks, I've been an emotional water faucet. Say the magic words, and I'll start spurting tears. It's not that I'm not excited for the adventure that lies ahead. I really think it will be a great opportunity to learn and grow, but I'm heart broken for what I'll leave behind. You see, it's the little, everyday things I'll miss the most. And, since my parent's took a business trip to St. George the week before we left, the little things became very big things to me. I started noticing the little home moments that make home home. Once upon a time, I had had this motto: "Home is not only where the heart is, but where I am." The trouble is, my heart is SO many places, but I can only be in one place. My heart is beating with excitement for Matt as he pursues his dream career at his dream school, pumping fiercely while playing catch ("Cetch") with Brett, touched while putting Brett in the shower in the middle of the night so he could breathe and reading his note on the shower door reading, "I love you," warm with sibling snuggles and family prayer, and having it's coronary arteries clogged with the Brad Balle Classic Hashbrowns for breakfast. My swollen heart takes pictures as I accompany Tara on Shade Swim Suit Shopping excursions, Cook with my mom in the kitchen, Watch Brett's baseball games, Slip a note into Brett's lunch sack, enjoy Sunday dinners at Grandma Balle's house, See Grandma Thacker outside tending her garden, and beg Tara for "hand-me-ups."
I am a mixture of emotions. Moving is a lot harder than I thought.

Balle Golf: Love the Game...

If you're a Balle, you golf. It's as simple as that. It doesn't necessarily mean you're good at it, but it's just something you do. We had a Balle golf day; Grandma, Uncles, Cousins, and siblings regardless of age or skill attended, and we all had a FABULOUS time.

I love it...I love seeing my little cousin Ivan try to tee off, chip, or put - all with a putter.

I love seeing my Grandma par like it's nobody's business.

I love learning from my dad.


I love watching Kristian and Matt work it on the course.


I love family golf days.

My dearest cousin Kristian joined Matt and I for our three-some. Now Kristian and I go way back, golfing at the Jordan Parkway par three and harassing a gimpy goose after a sleepover; Chipmunk time; the Sword and the Stone; Our Joy Luck club; Endless games of hide and seek; Mock ice-skating competitions on the carpet (We thought we were really good); Late night chats; Camping and singing about the "smoke curlies" we made around the fire; Swimming (You always had to have your nose plugged Kristian), Big Hass Avocados, etc.


We putted around...literally. Joked. Laughed, and had an amazing time.

And the winner is...Mr. Matt!

Matt has been determined to win something on the Arrow Morning show since he started commuting. Unlike California, Utah drivers are legally allowed to use their cell phones while driving. While in Utah, Matt decided to utilize his vast knowledge of classic rock and call in while on his daily drive to Provo. It happened. He won. Matt called me around 730am and told me to go listen to the radio. There was a song playing, but not one of "our" songs. I couldn't figure out why he'd called me to listen to this song. The song ended and I patronizingly said, "Oh thanks Matt that was cute," trying to be a supportive wife but having no idea why he wanted me to hear that song. "Keep listening!" he said. And then it hit me...he'd finally made it on the air. I then got to listen to my husband on the radio. The morning show hosts sang rock songs to "Lounge Music" tunes. So Matt had to know the lyrics, and he proved he did. He won us two nights in at the Park City Peaks Hotel and some concert tickets.


It was great to have a get-away filled with hot tubing, movies, a Wendy's run, late night ice cream from Cold Stone just to satisfy a craving, and some time to just be us and relax.


The second week went up to Park City we he a little delay. I met Matt in Provo after helping Tara move into her new place. We stopped at a gas station to fill up and share a Subway. After our pit stop we drove up Provo Canyon. When we reached the top, I told Matt that I had got directions to the hotel and they were in my.....PURSE! Where was my purse! I must have left it at the gas station subway! What a horrible place to leave it....the only thing worse would be a gas station in LA. So we anxiously (me more than Matt) drove back down the canyon to subway. Luckily they had pulled it behind the counter for me...RELIEF. We then drove back up the canyon and finally made it to our destination just before 8pm. Quick trip, yes, but wonderful, absolutely.

Try Try Again!

Honestly, I am a flat our horrible trier; Matt is very good at it. I like to be perfect at something without all the practicing to get there. Pretty shallow? Sorry. It's the way I'm made...I'm a Blue...Always a little too hard on myself. It's great for motivation...I usually accomplish a lot by my overdrive work ethic and obsessive desire for perfection, but horrible for the self esteem because I rarely get there. Take water skiing for example. Our family took a water skiing excursion this weekend. Since I'm being completely honest in this post, I admit I was very intimidated by this event.

Tara is an All-star skier. She has connections, and she goes A LOT.

Dad skied as a kid and hasn't lost his touch. He literally tears up the water.

However, he does tier after a while...but give the man credit, he is almost 50.

Brett is a natural at EVERYTHING that requires athletic talent.

Plus, the people who took us, taught Tara how to ski and are Masters. Yep...a little intimidated considering I'd only been a few times in my life when I was in 5th grade with some neighbors and once to Lake Powell with different neighbors. I could ski on 2 skis and wakeboard...but I had never been able to slalom ski, and I REALLY wanted too (that obsessive drive for perfection and overdrive work ethic come into play now). So, I tried it. All I wanted to was ski on one ski. My Saturday ski attempts ended up like this:

Or this:

Frustrated, and feeling like a failure, I decided to resort to something I knew I could to to try and save face.


Matt was also having a hard time on skis, and pulled out the Wakeboard to show us all that he could do it too.


Monday offered me a second chance. The neighbors, who used to take me skiing in 5th grade invited us kids to go boating. Unfortunately, Matt had to work, but Brett, Tara, and I set off for Pineview. Again, I felt the intimidation factor seep into my body. I'm much too self conscious. Tara skied: AMAZING. Brett skied: AMAZING. Oh boy, I thought...here we go again. I got in the water with my ski, praying to get up and stay up. A miracle happened. My prayer was heard, and I got up, my first try of the morning!


Did some of this...

And some of that...

And felt SO much better (Victory of Delight after my first run).


I love water skiing! I love that I can do it! I love how it feels as you lean to your left and glide outside the wake. I love that the water seems 10degrees warmer, just because you are going to ski and not swim. I love that wind that blows across your face and the lake spray that hits you in the face because you shot it up there. I love the rhythm of you, your ski, and the water all moving together. I love wonderful neighbors who share their boats! I love a brother and a sister to share this hobby with!

Bathroom Awards

I have two consistent jobs these days at the Balle house; designated bathroom cleaner and head chef. I prefer the latter. However, while cleaning bathrooms this summer I learned more about each family member...Mom sheds the most hair. Tara keeps her mirror the cleanest. Matt is the best at NOT peeing on the toilet seat (among the men). Thus, I initiated Bathroom Awards 2010!


Homemade certificates posted on the bathroom doors greeted each of my family members....and I thought I was very silly. There was the Porcelain Pride Award, the Pee Seat Award, Hairiest Bathroom, Mirror Mirror on the wall, I'm the cleanest Mirror of ALL Award, Adore the Floor Award etc. In the words of my dear peter pan, "Oh the cleaverness of me!"

The 3 Toileteers!

Dad taught Brett and Matt how to re-place the toilet ring last Saturday - Yuck! I guess it's something you need to know as a man - one of those man-jobs. I love watching Matt spend time with my Dad and Brett. He truly is "just one of the boys!" and the big brother Brett always wanted.


I am grateful for the past few weeks we've been able to spend at home with our Balle family before we leave for UCLA. This is a time I'll always treasure. A time of throwing the football back and forth over the rooftop with Brett, Playing front yard football with my boys (Matt & Brett), Snuggles with Tara & Brett, Trips to Randall's, taking pics of Tara's crazy tricks, Water skiing adventures, Playing catch with Brett, Trying to distract Tara as she studies, Cooking meals with my mom, etc. Home sweet home!

Day 12 (August 2nd): Finale

We woke up at 4 in the am – a sacrifice everyone made so that we could get off the river and get Matt back to work so he’d still have a job. It was still dark as we packed up and pushed off. I had “home-made milk” for the first time. After hearing Matt’s horror stories about the famous “mixed milk,” I was a little nervous, but it didn’t taste too bad when mixed with cereal.
We motored down the river in flying V formation, chatted, and Matt played Kevin’s guitar. We all sang along and had a fabulous time.


It was weird to think that once the motor stopped, we’d all go our separate ways and this Grand Adventure would be only a cherished memory.

Bag lines…

The Frank Hansen Memorial Towel…


Watching Matt become a true LeCheminant Oarsman in his blouse...


S.P.F-ing Every 2 Hours...

Uncle Chris' Hopper...

Eating Dinner Like this...


Snuggling in or out or on top of our tent depending on the weather…


Sick Rapids…

A Majestic Canyon…

And Our Whole Family All Together in One Place…


Well, it happened, we made it to Pierce’s Ferry, literally the middle of nowhere, and the motor stopped. Our river adventure came to an end. We packed our bags, jumped into Uncle Chris’s car, and headed off for our drive home, which played out much the same as our drive there. We drove and drove, mocked silly town names, stopped for Lunch at Jack in the Box, which has a funny story:

The Really Big Chicken Sandwich: We stopped at Jack in the Box for our first taste of non-river food. Needless to say that after having food fantasies for the last week, we were all excited to have fresh meat and vegetables. Matt saw a promotion for the “Really Big Chicken Sandwich” combo – 2 patties of chicken, lots of lettuce, tomato, and nothing short of HUGE. He ordered the Really Big Chicken Sandwich and I ordered the Chicken, Bacon, Ranch Sandwich. When we got in the car, Matt looked in the bag and discovered a small paper wrapped sandwich and a HUGE hexagonal box on the bottom. Of course that HUGE box had to be for him. However, much to his dismay, the small paper wrapped sandwich turned out to be “The Really Big Chicken Sandwich.” It contained 2 layers of mixed chicken, sparse lettuce, and a small tomato. My sandwich had a huge real chicken breast, romaine lettuce, garden tomato, and bacon - A true delight. Anyways, we shared, but for the record, there’s no such thing as “The Really Big Chicken Sandwich!”

Still Driving: We drove….drove… and drove some more….over the Hoover Dam….past the city of Enoch (yes…that’s really what it’s called) and places like Parowan, Paragonah, and Knosh….Stopped at Wendy’s in Nephi for our first post river salad – Yum…and drove to Provo where we found our lovely car and our dear friends, the Lee’s, waiting for us at about 10:30 at night. We then loaded up our car and drove only 1 more hour to a sweet, fresh, purified shower. Oh to be clean!

Day 11 (August 1st): “Run the V, Cut the C, and Watch Your Downstream Oar!”

I rowed more, and Matt took a break.

However, I only rowed the small stuff. I actually found that I really enjoyed it, minus the calluses on my hands. I think I’d really like to row someday. Matt will have to teach me on another river trip. Next time we do the Grand…I just might be an oarswoman! Run the V, Cut the C, and Watch your downstream oar! That’s all there is to it, right?

The rapids got bigger, and I got stuck in an eddie. Consequently, Mr. Matt was back in the driver’s seat. We almost lost our dear Stacy in one rapid (Good thing it wasn’t me rowing anymore – te he). After Lava, we weren’t expecting anything too big, however, we learned that you can never get your guard down. We hit a wave wrong , I grabbed stacy’s jacket, Jayln grabbed me, and we all held on together. Cute.

One Big Rock: We stopped to see this really smooth rock with water fall running down it.

Normally, as water runs down as surface, it erodes and makes a crack which becomes a crevice, which eventually becomes a canyon, and sometimes even a Grand Canyon. However, this water was different. It was packed with minerals, so as it ran down the surface of the rock it left mineral deposits behind which actually built up the rock. Cool, huh? Besides being cool, it was very refreshing and fun to play in!

Motorboat: We stopped for lunch and our 5 boats became one boat. We resembled a flying V of geese quite well. We tied the boats together and attached the motor. Everyone was pretty tired and welcomed the rest.

Especially Mr. Matt.