no treat challenge, sand bags, ham licence, and Vegas

So last weekend Hannah suggested we start the no-treat challenge again. So we get one treat-day a month. And we're off...only Ryan said he keeps forgetting. Eric is stress-eating treats. I'm in Vegas visiting my sister this weekend and she thought I could have treats all weekend and not just for one day. So what are we eating?

Cream cheese, sugar, and mini-chocolate chips-yum

And our daughter-in-law, Heather, was in the choir that sang for Women's Conference, which is held in Salt Lake in the Conference Center (which holds 20,000 people). They sounded wonderful.

Heather is the one in the back row in royal blue.

I'm happy to say that our county is working hard to prepare for the record-breaking spring runoff. Glen and Alex had already helped out before, but Monday was my first time to help. Hannah has helped in Reno before. There are 2 main ways to help--filling sands bags and placing them. A bunch of volunteers from church went and put sandbags around some houses.

I subbed all week and was glad that we didn't have seminary this week as that left me time to study for my ham radio test that I took Wednesday night. I'm happy to say that I passed.

It takes about 10 days to get your call sign. Of course, I don't have a radio yet. When I get one I'll be listening in but not broadcasting much. I now want to learn morse code. YouTube is the best for finding free tutorials.

I came to Vegas to visit my sister on Friday after school and I go home tomorrow. Another short but sweet trip. Besides eating, watching Women's Conference, and watching some March Madness (I'm still in the lead...if South Carolina beats Oregon in the final then I win...what are my chances?)*, we've also been playing some games. The games include Quixx, canasta, Harry Potter Clue, and Exploding Kittens. I also got the chance to play the new Nintendo Switch that my nephews bought over. Denise and I played something called Snipperclips on it? What a blast.

The 2 games owned by my nephew

Alex had a track meet in Reno on Friday and one in Fallon on Saturday (where Glen got to help with the timing). There were 40 teams that registered to be there. I'm told it was a beautiful day.

* While on vacation I ran some numbers, and if I did it right, here are the possible winners of our family's March Madness contest:

In the final if...

SC beats Oregon, I win.
Oregon beats SC, Dad Perazzo wins

Oregon beats Gonzaga, Dad Perazzo wins
Gonzaga beats Oregon, Alicia wins

 UNC beats Gonzaga, Tyler wins
 Gonzaga beats UNC, Mom Perazzo wins

SC beats UNC, Mom Perazzo wins
UNC beats SC, Tyler wins

for one brief shining moment...

Brief definitely...my Camelot is about to fall.

So, March Madness has begun. As of the end of Saturday's games, I am currently the only one in first place. But since the Wisconsin Badgers beat the Villanova Wildcats, the team I had as winning the whole tournament, my lead (thanks to my picking Xavier to beat FSU) will be short-lived. Unless everyone else's chosen winner loses soon. You never know...

As you can see, Alex is tied for 8th (he picked Arizona to win), Hannah is tied for 16th (Butler). Glen* is tied for 22nd (Baylor). Eric is 37th (also Baylor). Andrew made a bracket, but it hasn't been added to the family group, Drink Milk, yet, so I don't know where he stands at this  point.

*Glen forgot to fill out a bracket. So his bracket is actually the second bracket I filled out...

There was an 80th birthday party for Uncle Jim on Friday night. Happy Birthday UJ!

Anyway, in other family news, Alex had another track meet yesterday...this will be happening every Saturday, with a few other days occasionally thrown in, until the beginning of May. This time the meet was in Yerington, about an hour drive from CCHS. He ran in 2 events, the 4 x 200 relay and the 400 meter race.

Due to confusion on which set of markers were to be used for the baton passing (being told by different people to use different colored markers), the relay did not go well and  he and his team were disqualified (he and another runner crashed and they both fell out of their lanes. ouch).

And, Saturday night Glen and I attended a potluck dinner at the Old Harmon School. Are you shocked? We attended a social of our own free will and accord. I knew next to no one, though. I knew David and Jackie, of course, but I only recognized 2 others by their last names. Glen obviously knew a lot more people than I did. It was a nice dinner and we had a good time.

Alex's first track meet and a cousin game night in Utah

Friday was the end of the 3rd quarter at school. It's mind-blowing to think the school year is 3/4 over. Wow.

There was perfect weather (cool breeze and warm sun) for the small track meet we had in Fallon yesterday. It was the first meet of the season. Alex got a little sun burnt. We'll have to remember the sunscreen from now on.

There were only 3 schools participating yesterday: Churchill County, Dayton, and Fernley high schools.  I swear I was told that the meet in Fallon in 2 weeks will have 27 schools there. I can't even imagine. This one went about 3 1/2 hours and then we had an opening day barbecue.

Alex ran 2 relays (4 x 100 and 4 x 400 meters) and 2 sprints (the 100 meter and the 200 meter). It was so much fun to watch him run.

Alex, at 13.44 seconds, was only 1.71 seconds behind the winner of the 100 meter race, but that still made him 19th out of 23. CCHS placed 1st and 3rd in that race.

Alex, at 28.28 seconds, was 4.54 seconds behind that leader of the 200 meter race. That made him 20th out of 26. CCHS took 2nd place there.

Of the 4 teams running the 4 x 400 relay, Alex's team placed 3rd.

Well done, Alex!

Overall, the boys' team earned 2nd place and the girls' team placed first. Here's a link to all the results: http://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/MeetResults.aspx?Meet=294118#2488

200  meter dash

officials double-checking their info on the sprinters

getting ready to have the baton passed to him

successful pass and he's off and running

Glen was in Reno for our Stake Temple Day and for a scout training meeting. He'll get to help at the track meet in 2 weeks when I'm in Vegas visiting Denise.


Jacob had a game night and Andrew posted about it on his blog. I stole the following 2 photos. Andrew points out that at least one member of each family was represented.

                     Amanda, Juliet, Todd, Jacob, Susan, Heather, Henry, Megan, Becky, Calista
                                                         Andrew                                 Brandon

Henry with his 2nd cousin Juliet.

Alex, loving my Instant Pot, and Alan's Silver Beaver

I don't have much this week.

Alex and I met with his guidance counselor at school. His plan is now to graduate from high school one semester early (December 2018) instead of 1 year early (May 2018). He's hoping to leave on his mission soon after that. His schedule for next year, if it works out the way he wants, is brutal. AP Pre-calculus and AP Stats, AP Physics (a 2 credit class), AP US History, Honors English, and Video Productions III. He's still ranked #1 in his class, but we don't know how many other students he might share that position with. Keep up the good work, Alex!

Tuesday was Mardi Gras. In seminary we had cinnamon buns (the Pillsbury kind) with gold, purple, and green sugar on them. At home we had red beans and rice for dinner. I used my Instant Pot. Went from dried, unsoaked red beans to ready to cook them in my recipe in just under 1 hour. Neat.

Friday night, Glen and I went to the Elks' Hall in Reno to attend the Silver Beaver Awards dinner. His brother, Alan, was one of the recipients this year. Way to go, Alan! You deserve it for all your service to the scouts all these years.

I'm pretty booked the next 3 weeks, so I did spend some time making card this week. Here's one of the most recent cards.