Estes Park

I had a three day training session in Boulder. Jolena and big-Rig came along. After the last day of class we went up to Estes Park.

Visit from Megan and Gordon

Megan and Gordon stopped by our humble abode on their way to the south. We enjoyed having them stay with us. We had a great time playing RockBand!!

Cela is 8!!!!

Well. our oldest turned 8 this week. The fun began Wednesday morning when she woke up to a new bike...just in time for Moab...Porcupine Rim anyone?

Then it was off to show for a much anticipated "Pioneer Day" Jolena made her the bonnet and dress...

After Pioneer Day preparations were made for Cela's baptism and b-day party...

Cela with Mom and Grandma Gaye

Cela and her Dad

Cela and Dagan

Cela and Broden

Yellow Belt Test

Tyler and I started attended Tae-kwon-do in early February. We took our yellow belt promotion test Saturday.






After a pretty intense (for me anywaay) 80 minutes, we were awarded with new bright yellow belts.

Only 7 belts remain from our current status to that of black belt - when Tyler and I will become ninja assasins.

Remaining belts:
(beginner)
Orange
Purple
(intermediate)
Green
Blue
Brown
(Advanced)
Red
Red w/ black stripe
BLACK

Cycling Merit Badge

Getting geared up for some long rides to satisfy cycling merit badge requirements, I've set up regular bike rides with the young men. We ride from my house about a mile to the fountain creek trail.


Meeting at the trailhead.

At the turn around point, we stopped for a short rest.

Sam and Tyler - trying to gather up enough courage to ride across some cement pipes...yeah - that didn't happen.

after leaving the trail we had to ride up the mesa back to my house - braving the elements

Here's Tyler - putting Shelley's bike to good use.

At the end of the ride - some of the boys climbed up a mulch pile...why not?

Rockband

Needed to present something for a group call - along with a bunch of photos - I presented the Rockband segment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9p8Lj7RD-s

For some band intros:
jake - an excellent guitarist and killer drummer - a week after filming this segment - he was helping me build a playground unit in the back yard, and I ACCIDENTLY let go of a wrench, which split his eyebrow - a few stitches later he was good to go.

Tyler - Jo's little brother - another accomplished guitarist - and progressing with his drumming skills.

Jo - Our vocalist - the sexy one - she had to film, so she isn't in the video

and of course the guy with all the slick move...yours truly!

I'm hosting another game night (mostly Halo 3) for the young men in the ward. We plan on having some good games of 8-12 people, on 3 Tv's and a projector...I'll try to remember to take some pics.

Daddy-Daughter Dance 2008

I had the fortunate opportunity to take Cela to the annual CMCA (Cheyenne Mountain Charter Academy) Daddy-Daughter DAnce.

Amidst the food, and fun we managed to end up in the photo line:



Thanks Cela for such a fun evening!

Easter!

We had a great Easter! The kids had fun coloring eggs and getting dressed up for Easter Sunday! It is tradition in our family as it is in many families, to get new outfits for Sunday. Everyone enjoyed wearing their new threads!

The kids have been enjoying their Spring Break. Cela has been the most active this week. She has taken two classes this week at JoAnn's Fabric, knitting and sewing. She is very pleased with her new found talents and we are also very proud of her. The boys are enjoying their break, but often I have heard from Dagan that he is bored and doesn't know what to do. Aw, to not have anything to do, what a thought. Everyone is doing well, happy and healthy!

The end of a fabulous year!

Well, it is the final day of 2007. We are gearing up for total mayhem tonight; hosting six children, not including our own four, all from the ages of 1 to 8, so that the parents can go and chaperone the youth's new year's eve dance at the stake center. Its sure to be a very loud and raucous time!

Chickpeas!

For those of you who have polled about the chickpeas, you have no sense of adventure! I purchased this great little cookbook called "Deceptively Delicious". It has loads of recipes incorporating pureed veggies and fruits into everyday recipes so that your kids and spouses for that matter are getting all of their veggies in their diet. The Chocolate Chip cookies I made just happened to have chickpeas in them. You don't even taste them and they appear as nuts. The kids loved them, J-dub was a bit harder to convince. The deception is all for the sake of keeping my family healthy! So, the blender is going to keep pureeing!

Just another Day in November

Highlights of the last week:
1) Having Bilbo fly in for a few hours for an interview. Or that's what he said...hmmm wonder why there was Cheyenne mountain mud on the Jeep when he brought it back.
2) Passing my drug screening test - Yipee!
3) Halloween
4)Trying my luck at Salmon Snagging..well sort of...

Here's some pics:


The Clone Trooper - Dagan

Mr Incredibe - or Dash - not quite sure...one of the incredibles anyway - we had to really convince Broden he didn't want to be Princess Leia or Dora.

Cela or affectionately named "Soaring Chicken" by me...she hated it, it was great!

Rigdon - Coat of many colors - wonder how much I could sale him for?

Kokanee Salmon - this brute was almost dead - I caught him with a net - Spawning season - by the way Salmon tastes better before they get to this point.

Invisible...

Do you ever feel completely invisible to your kids? You ask them to do something and it is as if you weren't even there. It's almost as if you could stand right next to them and scream in there ear, and they wouldn't here you. That is how I feel tonight. I've asked my kids to get there pjs on five different times and they will say, "ok, mom" and then continue right on doing what they were doing or find something else to do with their time. UGH!!!!!!!