The First...

Since this is the first post of the new year, I thought I'd share some firsts with you.

Tonight, we had our first Family Home Evening with Jack as an actual participant (yes, I am a derelict parent for having waited this long, but those of you who know me already know that I am a derelict parent, so you aren't the least bit surprised at this revelation). Karen went to the store and bought the new nursery manual, which she heard was a good resource for FHE with young kids (those of you who know Karen are not the least bit surprised that she was the driving force behind this event).

Anyway, we started FHE by having a song. That song happened to be, "If You're Happy and You Know it Clap Your Hands." That may be the first line of the song, or it may be the title of the song, or both, I'm not sure. Anyway, Jack was absolutely in hog heaven. He just couldn't get enough of the song. He would smile from ear to ear and clap to his heart's content when we started to sing.

When we would finish the song, Jack would say, "again", and would make the hand sign for 'more'. I bet we ended up singing that song a dozen times, and it was as much fun for him the last time as it was the first.

We also sang a song about a snowman melting, but I don't remember the name of it (believe it or not, primary songs have never been my forte). Jack liked it as well, but it wasn't as special to him as "If You're Happy..." Suffice it to say the music portion of FHE was Jack's favorite part by a long shot.

The other 'first' that we have to share with you is that Jack did his first somersault today. For the last month or so Jack has--from a standing position--bent forward and put is head and hands on the floor while still keeping his feet on the ground (kind of in the shape of an upside-down "V"). When Jack started doing this, Karen and I wondered what he was trying to do. As time went on, we realized that he was trying to do a somersault.

Well, tonight was the big time because he went up and over (or at least he went mostly up and over). He was as proud of himself as could be, and came up smiling and clapping for himself. It was quite a performance. We'll have to get him doing it on film.

Today was a really great day for us. Jack is a source of pure joy for Karen and me. Every day he seems to learn something new, and it is rejuvenating for me to see him discover the world.

PS We know that we need to post pictures on our holiday adventures, but will have to do that another day.

The First Century

Yesterday I did something I've never done before; I rode my bike 100 miles--my first century. Karen and I drove to St. George to participate in the Tour de St. George. Karen rode the 35 mile distance, and felt so good after it that she was disappointed that she didn't go for the 60 mile distance. 

I had never actually gone for more than a 40 mile ride, although I told Karen that I'd ridden 60 miles before when she expressed stern disapproval of my wishes to do the century (which could have had something to do with my tendency to be a tad overzealous with my physical activities and then hurt myself in the process). 

The course, with approximately 6,000 feet of vertical climb, is a pretty tough one. For those of you familiar with the greater St. George metropolitan area, the course started at the Tabernacle, headed through Washington Fields and around Sand Hollow; went through Tocquerville, Leeds, and Hurricane; wound around Quail Creek Reservoir and back to St. George; headed up and up and up and up the highway to the top of Snow Canyon before going down Snow Canyon; then it wound through Santa Clara and Ivins before finishing back at the Tabernacle.

I thought that I'd let you know how the ride felt through the course. Here is a brief log. 

Mile 10 Wow, was that really only 10 miles? 

Mile 20 We certainly have climbed a lot of hills. The race organizers seem awfully focused on inclines in elevation. 

 

Mile 30 I am in heaven. The road is smooth and the course is gorgeous. I can't believe how pretty Sand Hollow is. I could do this forever. I am passing people left and right. 

Mile 35 That was an incredibly brief ride downhill after all that climbing. 

Mile 40 I have never ridden my bike 45 mph...nice!

Here I am at about mile 45 

Mile 50 I can hardly wait for the lunch stop. I am starving. By the way, have you ever spent a few hours in cycling cleats? It has been a while since I could feel my feet. 

Mile 55 I can't believe how tired I am. Even flat ground fills like an incline. My hands are now so tired that it hurts to shift gears.  

Mile 65 I can't remember my name or what year it is. The sun is awfully hot and my vision is blurred; all I can see is one hill after another. My neck is so tired that I can barely lift my head up. I still can't feel my feet. My skin is cracking and salty from all the sweat. 

Mile 70 The lady at the last water stop said it was only 10 miles to the top of Snow Canyon. What a sadistic sense of humor she has.

Mile 75 I can't remember the last time my speed was in the double digits. I really, really, really wish I could downshift right now. What I wouldn't give for a third sprocket on my bike. 

Mile 80 We are finally going downhill. Snow Canyon is really steep. My hands are exhausted from braking. I don't know what is the most tired--my legs, my neck, or my hands. 

Mile 85 Unbelievable. We are going uphill again. 

Mile 90 I want my mommy. 

Mile 95 Ok, I can do this. But at 5 mph it is going to take a while to get to the finish line. 

Mile 100 I thought this thing was only 100 miles. 

Mile 102 I just hit the wall for the third time. 

Mile 103 I never thought of Main Street as an imposing hill before today. 

Mile 104 Jubilation! (And no, the finish line had not yet been taken down by the time I got there). 

Jack and me at the finish line. 

Suffice it to say it was a great experience and I almost can't wait to do it again, although I'll need at least a few days before I can even look at a bicycle seat. 

 

Here is my cute biker wife after she finished the 35 mile course. 

I have Doug, my brother-in-law, to thank for these fine race photographs. This is a self-portrait. 

I have Alisha, my sister-in-law, to thank for watching Jack while both Karen and I were on the race course, for driving Doug around while he could take these ever-so-flattering pictures of me in full-body spandex, and--most importantly--for marrying Doug.

FHE on the Range

The only thing better than a beautiful, talented, intelligent, happy, and forgiving wife is a beautiful, talented, intelligent, happy, and forgiving wife who likes to golf. 

Tonight for Family Home Evening Karen suggested that we all head to the driving range to hit some golf balls. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. We went to the range and we all had a great time. I think that we ended up hitting (blading, topping, popping-up, or crushing) about 200 balls. 

Jack can eat and golf at the same time, not unlike grandpa Bruce and uncle Wade (note the cracker in Jack's left hand). I should probably mention that Jack's short game is already better than either one of theirs. 

KW is all business on the golf course, and she has by far the cutest golf cleats on the range. 

Daddy gives Jack his first golf lesson. 

My darling wife celebrates a great shot. 

Karen maintains that the spiritual message of this evening's FHE was not using poor language on the golf course. I'm guessing this lesson was geared towards Jack. 

Mt Charleston - Hiking, Camping, Rain, & Fun!

A few weeks ago we went hiking at Mt. Charleston with our good friends (ex New Yorkers) the Hemingways.   We had a great time and--more than anything--enjoyed the cool weather.  An increase of 6000 feet in elevation can cool things off by 20 or 25 degrees.  

View on the hike

Family snapshot.  Jack taking a snooze.

On our trip we noticed several campgrounds and our friends suggested we return in 2 weeks for an overnight camp out.  All agreed. 

We began our preparations and lists -- tents, sleeping bags, lanterns, matches, menus, etc. Most importantly, we began the endless shopping trips trying to find jackets, coats, or hats.  Usually when we asked about these items we received the answer, "Oh, we'll be getting our coats and hats in 3-4 weeks."  Not exactly helpful.

The weekend arrived and we headed out.  The trip had a rough start but ended up being really fun.  

Notes for next time.

1)  Leave early from work.  Things always take longer than you think in packing up the car and setting up camp.  It was dark when we arrived making it a bit harder to prepare dinner and set up tents.  Perhaps feeding the babies dinner before we left would have helped as well.

2) Make a reservation for a campsite.  It's a scary feeling driving from campground to campground and seeing the sign "Campground Full". 

3) Send the men up ahead of time to set up camp.  There's nothing like trying to keep starving, tired one-year olds out of the way.  Tents and poles just look so fun!

4) Prepare for it to rain all night even if you do live in Vegas.  It rained all night long.  From inside the tent it sounded like a hurricane. (Luckily, Bryce and Ryan both set up the rain shields on both tents.)  

5) Ignore the weather man.

6) Take the Hemingways again.  They provide lots of great laughs and entertainment.

7) Don't buy camping chairs at Wal-mart.  They don't let you recline much or, as Bryce says, "It makes you feel like you are sitting on the toilet."  If you bring these chairs, you also run the risk that Bryce will brake the chair and then proceed to burn it in the fire with Ryan's assistance.

8) Take some family photos perhaps in front of the tent.  We missed out doing so on this trip.

Jack fascinated with the lantern

Setting up camp

My boys

Jack enjoying the morning fire