Sunday Morning

Yesterday my dad and I rode almost the whole way up to crown point from my dad's house. For those of you who don't know it is almost 8-9 miles....all up hill. It was fun. The trees are all changing colors, the air was crisp, it was quiet, minus the sounds of nature. I hate the rain in Oregon, but when it is not raining there are very few places I would rather be.

Shirey and I went to the temple yesterday with my dad & Rebecca (my dad's wife). It was nice to spend time in the temple. Two things I love about the temple: the quiet & how clean I feel when I am there. As I was coming out of the dressing room I ran into Todd Rowley who had just gotten married! I had heard that he was getting re-married, I just didn't know it was so soon and that it was going to be on that day! It was good to see him and chat for a few minutes.

My little brother Jesse is getting ordained an Elder today! It's a big deal. I am really happy for him.

Bike Ride

My dad and I went for a bike ride up the Scenic Columbia River Highway on Saturday. It was a really nice ride. It was one of those days that is inbetween Summer and Fall. The air was a little colder, but it was still sunny outside. We rode along the Sandy river for a while and I found myself wishing that I still lived in Troutdale. I miss the 5 minutes drive/ride to get to the gorge, the beautiful water and trees, Browten's Bluff that I used to run up when I was 35 lbs lighter. It was a fun ride down memory lane. I also couldn't help but think of Saturday morning bike rides beginning with Frank Card calling and trying to get us to get up and go out with the scouts. It's funny how differently you see the same events in later years. Now I look back and I think what a fool I was. I had unlimited time to go out with my best friends and see the world in our back yard and all I could think about was sleeping in. I would love to have the kind of free time and the minimal responsiblity that I had then. Do it....Today. We ran into the Riding's from my home ward while we were riding. It was good timing as we were climbing a little Mt. Everest and needed the break. For those of you who don't know my dad has lost 40-50 lbs and is now lighter than me. I'm not a huge fan of being heavier than my dad. It is funner to go on rides with him though, as I don't have to wait up for him so much ;) One of the little girls in our ward was diagnosed with Lukemia. My problems and wants seem a little smaller today. Been dieting...again. I lost 7 lbs this week. Probably not a healthy amount to lose in one week, but I just want it gone. I figure by March I should be at my ideal weight if all goes according to plan.

Twilight

Ok WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH THE "TWILIGHT" BOOKS?????!!!!! My wife is addicted to them. She has read all four of them at least TWICE and every Mormon girls blog or Face Book page shows these books as their favorites. Just want my wife back ;)

IPod Nano

Last spring we had a family challenge to work out 3 times each week for 3 months. At the end of it those who stuck to it the whole time received IPod Nano's complements of my brother Ben. He told me it would change my life, i.e. make it better. I'll admit it is pretty sweet. I keep discovering new little features that I hadn't previously known about. The question is - Did it change my life or make it better? I think so. I have been downloading the general conference talks from the LDS.org website and listening to them on my 1 1/2 hour commute to work (ughh!) I also have enjoyed the podcasts. There are plenty of LDS podcasts out there, as well as any other possible subject you can think of. "Ninja Warrior" is my favorite podcast I think.

I'm a bad blogger

I've decided that I am a bad blogger. At least as far as frequency of posts are concerned. Two weeks ago I spent a week in Boston getting training for work. I have decided that I am not a big fan of traveling for work. It may have been the jet lag from the time difference, but I spent the whole time missing my family and wishing the week were over. I could have gone and seen Harvard, or MIT or historic sites, but mostly I hung out in the Hotel room and fell asleep watching TV at 8 or 9 pm and then would wake up at 11pm and wouldn't be able to get back to sleep. This was my first work related trip and it felt like a marathon. Maybe it would have been funner if I had gone with someone that I knew. It has always been challenging for me to be in environments where I don't know anyone. If I know at least one person I am generally more comfortable.

Shirey is currently under treatment for some benign growths on her thyroid. She is radio active woman for the next 4-5 days. We literally have to keep at least 3 feet away from her at all times. She seems to be doing OK other than complaining that she can't pick up her little girl and that she can't cuddle.

In august we went to Wallowa Lake in North Eastern Oregon for 5 days. It was a lot of work and fun. Baby's under two like dirt. They like to eat it, lay in it and throw it. Good times. The weather was great and we all got sunburns/tans. I had told Kai previously in the week that he could pee in the water, because at the time we were wading around and no one would know. One of the last days that we were there we were swimming at the lake and Kai had to go potty. So he walks out on to the dock - where everyone can see of course - and pulls down his pants to his ankles and starts to pee in the lake. He was also a big fan of peeing on trees.

Bagel Time answer

Sorry for taking so long to post the answer, but here it is --

Bagel time is when the cast gets together to do the Evening news.

SNL Trivia

I think that I might add some SNL Triva Questions to the blog now and again, taken from the new SNL Triva Pursuit Game I got brand new in the package at a garage sale for three dollars. Question #1:

What part of the show gets put together on Saturday at noon in a meeting SNL Writers call "bagel times"?

Talking at level 5.5

A conversation between me and Kai this morning (Sunday)...

Kai: Dad Luke and I are going to watch Thomas the Tank Engine and the Magic Railroad.

Izzy: I don't know if that is such a good idea, maybe you should watch a church cartoon.

Kai: Arrrrgh? Why! (said with a significant amount of whining)...Is it because you want the spirit in the house??

Izzy: Yes.

Kai: Does the spirit make you hot?

At this point I was a little confused by the question and Kai ran away. Later Shirey asks

Shirey: Does the spirit make you hot?

Kai: Yes sometimes.

We'll have to do some follow up and find out where this is coming from. My guess it that at somepoint someone said the the spirit is a warm feeling in your heart.

Bacon/Tuna

Ok, so I've got a new sandwich for you guys. It's a bacon, tuna, chedder, tomato sandwich. It doesn't sound intuitive, but it was super good. I had two for dinner. Sydney has started to give kisses. Usually she will put her open mouth on your check, then give it a lick and then pause for a second then make a sucking sound, and then lastly look at you with a blank stare no matter how much you cheer her one for learning something new.

Look at my buzz!!!

Luke finally let us buzz his hair!! Isn't he the cutest little boy ever. We love our Lukey.

Being Awesome

The first and probably most important step to being awesome is communication with the divine.

We Survived

Jesse the bike trip is slated for Sept. 1st (Monday) through the 3rd (Wednesday). See the couch below.














Working the swim.

Well the kids and I survived 4 whole days without Shirey. We had fun, mostly doing little projects around the house and the yard. It was interesting having Shirey gone. You spend nearly everyday with someone and after awhile you forget how to function without them there. We are actually going to participate in a ward function this year for 4th of July. Traditionally we are a little slow to get involved with holiday functions within our wards, but we are gettin crazy this year.

I think that pizza or maybe french bread and lasagna are my favorite foods. I have yet to meet anyone that dislikes pizza and I would probably call them a liar if the said they didn't like it. Pizza is just so awesome in its simplicity, flat bread with cheese sauce and toppings. So simple yet limitless in it's possibilities. My favorite recently has been pepperoni with mushrooms and sausage.

Been thinking about taking the kids to the river for some cliff jumping...ya I know they are too young. Sydney is now saying "Uh-Ohh" and "Kai Kai" (which comes out more like guy guy). I heard recently that Arco doesn't import their gas from Saudi Arabia, so I have been buy there more. It just feels like Saudi is just trying to stick it to us.

Yesterday Sydney kept taking off her diaper, thus rendering herself naked. I go out to check on the car, come back in the house...Sydney's...naked, I go get the mail, come back in the house...Sydney's....naked... I hope this doesn't continue into the future too much. Speaking of naked we were at the park yesterday and the kids were playing in the fountain and towards the end of our visit I look up and Kai is fully naked save a sliver of clothing around his ankles. My kids just don't think about nakedness. They always run out naked when we have company over. Maybe we need a naked squirt bottle. We had a squirt bottle we called the sass spray bottle that we would threaten Kai with when he was getting a little bit of a sass mouth. Maybe we could squirt him with cold water as a deterent.

Well I'm done rambling.

Morning Head

Sour Dough

I decided today that Sour Dough bread is my favorite of all the breads. I have always had a bit of penchant for sour foods - buttermilk, pickles, sour cream... Shirey informed me today that not only does she not like sour dough bread (which I already knew), but that Kai & Luke both do not like it. I am feeling a little alone. Roast Beef on sour dough is one of my favorites. I used to think that I would have all of these shared experiences and likes and dislikes with my kids, but sadly I have learned that is a load of crap. I guess it's time to pull out the manipulation card and trick my kids into liking the same things that I do.

Kai 1 1/2 years

Movie Action

Fat Triathlete

Here I am, the Fat Triathlete