Buffalo Duathlon

I competed yesterday in the 2nd Annual, Buffalo Duathlon on Antelope Island. The race started in the parking lot of the Antelope Island State Park about 45 minutes away from Ogden. Starting gun was at 8:30 am, and I was off with about 400 other athletes. The race was for 25 miles on the bike, topped off with a 10K run. There was not a flat spot all through the cycling leg of the race. But the course was awesome, I saw buffalo, antelope, snakes, and some other wildlife. I didn't do well in the race, but I finished my course and enjoyed the ride. It took a little over three hours to complete the race (3:18). I wish I had some pictures of this event, but apparently they are not going to publish them.

Things I learned for my next race:

1. Get on my bike and explore the first mile of the course before the start so I know how to position myself during the chaos at the beginning of the race.
2. I need a thicker pad on my competition day biking shorts.
3. Pocket two carb-loading bars for the bike leg, eat them at miles 13 and 23.
4. Drink water bottle slower but more often
5. Don't laugh at the logo on anyones jersey or shorts
6. Be sure to bring a set of allen wrenches to tighten anything that comes loose. I forgot them yesterday and I needed to adjust my seat angle. I have the sore to prove it.
7. (Bring Ibuprofen. . . Why am doing this again?)
8. Pay the extra $10 for the massage afterwards
9. Don't stop and tease the buffalo laying in the middle of the road getting warm (just seems like a bad idea). He didn't mind us sweeping by him, I guess he is used to the cyclists.
10. Watch for loose sand on the turns (I observed a guy crash when he hit it - not pretty)

Sunday

This morning as I was getting the girls ready for church, I can't remember how but we all ended up in the storage room downstairs. The big bags make a perfect seat. Lauren was teaching Rylee about the Prophet from the picture in her Book of Mormon. Getting the girls dressed is the extent of my abilities, I'm not good at doing hair and they remind me often.

But dad, I don't want to take a nap - I'm not tired. . .

Mouthful of Chips

If you have chips in your mouth and try to say words such as: Tarantula, Nebula, Ambulance, and marshmallow, what does it sound like? This video was taken right around Christmas 2007, I found it last night as I was browsing through my video files - this is what we do when mom's not around. Stay up late, eat chips, say "Nebula," then wrestle. It's funny until the next day when Janna asks me, "How late were the girls up last night?" . . .

Spring is Approaching

Janna took this picture, I don't know anything about it. But I sure love my girls!!

This is where Rylee normally spends a few minutes in the morning after she wakes up - in front of the heater vent, wrapped in her blanket on the kitchen floor eating a piece of toast with Nutella spread on it. Here is where she wakes up.

It's April, but we have had a few days of great weather. - it's on these days that Janna will always be found tending to her garden boxes. Rylee was taking a nap at the time, but she loves to get her fingers dirty too.

I took this picture earlier today. The girls discovered Janna's foot spa and spent a lot of time satisfying all points of curiosity.

More from my Archives

Is this picture worth more than life itself? This is Dallin. I found this picture while digging through my archives - I couldn't resist. This is Lauren & Rylee's cousin (Laurie & Tim).

This picture demands explanation. That's Aaron bent over the flight receptionists desk. This was taken on our way to New Mexico for my grandmothers funeral. When I handed my license to the lady, she dropped it and it fell behind her monitor into a small opening and down into a locked bin underneath. At one point Aarons feet were sticking straight up in the air, it was awesome. We took turns digging until we found it. They flew us first class for the trouble.

Here's another shot from my archive. Far left is me and Aaron, Jeni, Janna, Lindsey. I think Adam took the picture. Camping in Cottonwood canyon near Salt Lake City. This tree had uprooted and fallen because there was a small stream flowing nearby and it had no roots deeper than 3 or 4 inches. When a big windstorm passed through, it had no foundation and fell. I reflect on this experience often.

Lauren's third birthday, July '07. She loves uncle Adam, so does Rylee now too. This is a salute to him - what a stud.

Lauren & cousin Annie pose during our trip to Bear Lake, I think this trip was during summer '06.

Adventures In Disk Golf with Brent

Summer 2007: Brent, Dad, Aaron, Craig, and myself went Disk Golfing. I don't recall if Brent found the disk that landed in this ravine, but he did find a cell phone.

Bowling In Leesville

From my Archives

This looks like the parking lot by the Country Club tennis courts in Leesville. That is Lauren on dad's shoulders. I don't remember when I took this, but what a great photo.

Lauren & Seth. I believe this was taken in Craig & Jordan's old apartment in Metarie.

This is a shot from our dating days at Ricks College, in Rexburg, Idaho. I'm betting this photo was taken in the fall(?) of 1996. The quality of the photo is questionable, but the content brings back a lot of memories. I invited Janna over for dinner and a soccer match one night. I don't think the dinner was very good, but our soccer match in front of my apartments was memorable.

Here's a winner. We found dad out in the backyard riding the mower cutting the grass. We decided to take some shots at him with a water balloon launcher. As I remember, we hit the mower but didn't quite get dad as he was hiding behind skinny trees. Dallin & Taylor are in the background behind Brent.

This picture of Lauren was taken at the zoo in Baton Rouge(?) She was almost three at the time.

Tunnels

Bikes, Stories, & Tunnels

Our snow has finally melted and we are beginning to enjoy random stretches of sunshine throughout the week. Lauren informed me recently that Spring-time is her favorite.
Notice Lauren's bike doesn't have any training wheels. She is very proud of that fact.

Rylee loves her tricycle. She has figured out how to work the pedals now, although she still prefers riding "FlintStone" style at times.

We decided to throw all the couch cushions on the living room floor and read stories there one night. I think these cushions spend more time on the floor than on the couch.
These girls love their tunnel system. I wish I could fit too, every time I try I get into trouble because I'm "too big."

How Long Will It Last???

Bathroom cleaning crew for hire. My ship has come in.

Courage

The caption says: "It is the bravest of men who stand tall in the face of danger." I have been in this wall several times, and then gone home sporting hexagon shaped bruises imprinted by the shell of the soccer ball. A bit crazy perhaps, but it's a supernatural adrenalin rush to stand in the wall and exchange laughing glances with your team-mates wondering who might take the impact. Ahh, the beautiful game.

Easter & Stuff

She wanted to wear my hat. . . Then she wanted a drink of milk. The result was worth taking a picture.

I have this dilemma see. . . The girls have these awesome tents that connect with these cool tunnels. But I don't fit in them very well even though when it's all set up it takes up 98% of our living room. But its fun to play hide and seek in anyway. Maybe they won't notice my feet.

Rylee likes her tights. Red. I'm not sure what else I can say about it, except that this habit must end before she starts dating.

It's not actually child slave labor if they are enjoying it and doing it of their own will is it?

This is our Easter Egg Hunt in the backyard of Grandma Sharon's house. Lauren & Rylee both had a great time.
Rylee worked on peeling the shell off this egg for no less than 20 minutes. I will remember this.

Check out that cool Easter Egg Basket, I think it's a dog. There was another kid at the local neighborhood hunt that tried to take it. No worries, Rylee made it unmistakeably clear that he was not going to get it.

Crazy Amounts of Snow

This is a video I made of the snow that fell here at the end of January and beginning of February. It has our backyard snowtroll, sliding down the stairs, our snowfort, and Lauren picking her nose with gloves on. . . (it can be done). Sorry it's such a big file, too much snow I guess.

January Activities

This January, we got about 4-6 feet of snow in North Ogden. The snowboarding has never been better, and made a snow-troll instead of a snowman. We spent many days sledding down hills, making snowforts, throwing snow at each other, and drinking hot chocolate.

I think the girls learned this from Janna. Sometimes I catch Janna just playing in the sink, wet up to her elbows and styling her hair with handsoap when she's bored.

Rubber swimming caps??? Who would have imagined there is fun to be had in these?

Grandma Pat comes to babysit for us now and then and it gives us a chance to get away to the temple, or go on a fun date. The girls have a great time with her, its a win/win situation for all.