I want to be here right now

 

I totally forgot I had a blog.  Thanks for reading.  Its been like 10 years since I was active on this thing - what a fun little journal.

Hello? Is this thing still on?

Just wondering if anyone actually looks at this, anymore.  We haven't blogged since the day we discovered Instagram.  Just makes it sooooo much easier, ya know?  Anyway, here is the last picture that was taken on my phone.  I didn't take it, I think my kids did.  Enjoy!

Abbey's Piano Recital

Admittedly, I have been dreading this day for quite awhile.  Today was Abbey's first piano recital.  Its not that I wasn't excited for her (I was), or that I can't stand to listen to piano (I actually enjoy the songs she plays)... its just that I didn't want to have to sit and listen to anyone ELSE'S children play piano.  Much to my surprise, I found that I really enjoyed the whole thing.  The recital was downtown in an area where the older homes are being restored.  This particular home has been transformed into an art center.  There are paintings and sculptures throughout the house.  It was really awesome.  About half of the performances were Christmas songs, and I actually really liked all the arrangements, etc.  The whole thing lasted about an hour, and afterward, we had delicious eclairs (which may explain much of the good vibes I had about the afternoon).

Yeah, this house makes an awesome art center, but wouldn't it make an even BETTER haunted house?

Here is Abbey introducing herself and her piece.  It was funny to see her get a little nervous (whoa!  I just noticed the statue in the background.  Nothing brightens up a piano recital like some racy graven images, eh?) 

Action Shot

Afterward... all smiles!

Grrr... I forgot to start recording her until halfway through her performance.  I had my phone on my lap, ready to go - but maybe I was the nervous one.  I did catch some of her first song and then the second song she played with just one hand.  On a related topic, does anyone know how to upload video to this blog and retain the video quality? 

Great job, Abbey!  We are proud of you.

Happy Birthday Abbey

You've come a long way, baby!  We love you!!!

Safety Check

Can you spot the danger in this picture?

If you think you know what it is, please speak up.  Leave a comment with your observed safety infraction.

After 9 days, we still have not received a correct response.  The answer I was looking for was: Puddle of water at home plate.  Sorry, nobody wins the prize.

Things Big and Scary

Halloween may have been weeks ago, but I am going to attempt to re-create the mood today by showcasing some of our 'scary' encounters in nature this fall.  First off, check out this wasp/hornet's nest we came across recently:

That thing is hanging about 15 feet in the air and is just bigger than a basketball.  Yikes!

 This little guy was hiding out next to my neighbor's garbage can the other day.  That is my foot in the bottom-right of the picture.  Just for some perspective, I wear a size 14 shoe and that is one of those big boxes they put apples and such in.

I actually like spiders, and I think it is cool that we live in the far northern edge of a tarantula's range.  They are most active (and likely to be seen) in September/October when the males go all nomadic in search of a mate.  Hey, you can't fault a guy for that - so, we only kept him in the box long enough to take a picture, then set him loose in the foothills above my house.

This below, my friends, is a photograph taken while Emily and I were attending our second annual Bigfoot Show (yes, you read that correctly).  The sculpture behind Emily is allegedly a life-sized creation of a Sasquatch.  I really enjoyed the show, but I remain unconvinced that a large hominid roams the wilderness undetected.  However, I REALLY wished I would have taken a picture of the Bigfoot feces that was on display at the show.  The finder of said feces claims that it was found about 5 miles from my house.   Ooooooohhhh!

Some Stuff We Did This Fall...

We spent a weekend at my buddy's cabin:

We bought bicycles this summer, and have really used them quite a bit:

These probably aren't the best photos of how the bikes were used, but you get the idea.

This is one of our favorite biking trails.  We went up there one day without the bikes, but with a camera:

We went to Lagoon for Frightmares.  This dumb ride is older than I am.  Somewhere, there is a photo of me in that same spot when I was about 4 years old.

Oh, yeah.  We also saw this Bald Eagle (look close).

Fall seems to have gone by really fast this year.  Snow is already starting to fall here.

What My Kids Wore for Halloween 2011

OK.  You've asked, and I am here to please.  Without further ado, I present to you evidence that I am still alive and well in cyberspace and that yet another year of Trick-or-Treating as happened:

Now, let me see if I've got the costumes right.  Mylie was a fairy, Garrett was Mickey Mouse (he wasn't happy about it in this picture, but he grew to love it), and Abbey was a ... prep-school plaid-pink wearing witch, I guess?

Beard Ballot 2011

My beard, which was born at scout camp, is nearing its 2-week birthday on Sunday.  It has been itching me like crazy, and I came home from work tonight determined that it must go.  However, I'm beginning to feel a sort of closeness to it.  I need your help.  Please use the comments section to vote 'yeah' or 'nay' to my keeping the beard.  Your help is much appreciated...

Yeah, that's quite a bit of gray you see in there.

Abbey asked me to grow it as long as Santa's Beard.  She probably assumes that since I already possess his round physique, my transformation to Old St. Nick will be sure to follow.  Little does she know that saying this is only HURTING her chances at Christmas time.

She actually asked me to either "Grow it as long as Santa's... or just grow a mustache".  Yikes.  I'm beginning to seriously wonder what kind of guy she will end up marrying.  She one time told us how she thinks Mario (yeah, the Nintendo guy) is very handsome.

There has been a noticeable decrease in the number of hugs and kisses I receive from Mylie.

My vote is 'Nay', but we can let the voters decide...

Foxy Ladies

I'm lucky to have a great commute.  It takes about 15-20 minutes of my day and it is a nice time to relax and enjoy the views of the mountains, etc.  I pride myself on the fact that I don't text and drive.  Don't get me wrong, I think texting is fine and all (albeit a bit overused) - I just think there is a time and place.  I'm so glad that I use my morning and evening commute to simply drive.  I listen to the radio and I'm always on the lookout for anything interesting.  Every day, I drive by a farm in North Ogden, where I spot deer frequently.  Tuesday, I saw something a bit different in the field.  The hay had recently been cut, and I spotted an animal perched on the far side.  At first, I drove by and simply wondered what I saw.  Then, it was killing me.  The more I thought about it, the more I thought I saw a coyote.  I flipped around and parked my truck next to the field.  I keep a pair of binoculars in my pickup, so I grabbed them and jumped in the bed of the truck for a better look.  There saw a beautiful red fox, staring at something intently.  Excitedly, I went home and grabbed Emily and the kids and we returned with our camera.  Things got even better when I realized what mommy fox was staring at:  She had a den nearby, with at least 3 pups (aka kits) playing about.  I was able to snag a few precious photos:

Meanwhile, the mom watched me carefully.  Eventually, I made her nervous, and she let out a VERY loud bark, and disappeared into the trees.  I didn't get a great shot of her, but she is beatiful, I tell you.  She is very blonde, for a red fox.  That is likely why I mistook her for a coyote originally.

Update:  The foxes were there again this morning.  I sure hope they stick around.