I don't know why you are all crying about Spring never coming, blah blah blah :) (JUST KIDDING... SETTLE DOWN). Sure, Spring is coming. Yes, it is exciting that it is warming up and we can start throwing the football outside again. There are a lot of other activities for which I am also excited. I understand...

BUT...

I rejoice during this time of the year for the fantastic Spring skiing conditions as well! We live in Utah! The greatest snow on earth all the way until JULY! 500+ inches a year. This is where we CHOOSE to live... embrace it!

My "fantastic" (his word, not mine) friend, Kelly (Tenacious Chubs as many of you know him) and I stormed the mountain today. One of the many perks of being a business owner; we can take a day here and there to hit the slopes (embracing).

I love it up there. The sky was blue. The snow was good. My ski play list blasting in my ears. And feeling the world pass by as I fly down the mountain. Euphoria. There truly is no better feeling.

Kelly tried snowboarding for the first, and probably last, time today. I think he now believes it is a lot harder than it looks (especially for old men like us!). I really think there could be some body parts on him that, at his age, will never heal after today...

Anyway, for all of you pining for Spring, why not step out of your comfort zone and try that for which the rest of the world knows us: The GREATEST SNOW on EARTH! Call me, and I will go with you!

m

I don't know how I feel about this tagging business... I thought being a DUDE exempted me from such girly things. So Jim, if I have to do this, so do you. Here you go, Kirstie, I am only doing this because I think you are rad.

Here are the rules.
#1 Link to the person that tagged you. http://sandylovells.blogspot.com/2008/02/tagged-again.html
#2 Post the rules on your blog.
#3 Share seven random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog.
#4 Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
# 5 Leave a comment on their blogs so that they know they have been tagged.


OK. SEVEN RANDOM THINGS:

#1--I HATE social events where I have to go someplace just to talk to people. I dread forced conversation and 'small talk' with people I don't know. I am not good at it and I think it is a waste of time. This includes pretty much any social gathering, party, or anything over 4 people. I love hanging with friends, but I am not one for 'forced' relationships. In other words, I am the complete opposite of my wife.

#2--I HATE board games, cards, dominoes, or anything that I have to play around a table. It probably has to do with #1 as far as why.

#3--My favorite vacation place in the world is Island Park, Idaho in the summer. Cool temperatures, beautiful countryside, close to Yellowstone and the Snake River. I pretty much want to be buried there.

#4--My favorite restaurant is the Steak Pit at Snowbird for one reason only: the Bleu Cheese dressing. If you have had it, you know what I am talking about!

#5--My favorite all time movie is Face Off with John Travolta and Nicholas Cage. The LOTR trilogy is right there as well.

#6--I fear slimy, sticky things that can touch my hands or worse, my face. I am pretty obsessive/compulsive about this. Those who know me get a good laugh at this because they like to watch me freak out.

#7--I have many favorite treats, but there is one treat in particular around which I plan entire vacations! Disneyland, around Thanksgiving time, is the home of the most amazing Pumpkin Fudge on the planet. Try it sometime!

And there they are... seven things.

I tag:

My wife, Jenny: http://thebakerbloggers.blogspot.com/
Kelly David: http://www.galleryphotography.com/wordpress/index.php
Chris Lewis: http://chrislewis915.blogspot.com/
Faith (John): http://carissamason.blogspot.com/
Carissa: http://http://carissamason.blogspot.com/
Barfcia: http://marciaedginton.multiply.com/
Shakeadoodle: http://www.theshakespearfamily.blogspot.com/

Don't let me down, people. Read you soon.

Yesterday was the best day in a long, long time! I took the boys on a bike ride down on the Jordan Parkway by way of all the playgrounds along the way. We had a great time! The sun was shining and we didn't have to wear coats while we were playing. Hallelujah, Spring may actually be coming.
For those of you living out of state it has been a very cold and gray winter. We here in Utah are ready for Spring (and have been for at LEAST a month or two). We got a glimpse of things to come yesterday. Seriously, I felt so happy to feel the sun on my face. I know it sounds cheesey but it's true.
OK. So back in the day- like elementary day- I was awesome at flipping around on the bars you see Alex hanging from. I would put one leg over the bar, hook my foot behind my other knee and flip around like a kajillion times in a row. It was rad! So yesterday at the park (you know where this is going) my sister and I decided to see it we still had it. I amazed my children and sister when I was able to flip around 3 times in a row. You had to have been there, it was truly something to behold. This morning I woke up and realized my leg was a little sore. I took a look and this is what I saw:





Apparently some things work better when you're 8 years old and 60 pounds.

Buckle up, this may be a long one...

When Alex and I sit down to a rockin' session of Rock Band on the XBOX, he must first enter his Gamer Name which is, appropriately, 'Alex Rocks'. Alex as a wonderful son, excellent brother, and surprisingly, one of my very best friends!

One usually chooses friends based on common interests. When I think back on my best buddies over the years, I think of all the people that shared my hobbies and past-times.

Well, today, Alex is pretty much my best friend...


I think most of you reading this have younger kids, but you will know what I am talking about down the road when your kids get older. As a parent of young children, we are so busy keeping the kids ALIVE, we often don't have opportunities to share common hobbies or interests. We are always doing what THEY want to do. Well finally, with Alex, this is beginning to change. We are now doing activities that WE want to do! And it is very exciting!

For example, my favorite thing to do in the world is go Snowboarding! Alex has recently begun joining me on the slopes as a skier. This is Alex's second season and he can really tear it up! He is going to be a great ski partner!



We love playing XBOX for our one hour of TV time a day. We totally rock out together!

We love BYU Sports! He watches every minute of every game with me and we enjoy attending most of the events!


We like to read together. We are currently on book 4 of the Potter series. We have a great time.

We love playing sports, camping, river rafting, and hiking in the great outdoors. He has a lot of courage and is ready to take on any adventure right by my side!

There are many more activities that we share, but the bottom line is I am grateful for such a great son and even better friend. I look forward to many wonderful years of fun together! Alex, you definitely ROCK!

matt

Thanks Kirstie for the tag. For any of you who don't know about tagging (as I didn't), I was asked to spill the contents of my purse for all to see on my blog. So here we go:

2 bottles of hand sanitizer- I have two boys, need I say more?

lifesavers- these can truly be lifesavers when I need my youngest child who was born without a "quiet voice" to be quiet.

Pen- need those all the time, currently I happen to have one

One set of keys to Matt's car in case I ever need to drive his car- notice no beeper/unlocker thingey. He lost his and took mine.

My keys. Complete with my beeper/unlocker thingey and my new pass to Golds gym.

Lipgloss from Old Navy, scented of course.

Chapstick for days I just need to moisturize the lips.

2 hot wheels and 2 Ben 10 guys. I have two boys.

Wal-Mart receipt, I live there.

Floss, tweezers and Black Raspberry Vanilla lotion for beatifying.

My Wallet- devoid of cash, full of cards.

Hair elastic- when I can't stand hair and need a ponytail.

So there it is. So incredibly exciting. I now tag the Ortin girls, Carissa from Oklahoma, and Kelly Anne. Spill the contents of y0ur purses girls, let's see what we find!

***Note*** For any of you who read Matt's Valentines blog; last night he returned the favor. I went to dinner with one of my girlfriends for 3 hours and then to a chick flick (definitely, maybe) while Matt took the kids. Best present ever!!

I have the best wife ever.

I know, it is cliche' to say stuff like that on Valentines Day, but I have the best wife for a very unique reason today. All you guys had to get your wife flowers, go to some lame restaurant, or maybe some of you suffered through some awful chick flick. Well, fellas (even though I am convinced there aren't any fellas reading this blog out there), my wife is the best because she SENT ME SKIING!

My bro-in-law Steve and I spent one of the best days ever at Snowbird. We had to hold hands on a few runs to celebrate the day of love, but in reality, my mistress on this "V" day was the mountain. She was good to us, too! Blue skies, 15 inches of fresh powder, and no lines made up one of the best Valentines Days ever.

Thanks Jenny, because when you give me days like today, it makes me love and appreciate you even more!

Isaac said to Grandma: "Did you know I can stay home by myself now?"
Grandma: "I don't think so, you're still too little"
Isaac: "I'll be OK, the Lord will be with me"


Isaac told us he can name 3 of the prophets: President Hinckley, Joseph Smith, and Keena Young (former BYU basketball player).


When singing the Latter-day prophets song Isaac sang:
"Latter-day prophets are, number one, Joseph Smith then Brigham Young, John Taylor came third you know, then Wifford Wudruff and bags of snow...
(If you don't get this last one, see "Latter-day Prophets" song in the Childrens Primary Songbook)

We love you Isaac!

When I was young, my parents instilled in me a love for the theater. To this day, I thoroughly enjoy a good play or musical that allows me to escape the normal hustle and bustle of every day life and submerse myself in an imaginary role enveloping someone else's struggles and successes.

As my children grow up, I hope to help them learn to appreciate the arts as well.
About once every three years or so, I receive a kitchen pass from the wife to participate in some form of theatrical production. The last one in which I engaged myself was a show call "Lucky Stiff" with the Midvale Community Theater. It was great fun! I look forward to the day when I can be in a show WITH my boys. That will be awesome!

Going to the theater is a terrific form of entertainment for our family. Last night we went to a show called "Who Killed Aunt Caroline" at the Valley Center Playhouse in Lindon. Community Theater is fun because the shows are usually pretty good, less expensive, and family friendly. So, if any of you are looking for such an activity for family home evening or weekend activity , I have included some of our favorite small theaters that you can help support:

Shows playing now in our area.

Let us know if you want some company! Our family is always up for another show!

OK. I am thirty-something. I would tell you how old, but I honestly can never remember. Seriously, I have to do the birthyear subtract 2000 and plus 8. Too much work, thus thirty-something. Getting old. Can't remember things.

More proof...

Yesterday, I went to the BYU basketball game where they played TCU. As I was walking down the hall, I saw a drinking fountain and decided to have a savory treat. I bent over, took a slurp, and something happened. I couldn't straighten up! I had thrown out my back! At a freaking drinking fountain! How lame is that...

Let's just say I took my time getting to my seat. I walked with my hand on my hip like I was one-hundred. Every step was full of agony. But the game was good which made it all worth while... Priorities.

So today, I went to the gym like I do every day, and thought maybe a good run would help. After some stretching, I started running on my favorite treadmill. Because of the sharp pain still apparent in my back, I ran differently. Toward the end of my run, something popped behind my knee. And now my knee hurts!

So forget the hole working-out, moving-around nonsense. I think I will just watch TV! I can't get hurt that way!

I have read many posts over the last few days expressing gratitude and love for President Hinckley, and to all of you, AMEN! When I heard the news that he had passed away, I was surprised at how I felt. You know when you get the wind knocked out of you? Well, I felt kind of felt like that.

President Hinkley has had a profound impact on my life. I have loved hearing him speak. I have enjoyed reading his talks. I know he was a prophet of God and I didn't know how much I really loved him until he died. And now, along with all of you, I will miss him greatly.

The part of the funeral that struck me the most was when long time friend and counselor, President Monson, looked directly into the camera and called the prophet by name saying, "Gordon, God be with you until we meet again." I look forward to that event as well... hopefully not too soon, however :)

On a quick, lighter note, what the crud is with those freaking protesters! I was SO close to going down to Salt Lake, standing on the corner with a big sign with an arrow pointing at the protesters that read: "I AM WITH KORIHOR!" They couldn't get upset because they don't know who Korihor was but I think we would all have had a good laugh!

matt

For those of you who didn't know, I love President Hinckley. He was one of my favorite all-time prophets. He just seemed so real to me, like if I ever met him he would like me; and though I didn't meet him, I believe he loved me. How can a person you've never met make you feel this way? I'm not sure, but he must be pretty special.
I checked Alex out of school for a while on Thursday and took my boys up to the viewing at the Conference Center. We filed through and were able to say goodbye to our beloved prophet. Then this morning we watched his funeral on TV with tears in our eyes. I love this man. No doubt he was a prophet of God.
I wondered how all of this affected my boys. If they really understood what was happening. Isaac cried when I told him President Hinckley had died and Alex cried at the viewing, but I still wondered, so I asked them.

Isaac said: "He was our greatest prophet. It kind of made me sad, but I felt the Holy Ghost inside.
Alex said: "I felt the Holy Ghost in my heart when we saw him. The Holy Ghost told me that President Hinckley was a true prophet. I was sad and glad at the same time. I bet he's happy."
My boys may be small, but they have felt the spirit of this great man. I hope they will always remember this experience.