Idaho Family Reunion

We spent a few days in Ashton, Idaho this year with the Mayer side of the family for a short reunion.  John and Jill were gracious enough to let the Mayer's use a few of their days.  I think everyone was there except a few of the younger family members who were unable to come.

I was not able to come up until the Thursday night and brought Jeff along with me after picking him up at the airport.  It was a fun weekend seeing some of the sights, food, marathon movie nights, and hanging out with family.

Upper Mesa Falls

Zoe, Derrick, Elena, Grady, Mike, Joaquin, and Dane at Mesa Falls.

Looking down on the over look.

Cousins and Audrey with her fiance Austin.  They are supposed to married this fall.

Tahoe 2014

We just got back from Tahoe last night late after making that terrible drive of 9 hours (however, the destination and run are worth it).  Shauna and I ran the DeCelle Memorial 2014 Relay with friends and family.  We had an awesome time and awesome running weather.  We stayed in John and Sandra's cabin again (thanks John and Sandra) and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  Last year the temperature was in the 80's and this year it was in the 60's--perfect running weather.  Our team was:

Jen - Leg 1
Paul - Leg 2
Blake - Leg 3
John - Leg 4
Griselda - Leg 5
Shauna - Leg 6
Geri - Leg 7

This is the first year we had a legitimate mixed team with four girls and 3 guys.  Jen was a new member to our team this year and a friend of Geri's who was speedy and started off the race with good time.  I had leg 2 this year which is a pretty gnarly run at elevation.  This was a good test to see how I would run hills at elevation.  I felt good coming out of the gate and felt strong most of the run until about mile three of the up hill where I started to feel the elevation (7,000 ft.) and fatigue getting to me.  Blake ran the 3rd leg (in his first organized race) and did just fine and looked strong doing it.  John ran leg 4 and passed a bunch of people putting us in good position in the top third of the teams.  John handed off to Griselda and she made her way through one of the afternoon courses that wear you down.  She handed off to Shauna who was not feeling her best, but managed to take on one of the toughest legs of the course going up his for 600 feet the last mile and a half.  Geri finished off the course strong with leg 7 giving us a total time of 10 hours and 22 minutes.  We placed 54th over all.

Now I know I have to train a little harder at elevation for the GT Relay in August.  The climbs and elevation are more extreme so I will have to make some modifications to my running schedule to boost my endurance there.

With the good weather this year, we had some time to go on some hikes and see some sites.  This year Blake and Aubrey found the old railroad that runs along the north side of Donner lake.  Union Pacific still owns the road but has torn out all of the rail and ties leaving a nice flat trail that runs through tunnels carved out of the mountain as well as tunnels built out of prefab concrete slabs.  These run for miles and are fascinating and eerie.  There are great views at certain spots also.

We also got to hang out with my brother John and his family one night at a cabin they had rented for Jill's family reunion.  It was a huge cabin at Northstar Ski resort.  It was fun for all of the cousins and friends to get together and play.

Finally, we did the emerald bay hike and spent some more time at the beach at the bottom surrounded by geese, chipmunks, blue jays and ducks while eating lunch.

Happy B-Day My Most Excellent and Beautiful Wife

Just a shout out to my kind, loving, smart, beautiful, energetic, adventurous, wonderful, friendly, attractive, and generally awesome wife on her birthday.

Shauna!!

Happy freakin' birthday!  

Hope it is one of the best ever, I mean how could it not--you have the most awesome family ever.  We love you with all of our hearts.  Oh, and...

Sam Berns

I have heard about Sam Berns for several years but never knew his story.  Well, I was looking around at some personal finance blogs and came across this TED talk Sam gave in the fall of 2013.  This kid (because he is a kid) is amazing.  He has the perspective of one 10 times his age and then some.  Take some time and enjoy his enlightening perspective and use it to make your life better.

Father's and Son's Camp Out

We had a stake camp out this past weekend with fathers and sons.  It is not in the most picturesque place in the valley, but it is a great place to get together and have fun.  Joaquin and I left Friday evening and since it only took about 30 minutes to get to the campground, we still had plenty of time to visit and get camp set up.
We made hot dogs and Joaquin had several smores for a really healthy dinner.  He took off and rode his bike and played with friends for awhile and then all the boys sat around the fire and burned things.

The stake presidency had a short fireside about being a worthy and strong priesthood holder that I thought was very good.  Pres. McGhie and his son spoke along with the stake presidency.  Joaquin and Curtis started to get a bit restless at the end, but where able to stay in one spot until the end.

Curtis slept in our tent and we did not finally hit the sack until about 11 pm.  The next day the stake provided breakfast and Joaquin had a couple of cups of milk chocolate and looked at his oranges like he might want to eat one.  The stake then had supplies to build rockets powered by compressed air.  Joaquin was going for a lighting-bolt motif and it turned out pretty cool and Joaquin was stoked.  His rocket did not go straight up like most, his went up about 20 feet and then flew horizontal for another 30 or 40 yards.

As we were getting ready to leave, Joaquin did not want to leave.  It was a good time.  Thanks to the stake and leaders for this.

Notice how dirty that jacket is. Also, loving on his rocket.  

Chewy

Ran into an old friend at the Bee's game last night.  It have been some thirty years since I first met him.  He had not changed a bit--except maybe those hollow eyes (wasn't his family annihilated in one of the prequels?  Maybe that explains it, or maybe its just all that Tihaar.)  In any event, Ruby was not too excited about the whole prospect of being next to a (broken/drunken?) wookie.  She was shaking and saying Daddy, Daddy.  She should be getting used to this after our trip to Dland.  Joaquin was showing his wisdom by declining the invitation to get too close--only Laney was enjoying the fun (look at that smile).  Hmmm maybe we need to scare her some more.

Anyway, had a great time with the Robbins.  They are a class act and our kids play together well.

Chewy

Look who we ran into at the Bee's game last night.  Ruby was the only one who was not excited about this picture.