Family pictures

We took some family pictures and had a lot of fun doing it. Nobody got hit by the train. (However some boys got themselves scolded for screwing around and would have rathered the train over mom's wrath!)

Nice Mellons

I finaly did it! I grew some good mellons in Utah. This is actually quite a feet for me. I had 2 watermellons that actually made it to being fully ripe. I seem to allways do good with the Cantalope but this one in the picture was huge. It was as big as a full size football. The watermellon was an "icebox" watermellon. By desighn it is small. Next year I am going to go for a full size seedless watermellon.

Scout camp with girls.

This summer Kenneth worked as a life guard at Camp Steiner in the high Uinta mountains here in Utah. It is the highest elevation scout camp in the world and they have the ice cold lake to prove it! Our family got invited up for a full week. We got to stay in a cabin and were fed all of our meals. There were a few things we did by way of PR but that was about the only chores we did. We could use all the facilities there. We went out on the canoe, fished, shot the bows, fished and all kinds of other things. It was a great deal of fun.

We went fishing most everyday. We did not catch a lot of fish but we did catch some. They were very good eating and Lisa had fresh fish for the first time and liked it. Fresh trout out of the lake are very tasty, especially when I am the one cooking them.

Daniel earned a fist full of merit badges. He had a lot of fun and was busy all day long. This is a picture of him making a pen that looks like an arrow.

Lisa did this while we fished. It is always nice to sit on the edge of a beautiful lake and read. I like to sit and fish but we all have our thing. For me it is not so much the fish I catch as the view and peaceful setting.

Adam was a counselor for Basketry and this is a picture of him in action. Kenneth was a life guard and taught canoeing. You can see a picture of him teaching canoeing on the previous post about him turning 17. They were both very good counselors and were spoken of very highly by the staff at the camp.
I took this picture while we were out on a hike one day. The place was beautiful and made for some great memories. I have lots of other cool pictures but All I can put on here were these. Maybe I will put up another post with some more.

Pioneers, well sort of.

Lots of things happened this summer. One of them was a youth confrence for our stake. Both Kenneth and Adam were able to attend. They pulled handcarts around our area for three days. Well I am sure there was more to it then that but in a nutshell they got to reinact the handcart experiance. They did have portra-johns and 4 wheelers but hey it's all good. Ask them about it some time or just check out the video that will be on the http://www.lds.org/ website soon.

This one is a Rant!

I received an email from Orin Hatch, The Senior Senator from Utah. I sent the following letter to him. I would suggest you do the same.

I just received the following in an email.

"I think there might be three things that almost everyone can agree upon; first, most everyone dislikes paying taxes; second, most everyone thinks the tax system is too complex and unfair; and finally, most everyone agrees that when it comes to taxes, Washington needs an attitude adjustment.

"What many do not realize and liberals refuse to acknowledge is that fully half of the income that would be taxed at higher rates under the president's plan is income earned by small- and medium-sized businesses that report their taxes on individual tax returns."

That is just a piece of what was in the email but it is enough to show my point. Does it not occur to you that YOU ARE WASHINGTON! You have a senior position on the Finance committee. When George Bush was president and with a republican majority in both the house and the senate none of these things you are now talking about got fixed. John McCain talked about immigration in his last campaign but what did he do about it when you guys had a majority. He screwed America right along with all of you republicans. He was a calling for amnesty! It does not matter who is in power the American people are getting raped everyday. You say you are fighting for us but with a majority you did not cut government spending you grew it. You did not create meaningful reduction in taxes to the middle class. I would like some real answers not just rederick about why things are still out of control after both parties have had a chance at control of the government. I will be voting the incumbent out regardless of party in the next few elections unless I hear an apology for being a liar and a thief to the American people. On your watch we are spending our children's money. Without a complete and total break down and disolvement of our Government I do not see a way out. Like a large number of irresponsible Americans bankruptcy is the only way out. The numbers are there to prove it and you do not walk in ignorance. You are not the solution to the problem and you have been the problem for many many years. Senator Bob Bennett was run out of office on a rail and I think you are on your way there as well. Come clean and repent of what you have done to this country. Show us that you can take the blame and that you are willing to make great sacrifices in order to fix what seems by all accounts to be an unfixable problem.

Show us that you can turn off the spicket to everyone, including Utah and then I may consider sending you back. If not, I guarantee you that you are as good as out at the next election.

Kenneth turned 17!

Today our oldest son Kenneth turned 17. It's hard to believe. It doesn't seem that long ago he was sitting on the floor playing with his trains and blocks. The years have shaped him into a fine young man. One that we are very proud of. He is currently working on his Eagle project. He is building doll houses to donate to our Stakes annual HEARTS for the holiday's. These doll houses will go to some little girls for Christmas. He spent the summer as a life guard and canoing and rowing merit badge councilor at the boys scout camp, Camp Steiner. He worked there for 8 weeks coming home on Saturday's for 24 hours. Long enough to wash his clothes, take a shower, eat a good meal and sleep 12 hours. We missed him while he was gone but were so excited he had that amazing opportunity.

Wow an actual post!

If there is anyone out there who still hits this site from time to time I am back ... well I hope so anyway. My aunt sent me an email and told me she misses my blog so since I have a fan club, I decided I would start up again. , To bring you up to date, I have been studying to become a software engineer. It is consuming my time and the time I don't spend at that has been used up with projects around the house and a few family trips. The blog has had to sit on the back burner and will continue to play second fiddle but I am going to try to keep it up a little better.

Krislyn just started kindergarten and so Lisa has expressed an interest in posting stuff from time to time on a blog. I told her she could use mine. That means that if you see a post that is in good taste and non offensive in any way she posted it. If it is mumbled jargon and rants of all different kinds it is probably from me.

Stay tuned for some posts of what we did this summer. It was a fun summer for my family and I.

New Ice Cream Flavor.

My friend Aaron sent me this. I could not help but post it. I am assuming that some people have already recieved it in an email but here it is just the same. It made me laugh.


A NEW ICE CREAM FLAVOR

In honor of the 44th President of the United States , Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream has introduced a new flavor: Barocky Road.

Barocky Road is a blend of half vanilla, half chocolate, and surrounded by nuts and flakes. The vanilla portion of the mix is not openly advertised and usually denied as an ingredient. The nuts and flakes are all very bitter and hard to swallow, and the cost is $100.00 per scoop.
When purchased it will be presented to you in a large beautiful cone, but after you pay for it, the ice cream is taken away and given to the person in line behind you at no charge.

You are left with an empty wallet and no change, holding an empty cone with no hope of getting any ice cream.

Are you stimulated?

Random Ketchup

Due to the last few comments on my last post I figure that I should put up another post. Kind of random and loosely joined but here goes. I turned 39 years old on Feb 9th. It was nothing different but made me reflect. People say that 40 is the hump but that is based on the assumption that you will live to 80. Since I am only planning on 70 I crossed the hump 4 years ago. Nothing to worry about it now.

I am the assistant coach on Troy's basketball team and having fun with him on that. Had an incident with some crazy parents this weekend. Some parents are just way to out of control. I was embarrassed for them and their coach. Poor kid has to accept the fact that his parents can't behave. Lisa pointed out a fact to me. She said "no wonder these kids have such horrible behavior, look at the way their parents act." Seriously folks lets all take a look at our behaviors. If your kid is doing something stupid there is a good chance you need to do a re-evaluation of your example.

I recently to a trip to Arizona and found it to be very nice down there. I am past ready for the snow to be gone. Lisa and I left the kids for 4 days and they didn't so much as set off the smoke alarm. The only thing that got broken was the mixer and Kenneth had it replaced before we even got home. I am impressed with them. Lisa and I had a lot of fun visiting our families that live there. I am thinking we need to take these kinds of trips more often.

Ps. Yes, I spelled it ketchup and not catch up. Just thought I would drive the spelling Nazis nuts.

Heads up!!!

I came across a statistic today in an article I read.

CNBC estimates that pornography is a $13 billion industry here in the U.S. Every second, according to CNBC, $3,075 is spent on porn; more than 28,000 Internet users are viewing it; and 372 Internet users are using search engines to find it. And every 39 minutes, a new porn video is produced.

Most kids are more plugged in then their parents and savey on technology. If they have an Ipod you can bet the option has most likely been presented to them to put porn on to it. When I was a kid you had to get an older looking friend to go to the 7-11 and try to buy a magazine in another town because the clerk knew you in your own town, or find someones dad or brother who collected them. (Not that I did that stuff I am just saying that is the way it was.) With $13 billion to spend don't think for a minute they are not trying to get stuff to your kids. It is there and it happens.

Often times I think, "my kids are good kids and I am not worried about them going out and finding it." I am that way with my kids a lot of times but now days you do not have to go looking for it, it comes looking for you. This post is just a reminder to all of us to be involved with our kids and their technology.

Wow, how do you like them Apples?

Apple released the Ipad and I am impressed. I am by no means a techno junky, I rely on Jason Barker and Jimmy Anderson to keep me up to date on the techno geek world. However I am impressed. This little gadget brings all the gadgets into one. The way I see it, is that all of your devices are now wraped together in this thing. Look out gadget companies this one is going to be hard to beat, especially at $500! I think I will wait for version 2 but this one is on my list. Lisa and I are betting Jason will own one by the end of February.

click here for more info.

Jazz Vs Heat

Troy is playing basketball this year and as a player he gets a ticket to a Jazz game. As the assistant coach I got a ticket as well so we went to see the Jazz play the Miami Heat. They did not bring much heat as it was very cold but we had a lot of fun. We were so high up I thought I was going to fall in. I am a little iffy on the whole heights thing and that did not help. I would prefer to sit on the couch and watch the game however it is fun to actually go and watch it live. It is exciting and load along with the charged atmosphere. I also don't have kids or neighbors distracting me from the game. All in all I think it is something to do at least every once in a while.

The Jazz won 114 to 89 and so our spirits were up. My friend Aaron Ball took the credit. He said that the Jazz have never lost a game when he is in attendance. For this reason I am thinking of taking up a collection for season tickets for him so that they can win every home game.

The Blind side.

It is a busy month but I needed to put up a recommendation. The movie "The Blind Side" is a definite must see. If you have not seen it yet, get out and do so. It is well worth it. Sandra Bullock redeemed herself from "The Proposal" with this one.

Bear Hunting

Last year for Christmas Adam and Daniel got .22 rifles and have been learning how to shoot all this year. For Christmas today they both got a scope to go on their guns. I took them out and we sited in the scope. Daniel's gun is dead on and Adam's is close, we just need a little more time and it will be dead on as well. Once we were sited in on Daniel's gun he scanned the horizon and about 150 yards out he caught site of a black bear! being the daring boy that he is he carefully took aim and squeezed the trigger. To both his and my surprise the bear fell down. The bullet had gone through the right side of his chest and exited on his left shoulder. When Daniel landed his 22 inch trout I had no camera to prove he caught it but this time I happened to have the camera and took a picture for all of you to see. I don't know of any other kids who are able to claim they took down a black bear from 150 yard with a .22 rifle. Of course since he killed it I made him haul it out.

The Trail to Eagle is crowded.

I have been swamped of late at work and have not posted. But hey the waffles were good to look at. This last Sunday evening we had a court of honor for the boy scouts in our unit. It was fun to see them. They worked hard and got a number of merit badges and rank advancements.

Kenneth got his Cycling merit badge. He is so close to Eagle I think he is sprouting some feathers behind his ears. You can see how many merit badges he already has. I think he has one or two more required merit badges and and his eagle project and he will have the Rank. He has gotten way more then I ever did.

Adam has caught on fire and has been bugging his scout master to give him merit badge counselors for all the badges he is interested in. He received 11 merit badges at this last court of honor. He also got his Advancement to Star. That means that by this time next year he will also be an Eagle along with Kenneth.

Daniel is new to scouts. He received 3 rank advancements, Tenderfoot, Second class and First Class. He also received his first aid merit badge as well. If he sticks with it by April 2010 he will be an Eagle Scout.


All the boys in the troop got the first aid merit badge given out by Steve Conger who is a firefighter/paramedic. I sure appreciate guys like him that are so involved in helping boys grow into men. (You will notice that Jared Carnes has already grown full size! He is only 13.)

I am very proud of my boys. They are achievers and polite and respectful to others. They are by no means perfect but they are good boys who give me no cause for grief or sorrow. I did things that caused my parents grief and I feel bad for that. I still remember the cops calling my dad to come and pick me up one night. (That is a story for another time) It is nice to see that my boys are turning out better then me.

Oh Boy Waffles

My Dad had a recipe for waffles that was the best you can possibly imagine. They are 100% whole wheat and very good for you. I like to make them and pour blended fruit over them and then top it all with whip cream. It has less calories then syrup so my health agrees. If you would like to have some of these you can. Here is the recipe:

3 cups of Wheat Flour. (You can use white but that will just make you fat and it doesn't taste as good.)

3 eggs beaten

1/4 cups oil

1 tsp Salt

1 1/2 Tbs Sugar

4 tsp Baking Powder

2 3/4 cups Milk

I first beat my eggs till they are foamy then add milk and oil. Mix these together and then add the dry ingredients. Poor into a waffle iron or onto a hot griddle and enjoy. (If you want them fluffier just add a little watter to make it more runny.)

A few days ago I got out the powdered egg and powdered milk and made up a mix that makes 10 times this much. It was a lot of fun. Now I can just scoop out some mix, add the water and oil and I am eating in no time. Maybe on my free time this week I will work up a brownie mix!

TGIF!

Some weeks are longer then others and this one is just such a week. I am glad it is over. I was out sick the first two days and it has been a grind at work each day. Maybe I will get to relax this weekend. That usually never happens but hey, we can always hope.

It is Friday the 13th of November and it rained in Eagle Mountain last night, not snow but rain. It is like it just can't get cold enough to snow. I am of course perfectly fine with that but it is a little weird. Oh well life goes on, snow or no snow.

Anyway there is some randomness for you. Have a great weekend.

A sad state of affairs.

As most of you know I am a resident of Eagle Mountain UT. I love Eagle Mountain and have many friends who live there with me. It is a quiet little community that is growing at an incredible rate. It is estimated that they will grow by 10% a year for the next few years at least. In 1996 they had about 250 residence and according to the US Census Bureau in 2008 there were approximately 22,309 people living here. The population is largely young families. In a 2007 statistical survey, more than 85% of residents rated their quality of life as “good” or “excellent.” This brings me to the point of my blog this morning.

This week we had a municipal election. It was a vote for Mayor and for 2 city councilmen. Not a "big" election some would say. I disagree. It is my opinion that what impacts us the most is what takes place on a local level not so much state and national. With the populationof Eagle Mountain at 22,309 and assuming each home has 2 parents and 3 children I came up with the following voter information.

Potential registered voters - 8923

Actual registered voters - 7578

Number that don't care to vote - 1345

Now These 1345 for the most part are uninvolved and uninformed people who are probably to stupid to vote and I am fine with them not participating anyway. There is no end to the damage that can be done by a large number of stupid people. I am sure that in that group are some great people who for one reason or another have a good reason why they have not yet been added to the voter registry. The other 1339 can be left out of the voting pool and I do not care.

Registered voters - 7578

Votes cast - 1655

Total voter turnout - 21.8%

Less then one in 4 people voted in this last election. In the Book of Mormon Mosiah points out that it is not usual for the voice of the people to choose that which is wrong or bad. However 21.8% really is not the voice of the people. It is becoming clear to me that the voice of the people is "I don't care, I am to busy with my little world to care about anything or anyone else." It is kind of ironic that this is about the same percentage as the home teaching numbers I was seeing when I was the High Priest group leader.

I sit in Sunday school or at different activities with people and hear about how bad things are in "the world" and how hard it is to raise kids. Just yesterday Kenneth came home and said that the Westlake library has more books on gay marriage then they do on us history. I have not been down and counted them myself but Kenneth is pretty good with his facts so I will assume he is right. When you tell someone that they shake there head and say what is happening to us. Why is there so much evil and wickedness in the world. I submit to you that it is the good men and women who turn their focus inward and have left the "gates of the city" unattended. For example, the school board makes the decision on what happens in our schools. I am sure that they do not select each book that gets put in the library however I wonder if anyone has submitted complaints to them about this. I have not. I do not know what their agenda is nor do I know what their track record is. I have allowed just the watchmen of my children's education to go unchecked. I have allowed the watchmen for my community and nation to go unchecked and the as such we now have the fox guarding the hen house.

It is a sad state of affairs and a dangerous one. It is time that the people wake up and take action if it is already not to late. (Ps. Start by doing your home teaching!)

I love power tools

Every year my kids love to get out the knives and carve the pumpkins. It is a lot of fun and I enjoy seeing all the different creative ideas that they come up with. However cutting out all those pumpkins with a knife, no matter how sharp, is a bit tedious. A couple years ago I saw something on a web page where someone used power tools to carve their pumpkin. I thought it was cool and so I tried it. I have taken this idea and never looked back. A one inch wood drill bit makes a perfect circular hole and cut thing out the mouth and eyes with a jigsaw is fast and easy. I break out the dremal for the detail work and within a third of the time I have a finished product. If you have never used power tools you should try it.



Daniel got grossed out by the pumpkin guts so he went and got a sandwich bag to use as a glove. It was kind of funny. Boys are all rough, tough and macho but it is funny the things that will turn that whole notion upside down.


This was Krislyn's first year where she actually designed the pumpkin. It was a simple design but cute. She really did have fun with it. Notice the nice jig saw laying on the table in front of her?

Meet the Flintstones!

Lisa and I have not been big Halloween people. It is fun to let the kids dress up and go out and trick-or-treat but we have never gotten into it much. However the last few years my friend Aaron has been inviting me to his halloween parties and so we have dressed up. This year Lisa and I were Fred and Willma Flintstone. It was a lot of fun. I made both costumes, not bad for an amature. After all a sewing machine is nothing but a powertool with thread. I would actually like to get a new one but the one we have does what we need. The funniest part was all the kids who did not know who the flintstones were! This rising generation needs some good old fashion cartoons. We thought it a great deal of fun to go as a famouse couple. Does any one have any suggestions for us for next year?