Weekend trip

Last week was my t.ugh,cough...ish..ixth birthday. My parents gave us their timeshare in Sedona for the weekend. I snuck Julie out of work early on friday and we made our way north.

We were going down the stairs on Saturday morning and it struck me how beautiful Julie was and I made her stop for a picture.

We had the second floor room.

This is the view from our balcony.

Here is my patented "self pic". Notice the superb composition, light shadow, second chin. We are on top of the Mogollon rim (about 6500 ft asl) looking down towards Sedona.

These are a few of the shops close to the hotel.



Julie by the fountain at the front lobby of the hotel. We left Sunday morning, and got home just in time to pick up the guys, put on their church clothes, miss Bishopric meeting ,but make Sacrament meeting.

After this weekend it has become even more clear to me that I am a lucky man. I have parents that love me and sacrifice on my behalf. ( Maybe because their retirement rests right on my shoulders). I have a wife that I adore and is the most selfless person I know. And I have two wonderful boys that I missed, ....mostly.

Be brave my little ones.

The first day of school has come. After a lot of begging, screaming, and desperate bargaining John and Will started Kindergarten yesterday. The last month or so has not been pretty. After a couple of serious tantrums in Walmart while buying school supplies, the boys finally sat us down and said "Mom, Dad, you have to get over this and let us go to school.".









Post Script.

The day after we got back from vacation Will lost his first tooth. As you can see the replacement is already coming in.......in his right nostril.

The Coast is clear

For the ninth year in a row we went to the Oregon coast to play in the sand. All of Julie's family and a lot of friends make it a great trip.
This has become a standard picture of Johnny and me.

Mommy and Will on a hill overlooking the beach.


Of all the family pictures taken this last week, I like this one the most. Not because it's good, but because it's awesomely bad. We are just a couple arm shelf's, and a tree lean from making it into AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com .


Like every year we were lucky enough to stumble onto some old pirate treasure of stick on tattoos, candy, and plastic swords. This time the poparazzi found us. That TMZ has photogs everywhere.


Grandpa John showing Charlie how to play the "Girl repellent". Actually we had a lot of fun sitting around the camp fire listening to grandpa John play the accordion and uncle John play the guitar.


Grandma Diane has a real talent for reading to the kids.


Johnny had fun riding this skateboard. I know this because he ran over his own fingers 3 times before he asked for a band aid.


I have been going through a "textures" kick lately. Here are a few pics from the week.

Food and Music

My sister Sue and her husband, Charlie had us and some friends from church over for a "4th Feast". Charlie made the most awesome baby back ribs.

The kids decided to treat us to a live concert and fashion show. Let me introduce you to the band. On lead guitar Is Rock-n-Billy, On first maraca is palsy Johnny, And leading the band is "Smasher Asher" on his Doo ta do (Vacuum cleaner tube).




My mom gave the kids a pack of stickers and told them to make a "Star Spangled Grandpa"

Big boys and their toys

I have decided to sell my enclosed trailer and buy a new toyhauler. I put a down payment on this bad boy this weekend.

It's not everything that I wanted, but you know some times you have to make sacrifices. You know, with the economy and all.


Actually, I didn't buy it. I am waiting for one that has a basement.


John, Anya, Asher, Will.





Julie got us tickets to the Big Boys and their Toys show. She wanted me to have an entire weekend to celebrate Fathers day. The show left a little to be desired, and Julie learned a new term, "Booth Babe". Because of this and a couple of pouting and demanding boys we went home early. Only a 5 year old, and a Hilton could walk around a convention center filled with $100,000 sandrails screaming "Buy me something!!!".

Primary playday

Our children are our life, especially when we don't have anything better to do. This last Saturday was the "Drench Daddy" primary play day. I didn't exactly come repaired for the drench daddy part. I mean who really wants to see me in a bathing suit? Jo and Bill had a great time. They have really been into making new friends lately. We went to Target the other day and Will had to introduce himself to everybody under 11 years old.






Rob C. tried to take me on in a squirt gun fight. Being the brilliant tactician I am, I attained the dominant high ground and cover to negate his superior firepower. He kicked my b##t. He had stand off range.


I love our Bishop.


Will along with his friends Stan and Jack head up the slide.

He preferred to slide down the ladder. I guess he is just not a boy of convention. There was a lot more kids there than in these pictures. I am just limiting posting other peoples kids.

Straight Shooters

This post is is done under protest from Julie. She does n't want any one to know how truly redneck we are. But today is a special day. Johnny went shooting with me for the first time.
Grandpa got a new glock so the three of us went out this morning.



*The gun was unloaded for these pictures.

Johnny (with a lot of my support) shot my 38 super, and my AR.
After shooting we walked around and picked up as much brass as we could find. I think the real reason jo came with us is he knows my dad and I go out for breakfast when we are done.