Desert Trip - My Take On It.

The desert trip really was so much fun! It was great to see Bret and the boys (sadness Tevs and Ennie couldn't make it) and Don and Karen Wall (Jacob and Bret's parents). It was also fun to spend time camping with Jacob and Cari (Wall) and Alex and Nicole (Sevey). Despite the wind that Millie wrote about (which I absolutely loath) being with friends and family made it all worth while.

The various excursions we took away from camp were definitely much better than any time spent at camp. Other than being able to control the weather, the only thing I think I would have changed about camp would have been to do more "real" camp cooking... get more use out of the dutch ovens. Jacob Wall and I would have done EVERY meal in dutch ovens if it were entirely up to us, and next year, it may be. :) However, it was good to have a few of the "easier" meals we ended up having, like chili dogs and sandwiches, because of the wind and weather around camp.

This camping trip was my first time to the Moab/Arches area and the hikes were just as fun as I had anticipated. There really is more to do (even if you don't have a four-wheeler, dirt bike, or four wheel drive) in one trip than is really possible, so Millie and I look forward to next year's!


My petrified toilet.







The unorganized group photo.



Bret's idea of staking down the canopy... No, this was not the reason it got destroyed, that stake was quickly replaced after the picture.



I'm pretty sure that 90 degree angle Hazel's head is making out of the back of Jacob can't be good... but you can't argue with results - she was sleeping, and sleep is good!



Ellery enjoying the wind/dust at camp.

Desert Trip

We went with the Walls to their annual Desert Trip this year to Moab and Arches. The wind blew the entire time we were down there! Wind + Desert = Dirt Everywhere! I know we were camping, but this was dirtier than the average camping trip. We ended up leaving a day early because the wind had gotten so bad and it was starting to rain. We had borrowed my parents big canopy for the 'kitchen' and the wind destroyed it. Yes, it is now broken to pieces. Despite all that, it ended up being really fun.

The first day we went down to where the only water was. It was this little trickling creek. We had fun walking around in the water. We found sink holes in the mud and started loosening them up and sinking up to our knees, some to the thighs. I thought sinking in the mud would be scary but it ended up being one of my favorite parts of the trip. Hazel also had the time of her life playing in the mud and water completely naked!! Unfortunately we didn't bring any cameras down that day.

The next 2 days we hiked through the Fiery Furnace and the Eye of the Whale. Both were pretty cool hikes. I would have liked to stay down there more and go on more hikes.

Here's some pictures....

This was Ellery's favorite part of the trip...riding goats!Family Pose!Malik and Ellery bonding during the trip.Climbing on rocks!

Bit. Trip Beat

Last night Millie and I went over to the Wall's (after putting Ellery to bed) to play games. We ended up talking for a couple of hours, mostly about their fish and other random topics, before we actually started any games. The game? A new one. So new to the Wall household in fact that we were there for it's purchase/download. It is a fairly new Wii Ware game called, yep, Bit. Trip Beat. Retro style, 8-bit graphics featuring classic Pong style control with colors and music (catchy music I might add). And for only $6 (600 Wii credits), not a bad deal.

It was fun to play and pretty addicting. The jury is still out as too HOW addicting, maybe not to the level of Tetris, but it sure was fun to play, especially once we figured out how to hold the Wiimote. For those of you who are Wii-Geeks, and even some of you non-gamers, it's worth a play or two.

Ellery's 2nd year in review (video)

This just starts at her last birthday and ends with the present time. I wanted to do a montage of all the picts we have of her eating but thought that might cause her to have some kind of complex later in life... and I wanted to keep it in chronological order to see her change over the last year.

Ellery's 2nd Birthday "Party"

Friday was Ellery's 2nd birthday. Thursday night Millie and I got a bunch of balloons filled with He and decorated the living room to surprise Ellery. I don't think we got quite the reaction we wanted, partly due to the fact that she had already seen her big present a couple of days earlier (her trike)... but she did like the balloons I guess.

This year's theme: Spongebob. She's pretty much obsessed. Millie did the cake again this year, I think it turned out great! We were pressed for time and a few details were left out of the cake, but I'm not going to point them out, and I doubt many, if any, will even notice.

Two years. They went fast! I made a video/slide show from Ellery's last birthday to the present to show at the party. I made it into a DVD and forgot to export it to a compressed mpeg4 before deleting it, so now I can't upload it to the blog... maybe I'll rip it from the DVD and compress it from there, but not today.


She did SUCH a better job eating her cake this year!!!
And in the end, grandpa was all worn out!


It was a good birthday and a good year. Best wishes for the year to come punkin head!!!

Happy Birthday Ellery

2 years ago....

Now...



Happy 2nd Birthday to my sweet, silly Ellery!!! I love you!!!

Ugliest Game EVER!!!

For those of you following this year's March Madness madness, I think it's safe to say that last night's Memphis vs. Missouri game was quite possibly the ugliest games ever played - with balls bouncing uncontrollably off of feet, hands and the rim (how in the world did the score get so high??). It looked like both teams were recruited straight out of the Institute for the Insanely Uncoordinated. I was cheering for Memphis, like most everyone else, not only because I picked them to win that game, but because Millie had picked them to win it all! Unfortunately, after watching that game, I don't think either team even deserved to be in the tournament. Best of luck to NC, not because I like them, but because I want to win my brackets... again!

Cake Decorating

Jacob and I have been watching Ace of Cakes of the Food Network, which is awesome! They make amazing cakes. I'd like to learn more about cake decoration techniches. Of course I'll never be able to have such perfection, but I'd sure like to learn at least some basic decorating skills.

I've decorated a few cakes in the last year or so. I made a Mickey Mouse cake last year for Ellery's birthday. A couple weeks ago I made a heart cake for Valentines day. I'd like to be better at it and make cute birthday cakes for Ellery and future kids.

My sisters Katie and Abbie also are wanting to learn to make cute cakes, so we are all taking a cake decorating class!! We just had our second day of class Saturday. We had to bring our own cake in and decorate it. We only had like 15-20 minutes at the end of class to actually decorate our own. (We had to practice different technicues first.) So we brought them to my mom's house and spent the rest of the afternoon finishing our cakes.

You can see my cake is very uneven, the blue icing around the whole cake is SUCH a mess!! There is a big spot on the side where I dented it in, and never fixed it. I am pretty happy about how my rainbow and pot of gold turned out though!

Perfection!

There are relatively few things in life in which one can achieve perfection. Last night, I did just that. Wii fit heading soccer balls on the advanced level.

Here's what that score looks like. one hundred and twenty soccer balls, six hundred and fifty five unblemished points!

Her Parent's Child

It seems the majority of people we talk to (those we know and even those we don't really know) all seem to agree that Ellery looks more like her daddy than her mommy. I've always stuck to my guns in denying this because, what poor little girl wants to grow up looking like her dad... let alone me?

I think she has a sporting chance to look more like her mommy though. She seems to be looking more like her as time goes on!

Especially in this pict!!!






Daddy did her hair again!

Ellery's Hair

For those of you in disbelief that I not only do Ellery's hair, but that it's way cute too... here are a few pix. And NO Millie didn't do it so I could steal the credit either... I'm getting video next time if I have to! :)

Our New Home

Considering we're still kind of settling in and trying to decorate our new space, I think this is still just a house (condo)... but we're working to make it our home... at least for the next year, until I know where I'll be going to school for my master's program!

Play time

Ellery and I have started going to the University Mall now and again in the mornings while Millie sleeps (the mornings after she has to work). It's much easier (and WAY more fun) to keep Ellery from making too much noise and waking up Millie. There are always a lot of other moms (and usually one other dad) with their little one(s). Most of the moms just sit on the benches and visit while their kids run around and play on the fake trees, dinosaur bones, and rocks. Every now and then they (the moms) will get up follow their kid(s) around and regulate play, either that of their own child or try to tactfully regulate other people's children (all the kids are preschool age). Any fathers that are ever there (including myself) usually just sit out of the way on a fake rock and watch the kids, rarely, if ever, intervening in their play, and never conversing one with another.

I'm not one for social interaction when it comes to such settings... but I do like to watch Ellery and how she interacts with others.

For the most part she just keeps to herself in her own little world. She spends time running around in circles looping around the fake trees, then spinning till she falls over and tosses in a few jumps up and down now and again. She plays in and around the dino bones and likes to go down the small wavy slide attached to the fake tree house. Every now and then she comes up to me and hugs my leg and says, "hi da da" then runs off again. Like I said, for the most part, she's in her own world and seems happy to be so. However, every now and then she'll bump into another kid and realize there are other people her own age and size (or close to it) and she stops what she's doing and watches them. It makes me wonder what goes through her mind when she does that because she watches very intently sometimes.

For the most part, all the kids there play well together, whether in their interactions with each other, or just keeping to themselves; there are really no big conflicts or crying, everyone just seems happy to be there.

One thing that sticks out above everything else is, there are a lot of ugly kids in Orem. Seriously. I know my judgment may be slightly clouded because Ellery is my little girl, but she is easily the cutest kid on the playground. I think today she shone exceptionally because I did her hair in six super cute pig tails that interconnected into three. Should have gotten a picture. She's taking a nap now, so, I guarantee those pig tails wont be in when she gets up.

Tilapia Dinner!

If you don't want to hear about a yummy dinner that my mom made up the recipe for, and that Jacob made tonight for dinner than stop reading now.....otherwise, read on!!!

Ok so, he sauted onions, mini red and yellow peppers, and mushrooms in kosher salt and olive oil. Then added the frozed tilapia, garlic salt, lemon pepper and let it all cook for 25 minutes or so. He then added chopped fresh tomatoes and shredded cheese the last 5 minutes. Serve with rice and enjoy!!

It was so so good! (good enought to deserve a post!) I really don't like peppers or fish that much, but the combo of everything was so delicious! We had the same meal last Sunday cooked by my mom, and so we just had to try it again tonight!

Ellery's New Bed

Some of you have been hounding me to get these pix up, so, FINALLY, here they are!

A few weeks ago I decided to build Ellery a bed... after all, she THINKS she's a big girl now! I wanted to build the bed myself (no, that does not mean buying the parts from IKEA, or someplace like that, and assembling it) I wanted to design and build a bed just for her!

Millie wasn't too keen on the idea and wanted to just buy a "cute" bed from a store. Apparently she does not understand the inner workings of a man's brain that drives us to: A) cook outdoors, B) play/watch sports, C) channel surf at 90 mph, D) put our hand down our pants when we watch TV, E) maintain a nice yard, and F) build stuff (also considered "using power tools").

Rather than try to explain the need to build, I just told her it was important to me to do it, and she reluctantly granted me permission. Thanks Bean!

I don't think it turned out as "cute" as Millie wanted, but I like it, and more importantly, Ellery likes it!!! I built it so the head board and foot board can easily connect and disconnect from the side runners with actual rail brackets to make moving easy!

Mii Family

Wii fit, healthy competition!

One of the best things about being a part of three very competitive families (Webbs, Ropers and Walls) is that there is always incentive to do and be better (or the best) – regardless the subject.

Just after the marathon Millie and I bought Wii fit (so did the Ropers). The Walls have had it for some time and they really showed us a thing or two when we were staying with them that week of the marathon, and it set up a benchmark of what to shoot for – speaking strictly of the balance games. Sure Wii fit (aerobics, strength training and yoga) is really about personal development and betterment - competition against one's self only; but let’s be honest, the balance games are only there for fun, or in our families’ cases, competition!

Now that Millie and I will no longer be registered on the Roper’s Wii fit (to make room for Brandon and Katie – a major flaw in the fit, only eight can be registered at a time, lame-o!!!) I wanted to make sure my competition base stays broad and keeps pushing my limits! Thanks to Rob and Annie, and even Abbie in some games, I have been forced to shoot for perfection to remain on top! Thanks guys!

I don’t want to lose that edge, or competition, so I’ve decided to post where I stand on a few of my better performances (pictures are posted above their label):


Soccer Heading - Beginner setting


Soccer Heading - Advanced setting


Down hill ski - Advanced setting


Down hill ski - Beginner setting.


Ski jump


Table Tilt - Beginner setting


Tight Rope Walk - Advanced setting


Tight Rope Walk - Beginner setting


Balance Bubble - Advanced setting


Balance Bubble - Beginner setting


Snow Boarding - Beginner setting


Lotus Focus


Super Hula Hoop


The Ultimate Body Challenge

So... How do YOU stack up? :)

I am strong...I am powerful...I am healthy...I am a marathoner!

It's been over 2 weeks since the marathon and I really need to write about my experience before I forget too much of it! So, here goes.....

Now, why would I want to run a marathon? Where did I get such a crazy idea? And so on and so on... Well I got my inspiration from a girl at work. She had recently ran a marathon, and had trained from a book called, "Non-runners Marathon Trainer." It trains you to complete a marathon, even if you have no prior running experience. I enjoy to run. I have done it to keep in shape and really not going more than 4 or 5 miles at a time. So, I decided to push myself a little further and go for the whole thing! I convinced Jacob to do it with me. We started running in June, and our official training started in October.

We both had ups and downs in our training. Jacob had problems with his knees, and skipped out on a lot of runs. He eventually started training on elipticals to decrease trauma on his aching joints. I was really worried about him not training enough and consequencely not being able to finish the marathon. Well soon it would be my turn to experience a running injury. I think it was about 7 weeks before the marathon. I was running only 5 miles that day. I probably had only 2 miles left when my left buttocks started hurting pretty bad. Now I had some repetitive aches from running like my right foot, left calf etc., which would hurt a little every time I'd run. But this pain was very new and very different. By the time I got back I was practically limping! I stretched it, iced it, and ibuprofened it. The next day I tried running and miserably failed. For the next 5 weeks I was hardly walking, and in no way able to run. I was forced to stop running and had to cross train on the eliptical (which was still very painful, but at least something). These weeks were the longest runs of the training and I was missing out on them! I can't say enough how maddening that is. The pain in my butt went away quite suddenly actually, which was strange but I was able to start running again. The only problem was that this was 2 weeks before the marathon and these were our taper weeks. The longest run would only be 9. So now my worries of Jacob not training enough were turned to myself not being able to finish. I decided I would still try and have fun. If I didn't finish, I didn't finish but I would still try.

The day of the marathon came, despite all my worries. I was quite nervous but decided to put it behind me and just have fun. And I did! It was soooo much fun!! We had been carbing up for weeks and were actually quite lazy days before the marathon to conserve as much of our energy and glycogen as we could. So when the race started I was so full of energy and wanted to just take off and go! Despite my rush of energy, I held back like our training said to and went at a pretty slow pace knowing I had a lot ahead of me. I'm glad I did because I never felt completely exhausted or the need to rest and walk. I held my slow pace pretty good. Nice and steady....like a tortoise! Ok so, I did stop a couple times. Mile 6 my family was there to cheer me on. I stopped to take off my jacket and throw it to them, and was off again. Mile 11 they were there again cheering me on! This time I stopped to take off my pants. Don't worry I had shorts on underneath. Then about a mile later, I think it was 12, I stopped to go the the bathroom, and was off again. That would be my last stop until the finish line. At the half way mark, I still felt great. I had been sucking on candy the whole time to replenish my carbs, but was still worried about depleting everything before the end of the race. So I gagged down a pack of enery gel and washed it down with water. Nastiest stuff ever! Ugg! So gross! But I knew it would help. At Mile 17 my family was there cheering me on more! Yay! I still felt really great and was having so much fun! They said Jacob was way ahead of me and were going to go straight to the finish line to see him cross. 9 more miles. Mile 19 is where they were handing out GU energy gel packs, so I took one and gagged it down like before. There was a lady who was a 5 hour pacer for the marathon. She was holding a big pole with 5:00 on it. I tried to stay a little ahead of her through out the race so I could at least finish in 5 hours. Well it was about mile 22 or 23 when she started to pass me up. I could see her getting further and further ahead. I tried to speed up but I just couldn't. I don't know if this was 'hitting the wall' or not. I didn't feel like I couldn't go on and had to stop, I just simply could not go any faster.

I slowly finished the last few miles. There were many encouraging spectators cheering and hollering the last little bit to help keep up going. As I rounded the corner to the last stretch, I saw someone with a bright yellow shirt on. I first thought it was Jacob because he had on such a bright shirt, but soon noticed it was Bret! Malik was with him too, and as I passed they both gave me an encouraging high five. I then heard my name being shouted out and looked to see Jacob's family cheering for me. Maybe ten feet or so after them I heard my name again, and looked to see my family waving and cheering for me. I was so happy to see everyone there to support and encourage us. As I crossed the finish line, I was overcome with relief and excitement and was just very emotional. I looked to my right to see Jacob (who had finished about an hour before me). He had been waiting for me and greeted me with a big hug. I held back the tears as we embraced. We did it. We both finished! My official finishing time was 5:03. I didn't quite make it under 5 hours but at least i finished!

Recovering...We got our picture taken together at the end, ate a lot of food that was being provided such as bananas, fruit cups, potato chips, orange slices, popsicles, cyto-max, raisins and so forth. Then we met up with our families, took pictures, and finally made it back to Tevia's house to shower and stretch and nap. I'd say the hardest part of the marathon was the recovery. I was so so sore. It hurt to just move. That night I think I acually cried because I hurt so bad. The pain eventually went away and now I'm ready to run another one! I think Jacob and I had such a positive experience that we both would like to run more marathons, next time hopefully with no injuries and maybe we will beat our own individual times!