Golfing

I went golfing a few weeks ago with a friend of mine and on the eighteenth hole got these pictures of a family of deer that crossed the fairway. The hole is fairly short par five that is reachable (you can see the green in the background). I reached in two and had an eagle put from twenty feet. Then a par put from five feet. Followed up by a tap in par.

...and then there were three

We made the family trek to Logan this weekend to drop Darren off at school. Having your first child, or any child, grow up and leave home is a mixed emotion experience. On the one hand we are happy that Darren has developed into a potential rich young man, capable of tackling the challenges of attending college and being away from home. On the other hand we will miss him in our home on a daily basis. He has been a great example to his brother and sisters and a tremendous support to his parents.

Check in was on Saturday and Darren joined the masses of freshmen and their parents hauling boxes back and forth to their dorm rooms. After getting his room set up, we went on campus and hit the bookstore to outfit the family in Aggie gear and had lunch at the Taggert Center.

Darren and his room mate Zack in their "home" for the next eight months.

What trip to Logan would be complete without going by the temple for a picture or two.

Tyson was pouting all evening and wouldn't come outside of his sleeping back for the picture. I think he was pouting when he found out that without actually drawing the short straw, he had to sleep on the floor.

After dinner we left Darren and Zack and they stayed in their dorm room for the evening. We decided to stay the night at the local Holiday Inn. Taylor spent the evening reading "A Tale of Two Cities" - not by choice, rather she has to as part of a summer reading assignment for honors english. Her review of the book would probably start, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of books..." After swimming we all went to bed about 10 pm. I wonder if Darren was asleep by 10 pm as well?

We went by Darren's dorm room on Sunday to formally say good bye. Hugs were exchanged, a few discrete tears were shed, and the three kids still at home turned their thoughts to taking over his room left behind at home.

You May be a Taliban If....

With apologies....

You may be a Taliban if....

1. You refine heroin for a living but have a moral objection to beer.
2. You own a $3,000 machine gun and a $5,000 rocket launcher, but you can't afford shoes.
3. You have more wives than teeth.
4. You wipe you butt with your bare hand, but consider bacon unclean.
5. You think vests come in two styles: bullet proof and suicide.
6. You can't think of anyone you haven't declared Jihad against.
7. You consider television dangerous, but routinely carry explosives in your clothing.
8. You have nothing against women and think every man should own at least one.
9. You were amazed to discover that cell phones have other uses than setting off road side bombs.
10. You have always had a crush on your neighbors goat.

Lake Powell - Day Four

It's 105 degrees and we're melting. We have been on the lake on hotter days, but not by much. As it was our last day, everyone took one more try at wake boarding. Camryn is getting so close to getting up and staying up. She is very enthusiastic about trying. She gets that from Kristi, not me. Darren gave it a valient effort but claims he's retiring the board for good. Tyson doesn't like to wake board, but is a fan of the knee board. We got off the lake early and will have a nice dinner tonight along with a little rest.

Darren giving wake boarding a try.

Camry gets up, but only temporarily.

Tyson and Camryn hanging out with Bart.

Lake Powell - Day Three

Apparently Tylenol wasn't enough to cure every one's discomforts from the first two days. Rather than exciting tube rides, wake boarding and cliff jumping we spent the day under the shade of our favorite West Canyon cliff, soaking our bodies in the cool water. For excitement we went to the on lake marina at Dangling Rope and got an ice cream.



A couple of picture of the boat returning from Dangling Rope.

The trip to Dangling Rope wasn't without its thrills. As we were docking the boats, our good friend Bart slipped on the dock and fell into the carp infested water.

Lake Powell - Day Two

Sun burns, life vest rashes, and heat exhaustion - nothing a little Tylenol can't fix. We spent today exploring a canyon we've never been to (Navajo Canyon) and taking tube rides. Kristi was insistent that Darren, Taylor and I ride together on the tube and she proceeded to throw us around behind the boat until we were all dumped in the lake. She claims she didn't see the waves, but we know better.

Darren found a fun cliff to jump off.


Camryn tried again today to wake board. Taylor was in the water with her giving her encouragement. Having a pink wakeboard is essential for an 8 year old girl.

For the past five years, our good friends the Plantes come with us. It's comforting to come to Lake Powell in a group as you never know what trouble you'll find once out on the lake which is about 135 miles long and has thousands of side canyons to explore. Our favorite place to spend the day is West Canyon which is about 35 miles upstream from the Wahweep Marina and Glen Canyon Dam.

Lake Powell - Day One

At long last we made our first trip this year to Page, AZ and Lake Powell. We arrived here on Tuesday and will spend Wednesday through Saturday on the lake (except for the evenings where we will stay in the relaxed, air-conditioned comfort of the hotel). I've never understood how anyone could camp on the lake and enjoy it. Today was over 100 degrees. We had a great day today soaking in the sun, cruising the lake, swimming, tubing, eating and wake boarding. Even Camryn gave wake boarding a try. Temperatures hit triple digits and the water was a very pleasant 78 degrees.



Kristi has always been the best skier and wake boarder in the family - so she gets her picture posted. Tomorrow I'll post pictures of the rest of us in various stages of being drug through the water or crashing.




This is our boat, named the "Aquaholic".


Tyson losing a water fight.

I captured this picture of Taylor when we'd stopped for lunch. She is a wonderful daughter.

There is a great canyon wall where the boats don't drift and there is always shade. We stop here on every trip for shade, food and relaxation.

Mike would be in heaven here with his camera. We've been coming to Lake Powell for almost ten years and I never cease to be amazed by the beauty that surrounds us.