Happy Halloween

xoxo Willy and Violet

Go Grizzlies

So, this is what T looks like standing on the sidelines. Oh, you didn't recognize him in his gear? He's number 59.

This is him getting ready to rumble

And this is what he looks like in action.

The season is over - I guess all good things must come to an end.

The Feshman Grizzlies were undefeated, most games had a large victory margin.

Have you ever heard of a little thing called genetics? That is where T gets his sweet skills and handsome features.

Payson Lakes

Nothing better on a Saturday afternoon than a canyon drive with changing leaves and a lake as the destination.


Despite the looks, they really had a good time.


Every outing needs a "self photo". Tim's great at taking these shots.


B had to warm his hands after throwing snowballs.

Plenty of room of roam.

Everest was not so great at posing.

We just cut him out of this shot. Notice the leash?

My favorite moment of the day.

Glee

So, does anyone know if Will uses a stunt double for the dance scenes. I suspect it isn't him so I decided that I better figure out who it is that I am crushing on.

More Fun at the Gym

You see the most interesting people at the gym. This morning the gentleman beside me on the bike kept me me entertained with his commentary. He was watching the Today Show with headphones, but making very vocal comments in reaction to the stories. I can tell you this, he DOES NOT like Richard Heene and "Balloon Boy", but he is a fan of General Petraeus. I didn't stay long enough to get his opinion (whether I wanted it or not), on the rest of the morning news.

Life Through Polarized Lenses

Whoever coined the phrase "looking at life through rose colored glasses", must not have ever been outdoors with polarized sunglasses. I don't understand the science behind "polarized", I just know that they make colors more vibrant and everything looks better. I spent this morning riding my bike up the right and left forks of Hobble Creek Canyon. The leaves have turned and the colors were amazing. The polarized lenses made it all more intense. A few times I was so mesmerized by the sights that I lost track of what was going on around me. As I rode I thought about the lenses and the way they filter and make things look better than they are. I wished for a lens like that to filter everything else in life. It took a minute for it to hit me that my attitude can serve as the "polarized lens". It may sound a little pollyannish, but I liked the realization that I can choose to see people and situations as better than they really are. The convo in my head reminded me of the "Parable of the Garbage Truck" that my brother in law sent me. Whoever wrote this must have been wearing polarized glasses at the time:

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!' This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.' He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks takeover their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so... Love the people who treat you right. Forgive the ones who don't. Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it! Have a garbage-free day!

No Shame

For the most part my genetics have been good to me. When it comes to sinuses, however, I would like to petition for a whole new set of genes. When I get sick it seems to always progress to a sinus infection, and when I was younger I even had to have a surgical procedure to ream out my sinuses. The real problem though is that when I exercises I repeatedly have to blow my nose. It used to be that when I went running, I always took with me a little stash of kleenex or rolled up toilet paper. I used my best manners when taking care of such business when running. Then came the St. George Marathon of 2003. I had trained hard and was trying to qualify for Boston, so every second counted. Sean and my dad determined that there was no time for manners and forced me to learn to "farmer blow". Once I learned there was no turning back. Unfortunately it has now become a trademark of my running. Where am I going with all of this. Sadly, there is now proof of my bad habits. I ran the St. George Marathon on Saturday (more deets to come later). Today I excitedly opened an email of photos from the race and found this. I have been laughing all day. Maybe I should be embarassed.

PS, I can't get a good size photo due to copyright issues, but you get the point. I'm sure my mom is so proud.

Bear Lake

A few weeks ago we got the chance to spend a weekend in a cabin at Bear Lake. The area is beautiful, and the water is spectacular - crystal clear and blue. The first night we met in town for dinner. It got a little cool and my dad's toesies were freezing so he bundled up with his golf shoes.

Saturday morning we enjoyed the heated pool.

Grandma scored big time with waterguns.
Bathing Beauties
We didn't even plan the matchy matchy swimming suits.

Too bad Baby G didn't have a polka dot bathing suit.The hot tub was the place to be.

I couldn't believe how long B could hold his breath in that hot water.

We finally made it to the lake.

The water was cold but great for waverunners.

This is what happens when you take the baby off the machine.

Not everyone was a fan of the water.

It felt great just to sit in the sun.

The best part of the weekend was a lot of relaxing.

The kids took this seriously with their invention of "pillow world".

Oh, if only Pillow World and Bear Lake could have lasted a little longer.

Golden Onion Days

One of the best parts of the summer is Onion Days. Those of you who are not from South Utah County may know this as Labor Day, but if you aren't celebrating with the onion, you are missing out. Sadly, I didn't take any pictures of the actual participants in the parade, but I got lots of the fans. Recognize anyone you know?

There was some serious candy thrown, thus the happy faces

Seriously, don't you just want to snuggle this guy?

This was what I got when I asked Miles to "say cheese"

My cousin Lee Ann. We probably have a pic with the same pose when we were kids.

When I was in high school, the carnival was the place to be. I hope you won't think less of me for this, but my friends and I used to flirt with the carnis (completely non PC term for employees of the carnival). If you hung around after dark, they would give you free rides. I think that I should be ashamed, but I'm still not.

Tim and the boys had a great time on the super slide.

I don't consider myself much of a photographer, but I quite like these images of the Ring of Fire. I really like the fact that it is E and B hanging upside down and not me.