2009 Wind Rivers Day 2

Well, I'm actually writing this on day 4. Why? Because my iPhone completely drained itself of batteries on the hike from Deadman to Alpine. Day 2 was the Sabbath and it started out with breaking camp near Steamboat and getting a good lesson from Bishop Keller. We had fabulous hiking weather all the way to Alpine and it didn't seem near as grueling as day 1.
The song in my head was "Welcome, Welcome Sabbath Morning." Upon reaching Alpine, for the first time ever there was actually someone in our camp! We couldn't believe it and ended up staying at the packer camp across the river. It actually wasn't that bad.
We had chicken a la king with noodles for dinner which everyone enjoyed. We had a pretty good rainstorm during the evening. All four of us got in our tent and we joked around for a while - like a campfire without the fire and trying to avoid the smoke part.

-- Post From My iPhone

Spanky's!

So Angie works one night per week for a variety of reasons, not the least of which I'm sure is to teach me what it's like to be outnumbered by the boys while taking care of them. I've come to realize that while facing such a challenge, having activities to do is very important. Thus, our little Thursday evening ritual for the summer has been to load the boys up in the bike trailer (which they love) and head down to our favorite sandwich/ice cream shop called Spanky's.

A familiar sight every Thursday around 6:30.


I wish we could find a little helmet that would fit Andrew! We're always on the lookout. Not that JT's fits him perfectly.


One of the best things about Spanky's is that I know I won't have a problem getting JT to eat healthy food here (we never have to worry about Andrew). In fact, Spanky's is the birthplace of what we call in our family "Monster Bites." Also, no matter what kind of mood the boys are in (which usually isn't great because mom's at work), they ALWAYS cheer up once we're there and they really behave themselves. Another added benefit is that the special on Thursdays is pastrami - my favorite.

All in all, while it has become a highlight of my week, I believe Spanky's has become a highlight for the boys as well. Thanks Spanky's!

-- Post From My iPhone

Camping with JT

There's never a dull moment while camping with JT. Just the two of us went up Friday night up Farmington Canyon. We had a great time! We had an awesome tin foil dinner and we roasted marshmallows that night. Incidentally, that same night Jonathan Sanchez pitched the first no-hitter thrown by a Giant in my lifetime - Go Giants! Anyway, that morning we made some perfect pancakes - pancakes seem to taste 10 times better while camping. With JT's help, we made friends with the family in the site next to us (a dad and 3 daughters), and they invited us to go on their hike with them. They showed us the way to a cool waterfall, which was just the perfect length hike for JT. Upon taking down camp, we took the long way home driving the Sienna all the way over Skyline Drive which amounted to 20 miles of dirt road through some of the most spectacular country in the Wasatch. All in all, a great escape. It's always fun being with somebody who has enthusiasm for absolutely everything and can keep you laughing the whole time.

JT was excited for the pancakes Saturday morning

So everybody knows Rafiki - the baboon from the Lion King...

JT found a stick and walked around camp calling himself Rafiki for a few minutes. This is typical to the kinds of things he does the whole time - keeping me laughing. I'm lucky I was a fast enough draw with the camera for this one. I especially love the fact that he's using his knuckles - I certainly don't capture those sort of details, where does he get it? It's scary to think of other things he notices. Yeah, this is a wake up call to a parent.

JT at the waterfall

This pretty much sums up the trip

Here's JT's thoughts on camping


Here's a video look at the waterfall

JT the Deer

This is JT acting like the deer statue to his right. To say he loves animals in an understatement.

Serious, Excitement - The Andrew Face

My favorite things about this video:

• For the first time, the world is introduced to the "Andrew Face" which can best be described as serious excitement. Look for it's appearance at second 27.
  
• As soon as JT notices I'm recording something, he gets right in the middle of the picture and poses. Where did this kid come from? Who even taught you that? Has anyone else had a teenager in a 3 year old body?
• Andrew's squeals.
• I'm very happy with the video the new iPhones capture.
  

Lunchtime

This is a picture from lunch yesterday when Angie brought the boys down to eat with me. They always park under the Conference Center thus allowing us a little walk outside to enjoy the grounds. I have to say I'm impressed with the quality of the camera on the new iPhone.

Got Ya!

I have never been one to play practical jokes mostly because I think that they are mean. Someone  always ends up mad, messy, or just looking stupid. But about 3 months ago an idea started formulating in my brain. I could play a joke on Scott that would be just in fun and there should be no hurt feelings.

So yesterday, while Scott was at work, I set the stage. JT and I wrote on Andrew's diaper and I trained JT to say April Fool's. 

When Scott got home I told him I had an idea for the blog and I needed him to change Andrew's diaper so I could take a picture (not a lie by the way.) However, what Scott didn't know is that I was filming him not just taking a still shot.

So here is Scott getting fooled on April Fool's Day:

Flying a Kite

 

The other night I could hardly sleep because the wind was blowing so hard. So the next morning I decided to make lemon aid out of lemons. We pulled out the kite! JT loved it because he could get that kite to fly all by himself. He literally flew it all day (minus a short intermission for a nap.)

 

He got the kite going up so high that it was higher then some houses.

 

We also had the help of Uncle Gideon to get the kite in the air.

Here is JT on video happily flying his kite:

 

But today the weather has turned to snow. Who knows what season it is around here.

Talent Show

Saturday we had a talent show at our church. Scott signed himself and JT up to sing a song while Scott played the guitar. JT loves to be the center of attention and has preformed this song for family but on a stage in front of an audience is another story. He got a little stage fright and needed me to be by him for moral support. Luckily my brother Mike and his friend Jen were there to save the day. Mike took still pictures while Jen held Andrew. Thanks guys!

JT was a hit! He was complimented the rest of the night, spilling over into the next day at church.

Here is his performance:

Andrew's take on Greenbeans

Andrew tried vegetables for the first time last week. The books recommend green vegetables because they are the least sweet and babies are more likely to like them if they are first. But no one is fooling Andrew: Green mashed up food is gross!

Clip contains gag reflex, viewer discretion is advised :)

Valentine's Day: Hair and "Man-Pats"

So yesterday, Angie gave me one of the best Valentine's day gifts I have ever received. She allowed me to accept my Uncle Steve's offer of going skiing at Deer Valley!(This is a picture I took of Steve on the Wind River trip last year - check it out on google earth or maps.google.com at 43° 5' 0.36" N 109° 31' 6.91" W and make sure the photo option is turned on)

It was an awesome day of skiing considering the resort had received over 2 feet of snow in the prior 24 hours. The bumps were soft and fresh tracks were to be had for those willing to venture off the beaten path. It seriously doesn't get any better than fresh Utah powder!

(The picture below was taken by my friend Adam Barker - a photographer with more talent in his little finger than I could ever hope to have - if you want to be inspired by nature and the

outdoors, check out his site at adambarkerphotography.com)

Anyway, one of the most interesting things about Deer Valley is the lunch. Imagine a cafeteria but the opposite in every sense except that it's still a cafeteria. The food is absolutely top notch. Because we ski with pretty big groups, we usually have to get tables out of the way and up a flight of stairs in order to sit together. On this occasion it proved to be a blessing. Why you ask? At the table right next to us was none other than Mitt Romney sitting there with his family! He was obviously sitting there to avoid the foot traffic of downstairs, although that didn't stop a few people from walking right up to him and asking him for a picture (I bet celebrities absolutely loathe the invention of the camera phone). A few observations here. We were seriously close enough to listen in on his conversations if we wanted to, though I didn't really want to invade so I didn't try. He was texting on his blackberry quite a bit (replying to Obama's pleas for economic advice anybody?). But by far the most amazing thing is something that requires a little background. First off, he had his ski boots on so it's only logical that he was actually skiing before lunch because you wouldn't wear those clunky things otherwise. Also, it was cold and snowy that morning so there's no way he was out there without something covering his head. In the light of these facts you can now appreciate how extraordinary it was that his hair was absolutely perfect! When I take off a ski hat/helmet for example, I look like a mix of Ed Grimley, Shaggy-Doo and Buckwheat. I have no idea how he pulls this off. Maybe there is top-secret head ware for the uber-rich that doesn't leave devastation in it's trail. Nonetheless, it was really important that his hair was exquisite seeing how many people asked him for pictures. Now I understand why I can't be a celebrity; there would be way too many pictures posted on the internet with my hair looking like Nick Nolte's mugshot.

I think Luke 12:7 (http://scriptures.lds.org/en/luke/12) must be Mitt's stylist's mantra.

I did however get the opportunity to talk to him. While I was carrying my enchilada up the stairs, he was coming down. I seized the opportunity like a lion after an injured gazelle (a comment in passing is much better than interrupting his personal time/space at his table, no?). Luckily I didn't put my foot in my mouth and tell him how I had actually voted for Ron Paul in the primaries. Instead, I asked him how a childhood acquaintance of mine named Spencer Zwick was doing (he's Romney's former deputy chief of staff and Mitt has referred to him as his "sixth son"). He said "great" and asked me how I knew him. I replied explaining I had gone to school with him and his older brother Darren. He said "they're a great family" (that tends to happen when your dad is a General Authority) and put his hand on my shoulder and gave me a few "man-pats." I'll take man-pats over a handshake any day of the week. So there you go, that's my close encounter, hope you enjoyed it. The moral is that this would never had happened if Angie hadn't given me such a great present. This was all followed up with me taking her to a wonderful dinner and seeing that Andrew had learned to say "dadadadada" (always followed by a fit of excitement) that day. Oh, and not to worry, I groomed myself before taking her out.

Funny Story

Andrew had his 6 month check up this past week with Dr. Judd (a doctor that both our boys have seen since the day they were born.) JT is very comfortable with him because Dr. Judd is very friendly to him. Anyway, during Andrew's appointment JT piped in, "Hey Dr. Judd, Barack Obama is our president." 

A little surprised and I think impressed, he asked if JT would say that to another doctor in the office. JT agreed and he and Dr. Judd went and knocked on the door to another person's room. I guess this doctor is a big fan of the new president. The conversation went as follows:

Dr. Judd- JT tell Dr. Fruin who is the president of our country.

JT- Barack Obama!

Dr. Fruin- That's right and what country do we live in? (she asked as if to challenge or maybe one up the little guy)

JT- The United States of America (he said without hesitation)

an audible breath of shock from both doctor's, which caught all nurse's, doctor's, and any one else's attention that were within earshot. JT loves an audience.

Angie- That's not the half of it. Ask him about our State.

Dr. Judd- What state do we live in?

JT- The Utah (exact words)

Dr. Fruin- Who is our Governor?

JT- Governor Huntsman!

Angie- What city do we live in?

JT- The North Salt Lake

If anyone questioned if JT is a smart guy, I think we can safely bet that he is now. When he can shock an audience who's job is to observe children, there must be something special about him.

Don't believe my story is true, watch this video form this morning:

Happy half birthday Andrew!

 

Little Andrew is already 6 months old! He seems to be growing really fast. He is a happy guy, ready to smile and laugh at any moment.

 

Andrew is hitting his physical milestones really early: He can sit up (unassisted) for about 5 minutes before he falls down and

 

he can roll from front to back and back to front with ease. He can travel long distances in a short amount of time so he is on the floor, watch your step, there may be a baby under you. Andrew is starting to push with his feet and can move forward on occasion. Once he gets some coordination he'll be an early crawler. 

 

Andrew's favorite toy is JT. No one gets the baby laughing like JT can (a fact that JT knows and loves.) 

Christmas 2008

 

Christmas starts at our house when our nice neighbors put out their crazy decorations. Yes that is a green monster on the roof, three palm trees in front (with pink flamingos), and your standard decorations all around. The monster comes out late September and stays until the new year. Not really sure what it is all about but it reminds me of Christmas none the less. The palm trees are a new edition but because the flamingos are a year round staple, I think the lite palm trees are here to stay.

 

Christmas this year also meant JT's first snow man. JT had a blast making it. He helped push the big ball of snow all around the yard and periodically packing snow on. When we were done JT, rightfully, named the snowman Frosty and checked on him every day until he completely melted.

 

We also went to 5 Christmas parties this year. A big highlight was JT "fishing at the fishing pond." (pictured above) This is a Briggs family tradition where everyone puts a string behind a sheet and pulls out a present. JT got a watch that tells time, talks, and takes real digital pictures. JT is now my super sleuth. Big thank you to Kim and especially Vicky for keeping the tradition alive!!!

 

The climax was a 7 hour drive to Angie's sister, Wendy's, house for Christmas day and New Years. Angie's mom and step-dad also drove all the way from Texas and Angie's brother Mike flew from Texas to share this special day. With our family of four, Wendy's family of five, Mike and Mom and Ardean (a total of 12 gift recipients) it took a least 3 hours to open all the presents. It was a lot of fun!! JT asked for train tracks and cars and got both and more. He must charmed Santa with his humor like he charms me every day. Driving home was bitter-sweet. We miss our family in Texas and Colorado and can't wait to see them again.