Grandparents visit

We were very fortunate to have both grandparents come for a visit. Brookes' mom and dad came in first. They were visiting Oregon for their wedding anniversary, and spent a few days at the coast. While they were here they got to pick strawberries, make freezer jam, go the park, and visit spend time at home. Brooke really enjoyed the visit. Next, we got a visit from my parents. They were in town for the trials. My sister Alissa came down from Portland to join us and have fun. Liam liked playing with his cousin Emilie at the park. My dad and I got some good rides in, and got to sport the new GC Connection shirts.

Olympic Trials

We are very fortunate to be living in a great city like Eugene, the host of the 2008 Olympic Trials. Eugene is definitely track town U.S.A. It has been fun to watch and follow. Last Friday my parents came into town and my dad and I went to the opening day of the track meet. It was quite the experience. Saturday my parents, Brooke, and I went to the meet. It was extremely hot, up in the 90's. It is amazing to see the athletes and the sacrifice they made to get there. I always feel bad for the 4th place finisher. Their the first one to not make it on the team - that's rough.

It also has allowed Brooke and I to flash back on her career in track as a high jumper (personal best of 184 cm). Brooke qualified for the 2000 Olympic trials, but didn't compete because we were cast members in the LDS Hill Cumorah Pagaent. She has no regrets with her choice, but it would have been cool to see her compete in it.

Bubba's 1st scrapbook page

Here is a link to my first scrapbook page!:) Margaret this is for you.

http://scrappingconnection.blogspot.com/

Visitors!

We have had many visitors over the last month, starting with Kricket and her family. Garrett was in Europe studying abroad for school, so Kricket was making the road trip to visit family and friends. It was great to have her here. Liam and Cooper spent the time working on "cooperation" and "sharing." Kricket got to see friends and visit old hangouts.



Next we were lucky to have my parents stop by for a couple of days. My little sister is moving with her little family to Portland while her husband is going to PA school. It is always fun to have family in town. While my parents were here we got to take them to the Saturday Market. That is always an interesting time.



Finally, we got to have Brooke's youngest sister, Elisa, come and stay with us. She is a fun lady and always makes us laugh. She and Brooke stayed up way to late talking into the night about this and that. Avery really watched to see what Elisa was doing, even not doing, including not eating her oatmeal (which Avery thinks she doesn't have to eat now - thanks Lis). Sorry we didn't get a picture of Elisa. Lis if you have one send it our way and we will post it.

Ouch-e!

BEWARE: I start this off by warning any readers that this can be gross and graphic. It is not to be viewed by the young and innocent or faint hearted. In the words of Liam, "Ouch-e!" It happpened in my time trial race on Saturday. Luckily I wasn't seriously hurt, other than minor scraps and bruises. Two guys on my team hit wheels and fell down, causing me to go right over them and land hard on the ground. When I hit my legs cramped up and it was pretty painful. But I am healing and feeling better. I am looking forward to the next race:)

Avery!

Avery is finishing up her final weeks of school. At her assembly she won an award for lifeskill in Effort and Sense of Humor. We are very proud of her.


I had the chance last Friday to go with Avery on her class field trip to the coast. It was great to be able to spend time with Avery and her friends. She and Emily are two peas in a pod. First, we went to the aquarium in Newport. It was fun to walk around and see the shark tank, touch the star fish, and look at the exotic fish.





After the aquarium we loaded back up on the bus and headed to the coast to visit the tide pools. If was my first experience at a tide pool and I was not disappointed. The kids were enthralled with the purple sea urchin, green anemones, and multi-colored sea stars. I am always entertained by the kids conversations, it is never a dull moment. It was great to spend time with Avery!

Tagged

Thanks Chrysta for the tag, I didn't know guys were supposed to do this kind of thing. I have seen many versions of being tagged, so I am assuming, from your blog, I need to write down three things in each of the areas. I am not claiming that this will be anything entertaining or shed some light onto my weird self, but here you go.

Joys
1. Coming home from a long day at work and having a bowl of vanilla ice cream with the family. I get to have two of my favorite things: family and ice cream. I love ice cream! My favorite is home made, but it is a rare occasion that that happens.
2. A day with no projects. Brooke likes to keep me busy with projects. You can always here her say, "I have an idea" or "I want you to do something." Usually they are good ideas and turn out for the best, but once in a while it is nice to do nothing but be with the family and enjoy.
3. Sitting for 4 or 5 yours on my bike. Love it! Road today with my dad on my favorite bike ride, Wolfe Creek. It is absolutely beautiful out here in Oregon, and I get to see it while peddling my bike.

Fears
1. Avery turning into a teenager! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
2. After number 1 there is nothing else to fear.
3. Well, maybe when Avery turns 16 and starts dating. I am doomed.

Goals
1. Not to eat off others plates. I am always finishing the fam's food. It is a bad habit and always getting me in trouble.
2. To post a comment on Margaret's blog. She is always posting on ours and I feel bad that I never post on hers (sorry Margaret I will try to do better).
3. Win a crit. I won two cyclocross races last year, but never won a crit. I took second 6 times.

Current Obsessions (Me obsessed?)
1. My bike.
2. My other bike.
3. My other, other bike.

Random Facts About Me
1. I hate broccoli, but eat it because I know it is good for me. And I know that Liam and Avery are watching me. Avery has become the broccoli police.
2. Once someone asked how I got the big scar on my head and I told them I got in a fight and was hit in the head with a bat.
3. I made a DIGITAL scrapbook page for my mom's birthday. I will never do that again. My mom is hard to buy for and she is the most talented scrapbooker, so I decided to make her a page on Photoshop. Like I said I will never do that again. I have yet to see the fun in that.

Hope that met everyones expecations. I guess I am supposed to tag someone else? I don't think any of my guy friends would actually do it, so actually going to tell Jill she needs to do it. Have at it.

Tagged?

Chrysta, I guess I am a little lame with this, but don't know what that means to be "tagged." I have seen them a couple different ones, so I don't know what I am supposed to do.

Avery's track meet

Following in her mother's footsteps, literally, is what Avery is doing. Avery joined the track and field team at her school. Whenever I see Avery run I am reminded of all those years of watching Brooke compete at WSU. Avery looks just the same: skinny long legs, determined face, and loving to talk with everyone of her friends. I think we have reincarnated Brooke. Avery did very well in her first track meet, winning her heat in the 100 m and winning the long jump (Avery said around 10 feet). We are proud of her.

Liam's new hairdo

Liam got a new hairdo! Unfortunately, Brooke didn't like it so much. Oh well, fun while it lasted (maybe 2 minutes).

Ethan Photo Shoot

Brooke took atleast 50 pictures of Ethan in this chair, so I had to publish some of them.

The Suprise in the Playhouse

When I came home from a stake priesthood meeting Liam and Avery were waiting at the garage door. As I get out Liam yells, "We have kittens!" Yesterday, Avery and I went out into the back yard. Avery got a little scared because she said a black cat hissed at her. I told her to be tough and scare it away. Well, today Liam and Avery went back out into the back yard. Again the black cat hissed at Avery and she went inside. Liam got up the nerve to follow it into the playhouse. And to his suprise four kittens. He ran into the house and yelled, "Baby kittens Mommy! Baby kittens." There are two white ones and two black ones. We don't know yet what we are going to do with them. Anyone want a kitten?

The New Jogging Stroller

We finally got a new jogging stroller, so Brooke can take both kids on her morning walks. She is still pretty sad that Kricket is gone and can't walk with her any more. But I think she and Kristy are going to start up soon, maybe when it stop raining (sometime in June?). The best part of the stroller is the swivel wheel in front. Our old single stroller couldn't do that. Liam and Ethan sure like it.

The Mystery smell?

Brooke and I kept smelling something in the bathroom this last week, but didn't know what it was. Until one morning Liam said he needed to go to the bathroom. I hear him go in, nothing, toilet flush, hands wash, but wait, no splash? I went into the bathroom and asked Liam if he went to the bathroom. He said, "Yes, I went in the garbage." The smell was Liam going to the bathroom in the garbage can. Liam has just recently learned to go standing up and found himself exploring. Yesterday, Liam decided to go to the bathroom on the front lawn. Oh to be three and the freedoms of going anywhere you want too.

Liam's 3rd b-day

We were able to spend Liam's 3rd birthday with family in Utah. As always my cake didn't turn out to well. Liam was pretty excited because he got two party's - one with the Marcheschi's and one with the Cottle's. Liam got some clothes and toys. My dad has been working on Liam's birthday presents for months. He made Liam his own train, similar to the Thomas the Tank Engine series. Also, he made an Avery and Ethan one as well. Liam was pretty excited.

Liam and Deakin

Over the past year and a half we have had to coax Liam into nursery. One way was by telling him Deakin was going to be in nursery, which sent Liam into a sprint to go see his buddy. We were sad to see the Wimmer's move back to Utah. We did get to see them at the BL alumni basketball tournament. My team got to play JD's twice, which we won both times, but whose counting. We will definitely miss them.

Muma & Papa

While driving to Utah we like to stop at Muma and Papa's (Brooke's grandparents)in Sweet, Idaho. It is a good half way point for our journey, and breaks up the drive for the kids. One of the neat parts is that we get to spend some time on the farm and visit with them. We even got to ride to church in the 1930 model - T.

Goat Herders

For those of you that don't know there are two things I don't like to do: 1. get up on stage. 2 - Dance! I don't know how or why, but Luke and Matt talked me into doing an act in our ward talent show. Back in college Luke did the performance with some roommates at the Ricks College talent night and won the contest. So Luke got the idea to try it with some old guys and do it for the ward. It is a dance to the song, "Lonely Goat Herder," from the movie The Sound of Music. It is a good laugh.

Of Course - Ethan!

What would an update be without an Ethan picture.

These were pictures that Brooke took in the backyard of our beautiful Oregon.

Creative Minds

We have some creative minds in our home. Avery is always doing something - making videos, drawing pictures, and/or making clothes for her animals. Liam is always doing something with trains or having conversations with Thomas and company.

Avery took a grocery store bag and turned it into an hour of fun. They were having a good time together.

Liam decided to make a train track using post-it notes. It went all the way down the hall.

We are Marshall

Last week we (meaning Liam and I) were very inspired. I went to the Red Box, pretty cool deal, to rent a movie. There wasn't much there, so I decided to get the movie, We are Marshall. Brooke was pretty skeptical, but ended up liking it. I felt like I was walking back through memory lane. Every time they would show a football scene and the high impact collisions I would get excited. I could start to feel the adrenaline from when I used to play, way back when I was much bigger than now. After the movie I was showing Liam how to tackle and we were practicing. I was showing him how to get into a three-point stance and the correct way to hit. He would run all the way across the room and tackle me, sending me backwards. Maybe I will have a little football player some day.

Liam and the Thomas Dance

A couple of weeks ago Natalie, Avery's friend, gave Liam a wonderful gift - a Thomas the Tank Engine toothbrush. But the nifty thing about this toothbrush is that it plays the Thomas theme song. Liam loves this toothbrush! Tonight I was getting Liam ready for bed and he got up onto the tub and started doing the Thomas Dance. I got a good kick out of it. Brooke pointed out that his legs stand just like mine. Knocked together at the knees and spread wide and the ankles. It is one of those traits I was glad to pass on. Liam is a pretty cute kid!

Yes, a new Ethan pic!

Brooke was having a feet binge and took lots of pictures of Ethan and Liam's feet.
This is Liam's cute little rump!

What would our blog be without another pic of Ethan. He is just too cute.

Jaunty yellow bathroom

Here is a picture of our jaunty yellow bathroom. It definitely fits Brooke's personality - jaunty! We are going to change the bath mats and towels to white and put different pictures in the frames, but it's a start. This is one more example of Brooke's great ideas.