Ava turns 7

I really made an effort to get home on time for Ava's big day.  I was so glad I did.  When I got home, she was so excited and happy.  

So, Ava had gone to the store previously and saw Fliker scooter with Nichole.  However, Nichole had told her that we couldn't afford that this year, so Ava was not expecting to get this scooter.  We hid the scooter in Ethan's closet, so she had no idea at all that a scooter was going to be her main gift.   In fact, after she had opened her other presents, she even told her brothers that she was happy with gifts she had gotten and that she didn't need a big scooter.  Well, after she opened her presents, we all pretended the gift opening was over, but then I went into Ethan's room to retrieve her last present.  This was her reaction...so cute!

Brad and Jake were great to help put the scooter together

Because it was Ava's birthday, Eli didn't understand that he'd be left out of the gift giving.  He told everyone that it was his birthday.  He wanted a real helmet for his birthday.  So, Ethan gave him his old helmet from his football team.  Eli loved it!

After opening gifts, we were able to go bowling over to Fat Cats in Lehi

Bear Lake Half

Back on Sep. 19th, I did my last triathlon of this year.  It was a Half distance triathlon at Bear Lake.  So, the distance was a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and a 13.1 mile swim.   I went down with a neighborhood buddy, Jake Carlile.  I ended up having my best time with a 5:21:26 performance, which meant I came in 14th place overall.  This time beat my previous best time by about 28 minutes.  I thought coming into this event that I might be able to break or at least come close to breaking the 5 hour barrier.  But, conditions were challenging, to say the least. 

Swim - 31 minutes and 51 seconds.  This was good for 11th place overall.  The swim was great.  I felt good for this and was super happy with my time...a great swim!

Bike - 2 hrs 43 mins 55 secs.  This bike ride was the coldest ride ever!!!!  I came out of the water feeling good, but the air temperature was only about 35 degrees.  I had brought fall and cold weather gear with me and had it ready to use coming out of T1 (Transition area from swim to bike), but because I got caught up in the moment I just neglected to put on the cold gear.  I froze my tooch off for the whole 56 miles!  I had only a set of arm warmers and could not for the life of me ever warm up.  I thought I was going to go into hypothermia as I came out of the water wet and just had the cold air blistering against my unprotected body for the next few hours.  This was brutal and good for only 21st overall.  The funny thing is that afterwards Nichole and I were looking at race photos.  Every athlete had cold gear on during the bike except for 2 people, the overall winner and myself.  Man, I was stupid!

Run - 1 hour 55 minutes and 11 seconds which was good for 10th overall.  I lost about 5 minutes in T2 (Transition stage from bike to run) just trying to warm up.  My body was in shock due to the extreme cold I had my body going through.  Out of 56 athletes, my transition time was almost the worst.  I had to lay down on the asphalt and allow my body to stop shaking from being so cold.  I think I finally warmed up about 3 miles or so into the run

Here's Jake and I after the race with our Finisher's Medal.  And, yes, I am still trying to warm up.  This was Jake's first Half Distance Triathlon.  He did awesome finishing just over 6 hours

Halloween 2014

The cousins....

Hot Springs hike and campout

On November 14-15, I went on a hike and campout with the 12-13 year olds.  Jake was slated to go but fell ill just before.  Jake always gets sick "conveniently" when he has to do something he does not want to do.  I told him after I returned that no more will that happen.  When I got home, he was totally fine.  So, we ended up going up Spanish Fork Canyon to the Hot Springs.  We hiked up a couple miles, set up camp and then went swimming in the Hot Springs.  We spent nearly a couple hours in the water and had a great time.  It was cool swimming when it was freezing outside.  The boys were boys and goofing off was just what the doctor ordered for these kids.

From left to right: Brayden Christiansen, Liam Byrne, Brad, Jake Finlinson, Aaron Hanks and Elijah Hanna 

Brayden - Liam - Elijah - Jake - Brad - Aaron - Lewis Barton 

Brayden - Liam - Elijah - Jake - Brad - Aaron - Me

"I wanna go jump"

I get home from work and Eli tells me with those big brown eyes and soft innocent voice, "I wanna go jump."  Then, Nichole would say, "go ask daddy." I could never say no to that sweetness.  I sure wish I could zoom in and clear up these pictures 

Eli's second birthday

A family dinner with Nichole's side

These pictures were taken back in April

Alisa with Kate

Uncle Dean and Grandpa Merrill

Uncle David

Aunt Rachel...and her normal pose yelping at the kids (j/k)

These two are always up to something mischievous

Cousin McKenna hangin with Ethan

Ava with Annaka and Eden

Spring 2014 Conference

Some of Nichole's family came over to watch Conference at our house.

Cousin Brittany with her boyfriend, Jesse.  Brittany was contemplating whether to go on a mission or not during this session of conference.  She really likes this boy Jesse and was torn.  During conference she felt that it was the right decision to go.  And, the good thing is, that this Jesse boy supported her decision to go

Cousin Lexi.  Ethan loves to go hang out with Lex.  They're pretty good friends.  They hang out almost every Sunday together.  Lexi is a freshman at BYU right now.  

 This kid has the best close-ups.  He is so dang cute!

Hey, he's actually awake during the conference.  That, in and of itself, was picture worthy

The two best little buds

It's always great to hang out with family and extended family.  Family really is what the gospel is all about.  We want to be there for each other and help each other make it back to heaven and earn the greatest prize of all and that of living together forever.  Hopefully, we all like each other enough to want that!