Christmas Vacation

We headed to the cabin for Christmas. We packed three families into three two-wheel drive minivans. Thank goodness for snow plows, chains, and ice melt.

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Gifts were under the tree.
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The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...
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...in hopes that the Jackalope soon would be there.
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Bryce clapped at the Cook cousin gift exchange.
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The cabin kids making a sled train.
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Uncle Clark with Chelsea and Beck.
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Spencer dressed for the weather.
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The snow bunnies.
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Carter getting launched off the jump.
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Michael getting air off the jump.
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Clark making it look easy.
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Here I am getting no air.

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Kristen and Bryce after the jump.
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David and Bryce watching a DVD.
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Christmas Eve hors d'oeuvres.
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The cousins on Christmas Eve.
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Kristen, Bryce, and Carter by the fire.
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Bryce eats a candy cane for breakfast on Christmas morning.
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Spencer with a gift.
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Chelsea thanking Mom.
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Jonathan showing off the Sour Cream & Onion Crickets.
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Carter showing off the cricket up close.
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Down the hatch.
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Spencer snow boarding.

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Ironman

The latest rumor is that St. George will be getting an official Ironman Triathlon in 2010. So what does that mean to me? The Ironman name has become synonymous with the pinnacle of athletic endurance. Ironman finishers proudly lay claim to being among the fittest athletes in the world. Ironman events consist of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112-mile bike, and a 26.2 mile marathon run. I could achieve this notable accomplishment without having to leave my own backyard.
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Everyone has to handle their midlife crisis their own way. Ironman is slightly safer than climbing Mt. Everest and less expensive. Training for the event would help motivate me to stay in shape. The question is, at what point do these events go beyond "just staying in shape" to become a time-wasting, health-threatening, narcissistic endeavor?

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Right now I have a young family, a busy career, and ecclesiastical obligations. However, I am not getting any younger. If I ever do an Ironman Triathlon, it won't be easier if I wait. I have always believed in making the most out of life. However, many of the "great and famous" of this world have tragically failed in the aspects of their lives that were the most important in order to succeed at the trivial. Can a person adequately train for the Ironman and still give due attention to family, church, and career?

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Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving with 70% of the Cook Clan plus Papa & Grandmary.

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We also celebrated Debbie's birthday. She still 25 and counting.
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We next headed outside for our first annual turkey shoot.
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That bird doesn't stand a chance against this firing line.
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David even caught some of this on high speed video so we could check out our technique in super slow motion.
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Hillary is a natural.
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This is our version of a turkey.
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After the turkey shoot we all came home for dessert.
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We laid out the ads for the Black Friday sales in order to plan the next day. Kristen and I decided that sleeping in on Friday was worth more than saving $10 on a DVD.
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We cleaned up after everyone left, and now we are ready for the next big holiday. It's time to start praying for snow.
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What Have You Done?

Copy the list and highlight the ones that are true about you

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo - only in my car or shower
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight - including one real big one freshman year at BYU resulting in several expulsions from the university
22. Hitch hiked - it was after the marathon, and the man looked safe
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - day I bought the minivan
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb - most often on a skewer at Greek restaurants
26. Gone skinny dipping - actually rolled around in the snow first for a second
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse - lunar, not solar
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run - I prefer to get walked
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors - only if you mean Los Angeles (Dad & Grandmother)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language - the Spirit helped
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance - cost a bunch, I don't recommend it
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing - just off a ski boat in the open ocean, not sport fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in movie
55. Been in a movie - not Hollywood, just school projects
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business - sold candy at school like the club fund raisers, but I wasn't in a club
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching - just from the pier
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving - not while my mother is still alive
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt - I've helped tie a few though
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone - does a hairline fracture count?
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle - although "speeding" is subjective
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible - I've read the New Testament a few times, but not the entire Old
86. Visited the White House - just from the outside, I didn't take the tour
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - just fish
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one - but not unexpectedly
94. Had a baby - no, but I've participated in 4
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Talked your way out of a ticket

Chelsea on Halloween

Chelsea in her Halloween parade at school.

Trick or Treat

This is a "high quality" cell phone video shot of Bryce & Spencer before trick-or-treating. Really this is just an excuse to practice using modern technology. I do not text, I nearly never take cell phone pictures, and I surely don't use my phone for the internet if a real computer is around. However, I could see where knowing this stuff might come in handy.

Fall Break

Bryce tending the store under the stairs at the cabin. Watch out, we might have the next Harry Potter on our hands.

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Chelsea checking things out from the deck.
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The boys playing catch in the road.
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Fall colors. They are pretty to look at, but the leaves make the traditional golf ball hunt a little more difficult.
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Cousins making the most of being banished to the basement. Can you name the movie they're watching?
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Impromptu Marathon

The 2008 St. George Marathon was held yesterday. Earlier in the week the forecast predicated an 80% chance of thunderstorms and I was content with my decision not to register and run this year.

Our friends the Callisters registered to run and arranged to stay with us several months ago. We had looked forward to their visit and had planned to host and support them in their adventure. When they arrived on Friday night, we learned that Nate had injured his knee while training and would not be running with Bethany. He had picked up his number, but had no intention of using it. He offered it to me and I considered my options.

I am always up for a challenge. David & Emily and Jonathan & Gina were visiting that night and they laughed at the prospect of running last minute with zero preparation. Of course, that just encouraged me. I like a good dare. I would be running anonymously with no particular goals. I could drop out at any time without any shame. I finished my "dairy loading" with a big bowl of ice cream and went to bed.

We arose early and made it to the starting line. Rain fell the entire race. Within the first mile, my shorts were as wet as if I had been swimming. Despite the rain, I felt good. Because I had just finished an 88 hour work week and had not trained a bit, I knew I had to pace myself. After an hour of running, I tried the run 4 minutes walk 1 minute method. I kept that up for the next hour and I got to the halfway point under 2 hours. I stopped to take a picture with my phone and I tried to send it to Clint Cresap.

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Over the second half of the race I bumped into several different friends. We would chat for a moment, run together for a mile or so, then go our separate ways. I called Kristen and a few friends during the race. It kept me from getting bored. The wind and rain started taking its toll by mile 20. I was wearing next to nothing and my teeth were chattering. I was as sore from shivering as I was from running. I really wanted to quit. I called Kristen and asked her to bring me warm clothes at the 23.5 mile. I put on the sweats, changed my socks, and suddenly I felt much better and was able to run the final 2.7 miles.

I got my worst time, but I still managed to finish under 5 hours. More important than that however, I got my finisher's medal.

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Go Cougars!

We were so impressed by BYU's annihilation of UCLA last week, that we decided to see the Cougars in person.

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The fall colors were visible on the mountain, there was a mild breeze, the stands were packed...
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... and the family just kept thinking, Seven Peaks last month was way better than this.
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This photo captures the moment. Four small children crammed on a bleacher without anyone having had their daily nap.
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College Football

I enjoy playing almost every sport, but don't enjoy watching them on TV. College football is the one exception. It is the one sport I pay the most attention to. Also, it helps that recent years have been kind to my favorite teams. This year looks good for both USC and BYU. This past weekend was great. USC is ranked #1 and BYU is closing in on the top 10.
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USC 35 Ohio State 3
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BYU v. Pac 10: 2-0
Moutain West v. Pac 10: 5-0
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BYU over UCLA... 59 to 0
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