lego Land

My left lego has been giving me a lot of trouble lately. I developed a blood clot there three weeks ago and I am still working through it. I never realized that something so small could cause so much pain. Anyway the kids are excited about halloween and can't wait to scare all the neighbors with their cool costumes.

Melissa is doing OK. She is working hard and putting in a lot of hours. She loves her work (not job) but hates being away from the kids. We are working on a solution.

We got our first snow fall today. it was a reality check for me. I forgot how cold it gets. The snow is beautiful and the kids love to play in it.

Luke Graduates from Pre School

People,

My boy Luke is headed to Kinder next year. He proudly graduated from Mrs Skousen's Tree Top Preschool recently and has assured me that he is going to be in the first grade before the end of the school year. Well, we'll see about that, but you gotta like his self confidence. Can anyone say narcissist?

Here are a few pictures of the lad.

Dave

The Country Life

Today was the last day for Luke's "Itty Bitty" ball at the Legacy Center here in Lehi. The two week program culminated with our team playing soccer, flag football, and basketball with a group parachute game in between. It ended with a balloon with a piece of candy attached for everyone. He looked like it he was as close to heaven on earth as a four year old could get.




I had a great time working with my two teams this session and I am planning on doing it again in May for baseball since he has to be five by June for a tee-ball team and he will miss the cut. I'm looking forward to helping with a Pinto team 5 and 6th graders, Ashlyn's first grade coach pitch team, and Luke's four year old Itty Bitty. Should be alot of fun this summer.

I took a quiz on facebook the other day called "where should you be living?" and it came back "the country" and I thought hey, I am where I should be since this is probably as close as this city slicker will come to country living. Heck, our city has an annual Rodeo called the "Roundup"to celebrate "Lehi Days", we have a small town parade down main street every year with bands, floats, and lots of horses.

There is a young guy named Scott who's grandfather owns the property next to my house and he rides a black horse named "Blackie"and owns a dog named "Dawg." I saw the old man that owns that field plowing the ground this weekend with a motoerized vehicle, I thinks they call it a tractor or something like that . There's a herd of at least sixteen deer that graze that land in the spring and summer right out my back door. I'm thinking this is what the "Country" must look like, right? Here is the view from our dinner table for the time being.

Itty Bitty Stud

We started itty bitty ball this week for Luke. This is my third year coaching/babysitting for our recreation department. It runs every three months and the sports rotate according to seasons.

So anyway, this week we played baseball, basketball and football. Of course I am very excited to teach these young pups and I glory in their individual achievements but in all the chaos, and believe me there is, only one athlete/player keeps my attention. It's one with the gorgeous mother sitting in the stands, no just kidding, it's the other boy with the gorgeous mother at work my Luke boy!

I know he's only four and we have a long way to go still but sometimes I marvel at his abilities. He is really no better or worse than any other boy (well maybe a little better than most but who's comparing?) but I am just in awe of him. Where does he get his speed, his power, his agility? From me of course! As if you didn't already know where I was going with that.


Of course I am having some fun with this. I have coached over a thousand boys in my career and have had to make cuts for almost every school team I ever coached, so the tryout process is very clear to me. The most difficult time as a coach without a doubt in my mind is the night before the final selections are made. Young boys hopes rest on your shoulders, parents teeter on whether or not their son will make it or not.

So now I bring you back to my itty bitty week, where I am looking at Luke and in my mind I am holding a tryout in my mind to compare him to his fellow teammates. Will he make the cut?

I have never been on this side of the fence and frankly it stinks. I don't know if I will be able to take it once the day comes and I know it waits for him in the future. I can only hope that it is as agonizing for that coach who ever he will be as it was for me. And if things don't go Luke's way, I will will first console the little guys heart as he learns life is intertwined with moments of elation and setbacks And then I will say a prayer for that coach because I know I sure could have used one back then.

He's only four, but I'm already teetering. We are heading out to play catch right now

They Call Me The Working Man

Well, as of Thursday Feb 26th 2009 I am officially receiving a monthly wage. As many of you know it has been a struggle to get things squared away since we moved to the Great White North (okay, it's all in the eye of the beholder).

I'll be working as a project manager in Orem UT. The best part is I'll be doing it mostly from home. So I guess technically, I'm still a stay home dad but I'm getting paid to be on the computer instead of wasting my time on it.

I am always amazed at the lords tools of humility and patience that he is so quickly to pull out of his box to try to "fix" me. If you know me, you know it's gonna take alot more than that to put me together.

I am grateful for the opportunity and look forward to wearing another hat. I was starting to think I would never find one in my size. Thank goodness some are adjustable.

Well it's been a while since I last posted something here and I felt it might be time.

I'll start with some very sad news, Melissa's sister Rachael Mittleman Gleason died unexpectedly on Jan 1st 2009 (seen here on the far right). Rachael had been ill or under a doctors care for much of the time I knew her. She was a beautiful spirit and her passing has been a very hard experience for Melissa. Rachael leaves behind two children making her passing that more difficult.

The distance between Utah and our extended family in California has never been more noticeable. Rachael did leave behind a legacy of love and healing that is truly a gift for her family. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Having said that, I now turn another page in the book of our family. Our oldest daughter Kayleigh Faith, turned eight years old this past December. She was baptised on Jan 3rd 2009. Because of the excitement surrounding this blessed event, members of our family both here in Utah and California and many of our friends were able to attend.

She had been preparing herself and took extra time during the last year before the baptism to learn more about her religion, and the life and mission of her Savior Jesus Christ, and her relationship to her Father in Heaven.

We were so impressed by the outpouring of love and support for Kayleigh and our family. Over 40 family and friends attended and helped to make it a day Kayleigh will never forget.