Fall Games 2011

On the 14th and 15th of this month, Special Olympics held their Fall Games at the University of Utah swim pool.  Jena swam the 25 meter back stroke and the 25 m. free style.  She came in second and first.  For the first time, she also swam a relay and they came in first place after the first team was disqualified for taking off too soon on one of the laps.  No pictures because I had the camera in the bag on the pool deck but was busy coaching in a different area.

Basketball was the next morning so for the first time, we stayed down in Salt Lake overnight.  It was a nice little getaway.  Jena did well also in basketball skills.

If you are missing

the post about my brother Mike...I realized that I had published it on the wrong blog.  It was meant for my extended family blog.

I will catch up this blog when there is a spare minute that is not 2:00 a.m. like it is right now.

The Rain Change in Action

I know that seeing pictures of the rain chain isn't as exciting as being here in person.  After all you miss the freshness of the air which comes with a Utah fall rain and the great sounds of the water as it flows through the copper funnels.  It rained so hard for about 10 minutes on Tuesday that it actually was too much for the rain chain to handle and water spit out off the top and then a cascade of rain overflew the gutter on the front of the deck.  On a few moments it was like being under a waterfall (that's when I thought to go grab the camera but it had stopped by the time I got back.).  Amazing sight and sounds to share with Gary.

View from the deck where we were dry.

See the rain............

Gary had begun to cut out the path where we are going to have cement poured.  We had debated about this piece of sidewalk before we had done the other cement work earlier in the summer and decided against it.  However as we continue developing our (mostly my) plans for the back yard, we agreed we wanted it so made the arrangements.  Unfortunately the rain has prevented it from being poured.  Hopefully tomorrow!

Our new "skinny" pine tree
We removed our three beautiful aspen trees which had provided great shade for our deck for the past 12 years.  I love the sound of the wind in aspen trees and have missed them.  However I will not miss the swallow roots and the little saplings that pop up all over the yard. (When we bought them the nursery man said these were the type that didn't do that.  Oh well.)  In their place, we extended the deck and plant this tree.  It is not supposed to get wide just tall.  The goal is that it will provide a green view once again through our dining room window when it gets a bit bigger.

Busy week for me as I worked everyday (at my paying job that is.)  We were busy getting ready for Education classes which were Friday and Saturday,  adjusting to a new manager (who is great), being involved in an adoption placement (their first child...very sweet.) preparing for an audit this upcoming week, and the regular work and meetings.  Glad it is done although this will be another busy week as we finish up everything for the audit.

First weekend of October

which of course, brings Conference weekend.  It was a nice change from the usual routine of life and to be reminded of the real purpose of life.  As has been said before,  we are in the second act of a three act play.  Sometimes we act or feel like this is the only act.  Yet the climax isn't until the final act.

We did have a couple of other things going this weekend.  On Saturday we headed up to Logan for Jena's Area Games at Utah State for swimming.  No pictures of her swimming as I was asked to help with coaching on the deck.  It was a fun morning and Jena came home with two bronzes and one silver.  This is her first time to swim three races in one day in the "big pool".  It still makes her a bit nervous to be swimming in the deep pools used for races.

New team swim suits

Free style metals--the two on the right are also from Jena's team

Sunday after conference, we headed up Weber Canyon, over Trapper's Loop and across Ogden Valley to see Gary's sister Vonette and their family.  On the way, we enjoyed some fall colors.

Two trains at the mouth of the Weber Canyon--
great scene for train lovers like Gary and I.

I was trying to get a picture of the engine before it went out of sight
and actually caught the engine of train and the end of the other.

Over Trapper's Loop

Scenes around Vonette's yard

My niece, Krystal, playing chase with their dog

Good weekend all around.............even got my bathrooms cleaned on Saturday evening.