Volume 37

SUNDAY NEWS
March 28, 2010

We have started doing family bike rides and bought an infant trailer for Lori’s bike for Vayden to ride in. Vayden has her own bike her own bike gear now. We went to several stores to find one that matched Lori’s bike. We actually had to buy the display.



Very Vayden
Vayden is becoming quite a handful. She is at that stage where she thinks it is funny to run away from you every time you call her. Lori can attest to this. This week during Christian’s and Karl’s triathlons Lori had to keep track of Vayden, which is not an easy task these days. Lori had to keep her from running into the pool, running into bike and run lanes. Apparently when Karl put her diaper on her at 5:00 a.m., he did not do it the right way and Vayden at one point peed down Lori’s side soaking the little sweats she was wearing. We also forgot to pack her spare clothes, so she was running around the race in her diaper raising havoc in every conceivable way. In fact after Karl finally crossed the finish line, Lori’s first comments were “I know you are tired, but she is yours now.” Followed by, “I didn’t think you were ever going to finish that run.” It is funny because that is exactly what Karl was thinking during the run. Both Karl and Lori laughed about that later. It is easy to understand. Later that morning we all went to brunch and Vayden was being a real stinker. Lori went to the bathroom and Karl couldn’t wait for her to get back.

Speaking of stinkers, when we got home that same day, we put Vayden to bed and everyone collapsed for a nap. Vayden decided that she needed to poop. With no one coming fast enough to change her, she also decided she would take her own diaper off. This is the reason you don’t put her to bed without pajamas, even if you are dead tired. Vayden was found finger painting with her own poop. Yuck.

Blanket Fights
For reasons we can’t understand Vayden gets into fights with blankets. We taught her to sit on the couch with us and snuggle up with a blanket while we watch T.V. We now have to outlaw blanket s with her and here is why: Vayden is never satisfied with her blanket. She constantly adjusts it and pulls it this way and that. It goes on for many minutes until she works herself in to frenzied fit, crying and screaming at the blanket. We don’t know why, but Vayden and blanket just don’t get along.

Completely Christian
Christian is the man! (at least little man) Christian has been training for months for his first triathlon. Not only did he finish it which would be an accomplishment by itself, HE WON THE THING! Christian placed first in his age group and first over all! His Dad was so proud of him that there were tears. Christian commented that he had only seen Karl cry one other time when Vayden had to go to the hospital for a head injury.

1st place in his age group!

1st place over-all!

and 1st Triathlon!

Way to go Christian!

Christian did well in all three disciplines. He dominated in the swim which made his swim coach/father very proud. He biked up the hills like a pro and ran so fleet of foot that father envies him. Christian had a team of coaches for his triathlon. Karl had not finished his triathlon before Christian started his. Christian is lucky that his Mom was there to yell support out for Christian and keep him moving. This is especially true for the transition areas. Transition areas are the areas where you change as quickly as possible from the swimming portion to the bike and form the bike to the run. Christian was having a hard time getting his shirt on for the first transition from swim to bike. Lori just yelled for him to forget it and go shirtless. Had Lori not told him to do that, Christian probably would not have got 1st place as his second place competitor was less than a minute behind Christian his time. Way to go Coach Mom!

Sooooo Shelby
Shelby sent us some pictures this week. Shelby lettered as a sophomore, which is very cool. Shelby also made a trip to the Emergency Room this week after tearing a ligament in her knee. She is on crutches for a while.

Being Brittney
Brittney is doing well in college. She made the Dean’s List! She has also decided to quit her job at Carson’s so she can go to work at Allied to get some experience in business management, which is what Brittney is major.

Family Stories

Run Wild
Christian, Karl and Vayden all went to the Phoenix Zoo recently to compete in a 5k run. Christian ran the thing with no problem and was eating his weight in (monkey food) bananas and oranges when Karl and Vayden finally crossed the finish line. (We have actually seen been to the zoo and seen them feed the orangutans the exact fruit cut up the exact way) Vayden breezed through the race in her jogging stroller waving and clapping back at all the crowds of people cheering. She never looked back at the red faced, overweight man pushing her 35:45 minutes. I know that is slow, but you try pushing a stroller up hill. It was actually a very beautiful run with lots of hills and trails through the zoo’s different areas. They had placed radar guns giving you your speed at different locations which was kind of fun. By the way 10 miles per hour is the fastest Karl could run pushing the stroller.

Trials of Triathlon
Christian says that we write embarrassing things about him sometimes in editions of the Sunday News. He said it is only fair that we write some embarrassing stories about ourselves. Christian wanted to see the text of this edition to make sure we included a few of these. Christian’s number one request was to include a picture of Karl wearing some of Lori’s left-over breast pads tapped to his nipples a week or two ago after learning that sweat+ friction + significant time = raw bloody nipples in a triathlon. Karl had to drive home shirtless from his first triathlon because of this. When he got home, Nurse Lori prescribed some breast cream and taped some left-over breast pads to his chest. Christian wanted to include a picture, but we have spared you that ugly image. Karl should have consulted with his Dad or Uncle Jim. Both of them were marathon runners.

Another tip for would-be triathletes: Read and review your maps carefully. During Karl’s second triathlon, he managed to misread a sign and go the wrong way on the bike portion of the race. It is always fun looking like an idiot. By the way another tip is that the wind burn from the bike ride can chap one’s lips like you would not believe.

Note from the Editors
Be sure to check out the photo addendum this week.

Volume 37 - Photo Addendum 1

Photo Addendum 1

Volume 37 - Photo Addendum 2

Photo Addendum 2

Volume 36

SUNDAY NEWS
March 21, 2010

Lori and Vayden recently enjoyed their visit to Indiana. Karl and Christian are happy to have Mom and our home’s little ray of sunshine back. Meanwhile back here in Arizona Christian and Karl what Christian called ‘some man time.’

Very Vayden
Vayden spent the past week or so in Indiana entertaining everyone. Karl and Christian are glad she is back home because they missed her. More than once while she was gone both Christian and Karl would here a baby of the same age in the store and comment that they missed her.

Completely Christian
Christian and Karl got to spend most of Christian's spring break together without the girls.

Peralta Trail Backpacking Adventure
Christian has been asking to do a backpacking trip for some time. Karl and Christian have been planning a hike for months and finally spring break and good weather combined and Christian and Karl took on the Peralta Trail in the Superstition Mountains. Surprisingly they had to cross several streams and creeks on the drive to the trailhead. Normally those washes are dry, but Arizona had had a wet year this year.

The hike was difficult with very steady elevation gain. Christian soon understood why his Dad had forced him to leave many of the things he wanted to pack at home. The years of backpacking as a boy scout had made a lasting impression on Karl. You only bring what you absolutely will need. That pack becomes heavy fast and you start wishing you hadn’t brought anything at all. The views were fantastic. Karl and Christian arrived at the saddle about an hour before sunset. The area is extremely rocky with very little flat round or dirt to stake a tent. Christian and Karl found a perfect little spot nuzzled between some big rocks and set up camp. They got done in time to watch the sunset. There wasn’t a sole for miles and it was so quiet up there under the stars. It got a little windy after dark so they did a little reading in their tent and went to sleep. The sunrise the next day was also spectacular. The views up there are worth the effort of getting up there. It was a great trip

Triathlon Training
Christian has his first triathlon coming up this week. Christian and Karl have enjoyed training together. The whole family recently signed up for Lifetime Fitness, which is a really cool facility. Karl and Christian have been working for weeks on Christian’s swimming technique. Christian can now freestyle with alternate side breathing with really good form. He typically does workouts now of around 800 to 1000 yards. That’s 40 lengths of the pool.

Christian also enjoys the steam room after a good work out. By far Karl’s weakest leg of the triathlon is the running portion. It is Christian’s strongest. Christian and Karl run on treadmills at the gym. Christian enjoys showing his Dad up by running faster and farther than Karl almost every time they jump on the treadmill. It is a pride swallowing experience for Karl but Christian is good for him because he pushes Karl to run better. Karl has tried to equal Christian, but if Christian sees Karl turning up the speed to 6.5 Christian will turn his to 7.0 and so forth. Eventually Karl just can’t compete. Yet! Karl may be fat and forty-something, but he is determined. The problem is, that as Karl is progressing, so is Christian.



Christian and Karl have also spent a lot of time on their bikes. Christian likes Lance Armstrong and has named his bike “Live Strong” His bike is black and yellow and he has decided to make his color scheme black and yellow. Black and yellow are hard to find in kids stuff. Maybe it would be easier if we lived in Pittsburg. Trying to find Christian a yellow and black bike helmet led to a story which we will cover next.

Christian loves his gear. He especially loves the arm warmers we found for him on sale. He wears them when its cold. He wears them despite being told. He wears them in the heat. He wears them in the street. He wears them to go out. He wears them or he'll pout. He wears them in the house. He wears them with a mouse. He wears them to the store. He wears wears them ever more.

The Safari
While riding in the car, Christian says, “Dad, how come we never do anything fun anymore?” Karl responded, “What are you talking about? We just went to the movies last night.” Christian explained, “No Dad, I mean something really fun like we used to do.” Karl questioned, “What do you mean? What do you consider really fun? Christian answered, “Like when we used to go on Star Wars safaris.” A little background is necessary to explain Christian’s answer. Christian and Karl both like Star Wars and semi collect Star wars action figures. Occasionally there is a limited release of a certain action figure. It is hard to find the action figure in stores. In the past and long before the days of Vayden, Karl and Christian would go on Star Wars safaris while Lori was at work. What Christian and Karl called a Star Wars safari, was when they would go to store after store and store searching for the elusive action figure. Where we live both Walmart and Target carry Star Wars figures. You can find a Walmart or Target every few miles in the Valley of the Sun. Christian and Karl would hit up every Walmart, Target and toy store they could find. Examples of such quests involved the search for Darth Revan and Darth Malak.

It surprised Karl that Christian deemed a safari to be one of the things Christian defined as “really fun.” It is pretty fun. It is the thrill of the hunt. You walk into a new store not knowing what you will find.

Christian’s bike current bike helmet does not meet USAT (USA Triathlon) standards. In order to participate in a USAT sanctioned triathlon, the rules require the athlete’s helmet to meet the CPSC’s (Consumer Product Safety Commission) standards. If your helmet does not have a CPSC sticker inside of it, you can’t compete. We have to get Christian a new helmet and he wants one that is black and yellow to match his bike and gear. Both Christian and Karl are card carrying USAT athletes now.


There are not that many choices when it comes to kid’s helmets, and for some reason finding a black and yellow had been very difficult. With a rare item in need of being found, Lori and Vayden in Indiana, and Christian on spring break, the stage was set for a safari. Karl went on the computer the night before and mapped out a route in which they could hit over 30 stores that carried bike helmets. Karl and Christian spent from 10:00 a.m. to about 7:00 p.m. looking for a black and yellow helmet for Christian. They managed to hit 26 different stores and had a lot of fun but were unsuccessful. Lori called during the day and when she learned what Karl and Christian were up to, she threatened to make an appointment for Karl with a counselor to evaluate his mental health. Lori suggested it would be easier to just go on line and order it. Where is the thrill of the hunt in that? Of course Lori was right as she always is. After 9 straight hours and 26 stores, that is exactly what Karl and Christian did. Here is the helmet they ordered.

Note from the Editors
Be sure to check out Photo Addendum 1.

Volume 36 - Photo Addendum 1

PHOTO ADDENDUM 1



There was a lot of water. We have had a very wet year. We had to cross streams and creeks about 5 or 6 times in the truck and atleast 6 or 7 times during the hike. This may not seem out of the ordinary for many of you, but this is Arizona!


Christian named this spot 'rock mountian'


Local Resident Unfortunatley, the pictures don't do it justice. You have to be there. This a view form the first day, where we camped from where we camped a top the saddle.