Mark's Blog

Weight loss

2011-09-23T12:15:00.000-07:00

Ok so I am trying to lose some weight. Since fathers day I have been able to lose a good chunk of it. I just added a gadget here that is linked to my livestrong.com page that will let you know how much I have lost so far.

Great Salt Lake Mosquitoes

2009-09-08T09:15:00.000-07:00

Well I went out to the Great Salt Lake and took a lot of pictures at sunset on Saturday. It was interesting to walk around on the soft sand and almost get stuck in the mud a couple of times. I had some really interesting pictures of reflections of wood sticking up out of the lake and things like that. Just after sunset the GIANT Mutant mosquitoes came out of hiding and tried to Carey me away to their leader to have my blood drained. I managed to free myself from their grasp and killed about 500 of them on my sprint back to my car. These are the worst mosquito bites that I have had in a long time. They have been getting worse not better. This morning they seem to be doing a bit better though. When I got home and downloaded the files to the computer I was surprised at how fast my OLD computer was able to transfer them to the hard drive. That is when I realized that somehow my camera settings had been changes and I took about 80 pictures on 1MP setting instead of at full resolution. I will go back but I think that I will wait until the snow flies instead of the mosquitoes.

Photo

2009-09-04T09:18:00.000-07:00

I went out and took some pictures up middle canyon. I really liked this one so I am sharing it.

It's been a while

2009-08-06T10:03:00.000-07:00

Well it's been a whiule since I posted anything to my blog. Well for all of you that may not know I am still unemployed and looking for a job. Melissa is doing well and the kids are as well. Logan has started to walk and is still in the phase where he holds his hands up to keep his balance while he is upright. We are enjoying our transition to Tooele and the boys especially like the pool at our condos.

Walk now for autism

2009-02-09T09:41:00.000-08:00

Doctor's Visit

2009-01-07T16:56:00.000-08:00

Well Melissa took Brock to see the doctor today because he has been acting like he didn't feel well at all. He has been laying on the couch and has had a fever. Anyway he has pink eye, strep throat, and a double ear infection. He will be staying home from school and everything for a while until he isn't contagious any more. I know he isn't going to be happy when he doesn't get to go to Granny's house this weekend but we don't want to spread it to the cousins. Just an update on how he is doing.

Brock

2009-01-05T15:36:00.000-08:00

Well I have been thinking about our son Brock a lot during the holiday season. Sometimes it just makes me sad when all of the other children are getting excited and running around anticipating the year end holidays and all that comes along with them, especially Christmas. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday because of the message of hope that comes from our Savior's birth. Brock just gets overwhelmed with the noise and emotions of it all. Both Melissa and my families are great to try to help Brock to have a good time and they understand when Melissa or I just have to go into another room with Brock to help him calm down. I just wish that he could communicate his feelings with us and that we could help him to enjoy birthdays and holidays and know that Jesus loves him. I just hope he knows that there are so many people here that do.

Anniversary Number 9

2008-12-18T08:07:00.000-08:00

Well today Melissa and I have been married for 9 years. during that time she has been so wonderfully supportive of me. She has helped me to get through several years of college, put up with all of my quirks and changing hobbies. She has been the most wonderful mother to our three children. She is the light of my life, the strength in my soul and my endurance when I am weak. She is the most wonderful example of a Christ centered life, always giving and never expecting things in return. I love her with all of my heart, and I am truly lucky to have her in my life.

Trimming the Tree

2008-12-11T08:43:00.001-08:00

We put up our Christmas tree last night and had a lot of fun. Brady has been excited since Thanksgiving. We weren't sure what Brock was going to think but as soon as he saw the tree he started to say "Christmas, Tree". We sure are happy that he is excited as well. The boys had fun hanging ornaments and getting glitter all over. Logan had fun crawling around grabbing whatever he could.

Quantum of solace

2008-11-14T07:41:00.001-08:00

Mobile post sent by owenlawrence using Utterli. Replies. mp3

First tooth lost

2008-11-04T07:48:00.000-08:00

Last night Melissa noticed that Brock had a loose tooth and that it was about ready to come out. So after about a half hour battle and several bites, Melissa was able to get it out. He is so cute with the little gap in between his teeth. The one next to it is also loose but not ready to come out yet. Brady was a bit upset because he wasn't the first to lose a tooth. He had Melissa check all of his teeth to see if there was one that might be loose but he is going to have to wait a while.

A Boo!

2008-10-20T08:56:00.000-07:00

We were playing peek a boo with Logan last night. he really likes this game a lot. He will cover his eyes and then when he uncovers them we say A Boo! Well a couple of times he got really excited and said A Boo! when he dropped his arms. So his first real word is Boo! Yeah! We were so excited and started clapping and telling him how good he was for saying it. He loves the attention! Anyway he said it a couple more times and then lost interest, but it was sure fun while it lasted.

Mountains in Nebraska

2008-09-30T12:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was talking to Brady about the pretty mountains that are near our house and all throughout Utah. Brady was saying that he was glad that mountains were everywhere for people to see. I told him that some places don't have mountains like we do. I explained that in Nebraska where Uncle Neil lives they don't have mountains like we do. Brady said that they should build some there. I tried to explain that they don't get built by people and told him that they just grew when there were really big earthquakes. He said "well they should plant some then, so that they can grow there too."

Ah the innocence of children.

Go Bills Again!

2008-09-29T09:21:00.001-07:00

Ok I was a bit nervous at halftime but they really came back in the second half. Go Bills!

Christmas too Early

2008-09-25T14:21:00.000-07:00

I was at Lowes last night and they had their Christmas decorations up already! It isn't even the end of September yet. I know that the businesses have to make money and everything but this is a bit over the top. I did see a really cool pumpkin carving kit that comes with a Dremmel tool. Oh well at least now I have a pipe snake to clear out another clog from Brock. ;)

GO Bills!!!

2008-09-23T14:42:00.001-07:00

I am so excited that my Buffalo Bills are 3 and 0 for the first time since '92.

Sunchaser Race

2008-09-20T10:57:00.001-07:00

Mobile post sent by owenlawrence using Utterli. Replies. mp3

I went out to the Miller motor Sports Park to watch the races. My Sister-in-Law Kristen won some pit passes and she didn't want to go. So her husband Chris and I went and enjoyed the day with the pit crew of the number40 car. It was really fun, they had three drivers that rotated every hour. We got to watch all of the pit stops and just tried to stay out of the way during those. The pit crew was really fun and nice to hang out with. Team Hyper Sport was the team name. I was told about the event about half an hour before it happened so I was in quite a hurry and forgot my camera. Here is a link to the team's website with photos and stuff. http://www.teamhypersport.com/photos_teamhypersport.html
Have fun all
Mark

FTF! oops not quite

2008-09-04T18:52:00.001-07:00

Mobile post sent by owenlawrence using Utterz. Replies. mp3

well I Was out trying to be the first to find a new geocache in the area but I was beaten by another geocacher in the area.

Brady singing

2008-08-30T11:53:00.001-07:00

Mobile post sent by owenlawrence using Utterz. Replies. mp3

My first utterings

2008-08-28T08:02:00.001-07:00

Mobile post sent by owenlawrence using Utterz. Replies. mp3

Pirate Party

2008-08-26T13:22:00.000-07:00

Well the twins had a pirate party last weekend and I was in charge of setting up the treasure hunt. I had been told that a GPS location might be too advanced for the kids. So I decided to take some pictures of objects around the park and use them to lead the kids from place to place. I thought that I had enough locations to last for 10 minutes or so. It took about 2. Those kids sure can run fast. Melissa planned several other games (All with a pirate theme of course). And we had a tresure chest shaped pinata. I really think that the kids had a good time. I know that they sure wore me out. I will post some pictures soon. Have fun. ;)

Birthday wishes

2008-08-16T12:30:00.000-07:00

Well the twins had their 6th birthday on Friday and they had a pretty good time. Brady was so excited all day. He got to get some special attention at school. The class makes birthday books for everyone on their birthday. Since Brady had told his teacher that he was a twin at the beginning of the year, she was extra nice and had the class make a book for Brady's brother that goes to a special school.

The boys had a fun time playing the Wii together after school. Brock likes to play the bowling on Wii sports but not to many other games. It is fun to see him having fun with others and interacting.

Brady had a fun day opening his presents and playing games.

Brock opened most of his presents on his own this year and even showed some excitement when he saw familiar images like mickey mouse.

Logan even got into the birthday spirit by ripping as much wrapping paper as he could get his hands on. :)

The Clone Wars

2008-08-15T07:06:00.001-07:00

Well Drew and I went to see the new Star Wars movie at the midnight premier to keep with the tradition of seeing all of the new Star Wars films at midnight. We had a good time. The movie was fun and the story was pretty good. You get to see what a baby hutlet looks like. I was disapointed with the turnout. We saw the movie in a theatre that had reserved seating, we purchased the tickets about 3 hours before showtime and were still able to get the two seats that were dead center in the movie theatre. There was only one small group of teenagers that dressed up and they had horrible costumes. Oh well there were a few lightsaber battles to keep us entertained until the show started. Over all I enjoyed the movie and I am excited for the new cartoon series that will be stemming from it. Drew tell me that the cartoon will be on cartoon network and should be starting soon. Today is Brady and Brock's birthday. We are going to be taking them out to dinner to the place of their choosing, it will probably mean a trip to play on the McDonald's playground. No matter where we go I am sure the kids will have a good time on their birthday.

Toilet rant

2008-08-14T12:30:00.000-07:00

Well our toilet was clogged again and so I get out the trusty lpunger and got nowhere. I call someone who had a pipe snake and they got nowhere. So yesterday the toilet got replaced. Why is it that kids are so facinated with seeing their toys get flushed down the toilet when they will never get to play with them again. This toilet seems to flush a bit better than the last one but do I have to lock the door to the bathroom and only open it upon request from the one that is potty trained? I know that won't happen but it just gets frustrating when it gets clogged so often. I think that the over under for the toilet getting clogged again is about two weeks.

Photography

2008-08-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

I have always been interested in photography as a hobby. I have some fun with it with the family and around the area.

While I was out geocaching with the boys a while back we found this bus in the bottom of the canal that runs through Magna. I just thought that it was interesting so I took some pictures of it.

I think that from time to time I will post a picture or two from our collection here for others to enjoy. This could be a fun way for me to share with others. :)

I have started to submit some of my photos to a stock photography company.

http://submit.shutterstock.com/?ref=243496

Birthdays and first grade

2008-08-12T07:54:00.000-07:00

Well the twins are turning 6 this week. It sure seems like they grow up so fast! Brady has started first grade and he really likes it. Brock will start at the end of August and he will have a new teacher. Brady is excited to hand out invitations for his birthday party. He keeps talking about it and asking what he is going to get for his birthday. I remember doing the same thing when I was his age. This is really getting fun now that they are excited before it happens.

First Blog

2008-07-24T14:49:00.000-07:00

Well I have decidedto start my own blog. I am not sure exactly how this is going to work though. You see i am new to blogging. So I am making it up as I go along.