November

As you may recall, Erika and I recently took a trip to Park City as part of a law firm retreat. While we were away our friend, Vicky, watched our children. Last month Erika threw a birthday party for Vicky at our house.

Erika and her pals

Although my mother and several siblings live here in Utah most if not all of them traveled out of state on Thanksgiving. Also, since I was off of work for the long weekend it was a good time for Erika to go visit her sister, Eleanor, in Seattle and see their new baby. So I had Thanksgiving with Thomas and Matthew here in South Jordan and Erika spent it with the Currits in Seattle. On the big day I was planning to take the boys to an all you can eat buffet, but our neighbors, the Nelsons, found out about this plan and invited us over for the traditional feast. It was definitely better than the buffet, but I took the boys there the following day because they love it so much. Here are some pics of Erika from her trip to Seattle.

Happy Birthday Eleanor

The Space Needle of Seattle

A Blueberry Pie Erika made for Thanksgiving

Erika and Eleanor at a popular Seattle market

Enjoying some Russian food at the wharf

A new baby tends to wear you out so the Currits were a bit sick. Erika tended baby Alan throughout the trip so they could rest up. Erika's nickname for Alan is "Neffy" (short for nephew).

Meanwhile, the boys and I did some bonding here in Utah. We ate pancakes at IHOP on Thanksgiving morning. Later I took them hiking up the trail to the Y in Provo and the next day we went bike riding on the Jordan River trail. The boys were thrilled when we reached the Y and we were able to just barely make out the South Jordan temple near our home. On the bike ride we saw a little island in the river that we could reach by stepping on a couple of rocks. We ventured out on the island, much to the boys' delight. On our way back to the trail Matthew accidentally slipped into the river and got wet up to his waist. He thought it was the most hilarious thing ever, howling with laughter. The cold wind told me otherwise. To help him dry off we took off his pants behind a big rock and I wrapped him in my fleece jacket. I told him stories until he drifted off to sleep and when he awoke he felt much better. His clothes were still a little wet and it was freezing outside so I had to prod him all the way back to the car, but eventually we made it. We were so hungry we went directly to Golden Corral for a late lunch.

I think it was during that weekend that we watched one of our favorite new shows on TV, Wired Science. One of the show's segments featured a blog called Geek Dad. One of the Geek Dads who writes for the blog demonstrated how to make a hovercraft with his five-year-old daughter's "help." The boys asked me to make one and I kept ignoring their pleas until one day Thomas found all the materials I needed and gathered them in the garage. He pulled me in there and made threats until I agreed to help him build the hovercraft. It was actually quite easy and we had lots of fun hovering around on it. The basic idea is to stick a leaf blower through a hole in a board on which a tarp has been attached. The air from the leaf blower escapes through small holes cut in the tarp, creating a small cushion of air on which the board floats. And what a great use for an otherwise retired leaf blower!

the hovercraft in action

My law firm threw a nice Christmas party in a large reception room of the University of Utah stadium, which has a panoramic view of the valley. We were entertained by Kurt Bestor, a famous Utah musician. Before his act began my secretary happened to see him near the buffet of food and, thinking he was a caterer, asked if he could direct her to the non-spicy food. I only know this because he teased her about it in his intro to the group. At work on Monday she told me how embarassed she was but, of course, nobody blamed her for not recognizing him. He's really only famous in Utah and she is not a Utah native.

Workman Nydegger Christmas Party

I celebrated my 33rd birthday this week. We had a birthday breakfast and I opened a few presents. Later, my mom came downtown and took me out to lunch. It was a superb day. We enjoyed watching Mitt Romney's stirring Faith in America speech that night before going to bed. It will be interesting to see if it helps his candidacy.

Happy Birthday Dad

We had some wonderful snowfall this week. Yesterday's snow was some of the best I've seen for making snowmen, etc. I got out with the boys and we built snow forts in the front yard. I woke up feeling quite sore this morning, but it was fun anyway. Here we are catching snowflakes with our tongues.

Snow!

October Fun

We had our family portrait taken in my mom's backyard recently. It's nice to have access to such lovely grounds when we need them.

Our Family - 2007

The month of October is always fun for children, what with Halloween and its related festivities. Cornbellies Festival was one of our favorite activities last year so we went again this year and probably will for years to come. Some of the fun things we did: ride pedal go-karts, go through corn mazes, ride a hay ride at night through a haunted cornfield, ride ponies, and shoot mini-pumpkins with cannons at cow silouhettes that made sound effects when you hit them (I especially loved that last one).

Corn is ripe for the pickin'

All you can eat corn! Here ya' go Matthew

Corn lovers' paradaise

We now affectionately refer to the above sandbox of corn seed as "corn therapy" because it felt very soothing to be buried in corn. Anyone who has put their hand in a can full of beans or the like can probably relate.

Thomas and Matthew (on right) with their friends, Josh and Ryan Speckman

A fun ride for kids was a train of cows pulled by tractor

Given Matthew's get-up below, I guess the pony rides must have been on Halloween.

Hiho Silver

Giddy-up

You may be wondering how our children ever study what with all the fun activities we take them on. Well, given the report cards we recently got, I can assure you they must surely study. Thomas just got his first report card for second grade: 13 A+'s and 1 A. Matthew, in kindergarten, did remarkby well, too: 13 A's and 1 B (in study skillz). And that's with advanced material. Thomas, for example, is in a fourth grade reading class and Matthew is in a third grade reading class. Erika recently became Thomas's reading teacher and it has been a fun experience for both of them. We love their school, American Preparatory Academy.

Matthew and Thomas have been using chapstick quite a bit lately to combat the cold. One evening Matthew came strolling into Thomas's room with a glue stick pressed to his lips. "Matthew," I said, "that's a glue stick, not chapstick." It took a minute for that to register. Then, with furrowed brow, he exclaimed, "Help me get this glue off my lips, I don't want them to stick together!" We lovingly reassured him that it would be ok.

Erika noticed a need for some more artwork in our basement so she purchased a few canvases and put the boys to work. So far we have a beautiful painting done by Thomas. Here is a photo of the master at work. We'll be sure to include a photo of the finished product next time.

Thomas at work in his art studio

Now for a report on Halloween. But first, let me explain something about Thomas's teeth so you won't be surprised. The dentist saw x-rays of Thomas's teeth and recommended that he have 7 of his baby teeth pulled to allow more room for his extraordinarily large adult teeth to grow in straighter. Here is a before photo:

Thomas with a full set of baby teeth

Snow White prepared him for the operation on Hallowed Eve

Not long after the operation we went to the church to race his pinewood derby car. His car didn't win, but we learned some good tips on how to make cars go faster for next year.

Toothless Thomas holding his car (and Matthew holding the one I built as a child)

I just started a new hobby of restoring old cars and I am starting out small--very small. I found a PowerWheels Jeep Wrangler in the classified ads that was selling for $30 (retails for about $250 new). We bought some new batteries, I cleaned all the dirty contacts, and the engine purred like a kitten. Actually, it sounds a little more like a rusty sand blaster grinding down a brick, but I think that's how they're supposed to sound. The boys took it out on Halloween night to gather their haul of candy. The trunk in the back was convenient for storing their trick-or-treat bags (borrowed from my mom- thanks).

Tarzan and his monkey take a break from vine travel for one night

Yesterday Thomas and Matthew went to Boondocks (a mini-amusement park) to celebrate a birthday with a friend from school last year. I stayed home and worked on a set of "lockers" for our mudroom. They're almost done so we might include a photo next time.

Matthew climbs cautiously

Intrepid Thomas climbs...well, without trepidation

A simulated rollercoaster ride that appears to have had an unsettling scene or two
(see Matthew's face)

Thomas's Birthday and Baptism

Thomas turned 8 years old one week ago today. As reported in our previous post, we took him and a few friends to Lagoon to celebrate. We also had a little party the morning of his birthday.

A birthday breakfast of cinnamon rolls

The main gift he received was a new bike. The old one is falling apart so the timing was fortuitous.

A new bike for Thomas

Thomas was grateful for the new bike. He is one of the most positive, friendly, cheerful, people I know. He sometimes gets frustrated about having to go to school, especially on Sunday night, but who doesn't (applying this statement to work)? That's probably a good indication that the work is challenging for him. One Sunday night, as he lay in my bed--he often falls asleep there when he's having a tough time falling asleep in his bed--he said he wanted to stay home for a whole week. I sympathized as best I could, but asked what he would do to pass the time. He proferred a few suggestions, chief among them being bike riding. And that's just riding on the sidewalk in front of our house, unlike some other boys whose parents seem to let them roam the neighborhood freely. We could have a biking fanatic on our hands.

As everyone who knows Thomas is aware, Thomas has for some time been willing and ready to take the next step in his spiritual journey back to his heavenly home. In others, he was a perfect baptismal candidate. His baptism took place on Saturday, Sept 22, at about 12:30pm. I was honored to perform the baptism and the confirmation. Five other boys and girls from neighboring wards in our stake were also baptized during the service.

Matthew was very happy for Thomas

Outside our chapel

Erika gave a talk at the service on the gift of the Holy Ghost. She used interesting objects (e.g., map, compass, scriptures, comforter, flashlight, coin in glass jar--representing the still small voice) that represent the various roles of the Holy Ghost, as explained in the scriptures. She brought the objects in a giant gift-wrapped box and she had each baptismal candidate reach in and choose an object to hold up and show the assembled congregation.

The gift of the Holy Ghost object lesson

After the service we gathered with friends and family at our house for a light lunch of sandwiches and soup. It was wonderful to have so many people to help celebrate the occasion.

Thomas and his buddies chow down

We piped some good dance music through the new speakers we had installed in the awning over our deck. Some of the children joined our boys in a little dance despite the light mist of rain.

Celebrating with Thomas

Ever since Erika bought Thomas his new cub scout shirt he wears it every chance he gets, sometimes even to bed. See above photo, for example. I have been impressed with the vim and gusto he has for scouting so far. The past few days he finished the bobcat requirements and put a big dent in the wolf requirements. With all the cool things Thomas is doing now that he's 8, Matthew is--predictably--a little jealous. We keep reminding him that Thomas had to wait just like he has to, but for him a couple years is an eternity.

End of a fun summer

I recently took a Monday off, working on Saturday to make up (ugh) and went with the boys and my sister Sarah to Lagoon. We were planning to meet up with my brother Stephen and the German foreign exchange student staying with him, but his family's trip back home from San Fran was delayed by some forest fires. His misfortune only multiplied after that because, as I would later learn, his gall bladder malfunctioned and required surgical removal. Things can only get better now.

Sarah and us waiting in line for Colossus

(part of double loop in background)

On August 21 we celebrated our family's "birthday" party. That is the day Erika and I were married nine years ago. We gave our children some gifts and had birthday cinnamon rolls for breakfast, among other things.

Our family's 9 year birthday

The boys started school at their charter school, American Preparatory Academy. After arduous searching, Erika found this great charter school for the boys, but the waiting list for entry was too long. To skip to the front of the line Erika agreed to teach there, but the boys are not in her classes, which is probably best. Here are the boys on their first day of school, dressed in the school uniform of navy polo shirt and khakis.

First day of school at American Prep

We frequently go on family bike rides. A fun trip is to the temple site in our neighborhood. Here is what the temple currently looks like.

Thomas is on a local soccer team. The coach is Matt Speckman, the dad of one of his best friends, Josh. Thomas loves the thrill of getting dressed in his spiffy uniform and running around. He sometimes wears the uniform to bed the night before a game.

Thomas and his friend, Coleman

We had a family dinner at my mom's house last Sunday, in honor of her annivesary with my dad. We left with a bag of plums and pears from her garden.

Ice cream with cousin Mallory in Grandma's backyard

A neighbor's cat frequently visited our house, but one day it disappeared. Upon learning this, Matthew quickly created a reward poster, roughly depicting the cat. He loves to inspect those posters whenever we see them and I guess he just couldn't wait to make one himself.

My office treated everyone at the firm to a retreat in Park City this past weekend. We spent Thursday and Friday night at the Stein Eriksen Lodge. A neighbor kindly agreed to look after Thomas and Matthew while we relazed and rejuvenated. A lot of my time was spent in meetings with my law firm. During those times Erika just relaxed, went on hikes with other spouses, etc. For fun we took a ride up one of the ski lifts and treated ourselves to a "couples massage."

Starting up the ski lift

We saw a few nice homes that we tried not to covet

A view of Park City and the surrounding mountains

Waiting for our massage

In celebration of Thomas turning 8 on Monday, we treated Thomas and a few friends to a Lagoon trip after returning from Park City. While we were blowing out candles at a quiet pavilion our Bishop happened to float by on a log flume ride. He and his family were, coincidentally, visiting the park, too.

Rattlesnake Rapids

The Bat

The scene of the birthday bash (with log flume in background)

Happy Birthday Erika

Erika's sister, Eleanor, is bringing us a new nephew soon. Erika was so excited she made a baby shower in a box, including a welcome diaper cake, a layette, blankets, toys, books, etc., and mailed it to him. With luck the cake will be one of the first things he sees and then Erika will always have a soft place in his heart. For now she calls him Baby Neffy (short for nephew).

No nephew of ours will lack for diapers, so help us huggies

Thomas had fun at Josh Speckman's Harry Potter party. Each boy got their own wizard paraphenalia, as you can see. Josh's house was set up as Hogwarts, the school in Harry Potter, and they all received wizard training. And in case anyone was wondering, no we have not read any Harry Potter books...maybe someday we will when the children are a bit older.

Zap-pow cadabra...

We recently ordered some new furniture items and when it arrived on our doorstep Thomas claimed one of the most valuable items: the packaging. Now our basement has a cardboard kid house. He rigged it with a light and a VCR/TV combo and loves hanging out in there with Matthew.

Would you like a Yo-On-The-Go?
Only the best for our cardboard box guests

Erika found a super fun skating park just a couple miles away in Riverton and takes the boys there frequently for exercise. Here they are with the Newmans, our good friends and neighbors. (This shows about a fourth of the entire skating park. It's huge.)

Totally tubular dudes

On the 24th of July, which is a state holiday in honor of the first Pioneers to arrive in Utah, Erika took the boys to a pioneer heritage park called "This is the Place" park (allegedly spoken by Brigham Young when he first saw the Salt Lake valley). Erika went with Nancy Newman and here they are in front of one of the many Young wives' homes.

Wards and Newmans

Like Erika, Nancy Newman will be teaching at American Preparatory Academy this school year. In case I forgot to mention, American Preparatory is an excellent charter school Erika found and agreed to teach at so our kids could move to the top of the long, long waiting list. Nancy followed suit.

A ride in a pioneer wagon at This is the Place Park

Oxen like those who pulled the Pioneers' wagons

Thomas learns to wash the old-fashioned way

making music pioneer style

Instead of pinatas it would appear Pioneers had candy canons

A one room schoolhouse for Pioneer children

We celebrated Erika's birthday on August 10 with the traditional family breakfast of cinnamon rolls. Thank you to everyone who sent her cards and gifts. We went out to one of our favorite restaurants, Archibald's, that night.

Happy Birthday

Thomas and Erika will miss Thomas' first grade teacher, Mrs. Page. Mrs. Page is one of the best teachers this world has known. She swapped some teaching materials with Erika and treated Thomas and friend, Josh Speckman, to a pizza lunch.

Josh, Mrs. Page, and Thomas at Mrs. Page's house

And now for the most exciting news: the Key Bank building implosion. This building was just across the street from my office and formed a prominent part of Salt Lake City's skyline for 30 years. As part of a total redesign of downtown Salt Lake, the developers decided it had to come down. The implosion occurred at 6:40am Saturday morning and we watched it from the window in my office.

"Before"

"During"

"During" from a nearby angle

Another "During"

"After"

Another "After" showing dust pouring over
nearby Temple Square and Joseph Smith Memorial Building

Matthew loves to read cereal boxes while he eats his cereal. So when he went for his kindergarten physical he was ready to respond to the doctor's inquiries about his favorite breakfast cereal: "Flax plus, because it has omega three fatty acids." Later the doctor told Erika, "I didn't feel like I was talking to a five year old in there."