Christmas 2010 - Remember the Reason for the Season

Even after Kaison was hit twice by a tub and sled we all could laugh and remember the fun had on the sledding hill. Yea - Kai was on the side of the hill and a tub ran him over and then shortly after Krehl was trying to get him set on his sled and a lady came flying down the hill with no control and hit Kaison. He cut his lip and gums. He quit after that but later that night he said he still had a good time.

On Christmas Eve Amy had friends and family over for a ham dinner and the reenactment of the Luke 2 Christmas Story. I loved that Kylie wanted to be the donkey and made the star. Kaison was Joseph, Makell shared the star with Kylie, Quinn wanted to be a wise man, and Garrett was Baby Jesus even at the age of 2 (he was the youngest kid there).


The kids exchanged gifts and played for awhile before it was time to hit the sack to get ready for Santa to come..."Santa Claus is coming to Fruita, CO!"

Christmas Day - Makell woke up at 6:30AM and started waking everyone up. They were allowed to open their Santa gifts in their socks but they had to wait for Gma and Gpa to wake up before we could open the gifts under the tree. Makell was so excited! The kids got pillow pets and skis.

We made Santa Waffles but the kids didn't eat the waffle...just the candy & cream.

The weather was 50 degrees and perfect trails for an afternoon bike ride on Christmas Day. Amy, Michelle, and I biked Horse Thief right before dinner. Michelle had to get back in time for her family dinner so we cruised. It was amazing to see how many people were on the trails. Everyone shouted, "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas," as we passed. What a great memory and hopefully another tradition. Krehl, Dad, and the boys went skeet shooting.

I love my sister, her family, and I appreciate their hospitality. Christmas just wouldn't be the same without being with the kiddos. They bring such a neat spirit to the holiday!

Happy Holi-daze

  I've been making youtube mixes and playing them like the radio. I am obsessed with live music right now and Sara's voice put me right into the Christmas mood. My house is now all decorated for holidays. Let it snow!

‎"I'll be your harvester of light
And send it out tonight
So we can start again.
Is love alive?"



"A kaleidoscope is a structure filled with broken bits and pieces and somehow when you look through them and passed them you still see brilliance, color, and light. We are all that way in some manner. We are all sort of broken in bits and pieces on the inside but when you look passed that and through that everybody is beautiful, colorful, and brilliant. And don't ever let anybody tell you any different!" Sara Bareilles Salt Lake, UT

Tis the Season

 

Great-Grate-GR8-ful

My mom and dad have the perfect house for family parties. Four or five years ago they added an addition on to their house and now we have a large enough area to have 30-40 people over for holidays. Thanksgiving this year was delicious as always and fun to talk to everyone and watch the Cowboys get spanked by the Saints.

My Gpa Hansen passed away a few months ago and I sure missed him tonight. I would always sit next to him and he and I would chat the night away. I know he is in a better place with no pain. I love him and miss him.

My sister and her family are up in Idaho with Krehl's parents. They hunt for a Christmas tree and play in the snow and swim at Green Canyon. They have fun traditions. Amy said they had so much snow this year the level was up to their windows. Crazy!!!

Attempted break in

I have lived in Sandy for the past four years and have always felt safe and secure. Last week I went to dinner with some friends and went to my friend's house to visit until 11:30pm. When I tried to get into my condo the lock would not accept the key. At first I thought it was too cold and the lock was frozen. I got my phone out to get some light and get a closer look. When I looked at the lock up close I realized the door knob had been tampered with. The knob had been shifted off it's original position and right there and then I started freaking out. It didn't help that I had to use the restroom either. I called and called and called my parents. No one picked up. I drove to a market to use the restroom and meanwhile I continued to call my parents. They were asleep and nothing was going to wake them, I thought. I called a friend and she reassured me that I shouldn't go back to my place. I didn't. I called my parents again and my mom answered. I slept over at my parents' place and went to work the next day. My dad went over to my place to check things out. Indeed someone attempted to break in. The dead bolt must have saved me. My neighbor's door knob was also scratched and dislodged. My dad changed the knob and told me, "You've got to keep living. Don't worry." I wish I didn't have to worry. I have been watching CHUCK Seasons 1-3 recently. Chuck has a computer intersect in his head and can do Tae Kwon Do, numbchuck skills, etc. I need those skills. I hope I never have to come face to face with someone breaking in. I hope they were just trying an easy break in but had no success. The truth is...I do not have anything in my condo worth much. My tv, stereo, jewlery, etc. isn't worth even pawning.

Here's to my Chuck skills to help me if ever needed!!!

MOAB

Before the snow storm hit a few friends and I went to Moab to bike the Porcupine Rim trail. We camped and survived a micro-abrasion night of sleep. There was sand everywhere! The ride was excellent but felt as though I was the Green Witch biking in the sky around the tornado.

There were sections of this ride where we had to ride technical and tricky ledges, steps, and down hill areas. I need to work on my uphill endurance and uphill technical riding but I was proud of the downhill sections I rode. Good times! It is always a party riding in Moab.

Sara Bareilles LIVE

Her concert at The Venue took my breath away! I love love her voice, passion, lyrics, and stage presence!!!

America Recycle Day - Nov. 15

Recycling is one of the easiest ways you can help slow climate change and global warming. By recycling at home, you help significantly lower carbon emissions associated with extracting virgin materials, manufacturing products and waste disposal.

Last year the amount of energy saved from recycling aluminum and steel cans, plastic PET and glass containers, newsprint and corrugated packaging was equivalent to:

• The amount of electricity consumed by 17.8 million Americans in one year.
• 29% of nuclear electricity generation in the U.S. in one year.
• 7.9% of electricity generation from fossil fuels in the U.S. in one year.
• 11% of the energy produced by coal- fired power plants in the U.S.
• The energy supplied from 2.7% of imported barrels of crude oil into the U.S.
• The amount of gasoline used in almost 11 million passenger
automobiles in one year.

Dynamite with a Cuttable Wick

"I like paper rock scissors 2/3. Rock is fine. Rock can break through paper at any point."

Sara Unplugged

I have tickets for Sara's concert next week. I feel like a little girl waiting for Christmas morning. I love Sara Bareilles' tone and raw truth in her lyrics!

Halloween Time

VIDA had our 3rd annual 5K in Provo, UT. For the past few years we have put on a 5K fun run to raise money for VIDA's Thanksgiving humanitarian project in Mexico.

In February 2002, VIDA teamed up for the first time with the international organization FAI (La Fundacion de Apoyo Infantil) in Cuidad de Obregon, Sonora, Mexico. The goal was to work together with the local community to provide housing to families in desperate need. Since that time our efforts have included building homes, teaching and learning from community members, and supplementing current efforts with the resources necessary to accomplish the objectives of FAI.

In November 2007, VIDA also began working with Manos Unidas. Casa Hogar Manos Unidas is an orphanage that was founded in the Spring of 2005. In 2004, Eric, a Civil Engineer from Cabo San Lucas, and his wife were inspired to change their lives, and subsequently, the lives of hundreds of others. They left Cabo for Sonora and haven’t turned back since. They currently provide food, shelter, education and family for dozens of children. VIDA is on hand to assist in any capacity they can.

In the past seven years VIDA has witnessed the preservation of a culture, the bonding of a community, the growth of family, and the hope that tomorrow can and will be better than today. We consider ourselves lucky to call the people of Cuidad de Obregon our family. They have taught, and continue to teach us, the difference that one person can make.



After the Warren Miller ski movie we went to Summer Degraaff's party. It was jammed packed and close to midnight the cops came and dismissed the party. The costumes were crazy - especially the "chicken wing".

31

new tunig

Christina Perri "Jar of Hearts"

Tony Lucca "I Can't Make You Love Me (cover)"

Laura Izibor - Can't be love

Girl Named Toby "Holding A Heart"

JJ Heller "What Love Really Means"

The Open Sea "Keep Me Tonight"

Ryan Huston "Only Human"

Jarrod Gorbel "Take Me"

Sierra Noble "Possibility"

The Gaslight Anthem "The Diamond Church Street Choir"

JJ Heller "Hands"

Adele

I recently was introduced to Adele again. I say again because I remember a few years ago she won a Grammy for Best New Artist. I really didn't "get" her until recently. I love her voice, passion, and lyrics. I know this song was written by Bob Dylan but there's something about a girl singing to bring it home.

6K

 
 











On Friday night around 9pm my friend, Marni, texted me to see if I wanted to run the 6K the next morning because one of their friends couldn't run. I thought about it for a sec and did it. I hadn't been running this week but had recently trained for the 10K Dirty Dash so I knew 3.72 miles wouldn't kill me. The race was so much fun. It was a race of ladies through the Thanksgiving Point gardens, waterfall, and roads. It was perfect weather and good company. I ran mostly by myself (with every other lady beside me) and at the end I caught up with Marni and we ran in together. The end of the race was a festival for women: scentsy, Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, Bundt Cakes, Paradise Bakery booths, etc. My name will not be on the results since I didn't register. The chip final time was a 42:41.3 min. That would be about a 11.3 minute mile. I need to get my speed on for Wasatch Back Ragnar next year. I've got time!

The Love Your Body race was created by Wasatch Woman magazine for women who care about their health, fitness, community, friends, and families. By treating yourself well, you're able to achieve your personal best and be an inspiration to others. Be part of the largest woman-only run in Utah.
*FYI: We wanted all the runners to enjoy the gardens at Thanksgiving Point, so we made the 6K a bit longer — 3.72 miles, making it a 6K.

On belay

We went rock climbing up in Draper Friday afternoon. The weather cleared up and we enjoyed perfect fall weather at Red Rocks. Marni and Jordan are now hooked. I am glad! I am always looking for friends to climb with. We just need to get Jordan a harness that fits. Mine could've wrapped around her three times.
 

What a rack

You will have to talk to my dad about this hunting story but I sure am proud of him! He even missed a trip to Lake Powell for this hunting trip. Sure paid off. Check out that rack!

Say Cheese

Gotta love being a teacher. What other professionals receive a yearly picture? Even though I do not put my 8x10 up in my condo I have collected all of my school pictures since 1982 in an album. It is a great source of laughs!

Lake Time

Lake Powell in October - Who would've thought it was going to be 90 degree hot and water temp 75-79 degrees...perfection!
 
 
I need to get my sister's pictures on the lake...more to come.

Dirty Dash 10K

 
 
 
Article by Amelia Nielson-Stowell sums up the Dirty Dash "Thirty seconds into the Dirty Dash and my shoe fell off, sucked into the mud on Big Pig Climb. Three miles later and I clumsily ate it after a jump off the obstacle course wall, getting an impromptu mud wrestle by the male members of my team. At mile four, we all pathetically tugged my brother's arms, weak from belly laughs, while we tried to pull him out of swamp mud on the banks of Deer Creek Reservoir. By mile six, I hurled my body down the massive Slop 'n Slide, complete with a crash landing at the bottom with my female teammates. And did I mention it was one of the most fun races I have run? Utah's inaugural mud run was a huge success. After selling out three times and adding an afternoon run, the Dirty Dash Saturday, Sept. 25 at Soldier Hollow totaled over 4,800 runners. The 10k course, up and down Soldier Hollow's cross-country ski hills, was a challenging run. And the obstacles were epic. After Big Pig Climb, the muddy hill at the starting gate being drenched with a sprinkler, there was a snow blower blasting runners, Hogbails hay to jump over, Razorback Alley tunnels, three sets of Pig Pen obstacle course walls, Hog Wallow tires to jump through, a Hog Wash where spectators pelted water balloons at runners, the Slop 'n Slide into the finish, and, of course, a massive Pig Sty mud pit. One of my favorite parts was the highly-anticipated "secret obstacle" – the Hog Bog. This was a run through various sections of the receding Deer Creek Reservoir. We had to wade through (or hurdle over) sections of it and dash (or slump) through a muddy field. It was natural, dark, stinky mud that reminded me of a trip to a swamp preserve in Georgia a few years ago. Race founder John Malfatto told me that he "was a little concerned people wouldn't enjoy the secret obstacle...but turns out that it was a favorite." Malfatto (who was sporting a bright yellow "Grunt" shirt all the volunteers wore on race day – also his birthday) gave me his overall summary of the event. "It was a great birthday present to see everything went off without a hitch," he said. "We have many things that we need to do to improve the race. But, all in all, for a first year race to have nearly 5,000 participants and for everyone to be so muddy, we couldn't be happier." Malfatto said Dirty Dash is looking into expanding into "one lucky market" next year. They already put on Idaho's first mud run in Boise earlier this month, and a 5k mud run is planned in Utah in May. He teases with: "We may add a few surprises next May and September..." In my opinion, Dirty Dash will go down as one of Utah's top races."

Wipe Out

I have been playing with iMovie...I have a lot to learn but here's an attempt.

Man Walks Across America

Making of...

Fruita Labor Day

 
 
 

Ride Hike Raft Fruita Style

I've been in a foto funk. These were the only pictures I took over Labor Day weekend. Luckily my sister and friends Ben and Dustin took some. (More pictures soon to come.)
 
For my mom's birthday and Labor Day weekend I went to Fruita to visit my sister and her family. My two good friends, Ben & Dustin, met us there on Saturday. What a full weekend. We mountain biked three trails on Saturday, hiked & explored the Colorado Monument Sunday, and river rafted West Water in the Mini-Me.

epic films

WildWater Trailer
http://www.forgemotionpictures.com/#/WORK/WildWater%20Trailer%201/1

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON from Dean Fleischer-Camp on Vimeo.

This was the top voted film from 2009 Epic Summer Film Festival.

E is for EPIC

The Epic Summer Film Festival is a night of outdoor adventure movies, outdoors. Donations received support the kids at Camp Hobe, an extraordinary summer camp experience for kids facing cancer. We provided a dutch oven dinner for the staff of Camp Hobe and organizers of the festival. I was in charge of the cobblers. One turned out and the other was slop. I am not a dutch chef...still working on that one.
 
The films were most excellent and one would say most EPIC!
  Thanks to all those who support this event and especially Camp Hobe. It is never too late to donate.
 
What is the Epic Summer Film Festival?
Epic Summer is an outdoor film festival held at the end of each summer in September. This up and coming festival celebrates the exhilaration, inspiration and entertainment of adventure and humanitarian service through cinematic creation.

What types of films are featured?
Films shown at the festival are more or less of one of two types: Outdoor Adventure Documentaries and Humanitarian Service Films. Thus far, films have included canyoneering (Euro Style), mountain biking in Bolivia, backpacking in the Wind Rivers, interpretive cliff diving, barehanded fishing, repelling over Calf Creek Falls, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and distributing medical supplies in Kenya.

Raising money for Camp Hobe:
There is no admission charged at the film festival but donations to Camp Hobe are strongly encouraged. Camp Hobe is a 501c3 (tax deductible) organization that provides an adventurous summer camp experience for local kids that either have cancer or who have siblings that have cancer. Their website is: http://www.camphobekids.org

"one person can make a difference, and every person should try."-john kennedy

quotes and images from dani's blog.