How's that Fall

We really love the Fall in this household. It seems that everyone holds up at home or the shopping center and leaves the mountains to us - or the deer hunters. Last year we got stuck mountain biking in prime deer hunting areas without the 400 square inches of required hunter orange on body and head. But after seeing how most people hunt - we were turned off. This year we headed to Customer Appreciation Day at Snowbird for a free tram ride - with 6 cans of food. Snowbird recently had 4 inches of snow but it had melted by the time we got there. The kids loved the ride up especially when you go past a tower - and the whoosh and sway of the tram car. Jake didn't feel a thing but I think everyone else had some stomach churning going on. I usually ride the tram up, but going down was a different story - it seems like you are going twice as fast.

The photo of McKinley and Anders on the back deck was a random shot of those two just having fun. If you didn't know, Mac can go "cross-eyed". It really looks funny on a 5 year old. I could do it at that age. The parents told me it would hurt my eyes - but look, I'm one of the few Thygersons without glasses or contacts. I love watching Anders being intrigued by everything. Right now his favorite thing is his Thomas the train. He takes it everywhere including to bed. We played some soccer tonight and he lost Thomas in the grass - but luck was on our side and I nearly trypped over Thomas running after a ball.

Yes, we love Fall. Our Mountain is ablaze in fully glory. Even the Quercus gambelii (Gambel's oak) is looking sweet.

If Only Life Were a Cartoon...

Okay, I debated about whether or not to post this. We have talked about how we could do an entire post just on things that McKinley says. She says some pretty "incredible" things. So the lastest is titled "If Only Life Were a Cartoon."

We were headed down to the BYU football game. We were going to drop the kids off at the grandparents' house and head out for a rare day on our own.

From out of nowhere McKinley asked, "Mom, why did you marry that man?"

I wasn't sure where she was going with this and replied, "Why, should I have married someone else?"

Her startling reply was, "You should have married someone that was more handsome."

I was a little shocked and struggled for a response. Then, it dawned on me that everything is fairy tale prince and princess in her five year old girl world. So I asked, "You mean someone like Eric."

"Yes, someone like Ariel and Eric. You should have married someone more handsome." The train of thought continued.

"I prefer the real man, not the cartoon," was my comeback.

She was not to be swayed, and I was undaunted because I had Steve sitting next to me in the car. Steve finally called the conversation quits, and neither McKinley nor I had the final word. I was satisfied with my choice of a marriage partner, and McKinley was determined to find Prince Charming for her wedded bliss. While my fate is chosen, only time will tell what McKinley's fate will be.

McKinley, be forewarned this story will find its way to your wedding party. We will welcome Prince Charming with open arms. I just wonder if he will find it charming.

Overcoming Timp

We knew the weather was coming in, yet our goal was to make it to the top of Timpanogos before the snows hit. Our plan seemed to be working - we started at 5am with just a light drizzle that we attributed to being in a cloud. Hiking the trail at that time with headlamps was like being in a tunnel. We set a blistering pace to start but let up when we got to the first waterfall. That spot marked the fartherest Justin had been on that trail - and now we were taking him into the unknown. As the light of day started to show us the way, we noticed how wet we were and I could feel water going into my boots. Our original plan was to turn around if the rain doubled in intensity or if we hit snow. We hiked for about 2 hours before deciding to turn around - it was raining about 5 times as hard and almost snowing. In fact, we could see the snow line just a couple hundred yards ahead. This marked the turn around point. We put on warmer clothes only find out how hard it is to zip up when one's hands are numb. I think my thighs were past feeling as well. I felt a little discouraged that we had to turn around but I was colder than I had ever been in my life and knew we still had 2 hours back to the car - better not press out luck.

On the way down, we met some BYU students who were trying the same hike in the rain - they were in ponchos but also sandals - hmmmm??? About 1/4 later, 3 of the girls in that group came running down saying a big bull moose was coming down the trail. Great! now we had to tangle with a moose. The other 3 hikers then joined up saying the moose wouldn't let them pass and couldn't figure out how we got by it - truthfully, we never saw it.

After a nice leisurely hike back down, we really noticed how cold we were. My knees locked up riding down the canyon. I think it took a 20 minute shower to warm up - and the water just wasn't warm enough. Well, lesson learned - don't try to beat out the weather and keep an eye out for the old moose.

We enjoyed conference weekend at the parent's home in Provo. Adrianne and I enjoyed a movie late Saturday night and decided to crash there too. We then had a nice breakfast, another conference session and lunch then headed home for the afternoon session. I love conference weekend.

High & Mighty Uintas

This was a trip our family has been looking forward to for a long time. I used to go to Scout Lake with my friends in high school. The fishing is amazing, the scenery is unmatched and the good times will be remembered forever. Matt brought his two boys, Logan and Jack, Justin came and Adrianne and kids came. Only Tanner stayed the night since Jakob had an important soccer game in the morning. As usual, the fishing was great. Just about every cast caught a fish or had bites. I think I was feeding the fish with power bait because they nibbled off by bait about every other cast. Tanner caught 6 fish, Jakob 2 and Logan 2 or 3. We cooked up the fish and that trout is amazing. The video is of the 3 sided shelters you stay in (called Adirondacks). We thought it would be super cold and perhaps rain. It did rain and even snow for about 1/2 hour that afternoon, but it all cleared out and the evening was perfect and quiet (eerily quiet). The morning was around 40 degrees but typical. Overall, a great trip that we will go on each year.

The State Fair

We had some free tickets to the Utah State Fair so we used them on the second to last day of the blessed event. I think we chose the perfect time of day that Saturday to hit it because parking was a snap and in and out was so easy. The best part was watching the boys go around and around on the ferris wheel - I think they go for about 7 minutes just around and around. We had to get McKinley her pony fix for the year - yeah - another year where I don't have to buy her a pony. Anders was a bit under the weather so he just chilled in the stroller. My favorite are the big animals like Big Red, the 2300 lb. cow (I think) that stands 6 feet high at the shoulders - I also loved the huge geese. My brother Scott would have been scared to death and would need a change of underpants if he saw these (that story goes way back to Snake Creek Canyon in Midway).

My classes are going well - I showed the Paul Potts youtube video for some inspiration to the students. I'll need to show it again later in the semester to pick up their spirits. How about those Cougars. It is funny to hear the conversations among the old men at work. Words like "wow" and "very good" and "Max Hall" were used quite extensively. Too bad we have to miss the game this weekend - got some fish to catch up at Scout Lake, mmm, nothing like planter trout cooked in tons of butter and almonds and salt and pepper.

My First Lecture

Today marked my first lecture in my graduate class. Ironically, I had just finished a book entitled "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch. It is about a computer science professor who has terminal pancreatic cancer. He is very gifted and has many good things to share with people as he knows he is going to die. But most of all, he shares his feelings with his children. It is about accomplishing your childhood dreams, whatever they may be. It reminds us of what the priorities should be in life. Great read for anyone who needs a little boost in life.

I did teach yesterday in my occupational safety and health class but that was more housekeeping stuff. Today was my lecture and great discussion to graduate students in public health - not necessary my area of expertise. But I am charged with providing the foundations of public health. It has been a real eye opener as how we put value on public health. The class is held once a week for 2.5 hours. I thought for sure we would get out early but the discussion just keep going and going. We were discussing if parents have the right to opt out of mandatory immunizations for their children. I think the students wanted to share because it was the first day and they needed to get the semester started right by impressing their nobel professor. They did very well. I could almost see it getting heated when I talked about people I know who don't send their kids to school because they are against mandatory immunizations - they have many othe reasons also. It was an exciting day and now I set my sights on - my second lecture. What is the cliche? One day at a time?

I hope you enjoy the video. Adrianne cooked up some awesome steaks for me and then it was off to the trampoline to have "bum wars". I'm glad I captured Anders saying he wanted a bum war. After the war it was full attack of the 4 legged spider - me. I lay on my back on the trampoline and the kids try to run around me without getting caught. If it goes to long without me catching them, they give themselves up and get caught and then the real fun begins. They yell "piggy" and all the other attack me to try and save the little one. It is my way of teaching them loyalty and bravery to fight for your flesh and blood - at least I think that is what I'm trying to teach.

WAY TO GO MOM!

Tanner recently lost two teeth. He lost the first at a park movie night. He didn't even realize he had lost it until we were walking home. He lost the second tooth the next day. He put the tooth under his pillow, and the next morning asked me if I had forgotten to call the Tooth Fairy. You see I have this problem of remembering about the good old TF. I have explained this on past occasions by letting them know that I indeed need to make a call so the TF can know that they lost their tooth. It wasn't that unusual that I had forgotten to call, and so the tooth remained under the pillow.

Well, this would have been fine if it had just been one night. I called the TF and she didn't show up a second night. I guess that I forgot to tell her which child had lost the tooth. We have more children than we used to, and there are three children of the age to loose teeth. I had to make a second call. I was a little disgruntled. I had an eight year old boy that was disappointed that the Tooth Fairy had not shown up. Thank goodness the TF got it right the third night. I guess it is the problem with cheap labor. Is anyone else having this problem with the TF?

I do have to say that the TF was very generous and gave Tanner enough to cover two teeth, even though only one made it under the pillow. Thank goodness for tooth fairies and the parents that call them.