Hola! Mi Amigos y Amigas

We made it back, unfortunately, I would of like to have gotten stuck their for a few more days but Puerto Vallarta was great. It was in the mid 80's all week with a little humidity but not bad. I actually didn't sleep that great at night because it was too warm. Since the condo is open air you don't get much cool air out.

Anyway, we had such a great time. We went to Bucerias, Nuevo Vallarta and Punte de Mita which are a couple of small villages to the north of Puerta Vallarta in Nayarit which is the state just north of Jalisco where Puerto Vallarta is. We also went up into the hills south of town and did some sightseeing but mostly we just enjoyed being around each other.

We cooked, read some books, walked on the beach, and played cards all things we never get to do with 5 little helpers around us all of the time. It is so nice just being able to hang out with nowhere to be and all day to get there. We did some shopping and Kristi bought some silver jewelry and I got the boys some soccer jerseys. The girls got some silver jewelry and some small purses. They all get bracelets with their names on em'. Overall we left some money in Mexico.

A huge thank you to grandma for watching the kids. Kody and Kirik were sick so that didn't make it any easier for grandma, but she is a trooper. I was a little dissapointed at how Americanized Puerto Vallarta has become since I'd been there almost 20 years ago. We shopped at Walmart and there is a Home Depot, Sams Club and Costco there now. The grocery stores are as nice as anything here which wasn't that way 20 years ago.

Lastly, we got to see whales from the room on several of the days. This is the time of year for whales to make their trip back south with their babies so we could see both the mom and calf from high up on the cliff. Even got some video.

Its good to be back but just a few more days would also have been nice...

The Basketball Stud

Kody is playing 7th grade basketball this year. The Talmadge Middle School team is undefeated so far and their closest game has been 17 points. They have pretty much been blowing everyone out so far. They have some really good players but mostly its a group of really good kids in terms of behaviour and attitude which is really even more important. Since they have been winning by so much everyone on the team is getting to play an equal amount of time which is also very good for the kids. No one is sitting on the bench so they all get really involven. Kody is the starting off guard and is getting better most games. He still plays basketball like his dad most of the time. In other words he gets the most out of the fouls they give him.

Here are some action pics for the b ball stud.

I'm Baaaack!!!

Okay so a long time has passed since I posted. That is mostly because not too much is going on here. It has been mostly work and training. Kody's basketball team is undefeated and is beating most teams by 20 or more points. Kaleb made a shot that was almost a three pointer in his recent game, so that was cool. Kennedy has been stealing money from the kids and giving it to her friends, $30 dollars at a time, what a giver. Kailin is still in piano lessons, although she says she doesn't want to keep going, and Kirik is doing good and enjoying his pre-school.

Kona is growing like a weed. He is now 38 pounds so he has gained 13 pounds in about 3 weeks. He eats and sleeps most of the time. He is soooo mellow. He has been such a great dog so far. It's about time for some obedience training.

I have been suffering from a hip injury, not sure why but I have been sidelined for a couple of days now. It really bothers me when running so I am going to be swimming and biking for a bit until I get can healed up. Hopefully it will be soon.

I am also participating in a fund raiser for Disabled soldiers through the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Here is a link to my web page if you feel so inclined to participate. The funds go to help disabled military men and women compete in different athletic endeavors. It is in conjunction with my half ironman coming up in California in April.

http://ORCalifornia09.kintera.org/kantola

It's Been Busy

Okay so I haven't posted in a while. We have been busy with the holidays, work and training. Remember the whole Ironman thing. Let's just say I'm pretty tired most of the time when I have free time. It's good for me though.

The Koda experiment didn't go so well. Koda was bounding off the walls 99% of the time and he would just not settle down for anything. We were able to find him a home where he will have less stimulation, i.e. kids, and more one on one time. Reports so far is he is doing really well and they are keeping him in the house most of the time. He is a good dog he just needed more attention than we could give him.

Which means I was able to get a Mastiff. He is the complete opposite of Koda. He is calm, doesn't chase the cats and is pretty much potty trained after 5 days. He is very mellow and the kids don't really get him too excited. I will post some pics. His name is Kona, I know close to Koda but I call him Kona Bear and Kristi calls him Kona Coffee. He came from a breeder in Ohio and has been everything I wanted.

Kody is in basketball, Kailin is still taking piano and Kaleb is also in basketball. Kaleb had his first game last Saturday. Kristi is keeping busy with work and the kids also so the word for the month is busy, busy, busy. I 'll try to keep up better though.

We had a great holidays to include our trip to Arizona, can't wait to go back and visit.

The other side of the hill...

Wow, the view up here is pretty good. OK So I'm officially 40 years old today. I don't feel it but apparently the calendar and my birth certificate say it is so. I remember when my dad turned 40 and I thought he was really old, guess I was wrong. Kristi and the kids surprised me with a little scavenger hunt this morning along with my favorite breakfast, Eggs Benadict.

At the end of my scavenger hunt was a trip to Puerto Vallarta for Kristi and I in February. Not a bad little Birthday present I'd say. Mom and dad are giving up their condo for a week and worse then that they are going to come up and watch the kids. Thats a double whammy! Anyway, thanks.

Kristi also worked it out so I don't have to work tonight. Thanks Kristi Mo for staying late for me, she is always so thoughtful. I'll have to get her back, I mean work a shift for her sometime. OK so I'm off to party like its 1999, or 2008 whatever it is. Merry Christmas to everyone.

Oh the weather outside is frightful....

We are in the grips of a winter freeze. The kids are out of school today because we have a couple of inches of snow. The worst part is underneath that snow is a thick layer of ice making it treacherous to drive. Kristi is also off work because all of her patients cancelled. I wish my work would be closed...for some reason that doesn't happen. Hmmmmm

Anyway, the past few weeks have been getting back into the swing of work after vacation. Although the past few days have been cool with the cold weather. Not cool like cold but cool like it is fun to have snow on the ground. The dog may not think so. He is so hyper that when we try to bring him in the house he just goes nuts so back outside he goes.

I would like to mention that two police officers were killed in Woodburn this week and it bothers me in the sense that stuff like this is just senseless. They were killed by a bomb that was left at a bank. Another officer is still in critical condition and was very badly injured. Both of the officers have children and with the holidays approaching it breaks my heart that they will not be with their families. I know it is an unfortunate reality of what I happen to do for a living but nonetheless it is still difficult for me to understand why stuff like this happens. I pray for their families that God will help them understand this as I cannot.

We went to the Howrey's last night for a Christmas party and had such a great time. Phil and Suzanne were such great hosts. We had not been out to the compound yet but boy is it a great piece of property. Phil had games and prizes for the kids and then pulled a carriage around with a Deere. John Deere that is. The kids loved it (So did Kristi and I) and the Turkey dinner was awesome also. Thanks Phil and Suzanne it was such a great time.

I've Officially Lost My Mind...

I signed up to do the Ironman Arizona next November 22, 2009. I watched the race last week and just felt like it was something I wanted to challenge myself to do. My mid life crisis. I will actually turn 40 soon, within the next 10 years I mean, and have always said I would do one at some point. The way it works out is to get into a race you actually have to be at the race site to sign up because they fill up within a matter of hours. I was there and thought why not so I asked Kristi for permission and she said yes. So I have 359 days until I swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and run 26.2 miles one after the other. I'm already feeling the pressure. If you want to go for a bike ride, swim, or a run let me know I need the training. I will also be doing 3 half ironman races one in California one in Boise and one in Lake Stevens, Washington to prepare for the big one. I know I'm crazy so feel free to tell me but I already know. Encouragement and support would be greatly appreciated along the way. If you want to come to the race it is a great time and very motivational and we have plenty of room in the big van... the more the merrier. Thanks to Kristi and the kids for allowing me to go crazy....