Summer Swimming Lessons

David and Aleky had swim lessons these last 2 weeks of summer. Both boys have had to work hard. David has been part of the pre-swim team and Aleky had to jump up to level 5 because there were no other level 4 swimmers this time around. They have done great and have been excited to swim.

This video was taken on the last day of swim class. David learned the butterfly stroke and both boys got a chance to practice some diving.

Just Dance Boys Party

I'm not sure what possessed us to bring out the Wii the other day but, for better or worse, we had it up and running.  The boys needs to do something active and so Michelle brought out the Just Dance game for the Wii.  After replacing all the batteries in the various remote the game was up a running.  I happened to come home to see everyone just getting ready to start.

First we had to establish the wii remote rotation so that everyone would have a chance to play.  Then the boys started the first song and the first dance.  Everyone had a chance to dance and most everyone had a chance to play (to dance with the wii remote and score points).  While I was on the "out" rotation I caught a few of the dances on video for memories sake.

The New Monte L. Bean Museum with Pack 51

Today the Cub Scout of Troop 51 had a family activity at the remodeled Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum. We thought it would be great fun to go as a family since we haven't been since the remodeled museum had opened.

We got there a little early to discover that the entire parking lot was being torn up and we couldn't park there.  All the street parking was taken so I dropped the family off and went to find parking down in the main Marriott Center parking lot.  When I got back to the museum it was locked up and so I found the family at the bell tower.  They wanted to hear the bells ring at the top of the hour.

The pack started the museum visit started with a little instruction about the various animals and their habitats.  During this instruction we got to see several live animals and even pet a couple.  My boys were a little hesitant but they all participated.

After the group instruction we had the remainder of the time to check out the various exhibits as a family.  This first one is the bird exhibit and we loved the peacock tail feathers...very colorful!

And the elephant!

And the butterflies...

Gidean found a squid.

Quinten is getting a close-up view of the insects.

African wildlife...

Upstairs were more large animals...

And a tourist who wanted a picture with my boys!

After the museum we decided to have a little family picnic at Macey's.  And to top of the experience we had their soft-serve ice cream cones!  What a fun experience we've had together as a family.

How did you hurt your head?

Michelle wanted to cut the boys hair tonight. We discovered that Gidean had a head wound that we had to clean up first. Who knew? But what really floored us was to find a matching wound on Quinten! How did this happen? Do we need to check any other boys heads?

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

Tonight we took the family out to the baseball game.  We have the 7-Peaks Pass of all Passes but we don't use them nearly enough, mostly because we just don't take the time to plan the activity into our schedules.  But tonight was different.  Michelle and I sat down and planned out a few of these fun activities.  And tonight was the night for a baseball game!

The Orem Owlz were playing the Idaho Falls Chukars.  We figured that Donovan, Michael and Aleky would be especially excited because they had just completed their first seasons of baseball.  The boys were excited for the first few pitches.  After that the 3 youngest boys had a blast sliding down the grass hill and wrestling each other.  David and Donovan were paying pretty close attention and David was asking a lot of questions to try and understand the game, the scoreboard and the whole experience in general.

As we were sitting there watching our kids attention spans run out a nice gentleman tapped Michelle on the shoulder, handed her this churro and said that it was for the little kid with the green hat!  It was a very nice gesture and Gidean was thrilled to get a special treat once we were able to help him figure out what it was.  The other 5 boys were instantly jealous!

On the way out of the ballfield we had the most beautiful sunset and reflection pond moment.  So we stopped to reflect and take a quick picture.  

Just another beautiful day with our family.  These boys are (usually) quite amazing and we had an enjoyable to time together, another memory in our life's story.

Pioneer Day Temple to Temple 5K Run 2014

Today we're celebrating Pioneer Day in Utah.  And today I'm fortunate enough to not have to be at work at the hospital.  This morning we choose to participate in the annual Temple to Temple 5K Run/Walk her in Provo.  

I have to say, this year's event is definitely bigger than last year, although over half of the nearly 8,000 participants didn't register (for FREE) until the week of the event.  In any case, there was a lot of excitement at the run this year and there were so many people just excited to be here.

So, with so many people running our little family decided to cheer on the first wave of runners and we waited about 2 minutes so that the first few thousand runners to sprint down the road and we could have some breathing/running room.  We were excited to be joined by Grandma Petersen and 3 of the Boel kids (Devin, Haley and Vivian).  Aleky decided this morning that he wanted to run to so we brought him along and they let him register at the last minute.  Grandpa Petersen was very kind and dropped us off close to the starting line and then met us at the finish line with Quinten and Gidean.

The race starts on the North side of the Provo Temple, at the top of the hill.  Even with all of the foot traffic I still ran faster than a 6 minute mile (12+ mph, a personal best).  Since I had my own personal timer on my phone I had to start it at the Starting Line so the rest of the family got a head start.  That means I passed them all as I flew down the hill.  However, before I reached the stadium I pulled a muscle in my hip and that made the remaining 2 miles a bit painful.  In spite of the injury I was still able to finish the 5K in 22:04!

Devin and David ran together and finished in just under 25 minutes.

Donovan and Michael finished their run in about 26:30.  Donovan has already crossed the finish line and Michael is about 3 seconds behind him!

Aleky sprinted away from Michelle and Grandma.  However, Norman Thurston (a long-time neighbor) caught up to him on the final sprint to make sure Aleky didn't get lost in the crowd.  Thank you Brother Thurston.

The ladies all finished around 35 minutes.  In the picture we see Haley (who finished first), Vivan (right on her heels), Michelle (waving to the crowd), with Grandma on her heels (behind another runner). 

While Grandma Petersen had sworn of running any more 5K's after the Barrus Memorial 5K on July 4th, she still came down with the Boels to run and have fun!  We have the best family EVER!  We wanted to pose in front of the unfinished Provo City Center Temple at the finish line of the race.

After the run we headed over for a pancake breakfast provided by our (Provo Bonneville) Stake.  Since the breakfast started at 8:00 we probably missed a huge part of the stake members but we still were able to visit with many of our friend from around the neighborhood.  And I have to say, the breakfast lines/serving was amazingly organized and very impressive!  Thank you to all of the stake members who help provide this wonderful breakfast.

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All of you, of course, are familiar with binoculars. When you put the lenses to your eyes and focus them, you magnify and in effect bring closer all within your field of vision. But if you turn them around and look through the other end, you diminish and make more distant that which you see.

So it is with our actions as holders of the priesthood. When we live up to our high and holy calling, when we show love for God through service to fellowmen, when we use our strength and talents to build faith and spread truth, we magnify our priesthood. When, on the other hand, we live lives of selfishness, when we indulge in sin, when we set our sights only on the things of the world rather than on the things of God, we diminish our priesthood.

To every officer, to every teacher in this Church who acts in a priesthood office, there comes the sacred responsibility of magnifying that priesthood calling. Each of us is responsible for the welfare and the growth and development of others. We do not live only unto ourselves. If we are to magnify our callings, we cannot live only unto ourselves. As we serve with diligence, as we teach with faith and testimony, as we lift and strengthen and build convictions of righteousness in those whose lives we touch, we magnify our priesthood. To live only unto ourselves, on the other hand, to serve grudgingly, to give less than our best effort to our duty, diminishes our priesthood just as looking through the wrong lenses of binoculars reduces the image and makes more distant the object.

- Gordon B. Hinckley

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Joy of Achievement

“Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.”

- Franklin D. Roosevelt

Joy of Achievement