Our Weekend Get-a-Way w/ NO KIDS (ok West had to come)

We had to get out of town. We needed a break. So we hired a full-time sitter and jetted away to San Diego to be secluded and renew our energy. That city NEVER fails to disappoint. I'd sell all and move there tomorrow. Huge, huge, huge fan. We stayed downtown in the Gaslamp and played and played and played. Today, Monday, it was extremely hard to roll out of bed and know I don't live in San Diego...back to the grind.

Saturda at Point Loma. We hiked around and then hung out and had Sushi at one of our favorite Sushi spots - Sushi Itto in the Gaslamp. From there we went back to our hotel and watched in-room movies. We're easy to please. Point Loma was amazing.

Balboa Park on Saturday afternoon. We went and saw Bodyworlds at the Museum of Science - whoa...that thing is crazy. Has anyone seen it?

La Jolla Sunday morning. We enjoyed getting there early before the crowds, buying hot chocolate and roaming the cove. There were loads of swimmers getting in triathlon wetsuits bound for a swim with the sea lions and over to the sandy flat La Jolla beaches. Next time I am so doing that - wetsuit and all. Seriously, it was all I could do but jump in and swim with them. So my kind of town. I can't wait to swim that!

Sea Lions adjacent to where all the swimmers were starting.

Hiking in La Jolla. Not sure what I am doing.

I took this sitting in the backseat on the way home. I love this shot. He's my buddy.

Easter 2009

Doing Easter Eggs!

Easter Morning. Check out the face caked with chocolate by 7am. I love this shot.

Sound of Music | Central Station Antwerp (Belgium)

Has anyone seen this on YouTube? Seriously, having been in busy train stations before I can't imagine seeing something like this. It would truly make you stop and really is quite an accomplishment. I'd say the best April Fool's joke I've seen. And a creative marketing plan. As a marketing guy, I take my hat off on that one. It worked.

Here's how it is described on YouTube:
More than 200 dancers were performing there version of "Do Re Mi", in the Central Station of Antwerp. with just 2 rehearsals they created this amazing stunt! It is a promotion stunt for a Belgian television program, where they are looking for someone to play the leading role, in the musical of "The Sound of Music".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k

Westy Boy Smiles!

Finally, the smiles are here!

Flashback!

We pulled this picture out tonight for something Hattie has going on at school. Well, this doesn't seem that long ago. Wow, time flies.

What R We Up To?

I've been asked numerous times what I am doing commuting to Scottsdale. Hopefully the article above sheds some insight. It was published in a local trade magazine this month. I really love what I'm doing. Even the commute isn't that bad (compared to Chicago traffic). I love real estate and training/coaching so it was a great next step. Loads to do...

Happy Birthday Grandma Blanche

Blanche Neeley Auernig circa 1930s

Albert and Blanche Auernig 1990 50th Anniversary

I love the first of April for so many reasons. It is a time of new beginnings - the weather changes, the sun is out longer and it just feels good to have the dark days of winter behind us (yup, even in AZ). I also welcome the first of April for the Semi-Annual General Conference our Church holds worldwide. It is a great weekend of learning and commitment. I also love the first of April to reflect on my dear Grandparents marriage, their impact in my life and my amazing Grandma as this time of year is her birthday.

She's an amazing woman. She has been a powerful force for many good things in my life. I honor her and love her very much. Our 2nd daughter is named after her. We all love her. She currently is in a nursing home in Bountiful, UT in her 90s.

Ten Things About Grandma:

• She was not afraid of hard things. She saw many dark days in her life but yet her faith in God and her love of hard work was evident. She led a joyful and rewarding life even amid trials.
• She had the most amazing yard. It was a great place to explore, pick apples, pick food from her amazing garden, eat peaches from the trees and admire her flowers. No yard looked better and it was a gathering place for all-things-family. Baseball games, running through sprinkler, and more...
• She loves kids. Not only were we her grand kids, but she loved all kids and teenagers. She often was the adopted grandma for those in her area without local grandparents for things at school, etc... My friends thought she was the best and often we would ditch out on school cafeteria lunch and go to her home for homemade BLTs. They were the best and she enjoyed cooking for me and my friends.
• She had an amazing sense of humor. Her wit and wisdom were always appreciated and I always respected her take on things.
• Her home was spotless, but always welcoming. Her home was a place of peace and rest for us as kids. To be in Grandma's home was to know that all was right and well in the world.
• Her cooking! She was an amazing cook and always put on an amazing spread. We saw them weekly and often spent Sunday dinner with my Grandparents. These are good memories.
• She always had junk food for us - Casco bars, Creamies, suckers, and more. Hot fudge sundaes were always in order. Grandma = candy. Way cool. And they were the first people I know who had a big screen TV and MTV (back when it was tame).
• She was in love with my Grandpa and there was mutual respect and companionship. You didn't get one without the other. However, she was in charge. He would tire of visiting and stand-up in an attempt to leave saying, "Blanchie, let's go." She would respond, "Sit down Albert, I'm not done." But they loved each other and I knew it.
• They were frugal but not cheap. They always looked like a million bucks. I remember he bought her an amazing custom suit she was to wear with him to a big event, however, he passed away in 1994 and she wore it to his funeral instead. She always dressed well and he saw to it. He was sharp too and knew a good suit. He was always dressed up, always.
• She instilled in me (with my Grandpa too) that I could do anything. She was often heard to say, "I know you can do it Ryan, you can do anything. That much I know about you." I still can hear her saying that in my head and it pushes me towards my goals today. Conversely, I once disappointed her at 14 and man, it cut deep to know I disappointed her.

I have her college yearbooks in my possession - Utah State University and University of Idaho. She was smart and progressive - pushing for an education at a time when women did not usually go to school. She has an amazing life story. And I've taken time to get to know her history. She was a spitfire, determined, loyal and liked excitement in her younger years. I could post some of the entries in her yearbook here, but sufficient to say, she dated a lot, quite a lot. And her girlfriends were tight and dear. It is exciting to learn about her and her life through these yearbook entries and her personal life history.

I could go on. She, in her old age, made her way to Chicago to my wedding. She grabbed me upon her arrival and said, "I wouldn't miss this for the world, even if they had to stuff me in their luggage." That was her wit and humor.

She is a person of faith, fortitude and determination to me. I can still hear her say, "You can do it Ry!" I believe my daughter Neeley has the same spitfire determination and fortitude and therefore, I seek to hone, but not change. Neeley will do well with the characteristics she has been blessed with from this outstanding woman. We love you Grandma!

The PERFECT STORM!

This feels like the busiest we've ever been in our lives. No matter how hard we work to simplify, our schedules are intense and long. We are grateful for hard work and the ability to work. Life is good.

We've had so many changes around here with the baby that we often wonder if we are doing ok with our other two kids And truly, who knows? They certainly subconsciously have learned that they outnumber us, that's for sure, and that they can get away with more. Neeley has grown an attachment to Millie the dog - always concerned that Millie is inside and near. We figured this was Neeley's response to the new baby and a new attachment for her - something she could be in charge of and control. And while I still believe this is partially true, we discovered the real attachment last night (stupid us...). Read on...

Getting our kids to eat lately has been a chore and frankly, it has the potential to ruin everyone's dinner with all of the back-n-forth and pointed orders from Mom and Dad. Well, yesterday as I was off to a Church meeting, Taani called and said that Neeley ate all of her dinner (which has not happened for a REALLY LONG time). She even ate her zucchini & more. I was shocked. And then the weeks of attachment dawned on us...it's as if we saw the light and it all made sense. Yup, Millie is kept close for a reason.

It was the perfect crime and who knows how long Neeley has been dishing her grub to Millie. So this morning when sitting quietly with Neeley I asked her, "Neeley, do you feed your dinner to Millie." Her eyes glazed over and she sat in silence. I got my answer.

I love her spunk and determination. I love how creative she is and how focused she is on an outcome. With General Conference upon us, I am praying for direction as a Dad to coach this amazing being into using her OBVIOUS talents in positive ways. I love this kid. She rocks and is an important part of our family. Oh, the dog too.