Midnight Snowshoes

This weekend I went with Kris and Kwint Kemp to their cabin in the Uintah's.  We had to snowshoe in dig out from the recent storms.  I had a really good time cross-country skiing, shooting Kris's arsenal of guns he has been collecting, and taking a midnight, moonlit, round-trip snowshoe hike up to a nearby lake (5 miles round trip).  When we got up the next morning, it had snowed over a foot of fresh powder which required us to dig each of the vehicles out.  We have been doing this little guys night for the last 4 years and I really look forward to it each year.  In the next couple of years, we will start bringing up our sons.

Tracen had another tough sports weekend, but I can tell that he is really enjoying playing and he is dedicated on improving his skill and fitness level.  He and Dee have been taking this squat and pushup challenge over the last several days.  It reminds me of when I was in sixth grade and started to really take physical fitness seriously.  I remember doing tons of pushups and situps every night.  Truth be told, some of the impetus for my exercising was to thwart genetics.  I wanted to do everything in my power to combat against inheriting the dreaded "Jacobs Pecs".  I think that I was partially successful.

Trev is unpredictable as always.  This week in a moment of love, he said "Dad is like my best friend".  My heart warmed.  I quickly asked him why I was, like, his best friend and he promptly told me, "I'm not yours friend.  I'm NOT!"  He has discovered what our other children already know... I am not funny.  He has told me multiple times this week "...Top it Dad.  Yours is not funny".  Whereas I might not be funny, I find his telling me this hilarious.  The other thing I find funny is when he declares that he doesn't need to use the bathroom.  This comment means that he is on the verge of wetting his pants.  Or the bathroom floor.  Or both.

So I had a biometrics screening last week.  Everything panned out ok, except for the part when in came to my BMI (body mass index).  I was told that I was in the "obese" category.  In fact, I was only 2 points away from being morbidly so.  It looks like I may need to cut back on our weekly Krispy Kreme outings.

Tyler and Tracen are working on their Thomas S. Monson scouting award.  It is an award that they will only offer until March and it will never be offered again.  One of the requirements is to learn the 13th article of faith.  We printed it, framed it, and placed it on our countertop.  Tracen taught it to himself over a plate of quesadillas one night.  I was wondering why he kept looking up and then staring off into space.  Tyler surprised us both by a couple of mornings later cling down and reciting it perfectly at breakfast time.  I guess he had had a bad dream and had read it to himself "about 50 times" to help him get his mind off of the dream.  It looks like they will both receive the award at the upcoming blue and gold banquet.

We are loving early out church.  It is nice to spend more time in the afternoon together.  I know that Dee likes getting all of her meetings done earlier.

Have a nice week.  

Dan

Bean Bag Champ

February 4, 2014

I have so very little material of which I can brag about myself.  I am mediocre at just about everything I do.  My most distinguishing trait is also one that I am a little embarrassed to share (I have a superflous nipple) so when I can actually find bragging rights to something, I had best talk myself up while I am at the top of my game.  I excell at the game of "Cornhole".   While I absolutely loathe the name of the game, it would appear that I dominate at it as evidenced by my utter domination of the Stratford clan last Friday.  Just so there is no mistake here, the game consists of standing at about a 20ft distance and pitching bean bags onto a board that is on an incline.  There is a small hole cut on the board and if your beanbag goes through the hole, you get points, if  your bag slightly overlaps the hole, you get points.  If your bag remains on the board, you get points.  Well I got more points (with a little help from Dee) and I am the current champion of the game.  All Hail "Cornholius" (as I have just now named myself)!  Thanks to the Stratfords for a fun filled Friday evening.  And extra thanks to Tracen who babysat for 5 hours without killing off any of his siblings.

We semi-watched the Super-fiasco on Sunday at Mom and Dad's house.  There was nothing semi about the sheer number of calories consumed however.  The two who were most interested in the game, and who subsequently talked the most trash, were Sammy and Tracen.  I was the only Bronco supporter in the house and I am just glad that I didn't give more of a hoot than I did.  I still bet (and lost) a quarter to Sammy over the whole thing.  If Sammy becomes a "bookie" it was his Uncle Dan that gave him a start down that path.

Tracen has really taken a shine to football over the last 3 weeks as he is currently a football card collector / trader / swindler.  He constatly pumps me for information on former and current players.  My knowledge of professional football has been stretched to the breaking point.  I find that I don't really care if Joe Montana or Aaron Rodgers is a better quarterback.  I am just goiing to tell him that Steve Young was the best player of all time from here on out and that pretty much every other player before or since him stinks and that they aren't worth collecting.

Being the first man of the ward, I have found that when I come home to a major food production, when the whole house smells divine, and when it would appear to be a mini-thanksgving in the making... that it's not for me.  There have actually been a couple of times when all that is left of what smells to have been a phenomenal meal, is just that... a smell.  Some lucky family got the meal hook-up tonight!  That lucky family would not be the Jacobs (actually that is not true, we did get some of the "reject" rolls).

Deanne and I have decided that the terrible two's have nothing up on the 3's.  Trev has mutiple personalities.  It isn't this fact alone that scares me, it is how quickly he can morph from one to the other.  Nobody should be allowed to switch from demon to angel and back to devil's spawn as rapidly as he does.  Even though it can be challenging, I am really enjoying him at this stage, half of the time.

We have a full week of scouts, basketball, soccer practice, piano, homework and Relief Society (just Dee) on tap.  I was glad to be able to squeeze in a line or two.  I hope to give a better effort this next week.  Ta Ta for now!

Dan

Bean Bag Champ....In My Defense

While I was away at my presidency meeting last night, Dan had time to sit down and write this lovely family email.  While I am truly grateful that he writes these emails as a little record for our family, I feel the need to make a few corrections in my defense.  Hmm...where to begin....how about " Mr. Bean Bag Champ" and " All Hail Cornholius" and may I quote...."with a little help from Dee"?  Really? 

 My dearest Daniel, may I remind you that you are nothing without me.  It is simply impossible for you to win this game, any game, without me.  What ever happened to "Co-Winners"?  Isn't that what you are always begging for when I win and you lose?  Ponder that my love.  Now onto the you "being the first man of the ward... and coming home to a major food production, when the whole house smells divine, and when it would appear to be a mini-thanksgving in the making"... that it's not for you?  That has only happend ONE TIME!  And that was because it was a last minute need and I only had enough ingredients for one meal, so the other family got our dinner.  Cut me some slack....our Pizza dinner was tasty that night too! So...while this meal was also a last minute need, I made double everything!!  It took me a total of 4 hours slaving in the kitchen.....making it all from scratch...and you enjoyed every last bite....NOT just a few "reject rolls".  

So my dear, while you may think you have very little to brag about, I happen to think you are AMAZING!! Just don't forget who has your back!  We will always be "Co-Winners"!

Love you, 

Dee

Thanks for reading....I feel so much better!