Merry Christmas to everyone!

Christmas was actually pretty great this year. Usually I'm a bit of a grinch about the holidays- a title I wear proudly, I'll have it known. (As far as I'm concerned, the Grinch SAVED Christmas for the Whos...but that's a digression I'll leave for later). This year was a little bit different though, because our family is growing up. A lot of the hoo-ha about presents and Santa and seasonal sentimentality was circumvented by a common realization that we, as a family, don't really need all of that. We did the normal traditions, sure, but they were done in a more mature way this year than in times past. I like the direction this is headed.

Anyway- besides normal Christmas things, we skied a bunch. That's just what we do. Later this week we are driving down to visit some family and ski a bunch more. Should be good.

Enjoy the pictures!

Annual Christmas Pageant. Addy took charge of the sheep crew. Maren was an enthusiastic angel. Lindsey made for a somber shepherd. And Jackson was very proud and excited to play the part of the star.

Rach and Jack. Every year she schedules five shifts of bell-ringing- one with each of the kids. They make it fun :)

More parties. This is from a work thing I did at an escape room.

Christmas Eve PJs!

Lindsey is the queen of the lodge. 

I actually really like this photo that was taken from the window of the lodge. You've got the icicles, the lift, the trees, and Evelyn zooming by in the bottom corner. 

'Tis the season!

First day of skiing! Many more to follow.

Addy, Maren, and me- the diehards. Traffic to the resort on opening day was horrible and we didn't get as many runs in as we would have liked- but fresh powder was abundant and there is a certain "essence" to the first turns of the year that just can't be matched. We all agree, it was worth it.   

*****

'Tis the season! School programs, and projects and concerts and stuff. Mostly for our own kids, and a few with friends. Now that these things are all out of the way, we have one more week of freedom before the kids are off for a nice, rELaxIng, three-freakin'-week-long vacation.

School band concert. Sorry, but these are the best pictures we got. Here's Ev on the drum set, keeping time for the jazz band. She's a confident musician and counted them off and kept them together without a conductor. She was a little nervous about that, but she did great. Also, just as a side note, she is looking forward to a little later this month when she is going through the initial steps of forming a girl band with some other musicians at the Rock School. That should be cool, and the music is a little more up her alley. It's also more fun to listen to while she practices :)

More great pictures, I know. Here's Jackson (Clarinet) and Addy (Sax) in the sixth-grade band. They've all been playing their instruments for less than six months, and it is actually pretty impressive to see what they can do after so little time. Also, all middle school band teachers should get medals. They are the real heroes of the arts.

Sigh. Invent Idaho. Second grand and fourth grade. Five kids. Do the math. Lindsey did a great job and was proud of her presentation. We were relieved to have it done.

*****

'Tis the season! Work parties and lots, and lots of food. It's fun, but my body feels like somebody put sugar in the gas tank. Ugh.

One of many parties we will be a part of. This is one we did at our place with my dental team and their families.

*****

'Tis the season. Christmas is just around the corner. And while I'm not super into the "festive" side of things, there are certain parts that I really do look forward to. The first snow. Hot chocolate by the fireplace. Quiet music. Warm colors. Friends and family. Quiet streets with sparkling lights.

Lovely Coeur d'Alene

Happy Holidays :)

It has been a while since we had a weekend this good! Wow.

So, there are three big things to write about here: The office, the goal, and the game. Each one could be a whole post in itself, and I don't want the significance to be lost of either one by grouping them together. In fact, if it was a slow time of year for us, I might actually do different entries on each. As it is, the next couple of weeks look pretty full of activity as well, so this is what we get. Just know that I am really excited about each of these things. It really was a wonderful weekend!

The Office

For anyone who has been keeping up with our family, you know that we have been in the process of building a detached office on our property for Rachel to work out of. The idea started when Covid forced her into more work from home. The idea grew when this situation looked like it would be semi-permanent and we wanted our bedroom back (where we had set up a small workstation). It was way back in August when, over an evening conversation on the deck, we committed to the project. 

And ever since then it has been this huge weight that we have carried around with us- interfering with weekend plans, forcing us to learn more about building than either of us ever wanted to, and taking up more space than we were really comfortable with. The permit process with the city and the HOA was a chore, and it took a little trial and error to figure out each step of the construction. For sure there were times of excitement and accomplishment along the way, but for the most part the project made me question my sanity. Why had we started such a committing and ambitious (for us) project in the first place?

Well, I have to say it was all worth it. On Saturday afternoon we made the final touches with carpet and trim. We touched up the paint, cleaned up the tools, and took a step back to admire our handiwork. And guess what? It doesn't suck! It actually looks pretty good, if I do say so myself. It is cozy and I think it will serve our family very well. We still have to put furniture in, but besides being a workspace for Rachel it can be a quiet retreat for people to do homework, read books, make plans, or play games away from the constant clamor that is our house. 

We did it!

This will be a little reception area, with a small sofa, an accent chair, and a coffee table. Also, some art.

This will be the "office area", with Rachel's computer and everything. Also, you can see a little loft area above this. We haven't really decided what to do with this yet. Probably storage, but maybe a little reading nook for kids. There isn't tons of space up there, but there is enough for a mattress and small bookshelf. We'll see.

The Goal

Way back when I was a teenager I started getting pretty interested in rock climbing. I would go to a little bouldering gym pretty much every day after school and climb with the local college students. Some of them became pretty good friends over the years. It was at that time that I bought a training manual for climbers called "How to climb 5.12." 5.12, a rating of difficulty, became a holy grail for me. At the time, it represented a fairly high level of performance for climbers. It was even possible to get low-level corporate sponsorships if the grade could be reached consistently. (Times have changed as climbing has become more popular.)

It wasn't until a couple of years later that I climbed my first 5.12. Because of school, climbing was sort of an on-again-off-again endeavor for me, but it has remained a part of my life through the years, and every once in a while I would hit the grade. Last year, I really upped the ante by putting time into sport-specific training, and I completed eight climbs that were 5.12 or harder. Some were actually much harder, and I was very proud of that. 

But pretty much all of these climbs were, for me, what climbers call "projects." This means that I worked on each one a number of times- sometimes over the course of several weeks- before being able to climb it "clean" (without any falls). It is easy to conceptualize this process as learning the choreography to a very intricate and physically demanding dance- but where if you don't do all the steps one hundred percent perfectly, you fall down and have to start over again. You can rehearse the dance as much as you want, but you don't "send" until you make it through the whole thing without any mistakes.

But what I really wanted- what I had been reaching for since high school, was not only to climb 5.12, but to become so proficient at the grade that I could do these climbs predictably with little-to-no rehearsal. In climbing, this is called "onsighting," because you have to "read" the route as you go and adapt in the moment to what you see. It requires a person to have a wide "vocabulary" of movement to draw from, the physical fitness to execute the moves, and the mental capacity to solve complex puzzles in the moment. Most of the time, once you commit, you can't go back. You only get one chance to get it right. Once you fall, it can never be an onsight again. 

To this end, I made a goal for myself. I would do, over the course of a year, 52 climbs that were 5.12 or harder. That is an average of one "hard" climb each week. I could rehearse if needed, but I couldn't count a climb until I did it clean- bottom to top, with no falls. I figured that with this sort of volume it would force me to learn new skills. It would push me physically and mentally. And as I adapted, the climbing would start feeling easier- at least in theory. I would begin to "onsight" more, and "project" less. Basically, I would get better.

Which brings us to this weekend. When I first made this goal a year ago I happened to be in Seattle, and we thought it would be poetic if we returned to the same area to finish it. And finish it we did! On Monday morning I climbed, onsight, four 5.12s. They felt easy. And with the fourth one, my tally for the year reached 52.

I have to say, I feel great! Of the 52, 20 of them were onsight sends- mostly toward the end of the year. It is clear to me that I have gotten better- gotten to be very good actually. The most difficult climb I did this year was rated 5.13a- and it was also one of the onsights! This means a lot to me, as 5.13 is a grade I reached for the first time just one year ago and it is only the fourth one that I have ever done. I mean, in the competitive world that climbing has become, these achievements are pretty modest. I'm not about to get a phone call from The North Face or anything. But in my own world- that of a dentist/dad who is quickly approaching his forties- this is huge for me. Nothing less, really, than a childhood dream come true. Everything after this (and there will be more) is just a cherry on top.

Thanks so much to Rachel, who was a very supportive partner and belay slave for many of these climbs. I Couldn't have done it without her. Seriously. As a side note, she has had many of her own breakthroughs during this process. Pretty cool!

Also, though I'm not about to stop climbing anytime soon, the timing couldn't have been any better. The ski resorts open this weekend :) 

Bring on the snow!

The Game

As mentioned above, we went to Seattle this weekend. Originally, the trip was just so I could finish my goal. As the time got closer though, we started looking at other things to do while we were there. Long story short, there was a series of events that happened that led up to us getting tickets at the fifty yard line for the upcoming Seattle/49ers game.

Woah. Though I was excited about the climbing, this quickly became the emotional highlight of the weekend for both of us.

Rachel and I have been Seahawks fans for years. We rarely miss a live game, and when we do, we avoid the score religiously until we are able to watch it later. Our favorite places for important games have been either at football-centric parties with friends, or at rowdy sports bars with other fans. There is something about allowing yourself to get caught up in the excitement that is intoxicating and fresh and fun, and football- at least from an armchair- has become a way of life for us during the season.

But we had never been to a game. It just wasn't in the cards. Either kids, or money, or time, or something else would always get in the way. But this time, at the last minute, we found ourselves with tickets. That, and some great friends who offered to take care of any needs the kids might have, transformed our weekend into one that will go down in memory as one of the best ever. 

I don't even know what it was exactly. Part of it was the game (which, incidentally, was the best game of the season). Part of it was walking to and from the game through the crowded downtown streets of Seattle. Part of it was screaming until I no longer had a voice. Part of it was being with thousands and thousands of other people who, in spite of their differences, all came together in one place to be a part of the same thing. There was excitement and drama. But mostly, there was and "essence" that can't really be described. At least not in words that I have. It was an "experience."

I'm pretty sure this is going to become a regular thing we do.

Alright. That's all.

Have a good week!

Breakfast at a shipyard. What a very "Seattle" thing to do. It was lovely.

Wow. Thanksgiving week, for us, has been full of all the good things: Travel, family, food, good times, and memories that will last. What a week!

So we actually started celebrations about a week early at this fundraiser dinner. It was a chef cookoff event (think food-network style) with amazing food throughout and fun entertainment as some of the best chefs in our area went head-to-head in a variety of contests. The banquet raised tens of thousands of dollars for CDAide- an organization Rachel plays a large part in (although she didn't do much for this particular affair). Also, very randomly, someone stood outside the window carving a salmon out of ice. 

For the days immediately surrounding Thanksgiving we spent time in Rexburg with my extended family. This is one of the few times we have all been able to get together this year. It was good to catch up with people. Of course we had plenty of games, noise, and food to go around.

On Friday, my sister and her husband blessed their baby into the LDS (Mormon) church. Everyone from my family was there, as well as a few people who drove up from my brother-in-law's side. They catered a buffet-style lunch afterwards, set up pickleball nets in they gym, and allowed the kids to use the stage to produce a short theatrical performance. 

We also spent several hours with extended family at the local climbing gym. This picture is not from that, but it is meant to be representative. The gym in Rexburg is actually really cool in that it has a lot of things that specifically cater to families. Even the littlest kids had a good time (difficult in most gyms), but there were still a few challenging routes for the more experienced climbers in the group.

This picture is also significant for another reason though. Yesterday, both me and Rachel completed indoor projects that we have been working on for the past couple of weeks. For Rach, it was her hardest climb ever- and as soon as she finished it, she topped the day off with a flash of her second hardest climb! Woah!

On Saturday, we drove down to a party for this guy. My grandpa. He turned 90 this year and he is seriously my biggest hero. When I am forced to dig deep within what I consider to be the best parts of myself, it is his voice that I hear offering up encouragement and advice. He has lived an amazing life that I can only hope to emulate in my own.

Here we are- all of us here because of my Grandma and Grandpa. I think everybody made it to this special occasion- almost 90 of us- which really says something about how important my grandpa is to us. And it wasn't just a chatty lunch either. No. When the Hazards get together, we party! Lots of dancing. A little crazy. More good food (as if we hadn't already had enough this week). And a lot of love.

After the birthday thing, a small group of us went to the theatre to see A Christmas Story- the Musical. My sister-in-law (green dress in back) was a part of the production and it was neat to see her in her element.

It was also neat to get a little time to visit with Rachel's sister, who we stayed with that night, and to catch up with her family over breakfast the next morning before the long drive home.

The last few days have certainly been busy, with hundreds of people involved. Each of them holds a special place in our hearts. I think it is true that friends and family are the greatest things in life, and we surely have much to be thankful for. Time and distance can separate us, and in a way I think that is how it should be. Each of us live our own lives with different communities, careers, hobbies, friend groups, and priorities. I believe each of us has the strength to stand tall all on their own. Which is why, when we show up en masse, we are a force to be reckoned with! The mix of talents and personalities is immense, and it is amazing that I get to be counted with such awesome people.

Happy Thanksgiving and have a good week!

This last weekend, Rachel had a chance to get away for a few days with some of her lady friends. They headed north to Bonner's Ferry and got a hotel. I still have no idea why, out of all the possible destinations, this is where they settled.  The weekend was filled with talking, hiking, live music, hot tubs, and fun movies. According to Rachel they had a great time though, and she came back happy and refreshed.

In the meantime, I did more stuff in the stupid office. It's getting close to completion though...I hope. With any luck we will be painting next weekend, and then doing carpet and furniture soon after.

Have a good week!

 

 Last week was obviously Halloween, and I will post costume photos here. The holiday aside though, it was actually a fairly eventful week for us. Nothing huge, but a lot of little things. So I'll post those pictures first. If you want to see costumes, you'll have to scroll down, as I am posting in order from least to most "spooky." Also, our family has definitely undergone an evolution when it comes to Halloween night itself. We went out with the younger kids for about 20 minutes, but then everyone split into different friend groups and did their own thing. Rach and I went home and watched football while passing out candy. Personally, I think it's nice. 

Anyway, Happy Halloween!

The office project continues. Tape, mud, and sanding is messy work.

This is a thing that Addy made about her. I think it's for school? I'm not entirely sure, but I like it. If you spend some time looking at it you will begin to appreciate how comprehensive it actually is.

This is at the annual ski swap. We are planning on a lot of skiing as a family this year, and with kids who are growing bigger by the day we needed to update some of our gear. Also, Rach found this nifty little sweater. Cute!

Rach and I got out to Arbor Crest, one of our favorite places for live music and relaxation.

We also got out to a midnight screening of Rocky Horror at the Garland (local indie theater). The boisterous crowd and energetic shadow cast fit perfectly with the campiness of the show. Rachel is already planning out her costume for next year!

Just a cute picture of Evelyn at the Halloween social at our church.

Carving Pumpkins...obviously

And here are the costumes. Lindsey was Elsa, marking the third (or fourth?) year in a row she had done a "Frozen" theme.

Maren was a pickle. She decided on this costume months ago. No idea why.

Jack was a Demogorgon. I think? I guess it's from a show...but I don't think he even watches the show. I don't know. It's a monster thing. That's all.

Addy was a ghostbuster. Can't you tell?

And Evelyn was...herself, but with Halloween stuff. A witch? Ish?

Okay, That's it! Have a good week!

"It seems like we haven't done any trips or anything for a while as a family. Why is that? Things seem a little dull and monotonous around here."

"It's because we took on the massive DIY project of installing a home office."

"Oh yeah."

*****

This conversation takes place, either using words or agitated eye rolls, on a weekly basis. This office is the project that will not die. We are making progress, but it seems slow. Cold weather is coming and it would be great to finish by the time snow falls. Meeting this deadline seems like it will take away all the free time we have during the most beautiful time of year to go outside and play. Thank goodness for football games and short local outings to help lift the weight of this thing off our shoulders, if only for brief periods of time. I'm sure it will be worth it.

This weekend, actually, we took a huge step forward, getting nearly all of the sheetrock cut and screwed into place. We couldn't have done it without the help of my dad, who stayed the weekend for this express purpose. It was actually a little bit fun figuring things out- bouncing ideas off each other, making measurements, working hard, and then standing back and admiring our own handiwork. It's far from perfect, but it is also something I think we can be proud of. Also, with this step completed the structure feels a lot less "shed-like," and is now easy to imagine as an actual extension of the home with usable living-space. It's going to be cool. Even more importantly, it is motivating. I think little victories like this are needed to keep up momentum on big projects.

*****

Though we spent considerable time working on the office this week, we did manage to get some play-time in as well. The autumn colors are in full array right now, transforming our already-beautiful corner of the world into a veritable kaleidoscope of browns, yellows, oranges, and greens. Recent rains soften out the landscape, cool weather freshens it, and the sound of running water adds a crispness in the air. Days like these, I imagine, are what gave rise to the age of artistic expressionism- for being outside right now is more a feeling than an event that can be captured and reproduced.

We also spent time with each other playing games, catching up, watching movies, and the various other things that can be summed up as "hanging out." It was a good weekend.

And I tell myself that one day, hopefully soon, we can resume the more active lifestyle that we normally like to live. As for now, I need to figure out how to texture a wall.

*****

Have a good week!