I just got into work this morning and realized that a lot has happened since we last posted on here. The main thing, probably, is that school started. With Lindsey going into kindergarten, it means that all of our kids are in school, sometimes for the full day, and this translates to a lot of added free time for Rachel and me. She is able to work more (not by necessity- that is just how she chooses to use her free time because she likes her job), we have more time to hang out together, and I can pursue some of my own hobbies to a greater degree. It's nice.

Later this week we will do an update on each kid, with back to school pictures and everything. For today, however, I want to focus on the weekends.

*****

Park Dates:

It has been tradition for us to take one day out of the Summer for each child to go one-on-one with one of us to Silverwood theme park. These have been fun days, and it's nice to be able to focus all the attention on just one child for a while. This year, some kids decided to do Triple Play- a different park- instead, but the concept was the same. Since our last post, Maren and Addy have had their days and it's been a good time.

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Birthdays:

Adalie and Jackson are ten! Crazy. These are two of the coolest kids I know, and also probably the two most different (from each other) out of all of our kids. Because we have been busy with other things, their parties have been put on hold for a while. We will update things a little later. For now, let's just give a big shout out to this dynamic duo.

*****

Climbing in Utah:

I just got back last night from a great climbing trip in Utah with my cousin, Jon. We did a route called Arm and Hammer, which is one of the best in the entire Wasatch mountain range. The standout feature is this flake that splits an otherwise clean face of granite. Rock climbers will appreciate this picture. For others, it's just a rock:

The flake is four pitches up and splits the blank face that is right above my head in this picture.

Part of the climb that most climbers do is a pendulum (basically, swinging on the rope) from the large dihedral on the right in order to get onto the face. This is probably how the climb is done 95%+ of the time. I was pretty stoked then, when I was able to do these moves free (not relying on the rope) instead on very thin friction. It goes at 11c, which is a grade I am proud of given that I have virtually zero experience doing friction stuff. Here is my celebratory photo:

Overall, it was a great route- a great day- and a great time with Jon who I haven't climbed with in a long time. That night we had a nice bbq back with his family where I also got to catch up with Jordan and Kate (more cousins).

On Sunday I was able to drive up to see Griffin, and we did a little hike, along with his kids and Troy's family (yet another cousin). On Monday Jon and I climbed some more in the gym, and then I was back on a plane to start the work week. It was a short trip, but completely worth it and something that I am sure we will do again.

Have a good week!

This week the kids are all getting ready for school to start and it has been pretty busy. Evelyn is going into middle school and at her orientation I couldn't help but feel like I am losing a part of my quirky, fun, cool, little-girl Evelyn. It is bittersweet in a way, and I feel sappy as I wipe the proverbial tear from my eye while thinking "my little girl is growing up." That's how I feel though.

The other kids all had their orientations too, though it was nothing new to us. We are old hands at the elementary school thing, and we are already good friends with all their teachers, as well as the rest of the entire school. That's what happens when you have five kids, I guess. And when you are the dentist for half the school. And when you (Rachel) are in the school helping out at least once a week. In a way it feels like a homecoming, and it was nice. 

The kids, meanwhile, have been busy picking out school supplies, keeping up on the latest back-to-school fashions, and trying their best to squeeze every last drop out of their summer vacation. It has been a great one.

Playing with friends at the swimmin' hole. This is what childhood is all about.

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Because of all the back-to-school preparations, I have not had a chance to get on here and write about one of the best climbing trips I have ever been on. It started when we drove down to my parent's home over the weekend to spend a nice day with them hiking around in the mountains near their home.

Walking across a shallow section of the Snake river. That water was colder than it looks!

We were eating lunch by the water and watching the fish swimming around next to our rock. Suddenly Jackson starts yelling "I caught one! I caught one!" We looked over and sure enough, he had just reached his hands into the water and come up with the beautiful rainbow trout! Who needs a fishing pole when you have a Jack? Crazy.

That night, Rach and I set off for the trailhead where we would start early the next day to do Irene's Arete- a classic line in the Tetons that has been on my bucket list since high school. And man oh man, was it a classic. This route had everything. Perfect cracks, interesting face climbing (a large portion of the route has you climbing up a series of quartz crystals!!!), breathtaking exposure, committing moves, and comfortable belays. What more could you ask for? All of this was made even better by the fact that my climbing partner was also my favorite person in the world, as well as by the 50mph wind gusts trying to blow us off the mountain- man it was wild! Seriously, I have done a lot of climbing and it doesn't get better than this- especially at such a moderate grade. I dare say it was a perfect day- and those don't come around a whole lot. These memories will live on for a long time.

*****

Also, as a last summer hurrah, Jackson and I spent most of the day yesterday at triple play. We were actually on our way up to Silverwood when we both realized that we didn't really like Silverwood that much, so we turned the car around and had a great time on the ropes course, playing lazer tag, bowling, driving go-karts, climbing on the wall, and playing in the arcade. Jack is a cool kid to hang out with.

Have a good week!

Happy Birthday to me!

I turned 37- one year closer to my mental and physical prime (which I decided will be at 58). For our celebration we went boat camping. The kids all got me presents- some of them very generous given the fact that they were spending their own hard-earned money. It was a nice weekend.

Here are some pictures. Enjoy!

Evelyn spent a lot of her babysitting money for a new table-tennis top for the pool table.

Here's a few more things we've been up to:

Rachel and Evelyn went to Silverwood

We did some rock climbing. I was impressed with Maren's tenacity, Jackson's enthusiasm, and Adalie's casual athletic ability.

Rach and I went out to watch the Seahawks play in the preseason. Bring on football season! Evelyn has really been looking forward to this (she is going to rake in the dough with babysitting).

Have a good week!

Me with my siblings. I guess we all turned out alright.

*****

Last week we had almost 30 people descend on our house for the Hazard Reunion. We played. We talked. We did all the things that you might normally expect our family to do on any given weekend- only we did it with EVERYBODY. And it was great. Enjoy the pictures.

These first ones are at Silverwood. We spent pretty much the whole day at the park, breaking into groups according to age and "thrill level." The park was super busy for a Thursday, but we all managed to have a good time in spite of the long lines.

The next morning was a little bit damp, so we spent the early part of the day at the park playing with kids, playing pickleball, and hanging out. We had a picnic lunch, and then went over to the resort for Gooeys for dessert.

One of the days, Evelyn led most of the family down to "hidden lakes" an out-of-the-way swimming hole that she "discovered" and named last year.

The girls all went out for breakfast on one of the mornings.

Pretty much the rest of the reunion was spent at a couple different lakes/beaches and on the boat.

 Have a good week!

Quick update today-

In a few hours we will have my parents, all my siblings, and all their kids arriving at our house. It's somewhere between 25 and 30 people. Somehow we are all going to squish into our little home for the next four days (which is normally quite spacious and comfortable) while we have the Hazard Reunion. We are planning on a smattering of activities that represent, more or less, what our normal life is like up here in beautiful North Idaho. I really do feel like we live in God's Country and I think we will all be able to have some good times and create some lasting memories.

However...

This week was pretty good as well, and I don't want it to be overshadowed by the reunion. Thus, the update.

I am aware that every other picture on this blog, at least in summer, is of kids in swimming suits. It is basically like their second skin, and we are constantly either out on the boat or swimming at a beach. This is at Inspiration Point, a place the kids like going where they can jump off the "high dive" boardwalk (about 10 feet) into the lake. 

Rach and I went to see Les Miserables. Woah. This has been on my bucket list for a while. I cannot think of any other show with such a moving and challenging story to tell. I can also not think of any other show with as many show-stopping, jaw-dropping musical performances that dig deep down and wrench all your emotions to the surface. We got seats just 7 rows back from the stage, and it was definitely a night to remember.

And then there is this. Rachel competed in a triathlon and managed to finished ahead of her target time in spite of a rough start. I cannot even begin to describe how proud I am of her. She has worked hard for this.

Last year she watched the Ironman. In her words, she thought, "I haven't run in sixteen years and I can only just barely swim...but I think I could do that!"

 For months she has been working with swimming and running coaches to bring herself up to speed in these events (no pun intended).  She breezed through the cycling section, which is not surprising at all, and she came across the finish line with one of the strongest finishes I have ever seen. Seriously- it was like watching a Disney-produced sports movie. As she crossed I wanted to jump up and down shouting "That's my wife! That's my wife!" Fortunately, I didn't have to, because our kids already had it taken care of by informing all the spectators that "That's my mom!"

Go Rach! I'll do my best to keep up with you on the next one.

The start was crazy- I don't know how people keep from drowning. Somewhere in this crowd is Rach, taking the plunge.

Getting out of the water (She's the second one back in this picture) and racing to the bike.

Transition point

And she's off! This is her event and she knows it. 

Running- handing out high fives along the way

And a strong finish. I have to post this one again, since it is so good.

Love you, Rach!

Have a good week!

A "Gooey" celebration after Rachel's race.