Lost

Occasionally Tracy and I have this silly argument.

It usually starts with Tracy saying "You'd be totally lost without me." A true statement usually triggered by me being forgetful or otherwise unaware of something I should, as a father and husband, probably know. Knowledge gaps may include; when the kids should be picked up, where the kids should be picked up, what medicine they're taking, when they're supposed to take it, where the medicine is, what time school starts, what time school ends, the names of their teachers, the names of our neighbors, how to set the sprinklers, when bills are due, which bills are due, when mother's day is coming, when father's day is coming... The list, unfortunately for me, goes on.

My unoriginal and one-dimensional response is usually, "Well you'd be lost without me too." After which I half-heartedly mumble words like "house payment", "weedeater"and "401k".

It's a silly argument. But that doesn't change the fact that we're both right. There are many things I allow myself to forget only because I know Tracy remembers them. There are things Tracy never does only because she knows I am doing them. Tracy doesn't know how to put on a "beanie baby show", fix the internet or flip an omelet. I still can't name the flowers in our front yard, make gravy or pick the perfect Christmas dress for the girls. Neither of us get the Disney Channel.

But what if something happens? Doesn't this leave us vulnerable? Absolutely every day. But if you've ever trusted someone enough to let your guard all the way down, and have felt the joy of total dependence on someone else, you wouldn't have it any other way.

In Memoriam - We love and will miss you Steve Brown. We feel lost without your wit, patience and perspective. Long live the Oryx hunter.

We Did Something!

Admittedly, this shouldn't make headlines, but sometimes you take what you can get. With diverging schedules and interests, it's difficult to pull an activity together on short (or any) notice. But tonight we triumphed over inertia with a brief but successful venture to Albion Basin to see the wildflowers. (Thanks for the tip Hailey and Jon) This time, it was just Evan, Tracy and myself. Next time, we'll go earlier in August and we'll take the girls.

The top five things about tonight:

1) A total lack of television
2) The scent of wildflowers
3) The hitchhiking porcupine
4) The campsite we found
5) A new memory together

A few photos for proof:

The TSG Amazing Race (A Preview of Hell)

A couple of Fridays back, our company engaged in our second TSG Amazing Race... a half day team-building event ultimately designed to make us grateful for our desk jobs.

During the hottest day of the year (103°) we ran, jogged, walked, caught trains, missed trains, carried watermelons, ate watermelons, ate bugs, played operation, dabbled in archery, cried foul, plotted, schemed and ran some more. Many of us carried looks of anguish. Many still carry bruises. Everyone (inexplicably) would do it again.

I only took a few pix and they aren't in the least bit indicative of the real thing. Turns out, when you're praying to die, photography isn't the first thing that comes to mind.

This is our team. We came in third.



This is the orange team. They are now clear on the difference (and distance) between the Huntsman Center and Rice Eccles Stadium.



This team cheated... and still came in fifth.



This guy put me on the five o' clock news. Not good.

Twelve

Evan turned 12 on August 3rd.

Yes, that was a week and a half ago. And yes, I have a problem capturing these moments in a timely fashion. The details fade faster I'd like, but I think he had a good day. It went something like this...

Breakfast in bed: One eye open, the other shut. Bacon was involved.



Church: Not pictured. Patience was exercised.

Birthday Presents: A beautiful guitar (he paid half) and his very first cell phone. I haven't had the heart to tell him that it doesn't get any better than this. Sorry kid.



Later that evening: I honestly don't know how to label this one. Also, Tracy usually isn't this blurry.



I don't know if you can tell from the pictures, but the kid is on track to be about seven feet tall and six inches around. He still has the same sweet disposition. He's quieter now, except when he's not. He's a funny kid.. Has a good head on his shoulders and good heart. His sisters adore him, except when they don't. His mom doesn't want to let him grow up too fast. Our lives have all been blessed by his place in our family.

We love you Ev.