Kinetic Sculptures by Theo Jansen

In one of my design classes the professor showed a neat video about this engineer/artist who is a master mind of kinetics. Check these videos out. The first one is a brief introduction. If you have 10 minutes, watch the second one also (he explains in detail how he is working on designs that will allow his work to survive on the beach without any help).

Theo Jansen - Kinetic Sculptor

Theo Jansen: The art of creating creatures

I really like this man's ideas and I plan to follow his progress.
Jason, I think you might find this fascinating.

Gingerbread Attack!

On Thursday, we got a cute package in the mail, sent to us by a gingerbread-loving Mom. We opened it with delight and proceeded to discover more gingerbread-related items than we had ever seen in both our lives. How does that woman do it?


We are very excited to use our new cookie cutters to make gingery edible people, as well as all the other fun things. This December has already been so full of festivities and we're looking forward to more!

The First Christmas at Our Own House

We decorated our our own Christmas tree for the first time. The first item we placed on the tree was the "Our First Christmas Together" ornament Mom gave us 2 years ago.

Look at that beautiful tree! Pretty good for a fake one, huh?

Thanksgiving

Here are a few pictures from Thanksgiving. Though the quality is poor we hope you enjoy them. (We'll have to get some from Jenny to replace ours)

We had a wonderful time together.

Halloween 2008

Here are some pictures from Halloween this year. Kelly was the ghost of Grace Kelly whom Igor brought back from the dead because he was sick of giving life to old ugly creatures, He wanted someone beautiful.We also carved Jack-O-Lanterns, had some powerful Jedi trick or treaters
and a little party later on.

My First Century

Last Saturday I finished my first 100 mile bike ride. There were probably a few hundred riders riding to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. I had paid the entrance fee but did not raise the $250 requirement so they wouldn't give me a bib number which ment I wouldn't recieve aid at the rest stops. So I decided to ride unofficially anyways and take my own energy sources and hydration fluids. For the first 50 miles I rode with 2 or 3 different groups and people. Since they were nice enough to let me draft I would help pull too. There was a strong head wind for the first 7 or8 miles and around mile 30 or 35 the tail wind was so strong that me and one other guy cruised at about 25mph for at least 3 or 4 miles, that was a blast. So after the rest stop at the 45 mile mark I was by myself and climbed a gradual hill and flew down it going 35mph, then fought some more head wind and rode with a few guys until mile 65 when they stopped to walk around. I felt like stopping too but I thought my legs would tighten up on me so I kept trucking along. Between miles 80 and 90 I about died all alone in the desert with no sign of life but a 5 inch lizard that raced across the hot asphalt. I thougt my body was giving out even though I had fluids and carbs in me... I crawled at 12-13mph with a soar lower back and tired thigh muscles from being on my bike for 85 non-stop miles. And just as I was about to get off my bike I saw the lead motorcycle and the lead group coming my way (which let me know I was still on the right path)... then a few more riders passed by me and told me the last rest stop was just a few miles ahead. I got up out of the saddle and pedaled the rest of the way with more energy and vigor. Upon arrival at the stop I realized my camelpack was drained and I needed abit more water and gatorade to survive. I ate another cliffbar and walked around for ten minutes. The next rider to arrive opened my eyes and told me the resent 10 miles was a decieving up hill climb that appeared to be flat (this turned my discouragment into excitement). The last 14 miles were spent with that rider and we battled the heavy head wind together taking turns pulling every 3 or 4 minutes. As we descended the gradual grade at a steady 20mph I felt rejuvenated and ready to take on anything that came my way. It was a strong finish to the end and I finished in 5 hours and 40 minutes with and 10 minute break, putting me 10 minutes ahead of my goal. I had won the personal race I set out to beat (100 miles in less than 6hrs).
It was a satisfying accomplishment and I look forward to more similar journeys that will require great physical health and mental strength. I have yet to run a marathon and I am planning on a 200 mile ride from Seattle, Washington to Portland, Oregon with my brother Jason. These are my next 2 big adventures to prepare for.
There is something about pushing my body to the point where I feel can't go any further and then pushing past that barrier to achieve a wonderful task that causes me to grow and ascend to greater heights. I am most grateful for the physical body I have been richly blessed with. I thoroughly enjoy accomplishing difficult physical feats because it is one way I express gratitude to my creator for the magnificant bodies he has given us.

Desert Adventures

This is my friend Sam.

He is riding a Monster cruiser with 36inch wheels.

Sam and His girlfriend, Emily, came down from Utah to visitme and one of Emily's friends. We had alot of fun. The last 3 days consisted of a hunt for an AK-47, a fun mountain bike ride,and a very difficult but rewarding hike. I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I do.

The hike was a climb over 2000 feet in elevation change. The last mile to the top is not travel by many due to the difficulty of climbing, not just hiking. It was hard, but worth it. It took about 2 1/2 or 3 hours to get up with 3 or 4 breaks along the way. Coming down took about 2 hours. We were told that it is the most difficult hike in the Phoenix area.

The view was beyond description. If it weren't for the smog we would have been able to see all the way to Phoenix (about 30 miles away).
It was almost more impressive than the Grand Canyon and I think it was because I scaled the mountain on my own two feet and the view was breath taking. I now know for myself why temples are compared to Mountains, for I truly drew nearer to God upon the rocky cliffs there.
It was windy up there so we built a fire, had lunch, and even ate cooked cactus as shown here with Sam and Emily. It tasted like aloevera, (now I know that if I am stranded in the desert I can servive on something). Though it was very slimmy, it was eatable and I am sure it can keep someone alive.
I love this picture because it shows the highest point we climbed to from the trailhead. The peak that is furthest off in the distance is where we had lunch. It was probably twice as high as the cliffs on the left side of the photo.

I am grateful that the friendship Sam and I created years ago is still being strengthed by the fun things we are able to do together, even when we live far from each other. Thanks Sam.