Golf Tournament - 2009

Suzy's dad, J. Ross Hurst, sponsors a golf tournament in St. George every New Year's Day. He started the tradition 27 years ago with 11 four-player teams. This year's tournament, the 27th Annual, was held at Green Springs Golf Course and featured 34 five-player teams. These people know how to golf, and I did not belong anywhere near them. Nevertheless, my dad and I were invited to participate this year, and Ross waived my tournament fees in exchange for some photos of the action. Here are a few of the pics. Green Springs is a beautiful golf course, which makes for an enjoyable day even if you can't golf (I say this from experience).

Chariots ready.

Pops and Pops placing bets.

Warming up on the putting green. The morning started cold (high 30s), but the afternoon was gorgeous (high 50s).

Teeing off across the canyon at #5. Dad put this within 10 feet of the hole (but still didn't win a prize for the five closest shots). I didn't lose my ball in the canyon--that's a win in my book.

Turning in the scorecards. Our team finished seven under par--good enough to put us somewhere above last place. Ross and his boys finished 14 under (but still didn't place). The wining score: 17 under par.

Ross and his boys doling out the (countless) prizes. It was a fun, successful tournament, raising thousands of dollars for the Doctors Free Clinic.

Flying

Admit it--you wish you could fly. You've been asked at least once: "If you could be any animal, which would you be?" And you said, "A bird, because then I could fly." I always said, "An eagle, because then I could fly fast." And then I saw this:


wingsuit base jumping from Ali on Vimeo.

Next time I'm asked that question, I'll say: "A human with a wingsuit, because then I can fly fast, be at the top of the food chain, and sleep in my warm bed."

Are you necessarily precluded from trying this once you have a wife and son?

UPDATE: if clicking on the video doesn't work, try clicking on the link "wingsuit base jumping" right below it.

Back to Zion

Took a little hike up Angel's Landing in Zion NP last weekend w/ pappa Jay. Actually, we only made it to the saddle, as our running shoes weren't quite sufficient to finish the last couple hundred vertical feet of ice (though the trip down would have been exciting). It was a beautiful day to be in one of the most beautiful spots on earth.

Angel's Landing, looking south through the canyon.

Detail of a north-facing (no sun) cliff face.

Dad on Walter's Wiggles - the final switchbacks up to the saddle. On the right side of the picture you can see several of the many waterfalls that began to form as the afternoon sun melted the snow.

Angel's Landing from the bottom of the trail.

Zion NP is good for the soul. If only it could be a bit closer to DC.

Sixth Anniversary

Six sweet years. I'm the luckiest. I love you SiouxZQ!

Happy New Year!

We spent a wonderful, warm week in St. George for New Years. Love the sun. It was nice to get Suzy back to her red dirt.

View of St. George from Web Hill

View of Pine Valley Mountain from the Red Hill (behind Suzy's house)

Tennyson spent most of his time digging in the dirt.

The rest of the time he destroyed grandma Julie's house.

Our two resolutions in 2008 were to do less and eat whatever we want. We failed miserably on the first but rocked on the second. We've made two resolutions for 2009: (1) use our passports more, and (2) eat more Mexican food. We hope you all had a delightful holiday season.

Christmas 2008

Merry Christmas friends and family! We had a lovely Christmas in Ogden. It snowed and snowed and snowed. The first few days were fun, though we then started to notice how cold it was. Thank heavens for sunny St. George to warm us up!


Heather thought it would be a good idea to start a snowball fight....

I ended it....




Ben Lomond peak during a rare clear morning...

Two

This year Tennyson knew exactly what to do with his cake...

Mommy planned a Sesame Street-themed party, and Tenny supplied the theme music ("Na na na na, it's Elmo's world!")

Tennyson loved his new toys, and mommy's hoping they are a cure for cabin fever (it's been cold in D.C. lately).

It's crazy to think that in one short year our little boy went from this...

...to this.

We feel so blessed to have Tennyson in our family. He's our frenetic bundle of joy (frenetic from dad, joy from mom). We love you Tenny!