Dylan went on an overnighter with Scouts last weekend. He is the assistant patrol leader and was looking forward to this one because they went to a shooting range. He made it back in time for his hockey game where he looked a little tired, but had enough in the tank to score the go ahead goal in the last period.

Gavin scored 2 goals and played his usual tough D. He didn’t load his helmet, so he had to use Dylan’s helmet AND mouth guard…gross!! He missed last weeks game due to head trauma earlier that week.

REI (member since ’82) had their used gear sale Saturday, so outdoor gear degenerate that I am, I was in line 3 hours before they opened. Scored a jetboil stove, snowboard, boots and bindings for Dylan, ski boots for Gavin and a bike light for ridiculously low prices.

It’s been wacky weather the last couple weeks: we have huge oak trees in the front yard that I love, but I’ve raked 300+ gallons of leaves in the last week and a half. Sounds like fall, but the spring flowers are in full bloom AND we have full grown lemons and oranges on the trees in our yard. The mountain is still getting the occasional snow storm and it gets down into the 40s at night. Summer was represented when we hit 80 last week.

Ty went home from the hospital yesterday. He had his first round of chemo and starts radiation therapy on Thursday. The surgery last week removed a large Wilms tumor that was growing on his kidney. It had spread to his lungs and stomach, making it look like the more aggresive form of Wilms. They sent samples to Chicago to identify exactly what type he has. The good news is that he has the more favorable type, the bad news is that he is still facing ~8 months of treatment. He has excellent odds for a full recovery. Shannon spent most of last week in Sacramento. Within hours of getting the news Lois (Ty’s grandma) was on a plane and Shannon was on the road to go help. The day before his surgery Ty had ~60 visitors at the hospital…including many children. The day of his surgery his ward and extended family fasted (there is another fast this Sunday). Ty is a HUGE football fan…knows all the NFL teams, players, records, etc. He (and all 3 of his brothers) played football last season. One of his coaches had the Oakland Raiders send him a personalized, autographed ball. When he loses his hair from the chemo his brothers and the deacons in his ward are all going to shave their heads in support. Grace is growing her hair out for Locks for Love. Check out the link in the right column to his caringbridge.org site. They have had 3000+ hits in the first week! During such a tough time, Don and Maria have been comforted and strengthened by an outpouring of love and support.

Gavin tripped on some cement stairs at a friend’s during a Nerf gun battle. The 6 hours in the ER paled in comparison to his cousin Ty’s 6 hours in surgery the same day to have a Wilm’s tumor on his kidney removed. Ty is 6 and has a good prognosis. Shannon is in Lincoln with her mom and sister.

Thursday afternoon I took the kids out to Joshua Tree National Park for a quick camping trip. We stayed at the same camping spot as last time that backs up to a nice 40′ climb. It wasn’t as cold as I thought it would be. Had a great time. This time Grace AND Gavin made it to the top of the climb.

Friday afternoon we had to hurry back for Grace’s performance in “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown”. She played the Little Red Haired Girl that is the object of Charlie’s crush. It was a fun show and Grace had a blast doing it with friends.

Saturday morning Gavin and Grace had Junior Music Festival. They both played great and got ratings of Excellent. On a 25 mile bike ride with the YM that afternoon I had Gavin’s song stuck in my head…not complaining it’s a really pretty song.

Saturday night Gavin and Dylan played hockey. Gavin played his usual tough D. Dylan was on FIRE: played super aggresively, scored two goals and helped kill a couple penalties. I don’t think he likes to LOSE. Last week they lost in a shootout and he was bummed that he wasn’t picked for the shootout. He played against his cousin Bobby. They kept it friendly going head to head in face offs and playing against each other on offense-defense.

Lindsey Vonn just became the first American woman to win two straight overall World Cup crowns. Also first US woman to win a Super G title. She is expected to be the breakout star at the Olympics in Vancouver next year. Until then, like our pro cyclists, she will labor in obscurity here, while she is a celebrity in Europe.

Manny Ramirez WILL be wearing Dodger blue this year.

Our nephew/cousin, Christian, got a full ride football scholarship to Southern Utah University. He will be wearing red. Way to go, Christian!!

The new U2 is AMAZING!! I heard most of the songs on satellite radio over the past few weeks and wasn’t blown away. It grows on you fast! Current favs: Magnificent and Boots.

Our high flux reactor in the Netherlands is running again, so the global molybenum shortage is over!!

Grace is going on a field trip to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, today!! Our big field trip was the Hansen Planetarium.

Yesterday was hockey day. We went to the LA Kings vs Minnesota Wild game first. Great game: close, Kings won. Hockey officially started for the boys last night. Gavin’s team, the Wings beat the Bruins. Gavin scored a goal and played great defense. Next was Dylan’s team: the Pink Bumble Bees vs. the Scrumptious Waffles. Dylan scored the tying goal that sent the game to a shoot out. The Waffles won.

David Zabriskie, the Utahn who finished 2nd in the Tour of California, was robbed while he was racing in California.

Among those items stolen from Zabriskie’s home are:
• Black 2008 Subaru Outback, Utah plate A189NC
• Black 2006 Toyota Scion, Utah plate 094VWM
• Giro D Italia Race Medal (approx. 6″ circumference)
• Olympic Seiko watch
• Beijing Olympic ring (silver) with initials “DZ” engraved ($4,000)
• Olympic Time Trial Bike, plus 12 other bikes (combined value of $100,000)
• Cervelo (black/red) bike frame – team issued ($5000)
• Tag Heuer watch ($6,000)
• Bose Speaker/Receiver System ($15,000)
• Sony 52″ flat screen TV ($4,000)
• Two Mac Books and one Mac desktop, plus hard drive ($8,000)
• A pair of Space legs, a recovery compression system for legs ($5,000)
• 7 Marvel sideshow statues ($11,000)

According to police, the Marvel sideshow statues are distinctive in that they stand two- to three feet tall and are very heavy. The stolen statues were of: “Hellboy” pistol figurine, “Ash”Army of Darkness, “Tomb Raider” Lara Croft, “The Punisher,” “Alien,”