My Random Blog

Kayaking at Camano Island State Park in Puget Sound

2010-06-02T11:56:00.005-06:00

Last weekend, I had the great fortune to be camping, hiking and kayaking with Mary Hjelm and some friends up on Camano Island in Washington's Puget Sound. It was rainy most of the time we were there - but we did manage to get in a few hikes and some kayaking. On Saturday night, we were out for a short paddle to the north to check out the cabins at Cama Beach State Park and happened upon a lone Grey Whale cavorting near the shore. We didn't get too close - but saw it surface a few times - and spout several times. It was an amazing sight! Shortly after I took the picture, the whale dove and there were a few moments of panic as we didn't know where it was - - -

Thar she blows---

Yakking

Heading out

All done

Youth Retreat to Crooked Creek Ranch

2009-10-13T17:03:00.004-06:00

The kids and I headed up to Crooked Creek Ranch (Young Life Camp) outside of Frazer, Colorado last weekend. It's right up the road from Winter Park. We were there with the youth groups from our church, Centennial Covenant - there were about 75 there including the adults. We all had a great time enjoying the scenery, the facilities and the weather in God's country...it was awesome!

Elly preparing for the trust fall

Elly hangin in the gym

Eating contest

Grant chowing down some double-stuff
Crooked Creek looking east toward the Continental Divide

Looking NW

80 person hot tub...

Looking north toward the high ropes course

Methow Valley Washington

2009-09-23T16:47:00.008-06:00

Mary and I headed out to her friend's cabin in the Methow Valley - about 4.5 hours NW of Seattle. The cabin is about 9 miles off the road in the hills above Carlton, WA - a truly beautiful spot!! We headed north up to Mazama and hiked up to Goat Peak Fire Lookout - only about 5 miles roundtrip - but about 1,600 feet of vertical. It was a truly beautiful hike - and the view from the fire lookout was amazing...Also saw a bear and a small herd of deer...Big Fun!!

View from the fire lookout

Breakfast!

The cabin

Another view

Lake Roosevelt 2009

2009-08-14T15:57:00.006-06:00

On August 1, the kids and I made the 18 hour drive up to Fort Spokane along the Spokane River in the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. A truly beautiful area if you haven't been there. We were invited to come up to join Mary and her family and friends (over 30 of us all together) to spend the week relaxing by the lake, reading, eating good food, swimming, tubing and water skiing. Great fun was had by all - as seen in these photos...

Grant and Elly getting ready for some tubing

Elly outside the wake on the Spokane River

Grant - fishing 24/7

Boat rides! Happy Kids!

Me cooking up one of the bass Grant caught

Axel and Grant dueling it out on the tubes

Axel and Grant yakking on the Spokane

Elly and Little Girl chillaxing on the hammock

Hiking in Mt. Rainier NP

2009-07-14T15:45:00.004-06:00

I had the pleasure of doing a little hiking around the Paradise Visitor's Center last weekend - it was an absolutely perfect day - a little haze off to the south toward Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens - but other than that - an amazing day. Thanks Mary!!

Here's some shots:

Heading into the park

Scenic overlook

Nisqually Glacier Valley

That mountain...what's it called?

Heading back down after a 2 mile hike up

Random Pictures...

2009-05-08T11:51:00.004-06:00

It's been awhile since I've posted anything...so here's some random shots from the last several weeks...

Grant playing the drums at JAM

Me trying to stay in tune...

Elly's depiction of Princess Diana's last moments...a school project. The body guard looks bad-ass...

Chaperoning Elly's class trip to Coor's Field (Elly, Mary, Me) Rockies Won!!!

Faceplant 2009!

2009-03-03T13:28:00.005-07:00

On Friday February 20st, Elly, Grant and I headed up to Fraser, Colorado with the middle school youth group from Centennial Covenant Church for Faceplant 2009. There were about 450 kids there at the Crooked Creek Ranch Young Life Camp from all around the Denver Metro and two groups from Kansas and Nebraska. It was an awesome weekend!

Dad gettin some air

Grant and I at Sol Vista Basin in Granby, Colorado

Outside our lodge - the whole group

A little sunny...

Elly and Dad - both a little under the weather...

BAM BAM Bingo Night

2008-11-25T10:03:00.003-07:00

Four times a year, the BAM BAM (Be a Man, Be a Mentor) of the Roxborough Parent Teacher Involvement Committee holds a bingo night to raise money for books and other needed items in the school. This was our event in early October. With help from Kohl's generous donation, we raised over $1,500.00 that night!

The crowd

Grant daubered

Grant's buddy Brian

Hangin out

Pizza Night!!!

2008-10-19T13:09:00.001-06:00

The kids and I had a pizza night last night - as they begged me for stories about my pizza-making days at Happy Joes in Peru, IL. They each got to make their own - Grant tried his hand at a Lou Malnatti style - with most of the cheese on the bottom in a deep dish pan. Elly did too - but chose to make her's perfectly shaped on a cookie sheet. All were delicious!!!

Grant's pie

Elly's creation hot out of the oven

Trying my best...

YUM

Roxborough Community Church Closes It's Doors

2008-09-16T15:20:00.002-06:00

After almost 8 years, Roxborough Community Church, the church we started going to in 2006 in our neighborhood, closed it's doors. The last service was a time of sadness - but great hope and promise for scattering the seeds that have been planted. Scot got several old members of the worship team together (including myself) for the service. It was joyous day altogether - and good to reconnect with friends.

Tryin' to get that feelin'

Blessed Be the Name...

The band - past and present

6 Random Things About Me

2008-09-16T09:04:00.002-06:00

Hr Thoughts blogtagged me to tell you six random things about myself and then pass it on. Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on the blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know they have been tagged.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

With that, here are six random things about me:

I was in a plane crash (Cessna 172) and walked away.
I used to work in radio - and covered the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race from Anchorage to Nome - once in 1988 and again in 1989.
I've never ever been to a Hooters Restaurant.
I was arrested for the first time (of two times) at age 16 - at a Styx concert in Chicago - actually outside of the venue - and we still got to see the show.
I have hated Styx ever since...
I love lima beans, brussel sprouts and spinach.

Give it a whirl!

Camping Near Estes Park

2008-08-18T13:46:00.007-06:00

The kids and I drove up to Covenant Heights Retreat Center last weekend for two nights of camping. It was awesome! Had a little bit of rain both nights - but not too bad. We fished in the lake at the camp - and the kids had a blast in the canoes, kayaks and paddleboats. The lake is normally catch and release, but the last day we were there we were told by the camp director to keep whatever we caught because they are going to be draining the lake in a few weeks for some bulldozing work at one end. Sweet!!! Fresh trout dinner when we got back to Littleton.

We also took a drive into Estes Park on Saturday. Crazy traffic!!!

Breakfast!!!

Elly and Little Girl on the beach

On the deck of the dining hall

Kayaks!!

Little Girl: navigator

Dinnertime

Just a little black bear wandering through camp...

Grant's first trout in Colorado

Yum

Rockies Dodgers Game with the Cousins

2008-08-06T09:53:00.003-06:00

My brother-in-law Kevin drove out from Chicago with Haley and Ethan to spend a week in Colorado - and to help his mom move the rest of her stuff into her new condo. We all got together to go see the Rockies play the Dodgers - with Kevin's two sisters Kari and Kathi and their families - - - 17 all together! Can't beat those $4 Rockpile seats! Rocks won!!!

Kevin and the kids watching the game

Grant and Ethan

Elly and the kids

Coors Field from the Rockpile

Goofin

Go Rockies!

Hot Town Summer in the City

2008-07-19T19:50:00.006-06:00

Elly and Grant and I took the light rail to downtown Denver today - temps were in the high 90s - so not a bad day to be near the water. We walked down 16th Street Mall to do some people watching - grabbed some lunch - and then headed down Cherry Creek to Confluence Park and some much deserved swimming and wading in the Platte River near REI. Grant and I spent about 45 minutes looking at canoes and kayaks (his latest craze) and at some camping gear. If you haven't been to this REI - their flagship in Denver - this is destination shopping at it's best...

Getting on the light rail in Littleton - Mineral was closed today for track repairs (bummer dude)

On the Platte below the rapids

Elly taking a dip - center of the picture

The massive climbing wall at REI

Inside the store - used to be the Denver Trolley Power Company - built in 1901

Elly in the Platte

Grant fighting the current

Elly and Grant Meet Bob Stromberg

2008-07-01T12:32:00.002-06:00

Last week while we were attending my brother Anders' ordination in Wisconsin, the kids got to meet Bob Stromberg. His son Lars was ordained along with Anders that night. They have been fans of his shadow puppets on YouTube for about a year and they were thrilled beyond belief to actually meet him - it was really cute.

I first met Bob in 1985 at Covenant Point Bible Camp in Upper Michigan - I was on staff that summer and he came up and led worship at a Conference Sunday at the camp.

He showed the kids a few pointers on doing shadow puppets.

Bob and Grant

The Rabbit...and the Hoooooouuuuuund!

Woof!

Elly and Bob

Smiles

The Johnson Sibs

Father's Day at Red Rocks

2008-06-16T08:46:00.005-06:00

The kids and I went up to Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison on Sunday for Father's Day. They have an excellent buffet on Sundays - and yesterday was no exception. Grant was disappointed that he couldn't order his customary rattlesnake empenadas - but he got over it when he saw they had blueberry muffins...

After brunch - we went for a short hike on the ridge above the amphitheater. Promised both kids we would hit a show there this summer... "veggie burrito!!!"

Driving up to the upper lot

Outside the visitor's center

At the Ship Rock Grille

On the ridge looking toward the visitor's center, Ship Rock Grille
and Denver in the background

Heading back to the car

Elly's Continuation Ceremony

2008-06-10T10:20:00.006-06:00

Last night Elly had her 6th Grade Continuation Ceremony at Thunder Ridge High School (where she'll be going to high school in 2 short years...YIKES!!) It was a great ceremony - lots of great reflections from the kids - and a wonderful slide show at the end - including baby pictures and shots from their Outdoor Ed program up at Covenant Heights. Elly's teacher began her comments with thanking her class for their courage and will - and singling out Elly for her awesome PowerPoint presentation on pigs and how they are mistreated in many animal confinement operations - which brought many to tears.

Happy Continuation Elly!!!!

Love Dad.

Elly and Olivia Gardener

Smiles

Holly Frazier and Elly

Elly and Linda

Miss Sloan talks about Elly's courage...

Moonlight Hike in Roxborough State Park

2008-05-18T22:25:00.007-06:00

A friend from Centennial Covenant had some extra tickets for a moonlight hike in Roxborough State Park tonight. Only about 6 miles from the house, Roxborough is one of Colorado's most beautiful parks - featuring the Red Rock formations that dot the front range from Boulder down to Colorado Springs. We had a great tour guide in Peter Loux - a retired geologist who - with his wife - shared their expertise and knowledge about the area. Grant hung on his every word throughout the whole evening - and Elly did a great job answering his scientific questions...

A big bonus - when we got back to the visitor's center, a guy had his telescope set up. We were able to see Saturn with rings - and an incredible view of the Moon!

A great time was had by all!

On the Lyons Overlook

The road into the park

Overlook #1

Overlook #2 - the Lyons Overlook

Fishing in Waterton Canyon

2008-05-17T15:23:00.003-06:00

Took the kids down to Waterton Canyon today for some fishing. We actually got a couple bites - and Grant had a trout on - but lost it. Beautiful day - sunny and in the 80s...

Elly on the river

The boys getting their hooks sharpened

Casting Grant

The boys above the falls

Rockies on the Rocks

2008-05-17T14:29:00.001-06:00

Got some good seats to the Rockies/Twins game last night. Met my co-worker, Steve Trujillo at Falling Rock - then over to the game. The Rocks lost 4-2 - but always fun to be at the ball park.

Not bad seats for $10 at King Soopers

Losing again...

Dinger firing t-shirts into the crowd

Men's Retreat in Estes Park

2008-05-03T20:47:00.004-06:00

Grant and I spent Friday and Saturday up at Covenant Heights Camp and Retreat Center near Estes Park. What a beautiful site for a retreat. There were about 100 men from all around Colorado. I was last here with my family in the summer of 1970 - and vaguely remembered some of the buildings and surroundings. A great way to spend a couple of days - reconnecting - refreshing - and hearing God's truth.

The new chapel - just dedicated a couple of weeks ago

Grant's first time shooting a shotgun

The zipline!!!!

Rolling around Roxborough

2008-04-22T11:10:00.010-06:00

One of the pleasures of living in Roxborough is the access to the parks and the walking and biking paths. I took a leisurely stroll around "the lakes" (as Grant and Elly like to call them) on Sunday. We are blessed to live in such a beautiful place!

Footbridge on "the lakes" path

On the way back to the house - looking out toward Lockheed-Martin

Off the deck looking toward the southwest

Springtime in Denver?

2008-04-17T14:11:00.003-06:00

Here was the view on my way to work this morning. Tuesday it was 80 degrees. Wednesday it was 38 degrees - with snow and rain. Downtown Denver didn't get a lot of snow - but we got about 7 inches out in Roxborough. Much of it melted in the yards - and all of it on the streets thankfully. Today it's 50 - and is supposed to be back up to 75 by Saturday...

Our front yard at 7:20 am

Tree near the light rail station on Mineral in Littleton

Looking back at the front range from the light rail station

Rockies vs. Diamondbacks 4.5.08

2008-04-06T08:35:00.008-06:00

Hopefully just our first of many Rockies games for this season, we took the light rail up to Coors Field and watched the Rockies get shellacked by the Diamondbacks. Still a good time though.

Happy face stuffing

Trying to find our seats

Qwest from Coors Field section U308

Sunset at Coors

The fountains out in center field

The Worst Day Fishing is Better . . .

2008-04-06T08:23:00.007-06:00

I took Grant and his two buddies Kyle and Brian down to Waterton Canyon yesterday for our first fishing excursion of the season. It was a great day - warm with a little breeze - but no fish. We were told that the trout were hitting salmon eggs, so we came prepared. Also, we found a winter kill mule deer up on the ridge above our fishing spot. The boys were quite intrigued by this...

Heading up the canyon

Gearing up

Grant out for trout

It looked like a juvenile - thoroughly picked over by coyotes

They had to see it for themselves...