Tip: Easier Blog Posting

After reading about some of the problems several of our fellow bloggers have been experiencing with Blogger's default post editor (with things like placing photos where you want them, etc) I figured they must not know about Windows Live Writer. 

I found this great program a long time ago and have been using it ever since.  It's free and very easy to use.  It not only places your photos exactly where you want them, it also allows you to add special effects to your photos, etc.  You can create your entire blog post offline and then publish it when you are ready (great for people with slow internet connections).  And there are tons more things you can do with it too.  Just watch the videos below or Google for Windows Live Writer and you'll find lots of great info.

*NOTE:  When you download and run the installation it will also install several other applications.  If you don't want them installed on your computer (I didn't want them) just uncheck everything except for Writer.

So give it a try and let me know how you like it.

 

 

 

World’s Strictest Parents

So I was flipping channels last week and came across a show on CMT called World’s Strictest Parents.  I’m not really a big reality TV fan but I happened to have this channel on for a few seconds just as something interesting was said, so I watched for a little while longer and eventually ended up seeing the last twenty minutes of the episode.  I liked it enough that I scheduled the episode to be recorded the next time it aired and then Corinne and I watched it together.  We both really liked it and plan to watch a few more episodes to see if they are as good.  This particular episode is number five in the first season and it is about two unruly teens that go to live with the Cork family in Georgia for a week, who just happen to be LDS (Mormon).  You can look for the episode to air again on CMT or watch it online at http://www.sling.com/video/show/167202/11/Cork-Family.  It really makes you realize how important family and good values/morals are to our kids; and what kind of impact those those things can have on them, even teens who seem like that are too far down the wrong road to change.

Utah State Fair

We went to the fair last week but really didn’t take many photos.  Cody had the camera and took a few of Zach and Riley at the “Little Hands On The Farm” activity.  It’s an interactive experience to help kids gain a better understanding of the farm to grocery store process.  The farm chores were fun but they preferred riding the bikes to take their produce to market.  Most of the other photos Cody took were of the animals.  We thought we’d get a few photos of the kids with the animals but Zach didn’t want to, Megan was sleeping during that time, and Riley was scared to death of the big animals, especially the cows, and he wouldn’t go anywhere near them.  He liked the baby pigs though.

Zach put his hat on Meagan.  She didn’t seem to mind…

The big yellow slide is always fun.  Cody came in first, Zach second, and Greg and Riley finished last.  Zach beat Cody the second time they raced.

Dew Tour

The preliminary events for the Toyota Challenge Dew Tour in Salt Lake City start later today and the events run throughout the weekend.  My office is right across the street from it all so I took a break earlier today to walk around and get a few shots of some of the BMX guys practicing.

Angel Moroni would have a great view from up there if he would just turn around and face the other way…

The brick building with the red roof behind the bleachers is where my office has been for the last fifteen years.  But the LDS Church owns the building now and has decided to use it as part of the LDS Business College so we are moving to a brand new building in about a month.

The street in front of the Delta Center  (Oops, pardon me, I mean the Energy Solutions Arena) is home to all kinds of fun venues during the Dew Tour.  The part of the street covered in dirt will be where Yamaha will be set up for kids to learn how to ride dirt bikes.  They supply the helmets and TTR dirt bikes and the parents supply the kids.

Not the best lighting/exposure in this shot, but I like that I got three riders in the air at the same time…

It seems like this Maverick monster truck is everywhere I look.  I guess we go to too many events like this one.

These last two are of this really cool Nerf Dart Tag blow-up house.  It is huge and looks like it would be tons of fun.  Our kids would love to have it in our backyard.

Where’s Megan?

Megan has a new game. She likes to crawl away and hide from us. She thinks it’s really funny when we find her. Here is a photo of her hiding between the couch and the wall in our living room, and another of her in a cabinet that was left open in the kitchen.

Nine Nine Ninety-Nine

It was ten years ago, on 9/9/99 that we were married.  And it has been almost twelve years since we first met.  We’ve been very blessed throughout the years with a great marriage together and wonderful kids.  Nothing makes me happier than to know we will be together forever.  Corrine, thanks so much for being such a great wife and mother.  You are my best friend.  I love you so much!  

--Greg
xoxoxo 

Wild West Playground

We promised the kids if they were good while we were out running errands that we’d take them to do something fun when we were done.  We ended up at the Wild West Playground…

What the heck?!

So I walk by the kids bathroom and happen to notice Zach is in there shaving!  My first reaction was to think “what the heck?  He’s only 7 years old!”.  I didn’t know he had a toy spiderman shaving set…  Anyway, I grabbed the camera and took a few photos.  Notice he is also loosing his teeth.  Sometimes I think he pulls them out just to get money from the tooth fairy.

Another Fun Day In The Desert

We spent the morning and early afternoon out at Delle again.  This time Cody’s friend Sutton came with us.  Over the course of my life I have ridden and raced with a lot of friends; but as a Dad, nothing beats a day of riding with my kids!  We all had a blast…

 

Taking a break earlier in the day to try and cool off a little.  Notice how were all scrunched up toward the front of the trailer where the shade is.

Ryan and Stephanie’s Wedding

Corinne’s brother Ryan and his fiancé Stephanie were married on August 8, 2009 by Ryan’s father John White in a backyard wedding ceremony at Stephanie's brother’s home.  Cody took all of these photos with Corinne’s little purse camera (Canon Powershot SD780 IS).  Good job Cody!

(Dave, this is so you!)

 

Good to see Carson picking on his older brother Connor.  Payback!