Monday, November 30, 2009

We Just Bought the Lehi Lot!

We just got an email from the Realtor saying that our offer was accepted for the lot!

Yesterday, on our way out to watch Caleb ride his bike, we stopped by the lot in Lehi to take some more photos.

I am standing on the SW corner.

Rebecca is standing on the NW corner - great view of Timpanogos!

View of the center of the lot - 1651 South Country Lane, Lehi, UT 84843.

Looking north in the cul-de-sac.

Looking NW.

Looking west.

Looking north up Country Lane to the lot.

Looking south to the corner of Country Lane.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

No Training Wheels!

This afternoon late we got a phone call asking if we would come out to Eagle Mountain to watch Caleb ride his bike. Of course we said yes and loaded in the car and went. Even so, it was pretty late in the afternoon and getting pretty cold when we showed up. We went over to the Church parking lot and watched as Caleb showed us his newest accomplishment - riding a two-wheeler with no training wheels!


Nearly had a major accident the first time out, but it was narrowly averted.

Doesn't that grin say it all?

Of course Spencer was part of it too.





Yay, Caleb!

Friday, November 27, 2009

Lehi Lot

Lauri has been looking for years at houses and lots and whatnot. She has found one in south Lehi that she likes, so she and Rebecca took me to see it on the 25th.


It is a little more out in the country than some of the places we have looked and the lot is big - 0.51 acres! It is in a development that went under, so there are no requirements to build with a certain builder and all the improvements are in.

We got in touch with the Realtor and got the information about it and talked it over for a couple of days. Today we made an offer!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Thanksgiving

This was our year to have everyone here for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, Ken, Cyd & Nora could not be with us and we sure missed them.

Like usual, I made the dressing.

Rachel and Cameron chillin' in the family room.

Dr. Dave and Caleb doing the same.

Rebecca was getting things together to make smoothies. Yumm!

Everyone getting together in the family room.

We got Cydney on the phone and then the boys had an announcement for us all!

That was pretty exciting news! Dave and Jessica will be having their third baby in July.



Waiting for dinner. Of course kids and olives are always a good time.


Rebecca making the smoothies. They are a relatively new addition, but surely a welcome one.


Those mashed potatoes sure are creamy!

The two best things about Thanksgiving - candied yams and sage dressing.


Lauri made an artichoke dip.

We lost Spencer after dinner.

But Tanner was wide awake.

Relaxing and enjoying each other's company when it was all over.






The only other thing we could ask for would have been to have the Jensens with us too.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

November 14, 2009 Dives - Mahi & Makaha Caverns

On Saturday, November 14, 2009, I dove with Jo (divemaster) from Ocean Concepts. We did two dives, the Mahi, a 95 foot deep dive on a ship that was intentionally sunk as an artificial reef and Makaha Caverns, a 50 foot deep dive on a shallow coral reef with lava tubes and swim-throughs.

This was my first certification dive for Digital Underwater Photographer. Since I was in Jo's group, we were first in the water. There were 19 divers and three "guides", so they paired up all the divers and the three guides each took a group.

Visibility was good - about 60 feet. When Shawn came up from attaching the mooring line, he said to me to get in and descend immediately since there were lots of Spotted Eagle Rays and the big Giant Barracuda hanging out over the wreck.

I told Jo I would see her on the bottom and did a giant stride in and descended immediately. The Eagle Rays were there just as he said in a couple of big groups.

Spotted Eagle Rays


I was experimenting with White Balance on this dive since I was working on the Digital Underwater Photography certification. I learned a lot by doing that, but most of my photos from this dive are pretty bad. I did manage to get some good ones, but only when I reset my camera and used flash or took wide angle shots in a more normal fashion.

Right on the stern of the wreck, I found a Sculptured Slipper Lobster, a Desirable Nudibranch, and a Commerson's Frogfish.

Sculptured Slipper Lobster


Desirable Nudibranch


Commerson's Frogfish

The Giant Barracuda was there too, but I could not get a decent photo of it.

Jo led the group out a little way off the starboard side and pointed out a Panther Flounder.


Panther Flounder

Right by the Panther Flounder was a pipe with a big Yellowmargin Moray Eel - the real reason we had come out there.

Yellowmargin Moray Eel

While I was hanging back and taking photos of the Panther Flounder and the Moray, the rest of the group headed back over to the wreck. I noticed a huge group of Spotted Eagle Rays that were slowly coming in the direction of where I was. I positioned myself where I thought they would come to and began taking photos and a video. They turned and swam directly over me as I laid on the bottom.


Spotted Eagle Rays


Once again, I ended the dive as I usually do on the Mahi, by slowly ascending up the mast. As Jo was swimming by toward the mooring line, I took this photo. It shows the wreck better than any photo I have taken so far.

Jo over the Mahi

While I was ascending, the big group of Spotted Eagle Rays decided to do one more pass right over the wreck, so I was able to get some more great photos.




Spotted Eagle Rays

Right at the top of the mast, there was a little Yellowtail Filefish hiding down in a hole in the coral.

Yellowtail Filefish

I did my safety stop under the boat and then swam up to the ladder and climbed out with 500 psi left.

On the second dive, we made the normal tour through Makaha Caverns. I was still experimenting with the camera settings since this was the second Digital Underwater Photographer certification dive. I took quite a few photos, only a handful came out. I am still not sure what was happening, but they were all out of focus.

Rough-Spined Urchin

This is a new nudibranch - the first I have seen.

Violet Gill Nudibranch

There was a huge Titan Scorpionfish. I shot it over and over and finally scared it away. I just could not get a good photo. This is the best of the worst!

Titan Scorpionfish

I rarely see these little guys anyway, but this is the first time I have seen two together. They are so tiny, only a few inches long.

Dwarf Moray Eels

When we got back to the boat, my batteries were dead and I was frustrated with the camera. I ended the dive and got back on board with 900 psi left.