How young are you? Mud before your Birthday!

So I turned 30 today.  I know, I know... how does it feel to be 30?  Well, just like it did to be 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, and so on down the line since being home from my mission.  Actually, I was thinking about the big milestones in my life.  At 16 I got a driver's license.  At 18 I graduated from high school and went off to college across the country.  At 19 I went on a mission for 2 years.  At 21 I came home from that mission, and was legally allowed to drink (although that didn't happen).  At 24 I was kicked off of my parents insurance and I had to find my own.  At 26 I got my first real, post-college, job... which I am still working at.  At 28 I got married.  And now I am 30 and... yep.

Regardless, I got the best birthday cake Adri has ever made, and the only one I will probably eat entirely on my own.  She learned after having to eat most of the cake on her own that I don't eat much more than maybe (and I really mean maybe) one piece of cake... even if it is my own.  So, she got creative this year and made this...

Yep, she bought 32 cans of Mt. Dew and stacked them, put ribbon on them, made a little card, and even put a big 3-0 on a cupcake on top (she needed some part of it that she would actually eat).  Needless to say, I will be the only one in this household eating (well, drinking) this cake.

Other than that we went to the beach today, got a burger from In-N-Out and didn't really go all out.  We figured we are going on vacation next week, so no need to go all out this week.

Now, a bit more exciting than my birthday...

A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to participate in the Mud Run here at the Marine base down south, Camp Pendleton.  It was so fun.  It was basically 6 miles of trail running with some mud pits (big ones) scattered about in the last 2 miles.  I learned that I can't run at Adri's pace.  Not because it is so slow, but because she has perfected her stride for her, and it really shortens mine and that hurt my knees.  So, I would walk a bit and let her get ahead (still within view) and then I would run my stride to catch up, run at her's for a bit and then repeat.  But, that girl has some endurance.  So many people took off ahead of us, and just staying consistent at her pace she passed quite a few of them throughout the race and never looked back.  We had a great time overall, and here is the proof.  By the way, we finished it in just over an hour.

Here we are running along... notice how bright the shirts are.  Yes, I desaturated the rest of the picture to make them stand out more, but they really are that bright.  Or, were that bright.

Then, here we are entering the final mud pit.  Notice that up to this point only our bottom halves a really even muddy.  Most of the other pits were stand up pits you just trudged through.  This one that had ropes you HAD to go under.

Here we both are, crawling through the mud.  While you crawled the Marine's would splash you with mud if you weren't dirty enough.

And here we are crawling out of the mud just covered and headed to the finish line.  You should have seen the piles of clothes and shoes that people threw away after this thing.  I think that a charity should have stopped by and picked them up.  There were some shoes that were still in good condition that I am sure could have been cleaned up and given away to someone in need.

Suffice it to say, we will for sure be doing this again next year.  The question is, are there any takers out there to join?

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The Days of DisneyRas

Most of the Rasmussen clan came to see Adri and I about a week ago now.  Showed up on a Friday night and headed back home on a Wednesday.  Adri spent the entire weekend and partial week with then while I slaved away at work.  I did spend a few days with them, but unfortunately was not able to be at Disneyland all of Monday and Tuesday.  I know they had tons of fun as I heard plenty of stories and have seen plenty of pictures.  Anyway, here is a brief look at the Rasmussen adventure to California.

Saturday we went out to Palmdale and spent the day at a wedding of a cousin of the Rasmussen's.  We got to enjoy some free food, good dancing, and each others company.  We also got to see a part of CA that Adri and I have not yet seen.  That included some REALLY cool abandoned buildings that we didn't have time to explore... maybe some other day.

Then on Sunday we went down to the beach after church for a relaxing afternoon.  A few of the kids had never seen the ocean before, so it was fun to watch them play in the sand and wade in the surf.

I can't help but take pictures of my beautiful wife.  I think she was not expecting me to take this picture because when I put the camera down she asked if I really just took a picture.  Luckily for me, it turned out to be a great picture.  Otherwise we may not have proof that she was there.

The kids (nieces and nephew) really enjoyed the water and sand.  Alyssa really enjoyed running out to the waves and then running back screaming trying not to get wet.  Eventually she just had to give it and feel the ocean water on her legs.

Jane didn't really care much for the water.  She just kept filling up her pail with sand and creating sand castles.  Ok by me as it provided for a good number of cute pictures.

K and Kerri had fun coming back to where Kerri grew up.  Although they may love the mountains and snow, I think that secretly Kerri wishes she was here... as seen by the look on her face.

Kellen ran around like a little maniac the entire time we were at the beach.  He just played in the water and I am sure could have played there for hours upon hours.  I don't think he put his arms by his side once... he just ran around with them flying all over the place.

There is actually a normal picture of us smiling at the beach, and I wanted to post that one.  But, Adri said that she preferred this one.  I must admit... she's learning.

This was one of the favorite things to do I think... sit and let the water wash away the sand around your feet and see how far you could sink.  Alyssa, Marie and Kellen stood here for probably about 15 minutes just sinking.

Taylor and Marie really enjoyed the fact that there were a bunch of babysitters around to watch their kids so that they could enjoy the weather, water and sand as well.

After the beach we celebrated Taneea's big birthday... the one we al love... 30!  She got a pot of suckers that said "30 Sucks," Minnie ears to wear at Disneyland, and a little journal to write the thoughts of her heart.

Then came the two solid (and I mean SOLID) days of Disneyland.  In fact, I am dubbing those 2 straight days "The Days of DisneyRas."  It was non-stop rides, shows, walking and food for 2 days.  I think Taylor clocked it on his pedometer, which said that in one day they walked 10 miles.  That's a lot of walking.  Needless to say, they came home and slept quite well every night.  I was lucky enough to get off work a bit early on Monday and beat the traffic and spend that evening with them.  It was fun to see them all there, and even more fun to watch the little ones admire the characters, ride any ride they could, and just have a genuinely good time.

And, how can you count a day a success without the classic picture of father and son at the happiest place on earth... DisneyRas!

Adri loved spending all that time with the Rasmussen clan, and I wish I could have as well.  But all in all, we had a great time and enjoyed having people here.

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Finding Favoritism

Adri has been on me for a while to put together some of my favorite photos that I've taken.  As I scan the however many photos there are, it is difficult to pick my favorites.  Plus, some are not ones that I have taken (Adri has taken some of my fans as well).  This list is really a product of me being bored one evening and is in no real particular order (other than alphabetical by title).  So, in no order, nor a comprehensive viewing of all of my favorites, I just thought I would at least post some.

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Turning the page... Chapter 2 in "The Adventures of Madri"

I know, I know... it's been almost 3 weeks since we left Utah.  So, why haven't we put up any photos yet?  Well, I have a few excuses: 1. We didn't have internet for the first week and a half.  2. As you will see, we've been unpacking and so all of the photos would just be of boxes and stuff lying around.  We are making great progress.  And, if you are friends with us on Facebook, I'm sure you've seen some of the things we've posted there.

Anyway, here is the beginning of a new adventure...

A NEW CHAPTER

13 March 2012, 8:00 AM:  The alarm goes off and we wake up knowing the movers are coming any moment.  The phone rings and it is the driver saying he is running behind because his truck was in the shop.  They show up about 10:30 AM and within just a few hours our apartment is completely empty.  Watching these guys carry the boxes out of the apartment was amazing.  They easily carried 3 boxes down 3 flights of stairs and into the truck.  I tried it and didn't do so hot (with empty boxes so I didn't break anything).  Once they are gone we finish up some cleaning and jump in the car and head to Provo to see my friend Dan and his fiance, then finish the days drive to St. George.

14 March 2012, time unknown: Leave it to us to find an abandoned water park in the middle of nowhere.  I've seen it before as I've driven to and from CA on trips in the past, but never stopped.  As we go by we contemplate turning around.  Not knowing when we'll be making a return trip by car we flip around at the next exit and head back to make a little detour.

14 March 2012, late afternoon:  We pull in to Aliso Viejo, California... our new home awaits.  Good thing we brought clothes and an air mattress with us because our stuff wasn't going to show up for another 2 days.  Regardless, welcome to 25K... the new Gasser pad!

16 March 2012, 10:00 AM: The movers show up and just as quickly as they removed everything from our old apartment, the place it in the new one.  The unpacking (and 2nd dejunking of the move) begins.     We quickly unpack the most essential things, and get lost in all the boxes and materials.  We decide to save many of the boxes as we are sure we'll be moving again as we don't want to live in an apartment forever.

19 March 2012, 8:45 AM: We walk into the DealerSocket offices in San Clemente, as that will be our place of employment for a while.  Adri was offered a contracted position to work on a rather large and difficult project, so we get to commute to and from work together every day.  We actually really enjoy it as in the past I was on the road so much that we didn't get that kind of time to talk.  Adri has really come to love the company, and although her job isn't the most exciting thing, she comes to like where we work and who we work with more and more every day.  Twice a day we go on a walk around the block.  It is a mile all the way around and takes us about 15 minutes or so depending on our speed.  Lots of people at the office do either that, or go on runs or something during lunch.  It's great to see all these active people all the time and be allowed to take those kinds of breaks and such.

One Wednesday we head to the beach in San Clemente for lunch.  We couldn't do this in Utah.  We may make it a weekly tradition, weather permitting.  Speaking of the weather, it has always been warm, but we've had 3 rain storms since being here... so it isn't always perfect.  But, we like it however it is.

The more time we spend in San Clemente the more we come to love the area as a whole, and the more we see that San Clemente is where we would love to end up when we eventually buy a home (that will take longer than originally planned here).  In fact, Adri told me the other day, "I think want to stay here!" and how much she loves it.  Works for me!

We've also done a little exploring of the area around where we live.  We can walk to the grocery store, theater, a ton of restaurants, home improvement stores and just about anything we need.  We are 30 minutes from Disneyland (we've already been there).  About an hour from San Diego (not sure because we haven't been there yet), and 15 minutes from Aliso Beach (to name one of the many).  We went down there today and enjoyed the tide coming in with 8 ft waves, if not bigger.  We watched a couple get over taken by a wave that crashed off the beach (it didn't wash them into the ocean, just got them really wet).  And then it rushed up the beach and we frantically tried to move our stuff but it ended up moving it for us.  This was after already moving 2 other times higher up the beach.

Anyway, here is a picture of Aliso Beach and 1 of many seagulls that just sat watching the mesmerizing pattern of the waves with us.

 (I didn't take this picture.  This is low, calm tide.)

We are super happy to be where we are, ready for the adventure, and excited for whatever happens now.  And of course, we are excited to share that with anyone who decides we are somewhat interesting enough to read our blog.

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