Like Father Like Son

In recognition of Father's Day Tanner presented a rather unique gift
to his dad. Although Tanner can't express it verbally, all he really
wants is to be just like his old man.


Two peas in a pod, watching golf together.

The "Big Ride"

There was a big bright light in the morning sky. I think it was
called the "sun". After weeks and weeks of dark clouds and rain,
we breathed a sigh of relief because today was the big bike ride:
The annual Little Red Riding Hood bike ride for breast cancer.

It was a crisp morning, the snow line on the mountains was low.
It had snowed just a few days ago. Car after car of biking ladies
arrived ready to tackle the road; three thousand independent women
muscling their bikes off bike racks with not a man in sight.

Jen and I are ready to get going. Once the blood starts pumping
we'll be able to feel our hands and stop shivering. It's going to be a
beautiful day.
My riding buddies and I experienced the smell of cow manure
and freshly cut grass. We rode on country roads through the
green pastures surrounded by snow capped mountains on all
sides. All the while nice ladies commented on our "nice calves"
as they passed us.


Everything you see here is made possible by my MOM!
Thanks mom.

Can't wait for next year!

Sometimes Everybody Just Needs a Good Cry

The movie "Snow White" has always touched Tanner's heart. He watches as the kind and lovely Princess falls under a jealous witches spell. Snow White is laid to rest in a glass coffin where the Seven Dwarfs mourn her "death". But then, of course, an admiring Prince comes and kisses her, awakening her from her deep sleep. He carries her off into the sunset, waving goodbye to the little men. And they live happily ever after!

Tanner doesn't get emotional until the finale. Then he is beside himself with happiness, playing the final scene over and over again, shedding fresh tears each time.

Adventures in Moab

Once again we traveled to the best playground in the world--MOAB,
UT. Thirteen Hosenfeld adults tackled the best that Moab has to offer:
hiking, biking and climbing.



Fiery Furnace: The website warned us. The ranger warned us.
Not recommended to attempt this without a guide. No GPS coverage.
No marked trails. Enter at your own risk.

We didn't take it seriously. We explored and climbed around,
discovered some beautiful arches. And then it happened.

We lost Jason P for a short while. He had to saw off his own arm
to get out of the slot but we waited for him. We anticipate a movie
of his ordeal to be named " 2 hours". (If you don't get the humor
just watch the real movie "127 hours")


The mountain biking was great, except that Jared took us on a trail
that was uphill both ways.

Dave climbed this cliff face as if the Colorado River was rising up to
get him.
We wore Dad out and he had to pause and take a little nap on the
tracks.

Still, Mom and Dad continued with the rigors of the great outdoors
eventually coming across the coolest arch in the world, Corona Arch.


We all were able to put another stone on the "Cairn of Survival"

Antigua 2011

A Vacation of Discovery

Dave, Hailey and I took our holiday to a little Caribbean island called
Antigua. We discovered that although our vacations are formally
a suspension of work they are definitely not a suspension of activity.
In other words, we often need a vacation from the vacation.

Dave discovered that his real calling in life is to be master and
commander of his own sailing vessel.


Hailey discovered that starfish are harder than they look, especially
when you step on one


We all discovered that little people like Hailey can gracefully
surmount a challenging jungle obstacle course while the rest of
us were stumbling around and holding on for dear life

Dave discovered that he would rather be hanging in a tree than
driving on the crazy roads. This is the most relaxed he was on the
whole trip

We all discovered windsurfing to be super fun, especially
because our instructor looked like Igor from Young
Frankenstein.... a bit "abby normal"

I discovered that holding a sea ray feels like holding a big slimy lougie


Jason discovered the underwater marathon


I was also thinking that if Dad decided to spend some time in
Antigua he could end up looking like this old geezer.

I Have Three Children

Every once in a while I will work three nights in a row; which
means that I leave home at 3:00 pm and get home at 1:00 am.
I don't see the kids for three days. I must entrust the household
to my 51 year old babysitter, the eldest of my children.
While at work I check in with this babysitter at various intervals.

"What did you feed the kids for dinner?" I'll say.

"uhh, pancakes?" Dave replies.

"Did Tanner get a bath?" I'll say.

"Was I supposed to? You didn't tell me to, how am I
supposed to know?" Dave replies.

"Well, I haven't seen him in three days and he doesn't bathe
himself. I assume that since you take a shower daily that
you would know that Tanner also needs to be clean." I reply.

"uhhh, I guess." says my brilliant babysitter.

I think I'm paying him to much!!

Mashed Potatoes

The annual Hosenfeld ski day has to be planned well in
advance, that's the only way we can get sixteen people
in the same place at the same time. So if we set a date
two months in advance we never know what the ski
conditions will be like. Usually April skiing has been
pretty good. Not this time.

I'm just happy to be going more than 20 miles per hour...sticky
sticky snow.


Hailey's waiting for me to pull her down the mountain


Ever ski in a big pile of mashed potatoes? It's very tiring.


Despite the mush we had a good time together. Twenty four hours
later it snowed two beautiful feet of fresh powder. darn