Kyle on one of the VERY FEW SHORT climbs on the trail (maybe 200 yards along the 5 miles).

We went for a ride down Wolverine Cr. again this morning. I really like the morning for a crisp ride, however I don’t think that this particular trail is the best for an early ride (we started down it around 7am). The sun glared through the trees making it difficult to see the trail a lot of the time. Other than that it was a good ride.

Rusty and Kyle...

I rode it with Kyle, Rusty (in town for the weekend for his brother, Chaun’s mission farewell), Juan (Rusty’s brother-in-law) and Chaun. They were good company to have. I was able to get a few quick shots, I would like to get a wider lens and spend more time up there and get some action shots of riders coming around the hair-pin turns and off the jumps…there are some good ones. However there are many spots where the later precedes the prior by very few feet. Enjoy—I did!

Chaun...don't know if he will get to do much riding like this on his mission.

Wolverine Cr. Trail

Kyle on the first run, just 1/2 mile to go

Last night we went bike riding with Kyle again. This trip was much better. We knew where we were the whole time. Kyle found a map that helped us understand where we were lost last time...we still don't see how we eneded up where we did when we did. The only explination that Kyle can come up with is Devine Intervention.

At the end of my 21 minute ride. The snake River in the back. (Camera-phone picture)

We got up there a little earlier than originally planned, and we were waiting for Milton and his family to get there. So we did a run of Wolverine Cr. Trail as soon as Jess and I got there. Another guy, Adam, came with us on this run too. We started right at the Wolverine trailhead (as to avoid ANY climbing), which gives us a killer fast ride. The three of us got down the trail pretty good. It had just rained and so was a bit muddy, I wish I had some clear lenses to keep the mud out of my eyes, but the rain knocked the dust down nicely. At one point I was coming up to two muddy ruts (double-track), and opted to ride the center as to stay out of the water. Just as I was almost past my front tire slipped into the left rut and my rear went to the right! I was able to get my pedal unclipped just in time to avoid spilling over. It was a good run. We did have to ride up hill for about 2 miles to get back to the campsite.

When we got back, Milton had just gotten there and we loaded up for another run. So we got dropped off at the top again. It was beautifull weather but by the time we got to the top again it was starting to get a bit chilly. So I turned on some good tunes and headed down. I wanted to see how quick I could get down. It was a blast! I was flying around corners, over rocks and stumps...it was great. I miss that feeling of finding that flow with the trail. When I got to the spot I almost ate it on the first run, I opted to stay on the right side of the right rut. Well I hugged it a little too far right and went over pretty hard. The ground was nice and soft from the rain, but I was a bit muddy...oh well. Then just as I was coming out the bottom of the trail (It gets REALLY rocky and loose at the bottom), I lost control and slammed my leg hard into a wall of rock and heard a loud pop (over the music blasting in my ears). I rolled down the last 50 yards of the trail and realized I blew the rear tire. I hit that rock hard. But hey! I got the flat at the end and not the top.

From the trail head to the bottom--21 minutes--5 miles. It was a blast! I'd love to try it on a long travel full suspension bike and not my hard-tail...

We got a ride back to the campsite and hung out and cooked burgers. It was a great night. We still got home earlier than the last time too.

My Thoughts on my Symes Amputation Project

Waiting for his new foot. The little thing on the end attaches to the prosthetic and holds it on.

So here I am laying on a sofa and you all are sitting in a big leather chair writing in a notebook...likely drawing picutres and not really listening...Ha Ha! Anyway. So I do continue photographing TJ's experience with his amputation and prosthetic. But I worry that the images seem or will seem like just snapshots of somebody's kid. I always want my portraits of children (and candid images) to be more than just snapshots. It is easy for them to become snapshots...

Playing out front. He rides this backwards all the time. It seems easier for him to get on this way.

Also it is difficult for me to go with Jess & TJ to Shriner's hospital for the visits. I can shoot his life here at home...but then those begin to look like the snapshots. Then when I am at Shriner's with my camera I feel a little funny with the camera, kind of like when a new father is videotaping his wife in Labor. Not too many people at that hospital worry about photographing their experience there. Maybe some of the people think I am a little morbid? I know I shouldn't let that bug me, but sometimes I think it does a little.

Topher and TJ playing in "Their Bus." Topher is always telling me that it is his...not mine.

This project is also such a long one, and I don't know what I want for the final result will be....maybe there will not be a FINAL result. This seems to be a project that will simply continue. Maybe I am to photograh this only for my son to have for himself. Maybe the presentation will be his to create.

Bad Ride at Kelly's

OK, so...get this! Last Friday night, Kyle and I wanted to ride Wolverine Creek Trail up past Kelly's Canyon. So we go up with the families, our wives and kids would drop meet us at the bottom of the trail and we would have dinner and hang out and throw rocks at the river. While we are riding they will drive down (it takes a while by car--bumpy road), and wait a little bit. Well, Kyle and I also wanted to do the Buckskin-Morgan trail, then connect to Wolverine via part of Hawly's Gulch. Kyle printed off some pictures of the area on Google Earth. Really cool. So when we dumped out at Fenceline onto the road, rather than backtracking onto Hawly's, we (after checking out the Google earth pics), that we could cut strait East (we think it was strait East) along some other roads and trails to the road to Wolverine. Well, I have no idea where we ended up...but it was thick and not very used. Somehow we ended up very lost, when Jess called to find out where we were...then my phone died...then we got back to a place we had been an hour earlier...made our way back to Fenceline...then made our way back up the road to get to Kyle's truck or Hawly's...well we ended up at Hawly's...but at a TOTALLY DIFFERENT place along it than we thought we would hit....WEIRD! So we rode down to Table Rock Camp Ground, got onto the road and got down to our wives at the bottom--at 9:20pm. It was quite dark by then and we were very tired...rode 20 miles and for more than 2 hrs. It was a long night. And the kicker is that we didn't even get to ride Wolverine...what we really wanted to ride!

Here's a completly unrelated photo...well, it is kind of nearby where we were riding. The week before this fatefull ride I shot this while out with Theo...I kind of like it. But lately I have been quite discouraged with my photography. So I haven't shot much. I have been quite busy with work and side jobs this summer too, so there has been little time to go out...I'm about ready to put my camera on the shelf for a while...

TJ's first prosthetic

Monday we were at Shriner's Hospital with TJ so he could get his prosthetic foot. We were very excited. He thought it was pretty cool too. But he is a bit frustrated with it. He seems to get really upset when he has it on. He can stand up with it, and take a few steps with help. He needs to get used to having it on long enough that he will get up more and move around on it by himself. But he seems to get upset quickly. He will catch on soon enough.

I came home on the Salt Lake shuttle Monday night so I could work, and Jess & TJ stayed for therapy until Wednesday. It is always tough with her gone. It is really hard on the kids...yea dad is great, but I'm not Mommy. It was good to have both of them back home.

Redfish Lake

Just two weeks after getting back from our trip to Michigan, Jess and the kids went to Redfish with her family. They go every year...in fact I think that there has only been two summers that her dad, Chris, has not gone up there...in his life. Jess missed it the first summer we were married, that was not much fun. Anyway, I had to stay home and work. I took off enough time for the trip back east. It was a lot of fun for them. They loved the beach and water. Topher even knee-boarded! I was impressed, I wish I could have been there to see it. I guess he was really enjoying the ride, waving to other boats, and checking out the scenery. I'm proud of my boy!

Family Reunion Time!

So it is family reunion time. This year our family is traveling to Detroit, Michigan. We decided to leave a little earlier, Sunday morning rather than Monday night. We wanted to take our time coming as we knew that it would be much quicker going home. We stopped in Nauvoo and Carthage Jail on Tuesday and Wednesday. That was really great. The last time I was there I was 13, and Jess has never been (needless to say neither have the kids). We saw the brick yard, blacksmith shop, Brigham Young's home and a few other places. We also got to see the Nauvoo Pageant, that was really well done. The Temple is up the hill behind the stage, and they have all the lights on the temple turned off. At the end of the show, they light up the Temple while playing audio of Pres. Hinkley speaking of the Nauvoo Temple. It was a really great experience. I hope that our kids will remember a little of it at least.

At Carthage Jail.

We then drove the rest of the way to my Brother's place in Detroit, we got here really late, but then we were done driving...at least until Sunday morning. We will be driving back in hopefully 2 days...maybe 3. We will see how far we make it Sunday night. I would like to be through Iowa...but that is a lot of miles!

Independence Day Ride

There is some sweet single-track at Kelly's

We started off our Independence day early with a ride at Kelly Canyon. It was a great ride! Kyle even pulled his 5-year-old son on a trail-a-bike. We had a lot of fun...until we got home. We were later getting back, and Jess was quite mad. It seems that we never have good a good July 4th. Looking back it seems that we have always had a rough time that day. I guess I should just work on all holidays...maybe not....anyway it was a great ride.

Tyson at the end of Hauly's Gulch

After getting back we took the kids to Jessica's aunt's in Blackfoot for a get-together there with her family. That was fun. They had a pool and slip-n-slide for the kids, and lots of Jessica's cousins for Toph & Cree to play with. We got to visit with her aunts & uncles & Grandpa. It is always fun to see them and catch up. I like Jessica's family.

Some of Jessica's cousins: Sadie, Grace, McCade & Austin

We also went to the fireworks... not really my favorite, I hate being around that many people (things like that really seem to bring out the rednecks too!). But it wasn't too bad, the kids had a lot of fun, and we got out just as they ended, so the traffic wasn't too bad.

Two temples in one day

Tuesday was pretty cool. In the morning, Jason and I were at the Idaho Falls Temple installing art glass in the top of the Celestial Room. You see they are raising the ceiling of the celestial room 30-40 feet from where it was, which is where it was before...like a long time ago. In addition to raising the ceiling, they are adding windows on all four sides (which can barley be seen from the ground) and windows that will be back-lit above that. These upper ones shine into the Celestial Room...to add more light and beauty. Too bad there will be a big chandelier in the line of sight, and so these will be a little difficult to see from the ground. We were only there to install...the contractor would have guys to get the glass up to us...I don't really like that. Sure, it is less packing of heavy glass for me, but inexperienced guys carrying glass that is $150/square foot--not a good idea. So needless to say some of the pieces got broken. Long story short, it should all be none...eventually...by the time the Temple opens back up on Tuesday.

When we got to the point that we were waiting for them to get the big pieces up to the top of the scaffolding, we left to install a window in the Rexburg Temple. This window was very pricey. It is fire-rated glass, it creates a 2-hr fire wall in between the 3rd floor and the Celestial room. It was really heavy, and we were able to pull some strings and use the elevator (yeay!) to get it up to the 3rd floor. After getting it up there, it then took 30 minutes to determine exactly where in the opening it had to be set. Then Jason and I slapped it in...really fast. We had a BBQ to get to! It is great to have jobs pressing just before a holiday! It is also amazing how fast we worked, knowing that we had to get home to play. It was also really cool that in one day, we worked in two temples, installing glass in two celestial rooms!

That night we had a great time at our BBQ. Tyson & Suzanne; Rusty & Michelle; Milton & Liz; Kyle & Brandi; and Jason & Carol all came. We had 12 adults and 15 kids (7 and under) at our place. It was pretty crazy....but it was a blast. I did stakes with the lime and kosher salt...they turned out great! Yum Yum Yum!

Jess & TJ back from Utah

TJ was glad to be home too.

Wednesday night, Jessica and TJ drove to Salt Lake. TJ had a check up on Thursday morning at Shriner's, then Jess had a family reunion. They came home Friday night. I had the two older kids with me Wednesday, Thursday and Friday...and I gotta say I really missed Jess and TJ. Ok so my parents had Toph and Creedance Thursday and Friday...I had them each evening, which isn't difficult, but I missed my wife and baby boy. Here's a few more images in my ongoing photography project.

Tim, a wound care specialist at EIRMC, cleaning up TJ's stump...I love Jessica's expression in this photograph.

The trip was a bit frustfrating for Jessica. We were thinking that in 2-3 more weeks we would be back down there to start the prosthetic, then just a week later would have it and TJ would be learning to walk on it. But now we are looking closer to the end of July that we will be down to cast for the prosthetic, and another 2-3 weeks until we will have the foot. So it will be closer to mid to late August. TJ is so ready to walk...but he can't. He can't even step on the stump because it is so much shorter. It is tough for us...but it is also difficult to 'look a gift horse in the mouth.' Shriner's has been such a blessing for us, and they have been so wonderful to us with everything. Just kind of hard.

We have a very active little boy!

The last window...almost

The last window to install. 10' x 11'...quite big.

Friday we headed up early so that we could get the last window finished. Well so it is the last except for the storefront entryways. We have been holding off on this window because the general contractor needed to use the opening to get the lifts out of the building. Well, we were told that they would be flying them out first thing in the morning. We had at least 2 hours of preparing the frame to install it, and we wanted to use our lift to get the glass up to the second floor. We had to get the window closed up by the end of the day, because they did not want to temporary it closed again. Well, as construction projects go, things did not go according to plan. The crane that was going to be used to fly the lifts off the second floor, was not available until about 3:30. It would then take an hour or so to move the lifts, and another hour or two just to get our frame set...let alone the time to glaze it (install the glass in it). We were not about to stay that long on a FRIDAY! So as far as I know they had to put a temporary in. So Monday we will tackle it and get it all finished. Then we can focus on the entry ways, and Gary can finish caulking the exterior.

These insulated units were quite heavy to pass up through the window. That's me in the red hardhat.

Temple

So I finally remembered to take the camera up to the job site. This shows the big window in the front all done...except for one of the largest insulated units. Today we installed 6 window frames that will not have glass...they are in front of louvers and kinda silly to have but whatever. We are now down to just one more door frame with a couple of sidelights and the big window on the 2nd floor. It is really great to see it nearing completion. Everyone who can should go through the open house.

Almost There!

We are nearing completion on the Temple. Last week we installed the BIG frame on the front of the Temple--about 8' wide and 30' tall, and today we installed a tall narrow window that is on the northwest corner--about 3' wide and 40' tall. They were challenging.

We had a lot of difficulty setting the final insulated glass in the large front window. My boss, Gary, was on the lift with the window (4' square) and Jason and I were inside in a very precarious position poking our bodies out of little excess holes. The top section of this large frame is not in a room, more like a crawl-space that will be lit at night to shine out the stained glass window...anyway so only 18" from the inside plane of the window is a painted wall with two small cut-outs. We could not get the glass to the frame from the inside but all the glass sets into the frame from the inside. The plan was that Gary would lift the glass into us and we would take the balance, then get the glass inside on an angle, and set it from the inside. But Gary could not even get under the glass to lift it. So Jason and I just looked at each other and out the window I jumped onto the lift with Gary to get the glass up. Did I mention that this was at 6:30pm after starting at 6:00am. We were tired and had to get this frame closed up before we went home, and we wanted to get home.

The frame I am talking about is the large area of plywood in the center of this picture. That whole area is in one room (for the most part) that is 2 stories+ tall. Beautiful! I will post some pictures that show the glass soon.

We are now down to one more window, 2 entry-ways, and 6 frames (with no glass) left to install. The last window we have to wait on as that opening will be the exit for the lifts on the 2nd floor. We have started on entry ways, and we are also waiting on other junk to get done for the 6 frames. There are also other things here and there that have to be done there, but we have really gotten a lot done in the past months. It has been really amazing to see so much transpire there. It will be a beautiful building.

One more cool thing I was told today... Gary told us that we will be able to get tickets for the Dedication! We can get one for ourselves and a companion. So Jess and I will be in the temple for the Dedication. What an opportunity!

TJ is home!

I stayed at the hospital with TJ again last night, I wanted Jess to at least have the chance to sleep through the night. He did quite well, he was a bit grumpy, but slept for most the night. His fever did not spike once, and so our family doctor released us this morning. It took a while to actually get out because they had to arrange an in-home IV, but we were able to get home before 2pm. It is nice to be home with him and not confined in the hospital.

The in-home care nurse came to get us set up with the IV stuff and so for the next week or so we will be giving TJ his medicine ourselves. We also will be going into the wound care specialists to have his dressings re-done each day. It looks so much better than it just 2 days ago. The wound care doctor removed all the excess skin and got it all cleaned up today. We may be back to doing the wrappings ourselves soon.

This has been an anxious few days, but we never felt really scared. The doctors and especially the nurses made us feel such at ease. One nurse in particular, Mickey, was just so wonderful to us. I havecometo really respect nurses and all they do...they are the ones that make the difference! The doctors are great, but the nurses are the ones there right when you need them.

TJ Update

This last week Jessica was worried about how his leg looked and so took him into the doctor to have it checked out. Well, it has gotten infected. Our doctor prescribed an antibiotic, but he couldn't keep it down. So Thursday night, after a wound specialist in our ward took a look at it, we took him into the ER. They put him on an IV to get the antibiotics into him, and we have the wound care specialists working on it topically. It is looking so much better, and TJ is in much less pain. He is doing much better and we may be able to bring him home Monday--unless we go to Shriner's then. We have a check-up scheduled for Thrusday, but that may be moved up...we will have to play that by ear. Everyone has been so wonderful to help us through this...our family and friends near and far...Thank you for your prayers.

Here are some more photos:

Our little TJ is such a good sport

Sometimes it is difficult to wrap, because of TJ's "help."

"Hand, Foot & Leg"

Wow!

Hello, my name is Tyler Hopkins...(Hi Tyler...) and I love the Simpsons. I don't think there is a 12-step program for me...but the movie coming out this summer is for me.

Stealing Homer's Popcorn

Jess and I went to Shrek the Third tonight (wow a date without the kids!) and there was a life-size+ Simpsons family at Edwards Theatre. This picture was Jess' idea, I thought it was kind of fun.

TJ at 6 Months

On a completly different note, TJ is doing very well. We were a bit converned with his stump continuing to bleed, but it has slowed and still looks ok. We go back in about 2 weeks for a check-up, then a little after for a prostetic to be made. He just wants to go go go, and I think if frustfrates him that he can't. Thank you for the touching comments and support.

I have been photographing him playing and moving around. I think I would like put together a body of work of this experience. Along with prints of the x-rays. I don't know if it would amount to an exibit of sorts, but that might make an interesting project. Any suggestions for images or presentation (NOT A SCRAP-BOOK!) would be appreciated. I would like to see some of the images in simple black frames (like the ones I built for my BFA show)...I don't know. I am not sure about where to exhibit--if I would exhibit. I would also like to have images of us taking care of him...it's a bit different than before the symes amputation, wraping his stump...how he holds up that leg when he stands...other ways he is learning to adapt to it. What do you think?

TJ at Shriner's

We made the trip to Salt Lake for TJ's surgery this week. Monday was very nerve wracking simply because of the anticipation of the whole thing. We got checked in and into his room, then they checked his vitals...and all that stuff. Then we just had to wait. The doctor came to visit him a little. Tuesday morning he went in at 8:00, and we got him out of the recovery room about 10:30...so quick!

TJ is such a happy boy. He did so well through the whole thing. He was grumpy when he came out of the anesthesia...waking up in a strange room, with strange stuff around, and strange people. We were able to get him fed and calmed down quickly, then he was really good...restless but good. He wanted to go play as much as he could. He didn't realize that his leg should hurt and kept trying to stand on it, so we had to slow him down a bit and limit what he could play on out in the big play room.

He does not like having his arms held down or being confined. He did not like having his blood pressure taken (on his arm) or the IV. It just made it too hard to get around! But we were still able to let him play a little, just had to adapt.

We discovered that TJ can throw balls very well. He soon got tired of throwing them into the little tub and started throwing them at us and across the room. Not much slows him down.

I am not sure if he has completly realized what has happened. When we change the bandage he has started to look at his stump a little funny, but I don't think he as caught on completly yet. At this point he may just think that it is a sock that we won't let him pull off...he loves to pull his socks off. He has pulled the wraping off once already.

We are very proud of our little boy. It is amazing how this has strenghened us as a family and our faith. I know it was our family and friends' prayers that got us through it all. During and after the surgery we were at such peace and I know it is because of all the prayers...THANK YOU!

Temple Progress

I was about 40' below Moroni's feet

We have been making a lot of progress on the Rexburg Temple. I counted today and we only have 15 more window openings to do...never mind that some of them are 35-35' tall. It truly has been an incredible experience to work on it.

This is looking down on to the roof of the front entry...the lift is fully extended

Monday, we set the highest frame. It is right below Moroni, the 105' lift just reaches it. That was really cool, I was up inside the spire. Highest place in Rexburg.

Matchbox cars!

While glazing the glass in that high frame (glazing is when you put the glass into the frame), I snapped this last shot with my camera phone. I thought that the shadow of the Temple looked really cool...and that you can see the window opening in the foreground.

So we are getting close to being complete...there is much more to do yet, but the road behind is longer than the road ahead. There is a lot of caulking and some interior stuff as well as entry doors. We have made a lot of progress in the past month.

My new "Westy"

Milton at the 2005 Oktoberfest with his (now my Westy)

So some may know that I am a VW junkie. For those who don't...I'm a VW Junkie! I did have a '72 Bus for a while...that was an adventure. She was a red & white beauty! But we had to sell her to buy our minivan when we had TJ. I have always loved the Bus, plenty of room, you can always turn heads (usually away), and they are a blast to drive (when they run). For a little change, I have been toying with the idea of getting a Beetle or a Ghia to satisfy my VW craving, but haven't came accrost one yet. Well about a month ago the opportunity found me. My friend, Milton, has had this great '79 Westfalia (Westy--a camper) but has decided that it needed another home. After much much negotiation (me telling him that he could not just give it to me)we settled on a trade: his Westy (that didn't run) for my 79 Honda Trail 90 (that likewise did not run). As of yet it has not left his garage...I haven't had time to start working on it, but I just could not pass it up! My kids are excited...can't say the same for Jessica.

Toph is very excited for the Westy--he can't wait to go camping in it.

As for now the plan of action is to first get a battery to check compression. If that shows bad valve heads (as I am told main the problem is), then it will be a trip to Gate City Repair for engine work. Then I will focus on cleaning up the inside (not too bad), removing the 5 gal propane tank on the back and spare tire mount on front, installing a gas heater (Eberspacher BA6), then patch and paint. I think I'd like to do a two tone like my '72 with a dark green and white...then there's the idea of rhino lining. Any ideas? As cool as it is, I think the mural has to go...not quite my personality.

Who's ready to go camping?!

Rexburg Temple, Shoshone Falls & Sand Dunes

The last few weeks have been pretty wild....like always. It has been a huge blessing to be working on the Temple again. First off it is wonderful to be home in the evenings, and then...it's the Temple! It is really enjoyable to work there. I enjoy it-dispite the little setbacks that you encounter (all jobs have setbacks). This week we finished all the windows on the south elevation. This photo is the south elevation...but you can't really see the windows that well. Next week we will either start on the east-or front, or the west-back. These windows will be quite the adventure, very tall.

Rexburg Idaho Temple. 27 April 2007

On the 21st, my dad's brother passed away, so we had a funeral to go to in Boise on Thursday. We drove there on Wednesday, after work then back Thursday. We stopped and saw Shoshone Falls. We needed a break, Jess and the kids had never been there, and the last time I was there it was just a little trickle. It was very nice. Nothing like when Timothy O'Sullivan was there, but nontheless I took a few pictures. Likewise those are nothing like Timothy O'Sullivan's or Mark Klett. That would be a nice place to fisit and photograph more.

The Family at Shoshone Falls April 25, 2007

Friday it was back to work...but afterwards I got to go photograph is Theo and Darren. We went to the Saint Anthony sand dunes. I had never been there to photograph, but I am sure I will go there again. I really liked it. The sun was a bit too intense when we got there, but as the evening progressed, it got much better. I was very happy with the results, I will be making some small prints soon...I think they will even be worthy of the Museo Silver Rag paper I got for my birthday.

Dunes & Motorcycle Tracks April 2007

Island of trees at St. Anthony. April 2007