Mountain Biking with the Young Men

I really wanted to get the young men in our church excited about mountain biking so as a scout troop we went. I made the mistake of letting someone else pick the trail and we ended riding straight up a mountain on a service road for 3.5 miles. At that point I started to question my own passion for mountain biking!

A Sweet Farewell

Yes I look like that on purpose. I felt really cool with that splash guard on.


So as many of you know I am no longer working at Google and this was what I did on my last day. I will definitely miss the perks but I am excited to be progressing more in the field of recruiting.

Dance Festival

So the youth in our stake and 2 neighboring stakes had a dance festival at Bellevue Community College for the community and since I am the Young Men's President in our ward, I got the "opportunity" to learn the dances to help the youth. Well, the inevitable happened; there weren't enough young men come performance time so I got the "privilege" of dancing in it with the youth. The best part was the 200 deacons that dressed up as Napoleon Dynamite and did the Napoleon dance together; classic!

Our little walk

We just decided to go on a walk one day and found a really cool trail near our house that lead to a park that we didn't know existed.

The commute kills me!

So I have been commuting to work from Renton to Kirkland on 405 North which if you don't know averages 0-20 mph most of the morning for 15 miles. One day I thought I would avoid the unusually bad traffic by taking the side streets. I must have spaced what Seattle rain can do sometimes. There is a Mercedes stuck in the middle that you can barely see. You can see the freeway off to the left...first time I ever wished I was still on it!

Adult Pinewood Derby

Ok, so I am still 12 years old at heart. Our Elders Quorum had an adult Pine Wood Derby night and it was awesome. You would think I would have learned a thing or two over the years but it didn't quite pan out how I wanted. Apparently there are people still using the cars that I am sure their fathers built for them when they were scouts, and tuning them ever since. They have most likely been entering pine wood derby races all over the nation over the years because my feeble attempts couldn't touch some of these avid racers! I think I got 3rd or 4th or something like that.

One Year Anniversary...March 23rd

So we are a little late on the post but this is the oh so famous one year old cake that for some reason someone a long time ago thought would last for a year and still be good. Well, we are here to put that urban legend to rest; it sucks! As we expected it tasted like crap, but it was still fun!

Bowling Extravaganza

I got very lucky to have married into a family as fun as mine. My new father, new brothers and brother-in-law dressed up for a night of bowling.

Sherwood gathering means square dancing!!!

So my grandpa Sherwood just turned 100 and his party was basically a great big family reunion. A gathering of Sherwood's and Litchfield's inevitably means square dancing will be involved...and it was! Brandi stretched outside of the comfort zone as she embraced this new tradition. Welcome to the family baby!

Our Great Grandpa Sherwood, 100 years old this March!

Here is our tribute to our Great Grandpa Sherwood who will be 100 years old March 7, 2008. Please note the amazing picture of him and I pounding it last year at his 99th birthday party!

Grandpa Sherwood has always been a great example to me. He is an example of endurance, optimism, faith, commitment, perseverance, and a warm heart. He has influenced so many people in so many ways. He has also inspired everyone that he has met. Never before have I met or heard of anyone that has been able to do the things that he has in the latter half of his life. I think it goes without saying that he is probably the oldest person that any of us know, and yet he is one of the youngest. Have you ever seen a 98 year old man pull weeds on his hands and knees, or get on his hands and knees to work on his lawnmower and sharpen the blade? I have, last year when I went to visit. Have you ever heard of a 98 year old bruising or breaking a rib? How about doing it while jumping on his 14 foot trampoline that he has in his back yard? It’s not just for the grandkids! My father (Ryan – who will kill me for saying this) was struggling to read something within the last year and asked for his glasses (as most people do at his age). As soon as Grandpa heard that he asked, “What is the matter with you? I’ll read that.” He promptly took it from my father and read it to him…without glasses! I also remember, as many of you do, when he recently visited the hospital a few months ago and gave everyone a big scare. When we got the phone call that grandpa was in the hospital and the cause was uncertain, the thought rushed to my head that it could finally be his time. Low and behold his medicine was not prescribed correctly and as soon as they got things figured out, later that night, he was walking down the hall with out any assistance. Are you kidding me??? I am sure the doctors and nurses were truly amazed! Grandpa was also the one who introduced us to the all too famous “Grandpa Specials” (toast with jam on it, in a bowl of milk). Man, who ever thought bread in milk would be such a great combo? My wife is still scared to try it but one day I know we will end up passing that tradition on to our kids and grandkids. Another specific moment that really sticks out in my mind that I will never forget is when I was 14 (1995ish) and I was on a job site with my father, and Grandpa Sherwood was there working. I asked how old he was and he said 88. I could not believe that he was working on houses at 88 years old! I recall asking him years later why he worked so long and why he was so active now at his age, to which he answered that he tried to retire in his sixties once and it almost killed him. Since then grandpa has dedicated his life to being the most active person I know. Not only do most people not usually get the privilege of being on the earth this long, but most people half his age are half as active and succumb to laziness and then bad health. I honestly believe that God has a plan for everyone and that we leave this earth when God needs us, or when our work here is done. Grandpa obviously still has more lives to touch, more youth to influence for good, more people to inspire, and more young people to put to shame. Though he is not the youngest person in the world, he will still work harder, and get more done in a day than you or I could ever hope to. He is more agile and more productive than men half his age. He is the most kind, gentle, loving, witty and hilarious person I know. He is still as quick witted as he was when he was younger. We could all learn a lot from his example and from the way he has lived his life up to this point. Oh, and did I mention that he is more in style than most people in High School? See the picture below of him and I “pounding it” at his 99^th birthday last year! We love you Grandpa! Happy 100^th birthday!!!