USA Climbing Competition in Pocatello

USA Climbing put on one of our regions sport climbing series competition on April 4. I, Ben, wanted to know what one of their competitions were like. So we drove down to Pocatello, ID and signed up to climb. Poor Jennilyn, she didn't get to climb because she was a sport and watched the boys as I climbed.

It was a lot of fun. It was a top-rope red-point format. The climbs ranged from 5.9 - 5.12. I was the only adult that competed. Luckily there were three teenagers that climbed harder than me. I definitly like doing competitions because of the aspect of submitting myself to a certain format and time frame. It makes me work hard and lets me see where I am at in my climbing.

My family after a full day of watching daddy climb.

Ben on one of his warm-up routes in the ISU Reed Gym.

Ben climbing a cool 5.10 or 5.11

March 29-31 Moab, UT

Our summer started in southern Utah. Idaho wouldn't let go of the snow and wind, so we headed south and took advantage of the sun down there. However, we did have some wind and quick snowflakes, but it was much better than the snow storm they had in Rexburg while we were in Moab. We had a lot of fun with Dean and Heather Lords, Justin and Beth Avenius, Emily Stedman, and Chad Alldredge. Sitting around the camp fire was just as fun as the actual climbing.

On Monday we tested out our weak ability to climb cracks on beautiful red sand stone. Then on Tuesday we did some bouldering. I highly recommend Moab. The area is wonderful. Just the drive down there was amazing with all the different and wierd rock formations.

Jennilyn approaching the off-width seciton of the climb.

Ben stemming his way to the splits.

Moab daycare.

Jennilyn laying it back up a sweet crack.

Family updates...

So what has the Eaton family been up to these last couple months that's kept us too busy to blog?

Here goes:
Christmas!!
Christmas was great! We spent it in Logan, visiting with lots of family, including Grandma Kroff from Canada, whom Ben and the boys hadn't met yet.

Snow!!
We've enjoyed a season of sledding, snowboarding, and x-c skiing. Yes, I said ENJOYED. Despite my desperate hatred for the snow, I am here in Rexburg and my desire to get outside overruled my fear of snow this year. The boys LOVE sledding, and whenever we take them in our X-C ski trailer, they immedaiately fall asleep. So I go cross-country skiing at least twice a week now lol. Ben and I got to go snowboarding for Valentine's Day, and we had a blast. I hadn't been in almost 4 years!!
Running, sleep, books, and movies
These are our traditional winter-hermit activities. We like to do a lot of indoor climbing as well, but haven't been going quite as frequently as we'd like. We're training for the SLC marathon in April, which is coming up very quickly! So our nights and weekends are spent running. Naps are common for us as well, since there isn't a day that goes by that SOMEONE in this house isn't sick. Recent favorite books/movies: Madagascar 2, Wall-E, The Giver, Lord of the Flies, and Flipped.
We are still getting used to being a family of four in a one bedroom apartment (okay, I'm exaggerating, it has an office too!). There's been lots of trains, play-dough, tantrums, job applications (still applying like crazy), and looking out the window, wishing it was WARM...

Going Green

Since I've started "going green" (and therefore became the family hippie) I've gotten a lot of questions about what I do: Why go green, how do you make your laundry and dish soap, what cloth diapers do you use and where do you get them, what canned/packaged goods can I replace with homemade, etc. I usually claim that I'll email them a recipe and completely forget. So I've decided to start a blog about all my green endeavors, hoping to answer questions, encourage others to try new things, and make a small dent in the pollution and consumerism that is going on. Check it out, and spread the word. If nothing else, it'll save you a few pennies. Thanks!!

http://clippingcorners.blogspot.com/

On a more serious note...

I was just sent an email about Obama's Freedom of Choice Act, which he has stated will be the first thing he does when he is in office. This act will allow live abortions, and all other types throughout the nation. Furthermore, it will require those who work in the medical industry to perform such abortions or risk losing their liscense. Here is some of what was sent to me, by a relative who is a nurse:

"Many of you know that I took a beautiful young boy's body to the fridge in Pocatello. I came on and was asked to take him to the lab. He was in a red garbage bag in a large basin. When I got to the lab, noone was there. I unwrapped the bag to reveal a beautiful 20-24 week infant. He had everything that necessitates life, yet, his chart said he was incompatible with life. I sobbed as I realized the gravity of this one tiny body that was not allowed a chance at life and the many others lives who are cut short each day as if we are talking nonchalantly about bailing out the auto industry and the economy. These are lives that I am sure our Father in Heaven would say are worth saving. "

"...I fear [this act] will change Healthcare in America more than any of us can begin to imagine. Especially myself and my sister-in law ----, who have both found our niches in Women's and Children's services. We (RN's in healthcare) are split much as the American people are on Row v Wade. There are still at least half and possibly more of the RNs that I work with who will quit their jobs caring for the wonderful Mothers who are bringing babies into this world, as our Creators plan necesitates. The nurses that I know that are pro-life are as a whole- much more compassionate, caring, and loving towards their patients than others who are there to support their families and worldly needs. It would be tragic if we all go to home health or medical surgical or areas of nursing that are sure not to face assisting with abortions under any and all circumstances. "



And here was the forwarded letter of the email (author is unknown to me):

Dear Family and Friends,

As most of you know, last night Obama made a public announcement
that he is going to sign the Freedom Of Choice Act, which will allow
all types of abortions including partial birth abortions, also
allowing babies who are born alive due to botched up late term
abortions, to be set aside without any medical care or nourishment and
left to die (most of these babies have no medical problems and most
of the ones that do, have things like cleft palates, club feet, things
that are correctable, still they are murdered in the most cruel and
inhuman way. They feel everything that is happening to them. There is
more mercy for dogs that are put to sleep) This Bill also will make it
mandatory for doctors and nurses to perform this murderous act even if
they do not want to do so. This act also allows under age teens to
have an abortion, even partial birth abortions, without parental
consent.

Catholic Bishops have pleaded with Obama not to go ahead with this
horrible murder of innocent babies. They have also told Obama that if
he persists in signing this Bill which would require even Catholic
Hospitals to perform these acts of murder, they will have no choice
but to close all Catholic Hospitals. Please let us join with these
courageous Bishops who will go to any length to change Obama's mind.
Please take a minute to sign this statement and let our voices be
heard.

This is a great, informative website. You can click on the video
of Obama's speech to the Planned Parenthood group where he promised
that the first thing he would do if elected President would be to sign
the Freedom Of Choice Act. He isn't even in the White House yet and
he made a statement last night that he will go forward with his plans
to sign this outrageous bill. He still can change his mind because
the Bill cannot be signed until he is actually the President.

Please let your family and friends know about this Bill and ask
them to also sign this petition. Even those who voted for Obama would
not want him to sign this Bill. Most important, please pray for
Obama's true conversion to Christianity. If he doesn't change his
atheistic ways, may God have mercy on our country for the sake of the
millions who would never agree with this Bill if they fully understood
all that it encompasses. Please click on the web site below. It will
take less than a minute of your time, doesn't cost anything and God
will bless you for standing up of Him and His commandment, "thou shalt
not kill".

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good people
do nothing"


http://www.fightfoca.com/


I know it's the holiday season, and I really do wish you all a Merry Christmas, and I also do beg you to take the few seconds it takes to sign the petition on the link above. Perhaps even take a minute to post or email this link to friends and family. To me, this issue is even more important gay marriage, because this act will allow healthy human babies to die, and will force those who do not want to lose their jobs to assist in the death of these beautiful, tiny babies. Our friends recently had a baby who was 24 weeks old when she was born, and she is an adorable, sweet girl that is full of life. I hope that all such children will have a chance to live.

Super Duper teething crackers

I have been experimenting with cracker recipes, in my dream to someday soon go "boxless." (Have nothing in my home that is in a pre-packaged box like cereals, crackers, etc.) I've tried graham crackers, wheat thins, and teething biscuits with varied success. No big moment until recently-

I have finally found a choke-free, easy, normal-ingredient (not all those crazy baby-nutrition spaz ingredients) recipe! These bicsuits literally just MELT, pieces don't break off.

...and Fisher loves them! He just got his 2nd tooth yesterday too, 2 days after his first!

Here's the recipe I found at http://my-teething-baby.com/teething-biscuit-recipies.php:

TEETHING BISCUITS (classic from the Buffalo News)

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup instant nonfat dry milk powder
1/2 cup wheat germ
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
¾ cup sugar
¾ cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1/2 cup undiluted, frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

Directions:
Combine flour, milk powder, wheat germ, baking powder, cinnamon and salt together.
In another bowl, combine sugar and oil. Beat in the egg and orange juice and gradually add flour mixture to make a stiff dough. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
Place greased cookie sheet on damp towel to keep from sliding. Place dough on cookie sheet and flatten, rolling out to within 1 inch of the edge.
Cut into 2 by 3/4-inch bars; separating the cookies isn't necessary. Bake 15 minutes in preheated 375-degree oven until light brown.
Remove from oven; recut on the same lines. Return to oven. Turn off heat and let set until oven is cool. Makes about 6 dozen cookies that can be frozen and thawed as needed.

*Note: I used wheat flour, bran instead of wheat germ, and 3 tbsp of mayo instead of eggs. They turned out awesome!

SOLD

It's SOLD!!!

Our house has sold, and we are moving out tomorrow. And since I keep getting raised eyebrows about selling the house, here are the reasons we feel we are not stupid for selling the house:

1. We want to relocate. Badly. Neither of us desires to stay in Rexburg any longer. We aren't Rexburg-haters, but Ben feels like he needs to be challenged by living in a different area and working in a different industry, and I can't stand the cold or lack of culture.

2. We are applying for jobs like crazy. Since we haven't had much luck, we've stopped publicizing the jobs Ben's applying for, but you can count him applying for at least 1-2 jobs a week. We sold the house so that once one of the million applications takes, we can move on command.

3. The housing crisis is just beginning to hit Rexburg, and we didn't want to be selling the house when it did. Although we could have waited to sell until we got a job, we felt like we should sell while we had the chance. From the sounds of it, we're one of very few who have sold a house in Rexburg within the last few months, so we are glad that the Lord answered our prayers by allowing us sell the house with ease.

4. Heating this place is ridiuclous in the winter. We'll save a few hundred in heating per month, and we're making quite a bit from the sale of the home.

Selling also gives us hope that we are closer to following Ben's dream. Our 5 year plan includes being butt poor working in the outdoor gear industry, having Ben work hard to climb the corporate ladder, and settling in Salt Lake City, the location of several headquarters for outdoor gear companies. We're working on our 5 year plan. And heck, we're in our early 20s, so let us live and learn on our own!

LOL can you tell I've been getting a lot of comments about how it isn't smart of us to sell? We really did think this through... Thanks to all of you who have been so supportive about our decisions! (Especially you Mychelle, LOL I didn't expect you to be so supportive but you have been, probably because you guys are working so Joe can follow his dream one day too.) So thanks!