New Blog

This is true, we have started a new blog. It's mikeabbiezig.blogspot.com.

See you there!

-mike and abbie

The Latest

It sure has been awhile since I have done any blogging. It has been such the busy summer for both of us! We both were in school for the first part of summer and now we have a month off before fall semester begins and are enjoying the time that we can actually spend with each other. In the last month we have been gone every weekend it seems. We went to Lake Powell over the last week in June with the Muhlestein's and had a blast. I have been the worlds worst picture taker lately, but I will post pics as soon as I get to it! We just barely got back from Veil, Colorado where Michael and Wes & Jess (my brother and sis-in-law) did the Xterra Tri. They all did really well and had a great time. My parents were planning on taking a vacation to Beaver Creek over the same weekend as the Tri, so they kindly let us stay in their place for the weekend.

I feel like such a slacker in not keeping up with my blog, but let's be honest, who wants to be inside uploading pictures when the weather is so beautiful outside?... I rest my case.

{pictures of our adventures to come SOON!}

Carved Box

This is what I made last Friday in Ceramics. We put together the box, then let it dry hard enough that we could start carving it. It's not as hard as you'd think, but what a time consuming process! This was probably my favorite project yet. I'm feeling bad that I only have one more class left. :( I have never had so much fun in any college class... I think I might have to make this a hobby!

New Mexico Tri #2

A few weekends ago Michael did the Farmington, New Mexico Xterra Triathlon for the second time. It's about a 7 hour drive each way. We left on a Friday afternoon and got back the following Saturday night; it was a quick trip! Even so, it was really fun to spend time with the two boys and watch Michael race. Somehow I never get tired of going to these events. Not only is there an abundance of excitement filling the air, but to see the incredibly strong athletes race is quite motivating! Here are some pictures from our trip... enjoy...

I love to watch everyone getting ready for the race. It is interesting to see how different everyone lays out their gear for optimum timeliness during transition.

"Best Buds"

He did great! He came in a little later than last year, but what can you expect with it being the first race of the season? I'm just so proud of him. The Xterra's he does are pretty hardcore.

We found these massive "otter pops" at a gas station in Shiprock.

They sure cooled us off on that 98 degree weather day.

Ziggy was completely pooped coming home. He slept the whole way home. Instead of using the entire back seat to lay down, he has to lay his head in the middle console to be close to Michael and I.

On our way home we stopped in Moab. We met Michaels friends at the watering hole for a much needed break from driving. Ziggy kept stealing sticks from all the dog's mouths. He's hilarious.

I got this vase at a trade shop in a reservation just out of New Mexico.

The lady who sold it to me said that it is a wedding vase.

When a couple gets married, they each drink from opposite sides of the vase.

Once they have done so, they become one.

However, if their marriage is to fail, they have to break the vase and bury it in the ground where the clay came from that was used to make it.

It is an Indian tradition.

Ceramics

I am taking a ceramics class this summer and LOVE it! The majority of the class is hand building, but we do a little throwing on the wheel as well. These are the two pots I made and I am so proud of them :). {Let me tell you why} I took a ceramics class in high school and barely passed it. I like to contribute a majority of that to the terrible teacher I had, but I guess I need to take some of the credit. Needless to say, I was very nervous going into this class. Anyway, these are still in the "greenware" stage. The first pot is going to be a matte black and the pot with the carved top is going to have a turquoise crackle glaze! We will be firing our pots on the last day of class.

Grant A. Muhlestein

GRANT MUHLESTEIN

Grant Muhlestein 11/4/1918 ~ 5/26/2010 Grant Alvey Muhlestein, age 91, passed away May 26, 2010, greatly loved and surrounded by his family. Grant was born November 4, 1918 in Provo, Utah to Ephraim Ammon and Lillie Alvey Muhlestein. He married his eternal companion, Lillie Belle Tidwell, October 2, 1941 in the Salt Lake Temple. Their marriage of 69 years is a great and devoted love story. Grant served in the US Army during World War II on the Pacific front and miraculously returned home decorated with a purple heart. Under the G.I. Bill he enrolled in the Salt Lake Vocational School to become a master builder. For over 20 years he built custom homes and developed many subdivisions, most notably St. Mary's Hills. He became a commercial building contractor in the 1970s building a number of large projects in the western United States and Hawaii. He retired in his mid-seventies from contracting leaving a legacy of outstanding homes and buildings. He was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as the first bishop of the Monument Park 11th ward. Grant and Lillie were called to serve together on the YMMIA General Board Dance Committee and taught youth all over the world to dance. You could always count on Grant to do his very best with any assignment. He set a high standard of excellence. His favorite calling in the church was stake missionary and he was passionate about teaching the restored gospel to those interested, especially to his children and grandchildren. His love of the scriptures was his trademark and influenced his grandchildren in their decisions to serve full time missions. He spent a lifetime developing and sharing hobbies: piloting small aircraft, photography, video productions, ballroom dancing, waterskiing, boating, and golf. Grant's greatest joy came from his sweet wife, caring children and delightful grandchildren, both great and grand! He is survived by his wife, Lillie; five children: Gayle (Calvin) Clegg, Nancy Swaner, Linda Terry, David (Paula) Muhlestein, Janet (Ken) Davis; 21 grandchildren; 47 great grandchildren; sisters: Naomi Anderson, Donna Truscott, Joy (Dan) Higbee, Lillie (Gareth) Peterson; brothers: Arnold (Dorothy) Muhlestein, Ray (Joyce) Muhlestein. He is preceded in death by his parents; son-in-law Stephen Swaner; great-grandson Joseph Coles; brother Lester Muhlestein; sister Jean Thorpe; brothers-in-law: Walt Anderson, Bud Truscott. Funeral Services: Tuesday June 1st, 2010 1 p.m. at the Monument Park Stake Center; 1320 South Wasatch Drive. Viewings: Monday May 31st 7-9 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Lawn; 2350 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City, Utah; and Tuesday June 1st 11:30 a.m-12:45 p.m. at the Monument Park Stake Center. Interment: Larkin Sunset Lawn. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Perpetual Education Fund or the LDS Missionary Fund. The family would like to express gratitude to the workers at the VA Hospital and Garden Terrace for their love and kindness to our father and husband. Online condolences: www.larkinmortuary.com

{The funeral was on Tuesday and it was beautiful. Several of Grant's loved ones shared stories of him, including Michael and his father. They both did wonderful. Michael's talk represented his siblings as well as his own feelings toward Grant. I never did get to meet the real Grant. He had Alzheimers for nearly the last 10 years of his life. It was neat to hear about the wonderful man he was. He was described as the epitome of integrity, devotion and love. We will miss him, but take great comfort in knowing that he is now happy, healthy, and that we will see him once again.}

SheRox Triathlon

This fire in flagstaff extended our road trip two hours! The

Sweet little Ralphy

We helped Chris pack up his place in Tempe. These boys deserved a much needed rest, they worked so hard!

We carb-loaded the night before the race at a little Italian joint.

It was ...mmm... delicious.

Jess and I trying not to look TOO nervous before the race.

The swim was 1/2 mile. They did a deep water start where we had to swim out to a buoy and tread water for 5 minutes before starting the race.

It was hard because everyone kept kicking each other.

Biked 13 1/2 miles.

Ran a 5k.

Some of the girls in our group had these shoes made in honor of Lisa, Michael's cousin.

This is Michael wearing a shirt in support of our group.

The very first time that I never felt guilty eating a burger :)

Flying home Saturday afternoon on a private jet!

We had such a blast on this trip.