A NEW GRANDBABY!

Amie and Scott had their baby!

Asher Michael Conover was born on November 29th at 11:30 a.m.

He weighed 8 pounds 14 ounces and was 21 inches long.

He is so cute. Amie and Scott say that he is such a good baby. He has been waking up only about once a night.

We are so lucky because Amie and Scott come down to our house almost every Tuesday. We have enjoyed having them come over so that we can see them all and get to know Rayce and Scott better. NOW, we will get to see Asher at least once every week!!!!

Yesterday, Mike said that he wished Amie still lived with him so that he could see Asher as much as he got to see Shade. We love having a new grandchild!!!!!

Our Trip to Beijing

This is a picture of Mike, Koedy, Me: Laynie, Brandi (Chris Dodds: The paralympic goalball player's wife), Lewis (Brandi's brother), and DeWayne Berg (Chris and Brandi's friend, and a coworker who I went to Athens with) on the GREAT WALL!

Our trip to Beijing, China was the BEST trip I have ever been on! I really loved it and hope I can go back again. I was really worried about the air quality with my asthma, but it wasn't bad at all. China had closed some factories down a few months before the Olympics and didn't reopen them until after the Paralympics, and had limited the traffic so only half could drive each day (If THAT was half the traffic, I can't even imagine what all the traffic would be like!) so I thought the air quality was pretty good.

FRIDAY/SATURDAY

Koedy, Mike, and I left on Friday morning for the airport. We flew to Vancouver, and boarded Air China. Fortunately, we barely make the connecting flight...but our luggage didn't....so we arrived in China 11 1/2 hours later, without our luggage. We got a taxi to our hotel. We arrived in China around 5ish on Saturday and by the time we explained our luggage situation, got a taxi, and drove to the hotel, it was about 8:00. We were exhausted. None of us had slept much on the airplane ride, so we settled into our hotel and slept!

We exchanged our timeshare for a week stay in Beijing. We only had to pay $98 for the whole week there! Our hotel was really nice. It was in a nicer hotel/apartment building. We had a great room to use for the week. It even had a kitchen. There was a washing machine in the kitchen, right under the sink where the dishwasher usually would go.

The girls at the front desk spoke okay English...some of the time...so every day; we would have them write in Chinese on a card where we wanted to go for the day. The card had the hotel name on it in Chinese and a map, so we were able to travel around easily AND find our way back (None of our taxi drivers spoke English).

SUNDAY

Sunday was rainy, so we decided to go shopping at the Silk Market, go pick up our goalball tickets, and then go to the goalball game later that Evening. As we drove around, I couldn't believe how many people were riding bikes in the rain. Most of the bikes looked like something left over from the 50's and 60's. Some bikes had trailers hooked on them. Little old men would be pulling a trailer with an old woman all curled up inside. It was really different to see such a big city, and then see old bikes with wares piled in the back, going down the street. Mothers and fathers were riding bikes with little kids sitting on the back in little child seats. Sometimes, the parents would put their rain jackets they had on, over the child, so all I could see were little legs sticking out of the jacket.

The cars had the right of way, even if people were in cross walks. People had to continually jump out of the way of the cars. Our taxi driver would usually honk and then go...people would have to scatter, or get hit...and there were a few close calls....we were really surprised to see that most of the cars weren't all dented. Koedy said it is because we weren't ever going fast enough to do much damage. I think we went pretty fast quite a few times. Most of the taxis didn't even have seat belts in the back. Koedy and I would usually sit in the back...and only three taxis had seat belts...which was VERY scary in a few of the taxis! I wish I would have recorded a typical drive down the street in a taxi....you would be shocked....I'm not sure if they even have to get drivers licenses in Beijing...or if you just try to avoid getting hit.

The Silk Market is where all the tourists go to buy things. It is a four story building that is packed full of booths, many selling the same stuff, with cute Chinese girls that know enough English to talk you into buying their stuff. You have to haggle over the price. They start really high and if you don’t want it…don’t even start to haggle. The girls would chase you down, put things in Mike’s hands, and they even put a shirt on Koedy…to get you to buy from them. It was so much fun! There were knock-off designer jeans that we paid about $15 a pair for...jeans that cost over $100 here. There were shoes, purses, suitcases, coats, and of course, Chinese items, like silk robes, shirts, pearls, jade, and chopsticks.

After the Silk Market, we took a taxi to pick up the goalball tickets which ended up being right across the street from The Bird’s Nest. We picked up the tickets and walked around for a little while. Later that evening, we went to watch the USA Men, play China. It was crowded. After the goalball game, we went to the Night Market, which are booths of weird food set up outside a tourist shopping area. Mike, Koedy, and I each ate a scorpion.

MONDAY

We went to The Temple of Heaven and then to The Forbidden City-which is right across the street from Tian’an Men Square. AND YES...the toilets are in the ground...you don't sit on them....and you SHOULD bring a packet of kleenex with you always....you never know if there will be toilet paper.

The Temple of Heaven was a beautiful park. There were a lot of people in the park, but most of them were dancing or playing games. As we walked through the park, we would pass big groups of people (some larger than one hundred people) dancing/exercising. Some people were dancing in big line dances. They were chanting and/or singing with the music. Others were doing a variation of ballroom dancing. We also would pass by groups of people playing Jian Zi, which is a form of Hacky Sac. Hacky Sac originated in China over 2000 years ago. Most of the people doing the line dancing/exercising were older women, and middle aged/older couples where usually doing the ballroom dancing, but all ages where playing Jian Zi together.

The Forbidden City was HUGE. It is made up of an endless collection of pavilions, gates, courts, and gardens. There were lots and lots of tourists there.
Then we went to goalball. After goalball, we went to eat Peking Duck at a really nice restaurant. It was really hard to find something that I would eat on the menu....I know...I ate a scorpion...but I don't want to eat webbed feet...or intestines....or...worse...AND they did have dog brain soup on the menu in some places...or blood soup...yuck!

TUESDAY

We went shopping at another store like the Silk Market but it was supposed to be bigger and not have as many tourists. I think it was higher priced and catered to richer tourists. The people didn't hound you as much to buy their goods, but they had about the same things as at the Silk Market. We ate in a food court that was upstairs in the shopping center. When we got off the escalator, a young Chinese girl met us and wanted to take us to a seat. She was leading us over by where she worked. She even said, "Table for Three?" The competition was incredible. It was a food court...we were supposed to find out own seat. People from behind other booths were yelling....so we knew something was up. We walked around and looked at the different stalls and ate really good Chinese food. I made sure to eat only things I knew. I stayed away from intestine, webbed feet, and anything with meat that wasn't chicken. Then, we decided to try to find a music store for Koedy. We found one that had a lot of guitars (U.S. prices), then we looked for a magic store for Mike (but I don't think people understood us), and finally we went looking for used postage stamps for Mike's mom. We ended up looking for postage stamps in this old looking warehouse type "shop" that had a lot of booths in it. As we walked around, we saw people counting lots of money. We were the only NON Chinese people in the whole warehouse. We tried to ask people questions, but nobody would or could talk to us. One little girl started pointing at us and saying something, that her "dad?" put his hand over her mouth and pulled her out of our sight. We don't know where we were, and we don't think we were supposed to be there...finally we did find one person that spoke enough English that we found a few postage stamps....but I think it was from a woman's personal collection...I don't think she really sold them there.

WEDNESDAY
We went to goalball, then to the Summer Palace. This was very beautiful. We rented a peddle boat and went out onto the lake. I liked this much better than the Forbidden City. After the Summer Palace, we went to Hou Hai to ride a Rickshaw. The rickshaws were pulled by bicycles. They took us through the hutongs (which are alleys) were people lived. We stopped at a house where a woman invited us into her home and gave us Jasmine Tea while she showed us pictures of her when she was younger, and told us (through a translator) about her home, children, and way of life. Her 95-year-old father lived with her; her 91-year-old mother had passed a way a few years earlier. She showed us her courtyard and explained how important a courtyard was to a family. After, we found a restaurant and ate a nice dinner. It was hard to order…but luckily the menu had some English and pictures, so we pointed and said, “one”.

THURSDAY
We went to the Great Wall. This was my FAVORITE place in BEIJING...actually 1 1/2 hours from Beijing. We went to the Mutianyu section. There was a closer section, but it is more crowded than this section. There are a series of watchtowers along some of the restored section. The wall dates back to 1368. We rode a ski lift up to the wall and then a toboggan ride (like in Park City...only better...down.) After, we went to watch goalball. Then, we went to eat at Hou Hai to eat a nice Chinese dinner at a restaurant around the lake. People were ballroom dancing in the park and playing Jing Zi.

FRIDAY
We went to goalball and then shopping again at the Silk Market. I helped Brandi buy souvenirs. Then we went and ate lunch at The Hard Rock Cafe...and payed American Prices for our food.

SATURDAY

We went back to the Silk Market to grab some more souvenirs, and then we ate outside at a nice little restaurant where the food tasted and looked about like Panda Express. Then we went back to the hotel and went to the airport. Our flight left at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. We flew into San Francisco, and then made it home by 5:30 p.m. Saturday night.

I want to go back to China. There are so many more things I want to do. Anyone want to go? I think I will go there every so often just to buy my clothes. We figured out how to get things for very inexpensive prices. Mike just has to pull out his sponge balls...and do magic tricks for the girls. They LOVED it...well some...some screamed when he did magic for them, but others hugged him until he showed them more tricks. One guy gave him a Buddah statue so he would show him more magic. It was fun. Koedy and I loved laughing at the girls' responses to the magic. They even remembered him when we went back the next time and all gathered around him and asked him to make more balls.

If you want to see our pictures, go to flickr.com/photos/laynie

I Double Dog Dare You!

This is a picture of a volunteer for Sports Camp...Riding with a visually impaired student...I told him it would be an experience....We nicknamed this student...Tara the Terror...because nobody would ride with her twice...Come help me if you DARE...It is better than a roller coaster....because...you never know where you will end up!

Wow has this been a busy summer...so I haven't posted much....this is why:

In June, I helped host the National Goalball Tournament. Thanks so much to Clay, Erin, Joey, Kylie, and MIKE...for all their help! The Utah Men took second place....it was a close match for first! This tournament took a lot of time to plan it. We felt really good when it was done, not just because it was over, but because we really felt we provided a GREAT tournament. We have received so many positive comments from all over the country.

This year, I also started a new summer program for students in Alpine District. Instead of going to their houses, or having them come to their school and work with me one-on-one, I had them all come to me three times a week. (Not just my students, but any visually impaired student in the district.) I loved it. We started the second week in June and went until the 23rd of July. It was a lot of work. Class was held in a foods room at a high school. Everyday we made our own lunch. On Tuesdays, we went to the grocery store and bought all the food for the week. We worked on expanded core curriculum for the blind: such as Orientation & mobility, daily living skills, career awareness, technology, and of course braille. I usually had about 6-8 kids a day there. We went on a few field trips. I want to do this again next year.

I also worked the UWIN program that is for students who visually impaired and at least 16 years old. This is a 7 week program. The students live in a sorority house at the University of Utah. I work from 3 p.m. until 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday. I teach the students how to cook, clean, bank, shop, wash clothes, etc. We also go on an Orientation & Mobility outing at least once a week. I usually didn't get home until 12:00 or later every night...so not much yard work or house work got done.

Now, I am busy planning Sports Camp for the Blind August 3rd through August 8th. I am in charge of it this year....so I have more responsibility.....and I hope I can pull this off. So far we have about 25 students who are beteen the ages of 12 and 18 that will be coming to this camp. It is going to be in the Lehi area if anyone wants to come and help....hint hint. We have the kids pick 4 sports that they participate in every day. The sports include: judo, wrestling, tandem biking, track & field, goalball, swimming, and weightlifting/personal fitness. I am the swimming teacher. At night, we participate in different activity is the community. Monday we are going to Boondocks (if you want to be SCARED...come and get in a go cart with a blind driver. You just sit there and tell them when to turn....really...it will scare you....and is soooooo fun!), on Tuesday, we are going to shoot guns at the Bountiful Lion's Gun Club, Wednesday, we are going to the Mummy, Thursday, we are going to go rock climbing at the Quarry, and Friday, is a Pizza party. We could use some help driving kids between the evening activities. Right now, I only have three vans and some cars....so if you can help...let me know. UFB has insurance to cover drivers.

Did I tell you that Mike, Koedy, and Me are all going to CHINA?????

Western Regionals 2008

May 15th I took off on a Road Trip with the Men's and Women's goalball teams to Colorado Springs (I don't think I am EVER home!) We played Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until noon, then we headed home. The Utah Men took first place! I didn't ref, because they need me to coach more, so I am on a break from reffing for a while. I do enjoy goalbal tournaments more when I don't have to ref the whole time. I actually get some down time! And the kids had fun with me there...they threw me into the pool...with all my clothes on...they tried to stuff a sock in my mouth...a gross dirty one...but that backfired...when I tackled one and stuffed it in his mouth. AND I got them back. I pulled such a good prank on them that it will be tough to out do this one. The kids (well, they are adults...most of them but two are still students of mine, and some...I used to have as students), where being noisy at the hotel, especially when they threw me in the pool, because I was yelling, screaming, biting, kicking, clawing...and they carried me from the upstairs to the downstairs....I wasn't sure what they were going to do with me...so I screamed and fought. Anyway, they also had been noisy in the hall another time so they were warned twice by the hotel staff to be quiet. I had the hotel staff go up to their rooms and tell them all that she had it with them, had called the police, and everyone had 20 minutes to GET OUT! I have never seen them pack that fast! It was funny. Then, I acted all mad that we were kicked out and said now it would cost us more and everyone had to pay more...fun fun fun. Then, finally, I had us all meet by the office to tell her we were sorry...and then she yelled at them a little more and then finally told them they had been PUNKED! It was good....it was better than a movie...but I feel revenge coming on. (Last year, they threw me in the ocean, held me down, and I got stung by a jelly fish...and then they asked if I wanted them to pee on the sting...supposedly pee helps jellyfish stings?....Like I would EVER let a blind man pee on me....a sighted one can't even find the toilet...) I think I should have REVENGE! Anyone have any good pranks to share....what I should do to them?

Come watch Goalball in person June 19, 20, and 21 at American Fork High School. Come on June 21st and watch the Utah Men take first place nationally! Anyone need any volunteer hours for anything???? This is the time to get them!

GOALBALL

The Men's and Women's National Goalball Tournament is coming to Utah! June 19, 20, & 21. It will be held at American Fork High School. This is the first time that we have hosted a National Tournament. We have hosted Western Regionals, but this is the big one! The Utah Foundation for the Blind (of which I am chairman of the Board) is hosting this event. If you want to volunteer, or know of young men’s or women’s groups or school groups who need to get in volunteer hours, go to our website at http://ufbvi.org/volunteers.htm. There should be about 200 coaches, players, and referees coming from all over the United States. At first, the tournament was scheduled at Jordan High School, but after Jordan District split (and we had the okay for six months to have the tournament there…so we sent out registration…found a hotel nearby….etc.), we were told it couldn’t be there any more…..so I have been frantic for the past week, until we lucked on to American Fork High School….AND it always helps that people know your family!!! Thanks dad for knowing so many people and helping so many people….I get to reap the benefits…along all these players! We are now trying to move the hotel location down here....but people already booked rooms...so it could take awhile.

I have been a Utah Goalball Coach for 14 years now….and some of my family and friends….have never even seen goalball played. I am hoping you will all come and watch it. I have seen how this sport has helped so many visually impaired kids accept their vision loss. I know this sport takes time away from my family, and especially my yard work and housework, but I love what this sport does for the kids I work with.

I am having a HUGE garage sale at my house on May 31^st for the youth and adult players to raise money for goalball. (The youth go to Florida in October for their nationals.) If you have anything that you want to get rid of, let me know. I can give you a receipt for your taxes, since UFB is a non-profit organization.

We also are having a raffle. We have some good prizes already....quilts....dinners. If anyone has anything to donate to the raffle or if you want to buy raffle tickets…they are $2 a piece…let me know….I have a lot of money to raise…and remember…it is tax deductible!

I am headed off to Colorado to the Adult Western Regionals this week. I’ll be gone all weekend. Hopefully, Utah Men and Women will win!!!

LAYNIE'S FAST TRIP TO LA

I was asked to be a chaperone on a trip to California with a bunch of visually impaired students ages 8-19. I had never gone on this trip before, because parents always went and chaperoned...and I do enough trips already, but after two years of very bad parent chaperones....only teachers were allowed to be chaperones....and they begged me. It was a fast trip with a lot happening:

Got on the bus Thursday night at 10:30 (remember, Mike and I had just got home late Monday night from Mexico)

Got off the bus at 11:00 a.m. the next day at Universal Studios...and had to put on an UGLY GREEN SHIRT....and wear it around....AHHHH.

Went to hotel...swam....played games....slept a few hours!

Saturday, went to Blind Optimist Olympics it was 91 degrees!!!!! (Goalball was being played...but ALL MESSED UP...so of course....I opened my BIG MOUTH....told them what was wrong....and said I would set up the court next year....and send the official rules....and help them with goalball....WHY????

Went to hotel packed....played games....slept a few hours.

Sunday, Went to Magic Mountain!!!!! My NEW FAVORITE AMUSEMENT PARK...of course, I was the leader of the group that wanted to ride all the fast fun rides....and we did!!!!

Got on the bus from Magic Mountain and rode it all the way home....playing games all night long...got home at 9:00 a.m.

Exhausted....I went to work that day....but I don't remember what happened....so if I talked to any of you....I don't remember.

I LOVED THE TRIP!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE!

I don't have many pictures of Mike when he was small...but here is a picture of his Dad, Mom, Sister Annie, brother Steve, and baby Mike. Mike has another sister, Geri, who is the youngest in the family.

Mike is 52 today!

Mike is the best husband. He is my best friend. He lets me know every day how much he loves me. Thank you Mike for making me feel so special. I know he really LOVES his family and is proud of them. You should hear all the things he tells other people about you and your families.

MIKE...I hope you have a happy birthday and I really love and appreciate you. I love you with all my heart. Thank you for bringing LOVE to my life. We have so much fun together....and especially thanks for letting me put my cold feet on you every night! In the moment we met, I knew you were the one. I am a better person because of you. You give me so much every day....I hope I can make you feel that special today...and ALWAYS!

Love,

Laynie

CARIBBEAN CRUISE

Mike and I went on a cruise over Spring Break. We had so much fun we want to tell everyone and show you all our pictures...so come over and see them!!!! We left on Friday, April 18th and didn't get back until Monday night, April 21st. Our ship went to Roatan, Honduras, then Belize, then Cozumel, Mexico, and finally to a private island in the Bahamas.
Rotan is beautiful. Cruise ships are just recently starting to go there, so it is a very undeveloped and beautiful place to visit. We spent the day snorkeling in beautiful warm clear water and lying on the beach.
When we were in Belize, we went on a zipline through the jungle. We had to go on a two hour bus ride to get there....but it was worth it. I would have loved to have done this all day....the zipline...not the bus ride...but we got to see quite a bit of the country and how people live...boy are we SPOILED here in AMERICA.

We went horse riding on the beach in Cozumel. Mike had a really nice horse. Mine was named Madonna...hmm...wonder who named her...I can think of a few better names.. She tried to bite all the other horses that got near her. She wanted to be FIRST....me, too! After we finished riding, we went into town and held a boa constrictor, monkeys, a scorpion, parrots, and a triantula....yes....I actually held it and had it crawl up me and touch my neck!!!!
Last but not least while still on the cruise, we went to a private island in the Bahamas that the cruise ship line owns. We spent the day lying on the beach, and swimming...Mike did some snorkeling. It was a beautiful day. The sand was the soft white kind that feels like velvet and the water was so clear and blue.
We got back to Miami, on Saturday, but didn't fly out until Monday evening, so we rented a car and on Sunday we drove down to the Keys. When Mike was young he lived in a little town in Southern Florida for a few years, so we drove though it on our way to the Keys. Driving through the Keys is one of the most scenic drives in the US., especially from the Seven Mile Bridge to Key West. We ate in a little floating boat restaurant and then, we noticed a small airport that had a biplane with a sign in it….so we went and checked it out. We went on a biplane ride out over the Seven Mile Bridge. That was one of the best things I have ever done. The Seven Mile Bridge is even more awesome from the air. The water was so blue and clear that we could even see sharks swimming. I want to buy a biplane and become a pilot!
On Monday, we drove out to the Everglades and went on an airboat ride. We saw a lot of alligators and even got to hold one....they wouldn't let us wrestle the big one....sad. Then we went to Everglades National Park and walked around. We saw alligators...Mike got really close to one that was about 5 feet long and I had to yell at him to NOT TOUCH IT!
Then we came home....Thanks Kamy and Shayne for taking us to the airport...late Friday night....and then coming to pick us up....late Monday night.

MARCH ROCK CLIMBING CLUB

Mike and I went rock climbing up Rock Canyon in Provo today with the Utah Climbing Club. I thought that it was going to be really cold and snow, so I wasn't very excited about going climbing today, but I am so glad that I did. It ended up being a beautiful day! The sun came out and it was warm enough that we didn't have to have a jacket on. The rock warmed up so that it wasn’t cold to touch. We climbed on the ACDC wall most of the day. We climbed from 10 a.m. until 5ish....and I was so tired I wanted to just fall asleep right there on the mountain. I can't wait to go back to up there. We didn’t even make it over to the Superbowl because there were so many good climbs down where we were....so let's go back there soon!
Why I LOVE rock climbing:
Being OUTSIDE!
Being with Mike, family, and friends.
It is great exercise (rock climber’s backs are SEXY!!! I’m sure mine is underneath all my blubber.)
It is challenging.
The competition with Mike…we both try to outdo each other….LOVE IT!
Coming home so exhausted that I can't move....literally….although that can also be a drawback….I am rock climbing so much that I don’t keep my house clean….and I get so tired rock climbing….I DON’T CARE! Call us if you want to go….it is fun to share what we LOVE. Now that the weather is getting warmer, we will probably be going outside at least once a week....so come climb or come hang out with us in the great outdoors.

We got home and tended three CUTE grandkids....who gave us hugs...a nice way to end a perfect day!

HOP ON POP

Mike loves to wrestle. At almost every family party he will wrestle, sometimes even box, anyone who is willing...and sometimes, those who aren't. Mike wrestled with Aron...who kicked his butt, then he challenged Scott to a match. When that match was over, Mike sat down and that is when all the boys jumped him! They timed it perfectly. He was so tired from wrestling the guys that he didn't have any energy left. Mike sure knows how to make family parties FUN.

We had a great Easter. We loved having everyone over. We had two parties. One for the Engberg side at noon. We had 27 people over and had a fun Easter hunt and then enjoyed the warm weather by sitting outside. Then, we had the Giles side with 36 people over. We really enjoy spending time with all of you! Come over more often....you know that we shouldn't have to only see each other for the holidays! If anyone ever wants to go climbing, just let us know....and we are THERE! I sure had fun laughing with my SISTERS!

ORLANDO VACATION

Our Family!

We are back from Orlando. Mike, Kamryn, Shayne, and I went to Orlando for a week. Mike had to be at a NAVIS conference for 2 days, but we left on Saturday and came back the NEXT Sunday!!! The first day we went to Universal Studios' Islands of Adventure. We LOVED the Incredible Hulk roller coaster, the Spider Man 3-D Ride, and Dueling Dragons! Sitting in the front of Dueling Dragons is THE BEST! Mike found a Magic Shop and bought a few more magic tricks....so everyone be prepared for MORE Magic. We really loved the Kilimanjaro Safari and Expedition Everest ride at Disney's Animal Kingdom...oh and the Bug's Life 3-D Movie was great! Epcot was pretty boring. Disney's Hollywood Studios Tower of Terror was so fun that we all went on it 6 times! We were sad that Blizzard Beach Water Park was closed. Kamy and I both have been there and it is THE BEST waterpark anywhere. We went to Universal Studios and found it okay but loved the Islands of Adventure park more. We really loved Shrek 3-D. I laughed so hard when my seat started bouncing up and down like I was in a stage coach! On Sunday before flying back we went to the Magic Kingdom. Space Mountain was closed! I think that is the second time I have been there that it has been closed. We did love the Monster's Inc. Floor Laugh interactive comedy. They asked for volunteers. I kept my hand down. Mike volunteered, but they of course, picked on ME!!! It was funny. We stayed in a two bedroom Condo at Polynesian Isle so we had plenty of room....we could have easily fit two more....so who wants to come next time?
-Laynie :)