Still Catching up...

I have been commanded to post on the blog this week in an effort to 'catch' our faithful readers up to the present day. I have been rather busy of late - I am coaching the mighty Rockies of the San Francisco Little League with some buddies from school (on the left is a picture of the Champ at one of our games on Treasure Island), school has been busy and I have started working on applications for residency, The Sequel is due sometime in August, oh -- and the new responsibilities at church (we'll get to that later). But there should be no good excuse for falling behind - especially if all of the people who my dear wife has linked on our blog actually read it.

First of all, April 26 marked the day my little sister Angie was married in the Alberta Temple. We were very excited to go home and visit the family (everyone was home for the wedding). We took a late flight out of SFO after class on Wednesday on a rather small plane. There were just two seats on each side of the aisle, so Ryder and I took up a row and let the trophy wife relax Ryder-free in the back of the plane. An hour into the flight, everyone around us was sound asleep and Ryder was quietly watching He-Man on his DVD player with the headphones on. Without warning he raised his sippy above his head and yelled in unison with He-Man "I have the power" at the top of his excited little boy lungs. That startled everyone one around us and led to a mixed reaction of grins, giggles and glares. In case you were wondering though... Ryder DOES have the power.

When we landed in Calgary it was -10 degrees and snowing. OH, CANADA!!!

Things at home were BUSY... but good. Ryder had fun with aunts and cousins... a little too much fun at times. I went to lunch with a buddy and came home to the Champ wearing a veil, clip-on earrings, and all the aunts giggling as they snapped photos. He'd be a wreck without me. We spent so much time preparing for the reception and dinner etc. that I didn't even turn on the Wii (definitely my biggest regret of 2008 to date). Below are some family pics from the wedding. The ceremony was very nice, the weather ended up agreeing with us and we even like the groom. That's 3 for 3 in case you were counting.

The fam, including the unborn prominence in Jenny's abdomen, waiting for the bride and groom. The designer shades set Jenny apart as the coolest person there (like she needs it!). P.S. She's taken. (That's niece Maddie in the background giving a rather sultry gaze from beneath those purple-rimmed spectacles)

The Fairbanks Family. As you may appreciate, the incredible hulk that is my 19 year old brother Sam has come to dominate the family skyline. With Sam at 6'5", dad and the new addition Alan at 6'4", I have only brother-in-law Mike, 5'2" or something, to look down on. Ha! Sucks to be Mike.

Here are the beautiful Fairbanks girls. Take a good look at the bookends... they are still available, and I can totally hook you up* - no problem. (*if you are a motivated, card-carrying member making over $150 K/year, moderately good looking and at least 6'3" with proven athletic ability.)

One more shot of the family outside the Temple -- this one more to prove that there was a blanket of snow on the ground. Oh and maybe to show off Jenny's killer shades again.

Kickin' it at the reception with a couple of the good ol' boys. Clark is available too - man I am rapidly becoming a matchmaker - second from the right... let me know.

Mom and Dad in front of the house after church on Sunday. My dad had just set me apart as a high priest... oh yeah, that new responsibility. Right before we went home to Canada, I was called to serve as second counselor in the bishopric of the Sunset Ward in San Francisco. Like I said, things have been busy... but good.