Eastern Soviet Block Playground

We found this sweet WWII era Soviet-styled playground south of the in-laws in St. George. Two hours of killer play time, and nobody got impaled by rusty rebar!

Proprioception

I've been reading up lately on the neuroscience of play and also the bio-mechanics of barefoot running. There's an obnoxious drive within me to always be acting as an advocate for some cause. Why can't I just shut up and let people live their lives without getting all up in their faces about this or that research "they" did, and how good "this" is for you? Because life is short, and I'm psyched! So, for those interested in learning a little more about the barefoot stuff, I stole/modified the following from the Vibram FiveFingers website:

6 Reasons to Play Barefoot: 1. Strengthens Muscles in the Feet and Lower Legs - going barefoot will stimulate and strengthen muscles in the feet and lower legs, improving general foot health and reducing the risk of injury. 2. Improves Range of Motion in Ankles, Feet and Toes – no longer ‘cast’ in a shoe, the foot and toes move more naturally. 3. Stimulates Neural Function Important to Balance and Agility - when going barefoot, thousands of neurological receptors in the feet send valuable information to the brain, improving balance and agility. 4. Improves Proprioception and Body Awareness – those same neurological receptors heighten body awareness, sending messages about body mechanics, form, and movement. 5. Eliminates Heel Lift to Align the Spine and Improve Posture – By lowering the heel, our bodyweight becomes evenly distributed across the footbed, promoting proper posture and spine alignment. 6. Allows the Foot and Body to Move Naturally, Which Just FEELS GOOD. Have fun......

More o' The Same Junk

Obstacle Evolution

The above was conjured up while I was cleaning out the garage Friday night.


Ash finally relented and let me cut down the two dying quaking aspen out front. I think it was a worthy sacrifice!

That's life in the ghetto, and this clip is of Jake training for El Cap 2012:

Chloe

No Shoes

Now Selling Memberships

Paid memberships are now available to my exclusive ninja camp. There’s an ammo can behind the climbing wall with a slit in the top. Just stuff the cash in there. It’ll help pay for my two-month sabbatical to Yosemite Summer of 2010, and maybe a new pair of climbing shoes. Mine are pretty beat-up!

Yea, they even get to climb on top of the shed.....


P.S. I'm not responsible for death, injury, illness, numbness, paralysis, scabies, fungal transmission, slivers, splinters, fractures, head trauma, dislocation, damaged emotions, etc. Play at your own risk little Ninjas!!!!

Enter The Dragon

I found some sweet boards and stuff behind the shed this afternoon. We used them to make a sweet ninja training facility. The kids ran the course, and I shot Lysol laced darts at them with my blow gun. I love it when Ash is out of town!

Drastic Measures

What to do with your child when you're trying to run a chainsaw nearby...........