Our Loyal Companion

July is always a difficult month for Holly. Both July 4th and 24th are holidays where people can shoot off fireworks. Fireworks along with other load noises scare Holly really bad and she shakes and has to be right next to us. She isn't actually allowed upstairs where the bedrooms are but about 12 or so nights in July she ends up sleeping in our bedroom. It doesn't matter if we yell at her or even pick her up and carry her downstairs because she will just sneak up again and try to wedge her body under the bed where she thinks she is safest.
We have also found that she has been much more obedient since I starting taking her running in the mornings. This is extra important since Simon is crawling so much now and has a tendancy to climb on Holly and pull on her ears.
I really love Holly and I finally realized what it is about dogs that I love so much. Loyalty. Dogs are uniquely loyal pets and I admire it! Do you have a dog? You should really get one.

Jacob Paulsen
www.jacobspaulsen.com

Pioneer Day 5K Classic

Yesterday Ami and I both ran in the Provo Pioneer Day 5K Classic. About a month 1/2 ago I had the idea to run a 5K for the first time in almost 8 years. I figured that I could use it for a business opportunity to share the Agel Gel Supplements that I market and also have a great time as a family all the while getting into shape again. It was an adventure. I've been running in the mornings fairly faithfully for about 4 weeks and it has been rough. Ami has also mixed running into her workout routine to prepare. My 59 year old Dad and a business partner named Andrew also joined in.
Ami and I were really excited to make this a part of our family culture. We want Simon to know that are an active family! We were nervous about race day but it all worked out ok. Everyone did better than they expected to and my Dad even won 1st place in his age division. We had a lot of fun and the business side of things also went really well! We are looking at dates later this summer to run another 5K. Anybody else want to join?

Park City Concerts are Sweet!

Recently my security company picked up a contract for 7 concerts in Park City at the Deer Valley Ski resort. This is one of the reasons I haven't blogged in awhile. We have had to hire about 30 new people in the last two weeks and purchase a lot of equipment etc. If anyone wants tickets to a concert in Park City for Lucinda Williams, Boz Scaggs, Gypsy Kings, or Dwight Yoakam please let me know and I can probably get you set up with a couple.

Daddy/Son Time

Each day Simon & I get 1 hour of special Daddy & Son time. It started out because Ami needed an hour in the mornings to work out each day and since I work from home I'm the obvious baby sitter. It isn't asking much since Ami watches Simon the rest of the day. I admit regrettfully that it was at first a burden to stop working for an hour each day, but it has grown into something very special for me. I work a lot in the evenings and so when most Dads would come home from work or school to help with household and baby duties I am still working. Simon and I usually spend our hour walking in the neighborhood, playing in the grass, and swinging on the swingset. I just love this kid!

Jacob Paulsen
www.jacobspaulsen.com
www.ageljacob.com

Hats off to George Washington and the Rest of the Boyz

I am feeling extra excited about this Independence Day. In the last year 1/2 I have read biographies of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, & Alexander Hamilton. I also enjoyed the recently released 1776 by David McCullough. Learning so much more about American history I am feeling deeply impressed by the sacrifice that was made by these amazing founders of our nation. It seems clear that "providence itself shineth on our country." From the bottom of my soul I declare a bold thank you to those men who have given everything that was dear to the birth, salvation, and preservation of this our divinely appointed nation. Learning about this period of American History has become a passion and today we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The signature of which was an act of treason, punishable by death had we lost the revolutionary war. Thank you, Thank you, to those who continue to preserve our liberty by either risking their own lives in war or in politics:) And a special shout out to those 12 year old scouts who go around early in the morning 9 days a year and stick a flag in my yard. That is super patriotic!!!