Front Range Cycling Classic

Today I did my first official bike race. It was at the Air Force Academy.  I had a lot of fun and I learned some things my first time out. I really didn't have the racing mentality today since I was more interested in seeing what it was all about.  I finished 39th of the 67 men (of all ages) that were together in category 4 and 5. Not bad all things considered.  

This year I'm doing several different races and events to figure out what I like best (and what suits me best). I've been training very hard this winter with my coach, er, virtual coach, er, virtual indoor training program. It's been a good experience and I have definitely gotten to a point where I can "hang" as a result of the training program. Next up is to get more experience and learn the intricacies of bike racing.

Surprise Treat

I opened my lunch today and was surprised to find this from Julia. She had sneaked a piece of her chocolate into my lunch bag without me knowing. She's so thoughtful and sweet!

City Rock w/G&G (& 1,500th Post)

Grandpa and Grandma took the kids down to City Rock today. They had so much fun climbing around on the walls...the kids, that is. They both had sore arms the next day. Jonathan's abs were especially sore, which I took full advantage of with my jokes. Stacey and I really enjoyed the time to ourselves as well.  They also captured some really good video, especially of the kids on the gray wall with the overhang.  They are like little monkeys!

Completely shifting gears, this is my 1,500th post on this blog. I started it shortly after Julia was born and am surprised that I've kept it up this long. OK, I'm not that surprised considering how disciplined I am at continuing things that I start. Over the years as time has gotten shorter it's turned into more of a family history / 21st century photo album than a personal blog.  But hey, that sort of mirrors this life stage. It'll be great when the kids are older for them to be able to look back at their childhood in these posts and pictures.

5th Grade Musical

Here are some pictures of Julia's last elementary school class musical. She was a pirate aboard a mighty seafaring vessel that braved the waves of the school cafeteria. There were several songs that were performed, and she did a great job saying her one or two lines when her class was on stage. Ahoy Matey!

Ski Coooper With Julia

Fifth and sixth graders get three free lift tickets in Colorado. So, I decided to take Julia skiing for the first time today. I took the day off from work since the weather and traffic were looking pretty good. Julia has been nordic skiing a couple of times, but this was her first time on the alpine slopes. 

We got up early in the morning and drove up. We started on the bunny hill but after only two runs it was clear that Julia was a natural! We hopped on the ski lift and did several green runs until finishing the day with a couple of blues. The weather was absolutely perfect; perhaps the best I've ever experienced in the mountains in the winter above 10,000 feet.

Julia had so much fun. She kept saying how much fun it was and that she couldn't wait to do it again. I lost track of how many times she told me "thanks for taking me, Daddy". I had a lot of fun too and it was good to spend some one on one time with her! This was definitely a memorable time together.

Daddy Daughter Dance 2019

Quick L.A. Trip

I took a quick trip out to LA this weekend to spend some time with Michelle. We went to a concert, hiked up to Griffith Observatory, and rented paddle boats on Echo Lake. We also did some driving around and sightseeing of the area (Hollywood, Beverly Hills, UCLA, Venice Beach, etc.) since I had never spent any time in the area.  I think I ended up walking about 20 miles! It was a good trip and good to spend some time with mi hermana.

Cuteness Overload

Julia & Jonathan's 23 & Me Results

...and my updated results! For Christmas we bought the kids each a DNA test. As a result, my results were updated as well.  Here are the details and images of the results taken from an email I sent the rest of my family.

Kids inherit 50% of the their DNA from each parent, so the only real question is what 50% did they get of mine and what 50% did they did from Stacey? What’s also interesting to me is that grandchildren don’t inherit 25% from each Grandparent evenly.

Big Development for Me

• As I suspected, testing both of my parents and my kids has significantly changed my results. In addition, they’ve made some improvements since I tested (remember, I tested almost a full year before you did).  Now that they have a lot more pieces they are classifying me as 45% Scandinavian, 20% French/German, and 19% British/Irish. This has changed from even a few days ago what I sent Michelle, so check your own results. I don’t remember Dad’s results exactly, but now they are calling him about 60% British/Irish, which I think is a little higher than before. My big changed is that they were able to classify a large chunk that was previously in the broad category of NW European. This is all the more reason to get Stacey’s parents to do the test (I just sent them two kits that arrived today).

Grandparent DNA Influence

• Jonathan got ~ 26.1% of his DNA from Grandma and 23.9% from Grandpa.  He actually has more Scandinavian DNA (from me) than Julia, which is why Grandma is slightly higher.
• Julia got ~ 28.6% of her DNA from Grandpa and 21.6% from Grandma. She got more French/German from my side that I got more from Dad (it appears).
• These results are actually the opposite of what I would have guessed!  But see below...

Jonathan (see attached images)

• 33.3% British/Irish (20% from Stacey, 13% from me), 24% French/German (14% from Stacey, 10% from me), 21% Scandinavian (3% from Stacey, 18% from me).
• In other words, in his two largest categories of DNA, Stacey contributed a good 50% more than me. Does that explain why he appears more on the Johnson side?  I catch up on the Scandinavian side.
• I also like to look at it another way. How much DNA did he get out of a possible 100% from his parents?  In other words, the percentages are above from me and Stacey, but how does that compare to what he could have gotten (looking at it this way does not factor in the relative weight of each)?
• From Aaron’s DNA: Jonathan got roughly 70% of my British/Irish, 50% of my French/German, and 40% of my Scandinavian genes.
• From Stacey’s DNA: Jonathan got roughly 66.5% of her British/Irish, 40% of her French/German, and 100% of her Scandinavian.

Julia (see attached images)

• 33% French/German (20% from Stacey, 13% from me), 27% British/Irish (11% from Stacey, 16% from me), 16% Scandinavian (2% from Stacey, 14% from me).
• In other words, in two of the three major categories I contribute more than Stacey, even though French/German is the highest.  Does that help explain why she appears to be more on my side?
• I also like to look at it another way. How much DNA did she get out of a possible 100% from her parents?  In other words, the percentages are above from me and Stacey, but how does that compare to what she could have gotten (looking at it this way does not factor in the relative weight of each)?
• From Aaron’s DNA: Julia got roughly 62% of my French/German, 84% of my British/Irish (which is why I think she falls more on Dad’s side), and 30% of my Scandinavian genes.
• From Stacey’s DNA: Julia got roughly 60% of her French/German, 37% of her British/Irish, and and 67% of her Scandinavian.

Other

• Interesting tidbit is that for both kids and Stacey results it’s saying that there is a recent ancestor (for example, like Stacey’s grandparent or great grandparent) that is 100% British/Irish. They already correctly identified this for my Scandinavian side (Mom’s family) and for Stacey’s family (her Grandmother, Renee Heinz).  I really think this is from John Johnson’s side of the family, but we will see…
• Check out the very small Crow Indian DNA that the kid’s got from Stacey’s side.

Julia's Extra Credit School Project

Made entirely of tongue depressors, napkins, tinfoil, markers and hot glue!