Less To Go Around

I've noticed a trend occurring. I'm pretty sure I don't like it. I can't say I didn't expect it to happen, but I always thought there would be more time.

I've noticed a trend, in which, there is no more food by the end of dinner. I love leftovers. Sometimes food is better the second day even. However, my children seem to have the same love of food as I do.

This means that even at 3 years old, my daughter is already laying claim to the last hamburger on the plate or the last scoop of potatoes.

This means that my 11-month-old son, who has started to eat table foods, is clenching his fists and grunting in protest at the sight of others eating after he has cleaned the food from his tray.

This means there is just less to go around and it is time to start buying things that say "Family Size" on the box...and then making an extra box for the kids.

Also, on an unrelated topic, my wife is awesome.

Mother's Day Eve

Well it is a beautiful day to rush around and finalize las minute plans for Mothers Day celebrations and the such. I still haven't had an opportunity to take the kids out to shop for a gift and we are leaving for a M-Day Linner soon.

I do have some pretty great moms in my life I have to say though. It is just one of many blessings God has given me. What gift could possible express my deep and profound love for my mother and the mother of my children?

Did someone say garden trinkets and an iTunes giftcard?

No?

Dang it.

I wonder if thinking about getting each of them a spa day really does count.

Only time will tell.

Wait, What Year is This Again?

So, it has been over a year since I've post and wow lot has happened!

Our family has moved out to a rental in West Michigan while we Ramsey our way out of debt.

I have a little boy that is fast approaching his first birthday celebration.

I finally broke down and allowed my wonderful wife to purchase a minivan...twice.

We have switched churches...sort of...

Umm...I bought a pair cargo pants from the Gap Outlet...twice.

Yeah, I swear more things have happened since I last posted but for the life of me I just can't think of anything tonight. Perhaps I should have written some of that stuff down so I'd have like, you know, a record of cool moments in my life and the life of my family.

Nice work on updating our blog, me! How about posting at least something to keep our brain from completely oozing out of our ears would ya?

What's that? Well, of course we can have a snack first...and watch some more Top Gear.

Moving on Over

So the papers are signed and we seem to be done with a major
transition in our life...the sale of our first home. We have been
moving several non-essential items over the past few weeks on
anticipation of today and our major move comes tomorrow.

I am happy in how things have progressed so far and I look forward to
getting settles in our new place. Hopefully his new move will allow
for more time at home and more money in the bank.

In all of this I keep praying that God will grant us wisdom and lead
us down the path he desires us to travel. Where that is, at least for
now, is yet to be seen.

15 Easy Steps to an Exciting Day

Step 1: Wake up at 3:30am to get ready for work.
Step 2: Attend 7am Meeting.
Step 3: Head to OB/GYN for ultrasound and discover you're on track
for having a health baby boy.
Step 4: Return to work after 3 hours of non-productive time and a
crap load to catch up on.
Step 5: Be the last one to leave from work.
Step 6: Get a phone call informing you of a showing on your home
tomorrow afternoon.
Step 7: Realize that the house is a mess and your wife is getting
home late with a tired and hungry toddler.
Step 8: Further realize that poorly installed shingles caused a leak
inside your bedroom, which led to the removal and destruction of a
four foot piece of baseboard, and four, 2-inch square holes that you
cut out to do some investigation and venting.
Step 9: Arrive home with a headache and cold sweats because you
haven't eaten all day.
Step 10: Get phone calls, that you just don't have time for as you
try to fight a headache and clean, from family and friends
congratulating you on the good news about the baby.
Step 11: Get phone call from wife that she hit a deer.
Step 12: Realize that your beautiful, pregnant wife and 2-year-old
daughter were just in a car accident.
Step 13: Have your wife inform you that it was a minor hit, the car
is drivable and she'll be home in a few minutes.
Step 14: Clean. Clean. Clean.
Step 15: Realize it is 10 o'clock and if you're really lucky you'll
be asleep by 11 o'clock so you can get 4 1/2 hours of sleep before
starting your new day.

Like Her Papa

My little girl is shaping up to be a lot like me, which sucks for her, but it is fun to watch for now. Let me explain the ways Olivia is like me:

Number One: That Girl Can Eat
She eats...a lot. Not only does she eat a lot each time she sits down for a meal, she also is ready to consume all sorts of snacks and crackers in between those times. That's all fine and dandy while her body is growing more up than out, but if her metabolism or love for veggies gives out, we'll be transporting her via the crane and flatbed method.

Number Two: She's A Shy One
At home my little girl can gab and question and giggle and run. Not only can she, but in between meals she is all about doing something. But get her in situations where she has to interact with family or friends and she is Little Miss Cuddle Bug...at least for the 20 minutes. She usually adapts well to any situation we've put her in so far. It seems like she can get along with just about anyone too so that is nice.

Number Three: She's Not Short on Smarts
She's no dummy, that's for sure. I'm not signing her up for MENSA or anything, but she is definitely a smart cookie and that makes for a proud papa. I know. I know. Everyone thinks their kid is smart or above average just like everyone thinks they are an above average driver. You're not, okay! You suck at driving. Get off my butt and stop honking at me! Just because the light is green, you still have to wait your turn, dipwad. You see those people on the other side of the intersection? Well, they have a light too. Do you know what color their light is? That's right, it is green and they have the right of way at this particular moment so just chill.

Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, I was talking about my awesome kid.

Number Four: She Might Be Colorblind
So it is too early to say, but as good as she is at identifying so many things like animals and shapes, she sucks at colors. For a long time her stock answer to the question, 'What color is this?' was a resounding, "YELLOW!". Consequently, she is also a big Coldplay fan so perhaps she was just making song requests.

It also doesn't help when her father is trying to teach her that a certain block is blue only to have her mom come in and inform me that it is purple. Crap. No wonder she thinks the sky is green. Maybe I should leave the color training to someone who doesn't have to ask what socks go with his outfit each morning.

Number Five: She's Not Sleepy
My little girl is a night owl for sure. She wakes up randomly at night too, which explains why I am now up. We both have a hard time getting to sleep and the thought of going to sleep usually feels like we're going to miss out on something great. She really doesn't like the idea of going to bed while other people in the house are still up. Even if it means just laying on the couch quietly soaking it all in, it is better than sitting alone in her room wondering what is going on in the living room.

Speaking of, I think someone is trying to be a stealthy ninja and sneak into see mommy. Maybe someday, Grasshopper, but for now you do not have your father's skills of cunning and misdirection.

Chicken Soup

If chickens were sentient beings, do you think they would drink their
own bath water when they were sick?

Sloppy Vito

I just created a new meal at dinner, I call it the Sloppy Vito. It is
kinda like a Sloppy Joe, but with left-over spaghetti sauce instead.

About Me

In no particular order, here are some things about me:

1. I don't like watching sports.

2. I have a mild case of germ phobia

3. I am slow to get angry, but also slow to forgive.

4. I prefer toothpaste to that disgusting gel and, of all the toothpaste, Colgate is the best.

5. I feel peanut butter should be creamy and goes best with strawberry jam on white bread.

6. I like guns.

7. I like pretty much everything from Pearl Jam.

8. I know that Superman could kick the crap out of Batman if he were so inclined.

9. I use sarcasm as a normal means of communication. Sometimes this gets me into trouble.

10. I am a perfectionist, but I'm not perfect. Sometimes I mistakes.

11. I am great at starting new projects.

12. I often consider the best place to go in a zombie apocalypse.

13. I am no longer allowed to play with the yoga ball indoors.

14. I love inventing new recipes. I just made a new cereal that combines Frosted Mini Wheats with raisins. I call it Raisin Wheats. That is mostly because Super Colon Blow was already taken.

15. I sometimes gross out my wife.

16. I think Gel style deodorant is icky. I prefer the spray on stuff now, even though it doesn't last as long.

17. I am a terrible singer despite what my wife says.

18. I am a wanna-be guitar hero. The real kind, nothing to do with the stupid game.

19. I think Guitar Hero is a stupid game even though I have never played it.

20. I sometimes judge a book by its cover.

21. I love a good sci-fi movie.

22. I hate when people are too quick to pass on the right.

23. I prefer watching movies at home.

24. I'm a night owl.

25. I don't like being blamed for things that aren't my fault.

26. If I had a nickle for every time someone said I looked like Edward Norton I would have 10 cents.

27. I'm a Mac.

28. I'm a problem solver.

29. I don't love making lists about myself.

30. I'd rather be rich than stupid.

31. I'm not as creative as I would like to be.

32. Is my favorite number, but I don't know why.

33. ...

Potty Time!

Olivia used the potty for real today!

She was applauded and given ice cream.

Just thought you'd like to know.

Carry on.

Breaking the Chains

As I prayed this morning, I found myself once again asking for the
forgiveness of my sins. I found myself once again, asking that the
punishment for my sins be laid upon the head of Jesus. I couldn't
help but feel ashamed for yet more failures in my personal life that
Jesus needed to pay for.

In my mind, I understand that the whole reason God had to step into
His creation and take the rightful punishment for sin is because we
can't do it on our own. I can't do it on my own.

But my heart aches at the thought of continuing to add to the terrible
burden of debt that Jesus suffered for. So, I seek to wipe the slate
clean up to the point of my salvation, but from that point I have the
false hope that I can take care of the rest of my life. You've done
enough already, Jesus, I'll get this one...and these two...and that one.

So I chain myself up. I declare myself unworthy of God's love and get
to work trying to pay the new debts I am accumulating. I stunt my
spiritual growth by trying to do something that Jesus has already done.

I sometimes wonder if I would give my life to save the entire world.
The answer is pretty easy in terms of the hypothetical. One life in
trade for billions...of course I would. And while it is true that
Jesus gave his life once for all, He also gave it just for you and
just for me.

If I were the only person to walk the earth, the only person to turn
from God, Jesus would have come to die for me. Jesus died for each
and every one of us. Jesus died for each and every one of our sins.
Before Jesus, we were all guilty. There are no degrees of guilt from
one person to the next. We all share fully in the guilty verdict that
put Jesus on the cross. We can never be less guilty of our sin. No
matter how hard we try to follow the law of God or how many times we
go to church on Sunday or how much money or time we give away, we will
never be less guilty.

But with Jesus, we will also never be less forgiven. If you put your
faith in Jesus and ask for his forgiveness, you are fully forgiven.

I am fully forgiven.

I don't need to punish myself for the things that I do wrong. The
punishment for my sins has been paid in full. Therefore, I can live
my life for Jesus, and get back up when I stumble. I don't need to
chain myself down with frustration and disappointment at not being
good enough because Jesus was good enough for all of us.

What Was That?

Wife: You smell like a girl.

Me: What!? How so?

Wife: You smell like smoke and barbecue sauce.

Me: ...

Me: ...

Me: Oh! I smell like the grill! Ok.

Thank you for joining us for this week's, "What Was That?"

For Sale

My life may be for rent, but my home is now for sale.

Despite the tough economy and the crappy real estate market we are officially putting our home on the selling block. We want to move out west and this is a major obstacle that we just have to try to get around.

Wish us luck and send any real estate tycoons our way!

Hi, I'm a Mac

And Johnny is a PC.

I went shopping with my bro today and tried to help him decide on a new computer since his old laptop went to pot.

I say I tried to help because he ended up getting a PC. A very nice PC, but still a PC. I'm nervous for him. I hope it works out great and I'm proven wrong, but this is Vista we're talking about.

He has had it for a couple of hours now and I'm still waiting for him to figure out how to get his built in webcam working just to test it out, but then he lost connection to the internet. So either the internet is actually down at his neighbor's house or...

Well, I hope it is just an issue with the internet being offline...by coincidence.

Enjoying My Spring Break

Hide and Go Seek is always fun. (Although, it doesn't seem fair since I am like a ninja.)


Oh, the views!


Here kitty kitty kitty...


Mmm...the essence of summer

Well, if I had faster internet I'd upload more photos, but I don't have the time right now. It was a big day today with the zoo and children's museum and someone needs to get to bed.

Extended Weekend

I love extended weekends and this one is turning out pretty great so far.

On Thursday (what you don't count Thursday as the start of the weekend?) I got home and had the best chicken fajitas ever. Really. Interested in trying them? You can't, they are all gone. Between Jessica and Olivia and me, we ate every last scrap of evidence that they existed. Want the recipe? There isn't one. We just threw some spices and a fresh peppers and chicken and beans together and somehow creating this amazing flurry of flavor. It is a little sad really, that this perfect storm of scrump-diddly-umptiousness will probably never occur again in the fajita world in our lifetime, but I'm glad I was a part of it.

Friday is was back to work, but the office was relatively quiet and I got a chance to catch up on stacks of work and folders I just didn't have time for in the last few weeks. Then a cousin came over after work with the intention of fixing a leaking window he had installed. As it turned out, it wasn't the window but yet another strange water problem with our home. At that point he could have just went home. It was no longer his problem so he could have packed up his stuff and drove off, but he didn't. He stayed. He pried and climbed and lifted and crawled and even got snapped with a long sense forgotten mouse trap as he worked to figure out the real source of the problem. Something about the care and love he showed just amazed me and, after he left, brought tears of gratitude to eyes as I thanked God for the heart of this man.

Saturday it was off to the Parade of Homes. I've always resisted going over the past several years, but this year I was actually pretty excited. Maybe it is because we are making plans for building out next house and even though that seems so far off, it is still nice to get ideas and actually walk through a completed home. We ended the evening with an amazing meal from San Marcos in Caledonia. It is an incredible Mexican Bar and Grill that you just have to try if you're in the area and like a more authentic taste.

As the last few minutes of Sunday slip away, I am thinking back on all the work we got done and the evening cookout with some of my family. What a great day. I played in the dirt, I got a little sun burned, I ate way too much and built a nice fire to sit around long after the sun went away.

The weekend isn't even close to being over yet either. Monday is Memorial Day and we get to share yet another day out in the sun as a family followed by a cookout with friends. Maybe I'll let you know how things are going on the rest of my extended weekend in a couple of days if I think about.

Man, you gotta love 10 day weekends.

A Quick Thought

It is amazing how far we have come as a people. We have learned so much and created so many things to make our lives easier and get things done faster, but for what? As we find ways to finish our work more efficiently we seem to find ways to just fill up the extra time with more work.

Maybe we can't think of anything better to do.

Maybe we aren't as creative as we think we are.

Spring (Seriously This Time)

So, once a month isn't so bad for blogging, right? Yeah, things have
been pretty crazy and time is really flying for me right now. As
Spring has finally arrived again...and then again...I've gotten a
chance to get out into the sun, take walks and barbeque.

I love having BBQ'd food. So far I've been limited to various sorts
of hamburger and chicken, but I'm always experimenting with new and
different seasonings and sauces.

Olivia is also growing up so fast and this is truly a fun age. She is
climbing and communicating and learning new tricks and mastering old
ones.

I'm looking forward to all the cool new things we will get to do as a
family and just focusing on enjoying the little things. They seem to
be the best things anyway.

2nd Spring

Sprung?

So Spring is officially here...yeah...awesome. Seriously though, it looks great...from inside my car. Then the deceptively freezie wind coupled with the allergy spawn smashed my head with a hammer.