Happy Birthday Kimmy!!!

Let me take a dip into the pool of cheese for a moment and wish a Happy Birthday to the most wonderful person I know! Today is Kim’s Birthday and I want her to know how much I love and appreciate her. She is the one constant in my life. She keeps me on the straight and narrow (as any great woman does) and guides me through my tough times. She is so giving (as you ALL know) and, despite her vast vocabulary, does not know the meaning of “NO”. I wish that I could be the kind of husband that she deserves, but all that I can do is try. Of course she is too humble to take any of these words to heart, but for all that have come in contact with her throughout their lives, we can attest to her genuine smile, her giving spirit, and her perfect sincerity. She is what I believe all women should be. She is an Angel on Earth.

Happy Birthday Kim. I love you!!

Tag...I'm It (Thanks Trina)

Well, I was tagged a long time ago by Trina and unfortunately she didn't forget. So I am supposed to tell 6 things people don't know about me. So, in the spirit of Christmas and the season of giving, I'm going to give up some of my secrets, embarrassing moments if you will. So, be kind and try to understand....

1. I have locked my keys in my car...with the car running....Twice! I know how could I let this happen...twice?? In my defense, well, I have no defense. I'm just stupid.

2. Several years ago I got so upset (at I don't know what) that I banged my fist on my windshield that, upon contact, the entire windshield shattered! Well, whatever I was so upset at didn't seem too important, especially since Kim was laughing at me and my stupidity. See, I am stupid. But the good part was that we got 52 free dinners at the Hometown Buffet because of it.

3. When Kim and I were first dating and then married, I had a propensity to "dink" people. Now, get your minds out of the gutter, when I say dink, it was this uncanny ability I had when driving to be able to stop just in time to barely "tap" to drivers in front of me. This was a common problem that has since ceased. It got to be pretty funny, for me at least.

4. When I was in First grade we had a spelling bee of sorts. Now keep in mind, I was pretty shy back then and hated when I had to be in front of any amount of people (I still do come to think of it) and I would tense up. Well, inevitably it was my turn and I was in a panic. I was given my word and my mind went blank. I was in cold sweats and my heart was racing. I had no answer and when the teacher told me that she needed an answer, I quickly blurted out my response. I was quickly rejected in my response as several classmates snickered. I was distraught. This is funny, since I am really good at spelling now. Maybe it scarred me for life and I didn't want to have that feeling again. Oh yea, the word I misspelled......'of'

5. Perhaps the most embarrassing moment is something many of you are aware of. It's my defining moment it seems. Well, it happened several years ago when we were at Kim's parents' house with a group of us playing games. The game we happened to play this fine evening was 'The Newlywed Game'. It is a pretty fun game, unless you're me. I was doing pretty well with my answers until it happened. The question came up that has been the butt of many jokes since...."what is the color of your spouse's eyes?" Oh my !#&@, are you serious? I have gazed into my wife's eyes countless times and I didn't remember what color they were! I panicked!!! What color were they??? I guessed green when they are clearly Blue with Yellow specks! How could I miss that? To add insult to the situation, after getting MUCH grief after my answer was revealed, the next day I typed up a letter of apology to all who were in attendance, including Sheri and Ian's neighbors at the time whom I have never met before. Man I suck! I just chalked my errant answer up to whenever I was gazing into my wife's eyes, I wasn't stopping at the eyes, I was gazing into her soul!

And finally....

6. I came to the realization that I was lactose intolerant in front of Sheri & Ian and Tiffany & Jason. You see, I was the butt of their little joke when we all went to Olive Garden and everyone at the table knew that Jason & Tiffany were engaged and I had NO idea. They kept dropping hints and I was too dumb to pick up on them. They just laughed at me. Afterwards, we all went back to our house for games/tv and then it happened. I had to excuse myself and didn't return for A LONG time. That's when the last enjoyment I had in life was taken from me. (No Kim, I don't mean that you and Joe aren't a joy) I think the look on my face said it all when I finally resurfaced.


Well, that's my embarrassing moments. Happy now Trina? I will NOT tag anyone, as I don't have anyone left to tag. Peace and Merry Christmas!

Christmas Songs for Shrinks

Schizophrenia: Do You Hear What I Hear

Multiple Personality: We Three Queens Disoriented Are!

Narcissism: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing About Me!

Dementia: I Think I'll Be Home For Christmas

Paranoia: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town To Get Me

Depression: Silent Anhedonia, Holy Anhedonia, All is Flat, All is Lonely

Personality Disorder: You Better Watch Out, I'm Going to Cry, I'm Going to Pout, then maybe I'll tell you why!

Obsessive Compulsive: Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell Swing, Jingle Bell Swing, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell Swing, Jingle Bell Swing, Jingle Bell Swing Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bell Rock

Suicidal: Thoughts of Roasting On an Open Fire

Passive Aggressive: On the First Day of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me (then took away)

I've been Christmas tagged

So, I was Christmas tagged by Jamie. Usually I don't like to be tagged, but Christmas tag is fun, so I'm playing along:

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate (from the cannery is best). I think Egg Nog is gross.

2. Do you wrap presents or not? Yes. It's way more fun to open a present, than a bag.

3. Colored Lights or White? Colored lights, and tons of them on my tree, at least 2,500. Also, old school, big fat colored lights on the roof, just like I had when I was a kid.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No. I've got a man, I don't need to hang mistletoe to trick someone into kissing me.

5. When do you decorate? Usually I start the week before Thanksgiving. I know it's apalling to start before Thanksgiving, but because I do all the lights on my mom's house, both of her trees, my lights, and my tree, I have to start early. I always start with the lights on my mom's house before Thanksgiving, but she is not allowed to turn them on until after. Brian and I usually start decorating our house the Saturday after Thanksgiving. He does the roof, I do the tree.

6. Favorite holiday dish? I don't know that we do any special dishes at Christmas. My mom always does someburros and chick-fil-a on Christmas eve. I like that.

7. Favorite memory as a child? I have 3. I hope that's not too many. The first is peeking down the hallway on Christmas eve. You couldn't see into the family room, but you could just catch the corner of the Christmas tree and the lights. I never did sneak down and peek at the presents, but I did peek around the corner to see that little bit of the tree. The second is I would listen to Christmas music in my bed and look out the window. I could see the big colored lights on the house. It made me happy. That's how I'd fall asleep. The third is the year we had Christmas in July. My mom and dad came home one day in mid July with all kinds of presents for all of us. It was so unexpected and out of the blue. It was a lot of fun. I got a Strawberry shortcake sleeping bag and a lemon merengue doll, ooh, and my little ponies. Every time I see anything Strawberry Shortcake, I remember that. I think that's when we got our trampoline too.


8. When & how did you learn about Santa? I don't exactly remember, but I think it was Stacy that told me.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Always - pj's and cozy socks!

10. How do you decorate your tree? Seeing as how I've never really grown up, I've never graduated into sophisticated Christmas decorations all matching and color coordinated. I use colored lights -those are the most fun for us kids at heart. None of my ornaments match. They range from winnie the pooh, to sports (broncos, suns and d-backs) for Brian, to star wars, to sponge bob, to cute wooden snowmen. It's very eclectic. We are all represented on the tree. I love it.

11. Snow...love it or dread it? Love it. My dream is to have a White Christmas at least once in my life. Maybe next year, if the cabin ever gets finished.

12. Can you ice skate? That would imply that I have balance, so no, I don't. I've been, but I fell more than I skated.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? As a kid - my pogo stick. More recently I'd have to say the camera Brian got me last year. I was so set against going digital, but I have sooo loved the camera. I use it all the time.

14. What is the most important part of the holidays? Spending time with family.

15. Favorite holiday dessert? Aunt Denise's crispy cookies. When I taste those, it's Christmas. I also love Brian's moms sugar cookies. They have just a hint of peppermint. Oh, and I love Shamrock farms peppermint ice cream. I wait all year for that.

16. Favorite tradition? I have 2. The first is going to my parents house Christmas morning, all of us (all 27 of us now). Before we do anything else, we gather in the living room around the white tree, and my dad reads the Christmas story out of the bible. We have done that every Christmas since I was a kid. My second favorite is reading Christmas stories at home with me, Brian and Joe. Every night before we go to bed we turn on the tree, we turn off all of the other lights, we get cozy on the couch and we read a Christmas story. I love it.

So that's it for Christmas tag. Instead of tagging specific people, in the spirit of Christmas, I include everyone. Anyone who reads the Christmas tag and wants to participate, please feel free. If you don't want to play tag, then don't. I'm okay with that too.

Lastly, another shout out for Joe. He's playing tag with Dallin and Michael and has listed 3 embarrasing things about himself. CHECK OUT JOE'S BLOG! (shameless plug).

A Politically Correct Christmas Poem...Enjoy!

Twas the night before Christmas and Santa's a wreck...
How to live in a world that's politically correct?
His workers no longer would answer to "Elves",
"Vertically Challenged" they were calling themselves.
And labor conditions at the North Pole,
were alleged by the union, to stifle the soul.

Four reindeer had vanished without much propriety,
released to the wilds, by the Humane Society.
And equal employment had made it quite clear,
that Santa had better not use just reindeer.
So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid,
were replaced with 4 pigs, and you know that looked stupid!

The runners had been removed from his beautiful sleigh,
because the ruts were deemed dangerous by the EPA,
And millions of people were calling the Cops,
when they heard sled noises upon their roof tops.
Second-hand smoke from his pipe, had his workers quite frightened,
and his fur trimmed red suit was called "unenlightened".

To show you the strangeness of today's ebbs and flows,
Rudolf was suing over unauthorized use of his nose.
He went to Geraldo, in front of the Nation,
demanding millions in over-due workers compensation.

So...half of the reindeer were gone, and his wife
who suddenly said she'd had enough of this life,
joined a self help group, packed and left in a whiz,
demanding from now on that her title was Ms.

And as for gifts...why, he'd never had the notion
that making a choice could cause such commotion.
Nothing of leather, nothing of fur...
Which meant nothing for him or nothing for her.
Nothing to aim, Nothing to shoot,
Nothing that clamored or made lots of noise.
Nothing for just girls and nothing for just boys.
Nothing that claimed to be gender specific,
Nothing that's warlike or non-pacifistic.

No candy or sweets...they were bad for the tooth.
Nothing that seemed to embellish upon the truth.
And fairy tales...while not yet forbidden,
were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden,
for they raised the hackles of those psychological,
who claimed the only good gift was one ecological.

No baseball, no football...someone might get hurt,
besides - playing sports exposed kids to dirt.
Dolls were said to be sexist and should be passe.
and Nintendo would rot your entire brain away.

So Santa just stood there, disheveled and perplexed,
he just couldn't figure out what to do next?
He tried to be merry he tried to be gay,
but you must have to be careful with that word today
His sack was quite empty, it was flat on the ground,
nothing fully acceptable was anywhere to be found.

Something special was needed, a gift that he might,
give to us all, without angering the left or the right.
A gift that would satisfy - with no indecision,
each group of people in every religion.
Every race, every hue,
everyone, everywhere...even you!
So here is that gift, it's price beyond worth...

"MAY YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES, ENJOY PEACE ON EARTH"

Check out Joe's blog

For any of you who are interested, Joe was tagged and has since posted 6 things about himself that you probably don't know. Check out his blog to see what they are.

Yes this is a shameless plug for you to read my son's blog. Have a happy day!

2 things to say today

First of all: HAPPY BIRTHDAY NARDO!

You know who you are! Just kidding. I was recalling the day in high school that we went to lunch. We dropped you off at subway and Stacy and I went to Arbys. (There is no way I'd go to Arby's now, but that is a different story). We went back to pick you up and you weren't there. We then saw you running across the field towards us, waving your arms, yelling "Nardo!". Good Times! I have lots of fond high school memories: Going to Leaning Tower for the awesome lunch deal, driving past the school with the windows down singing "The wheels on the bus go round and round..." Laughing at Stacy as we left pizza hut because a guy outside offered us Coke and she thought he meant Coca Cola. I know you guys were pretty muched forced to let me tag along, but I always had fun and you never made me feel like I was tagging along. Thanks! I hope you have a very happy birthday. You're awesome.


Second of all: Today is gorgeous. Have you been outside. As I used to say when Joseph was little: "This is a go to the park kind of day." It makes me happy.

I've decided to be "it".

Ok, so Elise tagged me - a while ago actually. Thanks for being patient. Normally I ignore these and don't play along, but since I needed something new to put on my blog, and nothing else exciting has been happening, I decided to play.

I guess I am supposed to list 6 things that people don't know about me. This was hard, as I am pretty much an open book. No secrets here. I picked 6 things that I'm sure some people know about me, but not everyone knows. It was the best I could do.

#1. I am a secret MTV fan. I know I am way too old for this, but I can't help it. I was never allowed to watch MTV when I was a teenager, I am re-living my youth. Let me qualify this by saying that I know that most of what is on MTV is filth. I am only addicted to a couple of shows and the rare times that they play videos. I like the Hills, Made and The Life of Ryan. Joe and I actually watched The Life of Ryan together. It was my favorite.

#2. I like to car dance. For any of you who don't know what that is, it is when you turn up the radio really loud and dance (as best as you can) in the car. I often make Joe do this with me. Sometimes he plays along, but mostly he's just embarrased by me. When I'm alone I also sing loudly. My favorite car dancing songs at the moment are: Dare - the Gorillaz, and Supermassive Black Hole - Muse. The White Stripes also provide great car dancing music. I love music. It lifts my spirits.

#3. I know how many buttons are on my remote control - 49. I know this because I have counted them probably a few hundred times. I am not joking. This leads me to #3. I am slightly OCD about some things. I don't feel bad because I know it runs in my family. I am not the only one (the rest of you know who you are). I have other quirks that go along with the OCD as well. I check several times a day to make sure the stove is off, especially before I go to bed at night. I also have to check that all the doors are locked at night. I do this at least 3 times. Sometimes one right after the next. I cannot leave a room without turning the light off and it really bugs me when people leave the light on in a room when they leave it. I don't know if these things officially qualify as OCD, but that's what I call it. Whenever I do something strange that Brian doesn't understand, I just tell him that it's the OCD kicking in.

#4. I am an insomniac. If you came by my house at 2:00 in the morning, I'd probably be up. But don't come by my house at 2:00 in the morning, ok. Maybe this has something to do with the OCD. I can't shut my brain off and relax enough to sleep. After about a week of not sleeping well, I'll take NyQuil so I can get one good night of sleep. That keeps me going through the next week. It's bad to take it when you're not sick, but I can't help it. It knocks me out!

#5. I have kind of a warped sense of humor. Many of you know that I am pretty sarcastic, but it's more than that. I find things funny that most other people don't. I often have to stifle a laugh during church. I guess I find serious situations funny. Often, when Brian is trying to "parent" Joe, and he's visibly upset, I bust out laughing. We got stuck in traffic the other day, for a long time. Joe & Brian were mad. I thought it was hillarious. This one is hard to explain. I'll just leave it at that.

#6. I like to write Childrens books. I have 5 already written, with many ideas for more. It's a fun creative outlet. I've always identified with kids more than adults. I feel more comfortable around children than I do around adults. I guess I'm more on their level. Who wants to be a grownup?

Well that's it. 6 things you probably already knew about me, but I forced you to read again.

I am supposed to tag 6 people. Normally, I would pass on that, but I decided to play along today. I choose: Ian, Trina, Tricia, Laura, Xander and Paul. I know you've got secrets, now spill 'em.

Something smells good....Oh wait, its me!

So, Brian comes home from work yesterday carrying a Bath & Body Works bag. He had gone on his luch hour and bought both the Sugar and Spice and the Twisted Peppermint 3 in 1 - bubble bath, body wash, & shampoo. Yay for my thoughtful and wonderful husband. Last year he bought me the Gingerbread kind and I loved it sooooo much. So, he went looking for it again this year. Sadly, they no longer make the gingerbread. They had replaced it with the Sugar and Spice. It's pretty much the same thing.

Anyway, I'm at work today, and I kept smelling this really good smell. (My hearing and vision are gone, but my sense of smell is acute as ever.) Anyway, this is an unusual thing, because re-grouting a fireplace is a really dirty job. I usually end the day covered in dirt, grout, soot, you name it, I'm dirty. So, I was surprised by the smell. I kept getting little hints of it. After a while, I realized it was me. I had used the Sugar and Spice body wash this morning and the smell was still lingering. I kept sniffing my arm all day. I smell yummy!

Thanks Brian! I so love Christmas and now I smell like it.

On a side note - rain today - woohoo! I had almost forgot what it looked like. I'm having a happy day!

The Rest of the Trip

Ok, so day 2 at Disney continued....

After lunch we went back to Disneyland. Darrion wanted to get picked for the Jedi Training Academy. We had gone the day before, and he was devastated when he didn't get picked. So, that night at the hotel he decided he would wear bright orange today and he practiced all the light sabre moves on Joe. It worked! He was chosen. He was soooo happy and he was the first one to fight Darth Vadar.

By now, Disneyland is wall to wall bodies. Apparently it was the first day of the Holiday Season at Disneyland. Everyone came to see the parade and the fireworks show. So, we parked it on a bench in front of the castle and took turns saving seats and taking the boys on rides. Here are some "art" pictures Brian took while he was waiting. The first one is called "Joe's tree". When were at Disneyland earlier this year in March, Joe took a picture of this same tree for Addy. At the time it was covered in pink blossoms. We actually ended up enlarging Joe's picture. It is now hanging over our fireplace. I realize now that I've told that story, I should have posted Joe's picture too. Oh well!

The parade was very Christmassy. It put me in the holiday spirit. It was cold (which I love), and they made it snow afterwards. Here are some parade pictures:

After the parade we stayed on our bench and waited for the fireworks show. The boys were freezing, so we got hot chocolate. They gave us candy canes too. I melted mine in my hot chocolate. Again, very Christmassy. I was happy. The fireworks show was awesome - totally worth waiting for.




Ok. That was pretty much it for Disneyland. I'm not going to do a Day 3 beach day. I'll just tell you now, that the next afternoon we went to the beach. Yes, it was cold and I loved every minute of it. I am happiest when I'm sitting on the beach with my toes in the sand. The cold didn't stop the boys from getting in the water. In fact, they stayed in for a couple of hours. Of course we had to stay for the sunset over the water. It did not disappoint. The picture doesn't really do it justice. As fun as Disneyland was, I have to say that my favorite part of the trip was the beach. It makes me so happy!

We packed up and went home the next day. That's it for the trip.

A note to Elise. I know you tagged me, and I'm taking a while to post about it, but I will soon. I had to finish the trip post first.

California Adventure - Day2

Ok, as I was trying to decide what to write, I realized there is way to much for day 2. So, to avoid an extremely long blog, I am splitting up day 2 into 2 parts.

Friday we started at California Adventure. Joe had been dreading Tower of Terror, but I told him last March when we planned this trip, that there was no way I was going to spend the money if he wasn't going to try everything at least once.

So, we decided to do Tower of Terror first, so he wouldn't have to dwell on it all day. To ease his fears, Brian tried to explain that it wasn't scary, you just get happy, butterfly feelings in your stomach. It's not a Tower of Terror, Its a Tower of Happy Butterfly Feeling Time. Luckily, there was virtually no line, so he didn't have time to think about it and back out. Guess what! He loved it. As soon as we got off the ride, he and Darrion ran to go on it again. To see a picture of just how happy butterfly feeling time they were, see Joe's blog.

Tower of Terror is my all-time favorite ride, so I was happy.

We went on a couple of rides with mom - Monsters Inc. & Soarin' over California. Then we split up for a while. She didn't want to go on the Grizzly Run Raft ride with us. I don't blame her. Brian sat that one out too. So, reluctantly I went. I don't know what it is about water rides, but I manage to get soaked every time. Sure enough, I got soaked from head to foot(I am not exaggerating). I was the only one in our raft that did too. So, when they wanted to go again, I passed. I spent the next 3-4 hours trying to dry out. It was cool & overcast, so it took a long time to dry.

We finally made our way to the back of the park to California Screamin'. I thought Joe was going to back out, and he tried, but we pretty much made him go. And, of course, he loved it! He ended up going on it 4 times. Once was enough for me. I was starting to feel a little nauseous. I think I've developed motion sickness in my old age. So, I stood at the pier and watched them take off. This was Brian, Joe, and Darrion's favorite ride!

For more Screamin' pictures, see Joe's blog.

After they had their fill of Screamin', we went to MalliBOOMer. There was no line, and I remembered how much Alex loved it last time, and how I promised I would try it. Brian refused, as did Joe, so Darrion and I went. The minute I sat down and started to buckle up, I started to panic. I have vertigo, and the thought of being shot up that high started to get to me. Darrion couldn't get his restraint buckled, and I was strapped in and couldn't reach him. We had sat there a long time and no one came to check if we were strapped in, like they always do. Darrion freaked out a little: "I don't want to die." I secretly was thinking the same thing. Someone finally came and checked. Then, it shot us up in the air so high. It was terrifying and completley exhillarating and awesome at the same time. I pretty much loved it! Thanks Alex for suggesting it!

Ok. I'm done for today. I'll post parade pictures tomorrow. But, I had to post this one for Max. I promised him!

See ya!

Day 1 at Disneyland

So, I thought it was about time to post about Disneyland.

We left Wednesday (Nov.14th). Brian drove with Joe & Darrion (Joe's cousin). I got to ride with my mom. It was nice. We stayed at the Embassy Suites (of course). I sometimes think that Joe likes the hotel better than Disneyland.

Disneyland didn't open until 10:00 on Thursday. Yeah! We got to sleep in. It seemed like there was a lot of people there, but we never had to wait very long in line. I think our longest wait was Splash Mountian (It always is). That was 25 minutes. Most of the rides were 5-10 min. wait, except for Nemo. That was a 75 minute wait. So, we passed on it. I'm a little claustraphobic, so I didn't mind. If I want to see Nemo, I'll watch the movie.

My favortie rides at Disneyland are Buzz Lightyear and The Haunted Mansion (only when it's decorated like the Nightmare before Christmas - which it was.)

Joe and Darrion liked Space Mountain & the Matterhorn. Materhorn was a walk on, so they must have went 7 or 8 times. I lost count. I could only handle it about twice. It's too jerky for me. They like to yell at Harold (the snow monster). I think Brian's favorite was Space Mountain.

Joe & Darrion were mad because I made them go on Winnie the Pooh with me. They absolutely refused to let me take their picture on it. Hey, it was right by Splash Mountain, and there was no wait. They rolled their eyes and looked bored, but I loved it.

My mom spent a lot of the day sitting on a bench reading. They were taping a segment of "Dancing with the Stars" (one of her favorite tv shows) that evening and she wanted a good seat. It ended up being a let down though. Only one person from the show came - Jennie Garth. Her partner was sick, so she ended up dancing with Mickey, and it lasted about 5 minutes. What a let down. It was funny though, because when my mom watched the show Monday night, and they showed the Disneyland segment, she got all excited because she spotted herself in the crowd. So, we paused it to take a closer look. It turned out to be a young boy. Ha Ha! You know I love you mom.

That night, mom ditched out early and Joe, Darrion, Brian & I stayed to see the Fantasmic show. I haven't seen Fantasmic since I went with Adam and Jared when they were little, probably 10-12 years ago. It was a little different, but mostly what I remembered. Joe loved it. Especially when Malificent turns into the dragon at the end. It was pretty cool. I wish I could have gotten a picture of it, but alas - no flash photography allowed. People cheated though. I should have too.

Well, that's it for day one. Tomorrow: California Adventure & the happy butterfly feeling ride. Also, the picture of Chip and Dale that I promised Max. I didn't forget!

Be sure to check out Joe's blog for his take on the trip, and more photos!

p.s. He loves to get comments!

Merilee...

Now for all of you not named Merilee, you can ignore this blog (or read it for all I care). Mer, I promised you yesterday that I was going to blog last night and update everyone on our wonderful trip to Disneyland. Paint the picture, if you will, on the happenings at the "Happiest Place on Earth". Well, something happened last night that changed my plans. Namely, the Suns were on TV and since it was in Sacramento it was a late start. I actually did remember what I had told you and I had to weigh that with the fact that I just wanted to sit my butt on the couch and watch the game. Being a guy, that decision was easy. Sorry Merilee, I truly am. Rest assured, though, but Kim will not let me go much longer without blogging. I know, I have a disease.

Disneyland

Hey, I thought I would check in before we left town, since Brian seems to have given up on the blogging. We are going to California today. Joe is excited about Disneyland, but I am more excited about the beach. Yes, I know it is November, and the beach will be cold. I am so looking forward to it! This has been a rough month for me. After tearing my calf muscle and being hit in the face by a giant metal ladder, and nearly breaking my nose, I think I deserve a break. I'll post some pictures when we get back!

The Yellow Boat

Tonight Joseph, Brian and I went to Hamilton High School to watch their theater production "The Yellow Boat". My nephew Adam (Stacy's oldest) plays the lead in the show. He was so amazing. I've seen every high school play Adam has been in, and this was by far the best. He was made to play the part of Benjamin Saar.

Let me give you a brief history of this play. "The Yellow Boat" was written by David Saar. It is based on the true story of his son Benjamin Saar. Benjamin was born a hemopheliac, and grew up with constant blood transfusions, and during one of them he contracted AIDS. He was a gifted artist, and nearing the end of his life Benjamin used his drawing to communicate his feelings, and as a release for his pain. He passed away at the age of eight.

This is a replica of the actual piece of artwork by Benjamin Saar. When he was young his favorite bedtime story was a story his parents told him about 3 boats - A red boat, a blue boat and a yellow boat. They all set sail together. The red and blue boats returned, but the yellow boat left and never came back. He sailed away to the sun. As a child, Benjamin always said he was the yellow boat. This is a drawing of his yellow boat sailing up to the sun.

This play made me laugh, and cry, sometimes both at the same time. It focuses so much on who Benjamin was and how he dealt with his lot in life. Adam is so perfect for this role. It must have been hard to play a 7 year old, but he did a great job. After all, any of you that know him knows that he is a kid at heart. Also, during the hospital scenes where he is being poked and prodded, I couldn't help but think that Adam could probably relate. I kept having flashbacks of him when he was a 5 year old boy in the hospital, newly diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. He was poked and prodded and tested so much.

I have to say that I am so incredibly proud of Adam. He really suprised me at how good an actor he really is. And, to any of you out there in blogland who live in close by, GO SEE THIS PLAY! You won't regret it. Thursday, November 8th at 7:00 p.m. at Hamilton High School is the very last showing of it. Tickets are $7.00 at the door. Kids 10 and under are free. It will touch your heart.

Joseph and Brian loved it too!

Halloween

For all things Halloween, make sure to visit Joe's site. He did a great job posting about all we did for Halloween this year. There are lots of great pictures. We didn't want to duplicate everything here, so we are directing you there.

Update...

Well, well, well...how long has it been? Depending on who I'm asking, it has either been too long or not long enough. For those of you that have been on me about posting, I'm sorry. I just wanted to take the opportunity for those of you that have been wondering how Kim is doing. She is a trooper. A cranky trooper, but a trooper nonetheless. For those of you that don't know, last Friday Kim was playing volleyball at the church with a few of the girls/ladies from the ward and stake. She was there maybe 15 minutes and was going hard for a ball and "snap", she tore her right calf. At first she didn't realize it was her, but then quickly realized that she was the one she heard. Yea, she says it hurts as much as you think.

She has been stuck in this house pretty much full-time, with a couple short breaks at her mom's. She's stir crazy. She cannot be doing nothing! She ALWAYS has to be doing something and it's driving her nuts. I have to force her to stay off her leg. I have to force her to use the crutches or cane. She is stubborn. I know that this is so hard for you to imagine, especially for those who know her, but she is :-) There isn't much that can be done to heal, except rest and patience. The muscle will reattach itself and then she should be good to go.

Thanks to all that wished her well and took the time out to help. It is appreciated.

As for Heather, I am working on my 6 things and will be posting that shortly.

By the way, on a side note, is there anyone more annoying on the face of the earth than this person? I swiftly and boldly say NAY!

Thanks!

Hey you guys!!! Thanks for the kind words and prayers! It truly is nice to know that there are those out there that really care. It's a beautiful thing to have friends! I am doing better and I am glad to have my family home. It stinketh to be sick alone.

Thanks again!

Keep him in your thoughts

Hey all you out there in blogland! This is my first ever post, and I'm not sure if I am even doing it right. We'll see. I am writing to let you know why Brian has been absent for a while. He has been extremely ill. He has literally been in bed for a week. I know he misses all you guys out there in blogland. I would appreciate it if you could keep him in your thoughts and your prayers. He can use all the help he can get. Thanks! We love you guys and hopefully Brian will be back to leaving his controversial comments soon!
- Kim

Twelve Years...and I'd do it all over again!

Before I get started, I will forewarn anybody reading that Mayor McCheese is going to rear his (pretty) head, but on my Anniversary I AM entitled.....Happy Anniversary Kimmy. Twelve years ago today, we knelt across the alter in the Mesa Temple and were sealed together for time and eternity. It really is hard to believe that it has been 12 years. I am just going to take a few moments and try to tell all of you in blog land why she means so much to me. First and foremost, Kim loves me unconditionally. No matter what I do or say, her love for me has never wavered. On that note, she is extremely loyal. Not only to me, but to anyone who needs her. See, Kim is a lot like her mother (who I adore greatly) in that no matter what you need, she will always be there for you. I've tried to tell her that it is OK to say "no" every once in a while, and although she agrees, she still can't find those two letters together in her vocabulary (unless she's talking to me, of course...j/k). I guess she knows deep down that the Savior would never say no if someone asked for help and she is trying to be Christlike. She IS succeeding. I know that she's saying to herself right know that she's nowhere near, but let me assure you that she's MUCH closer than she thinks. Which brings me to my next point. She's a terrific mother. The way she loves and cares for Joe is more Christlike than any mother/child relationship that I've seen (no offense to the other mom's out there). She is always loving and teaching and giving him such a sense of self-worth. We've been blessed with a wonderful child and I often wonder why such a great mom like Kim hasn't been blessed with many more children while others who don't even want them seem to have them at will, and I have never found an answer. All I know is that the Lord is pleased with her now and I know in the depths of my soul that we will have more children, I just don't know when. That's not for me to decide. Back to my Angel face...Kim is my best friend. I love that she still looks at me with that same glow in her eyes just as she did when we were dating. Her eyes are blue with yellow specks, just in case any of you were wanting to know:-) I love that she will scratch my back if I REALLY want her to, even though she hates doing it. I love that she will make me meatloaf even though it has onions in it. I love that we have gotten to the point where we know what eachother is thinking without saying a word. I love that if I ever need a shoulder for whatever, she's always there. I love that time is on our side and that death cannot separate us. I love the anticipation of what the next welve years will bring. I love Kim, with all of my heart and all of my soul. For evers...EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER (you had to be there, and I'm glad I was...)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, KIMMY

P.S.--this song is our song my default and we've just come to accept that as our fate and move on.

What did he say?

Every night is an adventure when we put Joe to bed. There is the fighting, and then the stalling, and then the “Goodnight Mom” about eighty times before he finally gives in and falls asleep. Like clockwork, however, he will wake up ten minutes later, always startled, and usually utter something and then we say “Goodnight” again and he’ll quickly be off to sleep for good. On the rare occasion, we are blessed with a tidbit of what he may have been dreaming about and on these occasions, we are in for a treat. Last night, Joseph woke up, startled as usual, and said “Mom, come here”. She went to see if he was ok and he then proceeded to say “Mom, can we build a tree house?” To which Kim responded, “No, Joseph, not tonight”. He then came back with a line we will not soon forget….”Mom, just think about it, you and me, a house in a tree.” Of course, he has no recollection of anything he says. Kim came out and I wasn’t sure if I heard what I thought I heard and we couldn’t stop laughing. He is such a funny kid. And he is a poet and didn’t even know it.

By the way, where am I in this tree house?????

TGIF...

Too often in life we are so busy trying to get ahead that we forget to stop and see what we’ve left behind. Yesterday was one of those days that everything seemed to unravel and I lost my freaking mind. Have you ever been such a stress-ball that you could actually feel your blood boiling? Well that was me yesterday. Why do we allow ourselves to get so uptight? What is so important that we can’t enjoy the ride? I forgot just what it was that I have been working so hard for. I really can’t pinpoint what set me off yesterday, it just seemed to be one of those days where nothing goes the way you want it. I have a great job, I enjoy the people I work with (for the most part), I have a beautiful wife who loves me unconditionally and son who really is such a cool and sweet kid and such a CHARACTER. What do I have to be stressed for? For those of you that are in my path (& in my wrath) on these days, I apologize.

Today is a new day and a new opportunity to live my life the way I want to. I woke up this morning and Kim was happy to see me smile. It was nice to walk outside this morning and have a crisp feeling in the air. I LOVE this time of year, when the Summer is holding on for dear life but Fall is slowly winning and soon I can think about hot chocolate and putting up Christmas lights. Shamrock will come out with their Peppermint Stick ice cream and who can’t be happy eating peppermint ice cream? Yes, today is a better day. It’s Friday!!!

Guster & Tally Hall...Marquee Theater...9/17/07

Well, for only the third time since we've been married (12 years on Sept. 29th!!!) Kim and I went to a concert together. Well, Sheri, Ian, and Jammon went also. And we met up there with Jason, Tiffany, and 2 of their friends. I saw Guster last year in Tucson with Jason and Ian and it was one of the best shows that I've ever seen (even though I had to go to that stinkhole known as Tucson). So, needless to say, when we heard they were coming back, we bought tickets. Kim was a little apprehensive to go (she says we're too old to be going to concerts, and although that may be true, it was a very granola crowd and we fit right in! First, Tally Hall opened up and I have never heard anything of theirs and we were VERY pleasantly surprised. They were a mix of They Might Be Giants and Barenaked Ladies (as Ian put it). They were pretty darn good.

As for Guster, they are amazing! Their musical talents are astounding. I have never seen a band switch instruments as often and seamlessly as these guys do. If any of you in blogland have never heard them, I strongly suggest that you take a few minutes and listen to my playlist. They are so good. They are one of Kim's and my favorite bands. I took a picture on my phone, but cannot figure out how to get it from there to here, so I'm using other pictures and you can just pretend that they were taken by me!

All In Due Time...

I really haven't done a good job about posting, especially when it comes to the family. So with that in mind, I am going to try and do a better job when it comes to the "little things" in our family. (Kind of follow Sheri's lead...she does a great job at this). Well, tonight when we were putting Joe (call him Joe, he hates Joseph..this also makes me sad because I like Joseph better, but that's a different story) to bed and he looks up at me and asks if he has any armpit hair? Why did he ask this? I have NO idea! What an odd question. What an odd boy. Wouldn't HE know if he had armpit hair? All I could tell him (after the laughing) is that his armpit hair would come in due time, along with other hair. Enough said! I love that strange little man.

P.S.--I know this is a woman, but I really couldn't pass up the photo.

Just Sit Right Back & You'll Hear A Tale...

Recently, Kim and I were having a profound discussion on... TV Tunes and trying to remember obscure old TV shows and their song intro's. I know that you're probably thinking that with me being the mental giant that I am that we would be discussing world politics or the ozone layer or cold fusion or something of the nature, but we were discussing TV show tunes. Sad, I know. So, after much thought and laughter at some of the things we remembered, and the realization that there was, and still is, a bunch of hideous TV that makes it to the airwaves, we've compiled this playlist of TV tunes of old. Sheri, "Facts of Life" for you and Steve-O "Out of This World" for you...I feel pitty for you, but Kim says you loved the show. There are some that you'll remember and some that you'll have forgotten, but one thing is for sure, it will take you back. As for Tricia and Trina, and a few others, many of these will be foreign to you as you are just too young to know. I also realize that there a several more common shows that aren't on here. So, sit right back and enjoy.

P.S.--you may want to launch the stand alone player and view all the songs.

Songs for Heather...

Heather, I put back on some of mine and Kim's favorites. Not a full compilation mind you, but a sampling nonetheless. I hope you enjoy them at work! If you don't like them, we will have to do something about your taste in music.

This one's for Joe...

There are certain things that are so endearing about Joseph, and I will try to let you know of a few as time goes by, but there is something about when this song comes on the radio that makes me laugh. You should see the look on his face. You know that look when the waitor or waitress comes by and takes your plate when you're not finished? You have that one or two bites left that you've saved till the bitter end and then, whish..., it's gone. You just sit there with this look of shock, then disgust. That's the face that appears on Joe's face when this song comes on. Then he "sings" the song (just to make fun of it) and I laugh some more. For some reason, he just doesn't like Pet Shop Boys. Not that he should, but apparently they've done something to him that has wounded him deeply. Well, Joe, this is for you and I hope you enjoy it!

Epiphany...

I had an epiphany today that I would like to share with those who care to listen (or read I guess, as this is a written blog and not a verbal one). Well, I was at work (this is not my epiphany) and like most of us experience from time to time, I had to pee. Not just a casual urge mind you, but a real NEED to pee. So, like a lot of us say at a time like this, I too said these oft heard words: "I have to pee like a racehorse". After uttering these words in my mind, as I have numerous other times, it hit me...What in the heck does it mean to pee like a racehorse??? Who in the world started this ridiculous phrase? I myself have never seen a racehorse pee and therefore with no certainty can accurately compare my urgent need to relieve myself with that of the racehorse. Also, whose to say that a racehorse needs to pee at all? Now let's assume that a racehorse does have an immense desire to pee. Does it relieve himself before or after the race? If the rider makes him wait until after the race, does this constitute animal cruelty? That's another topic altogether! Well, to make a long story short, since I have no first hand knowledge of the pee habits of the said racehorse, my epiphany is this: from this point forward, when I have this urge to pee, I will no longer use the racehorse comparison, I will use a comparison that I am all too familiar with. This is the phrase I suggest we all use: "I have to pee like a guy who really, really has to pee!" Now doesn't that make much more sense than that silly phrase we've all been spouting about all this time? I feel like I've stumbled onto something here. Now that I think of it, what about "For Pete's sake" Who is this "Pete" anyway? And why do we care about his "sake"? And what about "get in your two cents worth"? I don't know about you, but the words that come out of my mouth are worth way more than two cents! I think we just go around saying stupid stuff. What have our parents taught us anyway? We don't even know what comes out of our own mouths! We're just a society of stupid phrases that make absolutely no sense. It's time we stop this foolishness and pull ourselves together. So, the next time you find yourself having to pee like a ra.... just remember to tell yourself that you have to pee like a guy who really, really has to pee. You'll be smarter for doing it.

Another One Bites The Dust

Well, believe it or not, Joseph decided (on his own accord, mind you) that he wanted to get his flowing blonde locks chopped off. So, this evening I took him and Alex to get it done. Alex was there as a model for the stylist to see how short to go. Realize that for Joe to decide to have this done was a shock to Kim and I. His hair was his pride and joy. I am of the opinion that Joe was seeing all his cousins getting haircuts and a couple of them putting them into a mohawk (James started the trend and Rowan soon followed) and, being the last one standing with long hair (Jared Ammon notwithstanding) he wanted to follow suit. Needless to say, though, Kim was extremely please with his decision. But, we did decide that he could keep his hair as long as he wanted until he turned 12. I didn't like that decision at first, but Kim has been trying to help me pick my battles, so I eventually gave in. So, when you see him, please be sure to comment on his hair. He is happy with it, but is a little nervous about what those closest to him will think of it. If you forgot how long it was, take a look at our family picture above and compare. *note, the mohawk needs a little work!

I also have a shout-out...

I just want to follow in Sheri's footsteps and offer a shout-out. I have been racking my brain for 2 weeks trying to get music on my blog, and low and behold I go on Sheri's today and she has music on hers! I actually went on Merilee's blog a week ago and tried to follow in her shoes, but to no avail. Luckily, I already had a playlist created so when Sheri showed me what to do, it was a snap! So, I humbly thank Sheri and Merilee for their services rendered. Without their help, I would still be cursing under my breath. Serenity Now...

I'm IT.....AGAIN

Well, I've been tagged by two (Sheri and Charlotte). Double teamed, so to speak. So, I will KILL two (annoying little) birds with one stone. Here goes:

4 Jobs I've had (I had to narrow it down):

1. Operations Mgr at Ganem Jewelers


2. Home Inspector
3. Reservationist w/ America West (I liked to call myself a Bookie)
4. Video Store Asst. Mgr

4 movies I can always watch:

1. Tombstone


2. Gone in 60 Seconds
3. Gladiator
4. Ocean's 11,12, and 13

4 Places I've lived:

1. Aurora, CO


2. Tempe, AZ
3. Chandler, AZ
4. State of Denial

4 TV Shows I Love:

1. 24


2. Lost
3. Dukes of Hazzard
4. Food Network

4 Favorite Foods:

1. Meat & Potatoes


2. Fettucine Alfredo
3. Potato Chips
4. Cheesecake (with Cherries, not strawberries)

4 Websites I visit daily:

1. ESPN.com


2. Ebay
3. MSN Homepage (one stop shop)
4. All these addictive blogs

4 Place I'd rather be:

1. San Diego, DUH


2. The Cabin...when it's finished
3. Hawaii (I bet I'd love it)
4. Pretty much anywhere where it's 75 degrees

Well, that's my list. I hope you all enjoyed it! As for naming 4 people, well........that's just not going to happen. This is a ploy in hopes of keeping myself off the next round. So for now, I bid thee farewell. Con Amor Siempre!!!