Father's Day Weekend Fun

Today is Father's Day and it has been a good day and a good weekend. I'm just glad that I have the next week off to keep having fun.

Yesterday we went to the zoo with Twilight Mom's. It was fun until it started pouring rain and everyone got cold. We headed out of there and then headed downtown to find some other stuff to do. We decided to take a tour of the Conference Center and it was pretty cool. I think Chels will get the pictures of it up on her blog. It was a good time. Then on the way home, I thought of something fun we could do as a family. We stopped at Lowe's and bought 100' of rope and the to Walmart to get some clothespins and we made a fort in the basement.

The view from behind


The view from the 'front door'


The view of the TV


After we got the fort built, we had dinner in the fort and watched Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring. It was awesome.

Then today, after church, we headed up to Logan for some geocaching and some BBQ'd hot dogs. We walked around campus and had a lot of fun. The kids are probably sick of hearing 'this is where we lived', 'this is where I had class', etc. They enjoyed running to look at all the sculptures on campus, especially the french fries. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you'll have to drive up to Logan to see for yourselves. Our pictures that I took on the 'A', the True Aggie 'A', were all overexposed. Stupid me and my stupid camera. I fixed it up the best I could and I think it looks different but good.



After church today I got some gifts from the kids that they made at church. Part of the gifts were that they needed to write something to us and this is what Tiaree wrote.

Dear Dad,

I think you are the best dad ever! I love the surprises you do.

Tiaree

I'm glad I can keep the kids happy. I hope that all the father's that read this had a happy father's day.

Correction from Yesteday

In my attempt at being funny, I made my wife a little upset. In yesterday's blog I said that if I had gone home Tuesday night, I would "probably be bored telling the kids no they couldn't have candy and watching Chels read her books or blogs or TM stuff". Apparently she didn't like my joke and thinking about it it wasn't very funny. She said that we would have figured out something fun to do because it was my birthday. Everyone needs to know that I love my wife dearly and don't like doing things to upset her and Chels needs to know that I am sorry for making it sound like it would have been a boring night if I would have come home.

Fun Birthday Evening

So last night we were planning on going to the Tabernacle Choir concert but were told that kids couldn't get in. So I was going to head home and just sit there and probably be bored telling the kids no they couldn't have candy and watching Chels read her books or blogs or TM stuff. So I decided that we could meet as a family downtown and go through a tour of the Conference Center because we've been wanting to do that for a while now. So we met downtown and had dinner at the Gateway and then took the train up to Temple Square to walk by and listen to the music through the doors of the Tabernacle, they took the speakers down that piped the music to the outside. Well we found out that 5 and above could go in and that KK could go in the cry room. So we decided to catch the last half of the concert and it was enjoyable. I had my camera and used it as an opportunity to snap a few of the choir and such...

When we got there we didn't think they were going to let us in so take pictures the best I can right...


Right up against the glass, you can see Grammy and Papa if you look closely...


Mack Wilberg (sp?) telling them to get on key, according to Grammy...


Speaking of Grammy...


Papa clapping to Cindy. This was the last clap of the song...


My kids and Grammy and Papa. This is one of my favorite because they are the only people looking at the camera and smiling...


Picture 1


Picture 2


Please comment and tell me which one you like more, picture 1 or picture 2

Riding backwards on the train never bothered me before. Ugh! I don't think this driver is very good.

This is my first mobile blog.

It was a beautiful wedding...

Well after being horribly sick Thursday afternoon and all day Friday, I hate being sick, we got to attend the wedding of Chels' sister Caitlin on Saturday. It was a beautiful day, one of those days that you melt in the sun and practically freeze if you are in the shade too long. The day started early trying to get the kids up and to Nic's house for the day, then headed to the Salt Lake Temple to attend the sealing. It was a great ceremony and the sealer was great and gave some great advice. 1. To say "I love you" at least once a day and 2. to take the opportunity to kiss her at least once a day. It was short and sweet. Then the wedding breakfast and then home to do the scramble to get the kids ready for the reception. They looked marvelous...
Tiaree

Jarik

Bree

Keighlee


The wedding was a lot of fun, minus standing in the line with the tail end of this stupid illness. Jarik stood next to me most of the night and shook a lot of hands. Tiaree, Bree, and KK did a lot of dancing. KK was super intrigued by Chels' Uncle Meade, who played the Alto Sax for part of the night. He is a member of Kettlefish and he is pretty good. So here is what KK would do while he was playing...



I may be biased a little but aren't they the cutest kids. The illness is pretty much gone and the wedding is over. Tomorrow starts a new week time for some fun.

Classic Sunday Fun...

Mother's Day 2009 will go down as one of the classic Sundays in my mind. The only thing missing was the basketball hoop. We went to Grammy and Papa's for dinner. It was a great Sunday and loads of fun.

Caitlin mentioned yesterday that she wanted to take a group picture so we decided to take some pictures today. I grabbed the camera and the tripod and we set up in Grammy's front yard. Big family pictures are always an issue to get everyone to look at the camera and not be dumb. Of course we get some good ones, but Jarik is being a dork in most of them. Silly kid. We took some of the kids but there is one kid not with us quite yet and we took a picture of that one. This is actually my favorite picture that I took tonight. I've changed the coloring just a little from the original picture, hope you like it.

Funny Moments with KK...

So this morning I was listening to my iTunes on shuffle and heard the song Honey, Honey from Mamma Mia! and it got me thinking about KK. This song is a favorite in my house but it always makes me think about KK, especially. Just thought I'd take a moment and share a couple funny stories about KK and her cute personality.

Her favorite thing to say when we ask her to look for something is 'I can't find it'. For example, a couple weeks ago, I went home so that Chels and KK could go see a Dr. about an illness that they both had. Chels had to use the restroom before they left the house and told KK to find her jacket. She walked out into the front room where I was sitting and sat down on the couch. I asked her, "Aren't you supposed to be getting your jacket?". Her response was "I can't find it". In which my reply to her was that she wasn't going to find it by sitting on the couch. In her words she said "I know" and then just sat there next to daddy for a minute. It was just a funny little conversation.

The reason that the song Honey, Honey reminds me of her is because she loves that song and is so excited when it plays on the iPod. One day we were cleaning and I was in the kitchen with her when it came on. There is a part in the song where the singer says the word beast, but she says it with some energy. Well KK decided that she was going to copy it and she was singing along and that part came up and she kind of screamed 'beast' in a funny little voice. Let's just say I had to stop cleaning and laugh for a few minutes.

She is so dang cute.

Memories of Bobbie

I haven't blogged in a while and thought it was about time. I wasn't sure what to blog about until my brother sent me a news item on KSL.COM that was about my step-sister Bobbie Campbell. She is the daughter of my mother's husband Bob.

She has been missing for 14 years. Stephanie, her daughter, was on the news talking about her. She has used a company to create an age-progressed photo. It was hard to see the photo because I remember a lot of good times with Bobbie. She was troubled in her youth, but she was a great person to hang out with. She was a lot of fun to joke around with as well.

It got me thinking of memories of her and there is one that always makes me laugh when I think about it. I was 16 at the time and had my first car, a 1977 brown Subaru. I loved that car. It looked like a big turd but it was my first car.

Bobbie had asked me to take her over to Orange Street. One of her friends had just gotten out of prison and was in a half-way house on Orange Street. She told me it was on 6th South and it was at 6 South. (or something similar to that.)

We fought like typical brother-sister. It was a lot of fun and this day was no different. We were arguing about addresses and knowing how to read an address. I used to get mad at her because she would never wear her seatbelt in my car.

We were driving down 10th West as we argued over addresses and seat belts. At one point on 10th West, there are some railroad tracks that cross 10th West and you have to take them slow, which, since I was focused on my argument with Bobbie, I didn't realize that we were coming up on the tracks and I hit them at full speed. Well, as you would expect, my car jumped the tracks, Bobbie, not wearing a seat belt, hit her head on the ceiling. Both of us looked at each other in surprise and the conversation stopped instantaneously. When Bobbie recovered from the shock, she reached over, put on her seat belt and we rode the rest of the way in silence, both of us on the verge of laughter.

Anyway, I thought I would share this wonderful memory of my sister. I know she is missed and I hope we find out what did happen to her, even if only to put her daughter's mind at rest.

We love you Bobbie!!!!

The Soundtrack of Your Life

So, I had this thought the other day. Not that it amounts to much because most of my thoughts are of useless junk and, after reading this, I think you will agree.

When you watch movies or TV shows, there is always some type of background music playing. In fact, for a lot of movies, there are soundtracks that you can buy that features the music from the movie. Sometimes you can purchase soundtracks for TV shows too. Its becoming more common, but movies are the majority.

I was thinking, if I had background music playing at different parts of my life, what would the soundtrack be? I'm not talking a collection of your favorite songs that meant something to you, I'm talking about the songs that would represent what is/was going on in your life.

See, movies aren't about life. They skip out on a lot. They show moments in someone's life. When someone leaves to drive somewhere, you see them leave, and then arrive at their destination. You don't ride along with them unless it is vital to the story (a police chase, a certain discussion, etc.) Some movies represent a time frame of days, weeks, or months (years too but that is rare).

If you were to pick out the highlights of your life that would be part of the "You Movie", what highlights would they be and what kind of music would be playing in the background? Not just songs that you like, maybe the song that would be playing you really don't care for but the type of music sets a mood.

Anyway, I really haven't given it much thought about my own life. I might and provide something late although I think my music selection may be a bit lacking. Not that I would need that many songs, but a wider variety.

Help w/ Brinner

If you don't know what brinner is, it is breakfast for dinner. It is a favorite around our house because it is usually quick and easy. Tonight it was pancakes. Earlier this afternoon Jarik asked when I was going to start the meatloaf cups, a smaller version of meatloaf that Chels makes, and I told him since mom was sick that we weren't having them. He asked what we were having and I told him, pancakes. He got really excited and walked over to the cupboard where we have the griddle at and wanted to get it out and start cooking then and there. I told him that it would be a little while because I was straightening the counter space and cleaning up a little and that I would call him up when it was time. The time came and I called him up and he got the griddle out for me. Then he had to dump the pancake mix in the bowl and then the water. I decided to stir it up myself because it would have been a big mess if he would have done it. I started making the pancakes and he and Tiaree wanted to help flip them. Needless to say, I was a little nervous because I have issues flipping pancakes sometimes, you know flipping them and overlapping them. I don't have much coordination. Anyway, I decided to get pictures of the occasion because I thought that there would be problems. Little did I know that my kids were naturals at flipping pancakes. Here's the pictures.


Look at the concentration and determination.




If the keep this up I won't have to make pancakes anymore because they will do it.

My 2 Cents on the #2 Utes

The Utah Utes were voted #2 in the AP poll that came out today. They were #2 behind Florida that won the National championship game last night. Anyway, I just thought for fun I would go back a few years and although the past years don't count I wanted to point out a few fun facts. Since Utah's last perfect BCS busting season, 2004, they have gone 49-14. In that same time frame Florida has gone 51-14, playing one more game in 2008 and 2006. Both teams played to a 9-4 record in 2007, with Utah beating Navy in their bowl game and Florida losing to Michigan in their bowl game. Small reminder, while Michigan had a horrible 2008 campaign, Utah went into the big house and took care of business there. Another point for the momentum for each team, since Sept. 29, 2007 Utah has gone 21-1 while Florida has gone 18-5. I would like to just point out again that past years don't count for anything. So this year, I'm happy that the Utes finished #2 in the AP poll, I think they had a strong reason to fight for the #1 spot. Go UTES!

妹妹

Today I am watching, well listening more, to Firefly first episode entitled Serenity. It's the part where Kaylee gets shot and Inara says to her, 妹妹, which is mei4mei, which means little sister. See I told you that taking Chinese would pay off eventually. Hehe ;)

中文是好玩

The title to today's blog is Chinese is fun in simplified characters, that is if you have the language installed. I started taking Chinese at the beginning of this semester and am having a great time. I haven't put a lot of time into it, but I am still learning a lot. It's a lot of fun and I hope that I can stick with it. Just wanted to play with some of the new tools that Danny found and gave to me to help me put characters on the screen.

再见 （that is goodbye, zai4jian4)

Today is a Special Day

So I added the comment on my Facebook account that Chels and I have been married now for 11 years. And today is one of those special anniversaries because we were married on a Friday and as you know today is Friday.

It has been a great 11 years and I am so grateful that I married a woman that puts up with my crap. My wife is my best friend who is willing to sacrifice a lot for me to make sure that I can do the things that I need to do. Whether it is being patient while I am away with the young men fulfilling my calling. Or getting up to head to work early and stay a little later. She is always cleaning and I haven't been pulling as much weight around the house as I have in the past and she truly has picked up my slack. My wife is wonderful and though I can't say it's been all roses during the past 11 years, we are still happy and totally in love. We stress together, we laugh together, we spend money together, we stress about not having money together, we play with the kids together, we get mad at the kids together, there are a lot of things we do together that aren't listed.

I'm glad that on that 24th of July in 1997, she said yes. I'm glad that when we knelt together in the temple, she said yes again. I'm glad that I get to have her for time and all eternity!

To my dear wife, I want to say I love you 4 ∞!!

Blog When you Have the Idea...

...or at least write it down. Last night after I had turned off my computer I thought of a great thing to blog about. Now I can't remember what it was that I was going to blog about. It was pretty clever and I was laughing as I walked to bed. Well I guess when I feel asleep it reset the funny thoughts in my brain.

So right now Chels and I are watching Ghost Hunters 'Live' and I have to say I'm a skeptic. We just watched one of the guys get pulled by the back of the coat, and you can see the coat move, but I'm thinking that it is something that is setup in his coat and he pushes a button in his pocket. I'm just not a believer in this stuff, to many ways to make these things happen on TV. I don't know I'm just a skeptic.

Well if I remember my clever blog topic I will write it.

Goodbye Old Friend...At Least for A While

I need to say goodbye to an old friend for a little while. I have come to the sad conclusion that this friend is dragging me down and making me sick. I've put on a lot of weight hanging out with this friend of mine. I know it's not his fault he's so fun to be around and that I like spending a lot more time with him than I should. If could keep the time spent with this friend to a 12 oz. can then I would probably be ok. But if he's around, I tend to have more and generally pick up a 20 oz more often than not. So for now, I want to say goodbye to my friend Dr. Pepper. I'm just not going to let him hang around anymore. He's trouble. I'm sure I'll have a weak moment here and there and hang with him again, but for the most part I'm going to hang with my new friend water. This is going to be a hard cut so when you see me show me some support so that I can make this transition easier. Thanks!

Giving up a Man Card

Ok, so I've been debating on if I was going to write this blog or not. It's been decided and I may have to give up one or two, maybe more, man cards for this blog. Let's get it over with and we can go from there...

I am a fan of musicals, one man card. I have been for a very long time. Which some men would have a hard time admitting. There are some good ones out there including the High School Musicals that are so popular right now. This Friday HSM 3 comes out on the big screen and I think Chels bought tickets for her and the 3 older kids for this Saturday, I'm staying home with Keighlee. Well yesterday the soundtrack for HSM 3 came out. Yes I did purchase it, just like the 2 before it. So today I'm going to give you my 10 favorite songs from these 3 albums. Now, I haven't been forced to listen the HSM 3 soundtrack over and over again like I was with the first two, however, I did listen to it yesterday and can say that I'm a little disappointed. Out of the 10 new songs that are on it, there are only two, in my mind, that hold up to the other two soundtracks.

So here are my top 10 songs from HSM:
1. Humuhumunukunukuapua'a - HSM 2
2. Fabulous - HSM 2
3. I Don't Dance - HSM 2
4. Get'cha Head in the Game - HSM 1
5a. Work This Out - HSM 2
5b. Stick to the Status Quo - HSM 1
6. What I've Been Looking For (Reprise) - HSM 1
7. Now or Never - HSM 3
8. What Time is it - HSM 2
9. We're All In This Together - HSM 1
10. Start of Something New - HSM 1

Here are the bottom 5:
1. Gotta Go My Own Way - HSM 2
2. We're All In This Together (Graduation Mix) - HSM 3
3. When There Was Me and You - HSM 1
4. Bop to the Top - HSM 1
5. I Can't Take My Eyes Off of You - HSM

Well there you go. Take the man cards, but I know that there are some of you that secretly are making your own HSM songs top 10 list.

Where Does the Time Go

Well life has really gotten in the way of my blogging activities. I'm sure you've all missed me. Looks like B has kept it going just a little. There really isn't a whole heck of a lot going on in my world these days. Right now I'm sitting on the couch with Jarik while the girls are watching the Haunted Mansion on Disney channel in my room. I wanted to play on my computer a little and they are all hogging my bed. ;) It's cute that they are watching a show together. They should go downstairs and watch it on the big screen. I just heard Chels call Tiaree a wuss butt. Maybe it is Bree, nope it's Tiaree.

Funny thing that happened yesterday. Chels and the kids came up to work and we went out to lunch at Red Robin. All the kids got helium balloons there and they brought them home. Of course, Red Robin isn't going to put that stuff in them so they stay "floaty" for very long. So by the time I got home a couple of them had already started to be less "floaty". So I was once again sitting on the couch playing on my computer and watching KK play with her balloon, one of the ones that had lost it's "floating ability". She sat here and kept hitting it up in the air and saying stay as it went in the air and came back down. It was just funny because she just couldn't grasp the concept of why it wasn't floating anymore. It was cute. Silly little girl.

Well that is all for me for now. I'm going to go figure out something to do. Have a good evening.

New Project

You should be careful who you hang out with. I have decided to work on a new project building a mini potato gun. They are not difficult and actually use many things that you have around the house. To do this, I will need:

• Pen
• Medicine Bottle (long, skinny type)
• Electrical tape
• Used electric match

I have found a do-it-yourself video on YouTube. If you go to YouTube and type in mini potato gun, you will probably find the video. I will let you know how it goes.